Second Thanksgiving

Mom, thrilled to be at her brother's house

Family schedules being what they were, we ended up having two Thanksgivings this year; one on Thursday at my in-laws' apartment in the city, and then a second feast on Friday, at my Uncle Walter & Aunt Eva's house on Long Island.

Mom and her brother, my Uncle Walter

Both of my cousins came in with their families and cooked up a storm. We sprang Mom from the nursing home and brought her over to Walt & Eva's house for the first time since her game-changing fall last May.

We cooked, ate, played, took a long walk in the woods, shot hoops and tossed frisbees at the local elementary school, and talked, and talked, and talked.

 

 

Mom sat with Eva (now completely bed-bound) for a long, long time, eating and talking and then finally dozing off together for a bit.

 

 

A lovely day.

Here are a few more pictures, and hopefully I will be back with more words soon.

Of Grandsons and Soccer Boys

My nephew Simon, Mom and me on Monday

I've got a mostly picture post for you here today (can't say "wordless" because when am I truly ever?) as we ramp up for Thanksgiving. No I'm not making a turkey, just some side dishes, but still, Jake has a mere half-day of school today, and we're in for yet another long weekend, so anything I need to get done for ME in the next four days has to be wrapped up today by noon.

So, the hot points of the week in image: Last weekend was the end of soccer, Ethan on Saturday and Jake on Sunday (And I am so grateful that we have wonderful Special Needs divisions of Soccer, Basketball and Baseball here in the city, so Jake can play whatever his brother does, too)...

Ethan played goalie for a quarter

Ethan, proud of his soccer trophy

Jake loves being a part of the game

Jake, proud of his soccer trophy

His favorite part? The spinning ball at the top.

And then, on Monday, my nephew Simon was in town with his girlfriend, Rachel. (Not to be confused with his sister Rachel. If this thing lasts - and I hope it does as she's smart and lovely - it's going to get complicated. Someone will need a nickname.) They live in LA and were doing the East Coast family tour for the holidays.

I drove them out to Long Island to see Mom (his grandmother). She was delighted to see Simon and meet Rachel. We sprung Mom from the home, took her out for lunch at a Japanese restaurant in town - something I like to do whenever I have a chance.

Afterwards, I drove her around town and we parked at the harbor dock so she could see the water and the boats. I love giving her new vistas, something my nature-loving mother gets so little of now that she is effectively immobilized.

Mom, tucking in to her bento box. She was always good with chopsticks.

Mom and her Grandson, Simon

Mom, happy to be with family

I was so happy to see Mom so happy. Can't wait 'til Friday when I bring her to her brother Walter's house for our day-late Thanksgiving Day celebration with all my cousins.

Wordless Wednesday: NY Comic Con!

Jake and some Power Rangers at NY Comic Con

This past weekend was NY Comic Con, an annual event for our family, as Dan is "in the biz" and I've been bringing the boys for the last few years.

The boys love hanging out at their Dad's booth

Ethan as Link, at the Javitz entrance

Ethan went costumed as Link from The Legend of Zelda (video game) again, a bit disappointed that only a handful of people asked to take his picture, versus a multitude last year.

Jake, as always, was thrilled to see and "meet" his favorite characters, especially the Japanimation kind. Thank goodness he is more of a sensory-seeking than sensory-overload kind of autistic kid, or he would have been undone by the throngs and noise.

Jake saying hello to the Captain

Fascinated by a Dragonball Z tableau

Holy Lego Batman, Robin!

This year was more crowded than ever, but we still managed to have a lot of fun while eating only a minimum of overpriced chazerai.

(Yes I collapsed when we got home Sunday night.)

Wordless Wednesday: Cheerful Things

Ethan has taken up Soccer!

I fully realize yesterday's post while lyrical, was also quite melancholic. And though that's just the way I've been rolling lately, I don't want to constantly be bringing you all down with me.

So in an effort to lighten things up around here... may I offer a few pictures of some cheerful things from the past week or so:

I saw THIS while passing the Guggenheim on the 5th Avenue bus. Cool.

Jake went to a birthday party and got a balloon

My latest pedicure: electric metallic blue!

Ethan's soccer shoes: electric metallic blue!

Finally: Ethan playing basketball 1 on 1 with a Globetrotter!

And THIS right here? Much more news tomorrow. The Harlem Globetrotters are AWESOME and you can find out for yourself on October 7th! (Come back tomorrow to hear all about it, or scroll down to the bottom of THIS POST if you just can't wait.)

Wordless Wednesday: Ethan has fun

Ethan in Mets stadium, on the field

This past weekend Ethan was back from camp, but Jacob was not home yet, so he had a little taste of only-childhood. He got a haircut, new shoes for school (his feet grown a size and a half over the summer!) and went to a Mets game with just us, his parents. Wanna see?

The "Back-to-School" Haircut:

Ethan's Haircut: before (looking Dylanesque again)

Ethan's Haircut: after (and yes, that's gel in there, he's STYLIN' now)

New Shoes:

new shoes - with laces

Mets Ball Game (they won!):

Up in the cheap seats, but still having fun

It just so happened that on Sunday there was a special "kids run the bases" event after the game, so Ethan got to break in his new sneakers in the red clay dirt of the Mets ball field. Awesome!

And then Jake came home and the fighting began again. Oh well, brothers, ya know.

My Lazy-Ass Thursdays Post

No there is no such meme thing but I missed Wordless Wednesday, so thought I'd make up some excuse for a pictures-mostly post because I seriously have no time for anything but.

So here's some pictures from the past week (she says, tossing them randomly at her blog, hoping they'll stick):

The boys played basketball together Sunday AND Wednesday. Win!

On Tuesday I went to see my mother. She loves to pick things - flowers and greenery - wherever she goes. Used to embarrass the hell out of me as a kid. Now it just seems sweet, and a sign that she is feeling more "herself" finally.

And yes some of this crunch is of my own making. I REALLY didn't have the time to take time off and go to the Listen to Your Mother reunion lunch hosted by Kathy at her beautiful home by the Husdon River.

But how could I stay away? More pictures coming later, but here's a taste, a tease:

Kathy in her kitchen

On Kathy's front porch

And... I'm outa here... I got a double birthday party to prep for, yo.

z.

Wordless Wednesday for Real: My Crew

It's true! I am too tired for words. Squashed so flat you could slide me though the mail slot. So instead, here's a few recent pictures of some of the folks I dearly love:

School Mornings with Jake

Ethan in an elevator

Mom in Hospital, Day 12

So, I'll just let that do for a post, as we come to the end of my mother's day 13 in the hospital. More words tomorrow.