school stuff

A few nice moments from the end of the year at school. Chicks hatching in the classroom!

Clifford Day was a big deal. Everyone in red, a whole fair dedicated to various Clifford related activities in the school gym

A Clifford song

All the kids individually read a little Clifford story they'd made up and the teachers read out an 'About the Author' blurb afterwards. 'My name is Ellie, I live in Manhattan, but I also have a house in the Hamptons and a house in Ireland and my favorite food is sushi'. The wonderful life of a New York private school.

Last day in school

Lunch afterwards with Emma, Ellie and Olive around the corner. Last time we saw Olive as she and her family went travelling for a year the day after school finished and will be going back to live in Canada afterwards. They were an amazing family, we miss them.

Bad habits

I can't help it if the girl loves a pedicure

And gets into a good old natter with some of the other little ladies

I also can't pretend the mother daughter mani pedis are infrequent...

Much fun.

Eben turns 2

I can't believe it, but also thank g-d as he's much more chilled.

Fabulously - mum was here for Eben's 2nd birthday which was lovely for all of us. Started the day at our favorite coffee place Milk with certain treats we never allow ourselves including a piece of crack pie. Think we'll all remember that.

Ruby got her princess on and Eben his smoking jacket and we were ready to go.

Maggie and Tom and Emme and Hudz were of course there to celebrate, as was Armand, Pamela, Lyla, Rob, Leslie, Dylan and Josh, Liza, Alex, Nathan and Nina (so when Eben reads this in 20 years he'll know)

Table doesn't show the airplane extravaganza that mum and I made the night before.

But the first video does. Ruby insisted on being the conductor and leading a number of games including freeze and pass the parcel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXlD8wiQEg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD1Ub7HVLQ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo2CueCw1DU

Jess and Si come to visit

We'd originally planned two nights out but after immigrationgate they arrived in NYC knackered and traumatized at about 9.45 so we had dinner in. Thank g-d they had the First Class pyjamas to put a lil smile on their face.

But we proceeded to have a FANTASTIC 24 hours with them in NYC. The next morning started bright and early with me showing them Ruby's school, the drivers, the mums in the gym gear etc. Then - we headed out for a day in NYC, no kids, sun shining. First stop - Soho for breakfast.

Followed by a mooch and a mosey round the shops and on to the Tenement museum. And lots of brother(inlaw)ly love.

An amazing lunch at Prune in the East Village, a mani pedi for Jess and I and on to the boom boom bar at the top of the standard for an apero, and more brotherly love.

And (almost) finally to Madison Square Garden for the Muse concert which was great. Standard concert fot..

Ended up at the parker meridien for a midnight burger at arguably one of NY's best burger joints before heading home. A very special day.

Spring

Ruby as tinkerbell having just had her hair blow dried (post cut, there was a reason). It was quite fun, the two of us strutting so happily out the salon with pin straight hair.

Normally her hair is more like this.

It's starting to get warmer - so dresses are on

And we're living in the park.

Ruby went on a field trip to Central Park Zoo with the class

I didn't go. More focused on helping with Eben's transition into a transvestite.

Working on a number of looks. Say whaat.

Luckily, Ruby has a 6th grader called Prudence for a reading buddy and looks out for her everywhere she goes.

More pictures of mum to come - one of the multiple ice cream sessions during her trip.

A few more spring snaps

This boy. Totally edible.

And lastly - the class hatched chicks this week. We were not allowed to take one home over the weekend because of what happened to the Hermit crabs.

5 at school

She turned 5 on a Monday and they did some sweet stuff at school. Begun with decorating a crown for her which she wore all day. Then at the end of the day - me, Al, Eben, Janet and Samoya went in to Ruby's class, brought some brownies for the kids, and sat at the front with her whilst everybody sung happy birthday. The teachers read out a book the kids had put together during the day. Each kid had drawn a picture and sent Ruby a wish for her birthday. Based off 5 things they'd learnt about her that morning -  that that her favourite food is Spaghetti Bolognese, and that she likes toys, balloons and the colour red.

Best bit was how proud Ruby was to have us there.

Short and sweet vid of us coming in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVepQeY5GtQ

Ruby’s birthday book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAXbSzxqsAE

Ruby turns 5 and goes mad

Another bash. This time at the craft shop round the corner on 94th and Amsterdam with tons of Ruby's little mates from school and some friends w/ their kids.

Post-nap and pre-party Ruby and Eben

With Olivia

With Ellie

And bff Emma

Some other fots to remember the day:

It really was a GREAT party.  Here's a quick vid of happy birthday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dESzV1gy-fs

Party rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fmfm_jnIYI

And limbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsjNrHGBD6k