Under the Boardwalk, Down By the Sea

Remember how last week was difficult? And I didn't think it would get worse? And then I looked at the pictures from the week and remembered that we live in a pretty cool place and all isn't in the toilet?

This week was worse. By a lot. Without the awkwardness of over disclosure and to preserve the dignity of the those not reading my blog (i.e. my husband and kids), let's just say that every area of our lives has suffered at least a little this week. School, finances, med school, work, finances, relationships, plus there's no chocolate in the house.

I mention this so you don't think my life consists solely of world class museums, parks and pizza. Because those feel like afterthoughts, or sometimes tender mercies. Things are hard. The pizza is good. We will survive.


HOMESCHOOL UPDATE:

Surprisingly, we love homeschool. I've seen big changes in both girls the past few weeks. Leah has less anxiety and more problem solving ability. She laughs more and has fewer moody outbursts. 'Fewer' means it's only a few times per day instead of a few times per hour. Hannah entertains herself and is willing to play alone. She doesn't complain about being bored and has an endless amount of energy. She's relaxed and sleeps longer. 

Both girls have developed a true goofiness, the kind you want sisters to have. Jacob and I were talking on the couch the other day and without warning, they showed up wearing everything they could find in their bedroom. Hilarious!



HANNAH UPDATE:

She joined a cheerleading team. I can't lie--I'm really, really struggling with having a cheerleader in the house. It feels all weird to me but she is SO happy. I can't deny her this excitement. And Jacob is a trooper, taking her every week to a 3 hour practice while I'm working.

LEAH UPDATE:

Leah is not a cheerleader. She went to tryouts with Hannah and apparently it went disastrously wrong. Poor girl. I wasn't there but I think Jacob handled it really well. She wants so much to be on a swim team but it costs $2500--all due by December. How am I supposed to afford that?! I feel terrible. We found a creative writing class for homeschool tweens that takes place every Tuesday in Hell's Kitchen (an area of Manhattan near Times Square and known for super good food). She has a zit on her nose and wants a boyfriend. I told her she doesn't know what she's talking about. We have a great relationship like that :).

This was that one time I tried to get us to the 9/11 Memorial and we ended up going the wrong way on the A Train and ended up in the ghetto of Brooklyn. So it ended up being an educational experience diversity. Sorry, girls. 


JACOB UPDATE:

Nope.

ME UPDATE:

I continue to work part time after school, teaching enrichments classes to Russian immigrant children in Brighton Beach. At one point this week, I was teaching kids from Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia, and my translator is from Uzbekistan. She told me her immigration story--fleeing her country after the USSR fell and discrimination and poverty became unbearable. It's eye opening in so many ways, and not just because I'm learning a bit of Russian. 

At church, I play the piano for Primary (of course) and plan Relief Society activities. We love our ward and I love that something unpredictable and wonderful will happen every Sunday. 

Otherwise, I have no friends here and am trying to figure out how to set up the sewing machine so I can make curtains. Stop it with all your fabulousness, self. 

I'm putting myself to sleep with how lame my life is so let's talk about adventurous happiness.


We're quickly finding our favorite hangout spots. Prospect Park has so many trails, tunnels, lakes and little quirky awesomenesses. It doesn't smell like being truly in nature, but it's the closest thing we have. 


My feelings for Coney Island are, I'm embarrassed to admit, very deep and quite sappy. It's where I transfer trains for work. It's an easy 10 stops for us to visit. Plus, BEACH. It took us a while to get over the fact that it wasn't a South Florida beach, plus I was worried about it being touristy and gimmicky. Instead, we love it for being a place we can enjoy the ocean without the pressure of swimming all day and sunburning, a quick getaway to run around, cheap entertainment (like horse kites and live music on the boardwalk), and today, the Wonder Wheel at sunset.


This ferris wheel is 95 years old. I love the history at Coney Island! It's been on my bucket list to ride the wheel while the sun was setting. I'm the only one that thought this was a good idea, but my family went along for the ride (groan...). 



Great view from the top, looking east:



Looking west:



Why does he look like that? Really, we were having a great time. I promise.


Hannah loved the view also:


From the movie Big:


A new favorite pastime: Swinging like monkeys around an empty subway car



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