A Typical Day

Usually, and I use that word very loosely, we start out trying to do some homework. Who knows if the kids will be ready for 2nd and 3rd grade respectively, but I am sure that they have gained some great life experiences outside of the Provo Valley.



The kids have always been pretty creative, and having less toys I think has increased this--they are also just bored a lot, and then fight for lack of anything better to do. But, when it is peaceful and I see the fruits of their various creations--rubber band necklace, signs posted throughout our building about a brownie party they've organized, etc. it is pretty good. Last night was the talent show up at church in Harlem. Atticus displayed one of his surf sketches--rendered in bright orange crayon, and Tiare turned off her tickle and let our friend Jared try to tickle her. It was a great talent show--every thing from my kids to people singing who really have performed on Broadway to amazing tap dancing young men.



We spend a fair amount of time in the parks near our house. A definite activity for those without yards! Good tax paying dollars at work, and boy do Manhattaners pay taxes!!





Vending machines--a definite perk in the kids' opinions to living in the I-House. Pestering for a dollar becomes a ritual each time we pass. I am reading the book In Defense of Food and thinking that nothing in that vending machine actually qualifies as food!



Wandering the city finding cool things to see and do is definitely part of our typical day here.


We usually start out around 1 p.m. or so, and then magically never get home until around midnight--obviously bedtimes are a thing of the past in this life.



We have found ourselves up in Spanish Harlem at an amazing Puerto Rican restaurant and celebrating a saints day at a church where they sing on the sidewalk, way down in the Village eating at our favorite Cuban food place that literally is no bigger than a large hallway, in China town looking for cheap stuff, and wondering around by NYU eating great crepes. We have noticed that it is either the rich white people like down in the Village or the black or brown people who actually take their kids to restaurants (thus, the mention of eating places either up high or down low). Anything in between seems to be kid-absent! Once were went out to dinner in Hell's Kitchen area--you'd think that we had brought two elephants to dinner with us. It was pretty funny. Each area here has it's own character. When we were at that Puerto Rican place, Tiare commented how loud it was in there, and then she said it was because people were drinking alcohol. It was pretty hilarious. I'd add in the general Latin voice level mixed with New York attitude and you've got one loud restaurant!!