Happy 5th Birthday, Aidan!

My Little Circus Performer

Aidan did a GREAT job at his very first set of performances at Circus Juventas, debuting as a little sailor in the Toddler program. Though he's been doing this for over 2 years, this was his first show. He totally hammed it up for the audience, and definitely had a blast. He's excited to move onto the Kinder program this summer. Below, here is a video from his very first performance. Please excuse my terrible video skills - I clearly need to improve. 

And his final performance, lovingly filmed by Uncle Booke while I ran the spotlights. 

While Aidan performed in the Purple Show, I ran spots for the Yellow Show and rigged the Blue Show, so I didn't really have the opportunity to take much video of the other acts, let alone watch the show. I did have tickets for the last Purple performance today, but since they needed another person on spots (and I do so love torturing kids with the over-sized flashlights), I agreed. I did manage to get a couple of videos when I wasn't spotting, moving around mats, or running the spot lights. Enjoy!

Bungee Trapeze

Cloud Swing, Mexican Cloud Swing, and Swinging Trapeze

Great job to all the performers and volunteers for the May Shows - see you this summer for Oz!

Bipolar Weather

I think Mother Nature is a little confused this year. It seems She simply cannot figure out what to do with Spring. Observe:

4/23/2013 - Lots of fresh snow and 30 degrees. 

4/26/2013 - 72 degrees and sunny

Almost all of the snow melted, and we could swim at the lake!

Five glorious days of sunshine and summer weather! And then...

May 1, 2013 - Proof there is green grass under the impending snow. 

May 2, 2013 - 8-11+ inches of fresh snow, 35 degrees. 

[Also worth noting, friends 40 miles west of us didn't get any snow. What gives?]

Happy Spring!

...or not...

April 19th

April 22nd

April 23rd

A Day in the City

There are no photos of the beginning part of the trip because, at 3:30am, we were a bit cranky. Our flight left at 6:10am, and got into LGA around 10am.

Bus ride out of LGA into Manhattan

Beware the creepy guys dressed as cartoon characters in Times Square, who hug your kids, bully you into taking a photo, and then demand tips. We'd much rather pose in front of NY's finest. 

Brunch at Nuchas - tasty!

Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History

Studying my favorite - Archaeopteryx!

Excited to ride "the under ground trains"

Aidan decided that subways are an excellent way to travel.

Woohoo!

Kobe beef at Yakiniku West - awesome!

Finger licking good sushi!

This was our second plate of sushi; the first was devoured long before it occurred to me to photograph its awesomeness. 

Just a short walk to my favorite pastry shop from back when I lived at Union Square...Venieros! My roommates and I found it by accident long before we realized it was famous. 

After selecting a box of tasty treats to bring home, we treated ourselves to some gelato. 

Cab ride to the ferry because, after being awake since 3:30am, we felt we earned being a little lazy. 

Thumb wars on the ferry into Jersey City - these boats are WAY nicer than I remember them. Heated cabin? Comfy couches? Carpet?! Wow!

The Freedom Tower gets bigger every year!

If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to just rent the penthouse at the Hilton for three months out of the year - just so I can stare at this view every night. 

Cheese!

Spotswood Fire Dept

The only thing cooler than getting to ride on a fire truck is getting to wash it afterwards. 

Spring Lake, NJ

One very happy boy, super excited to play at the beach. Never mind that it was 50 degrees outside, or that the water was who knows how cold. Nothing was going to slow down this Wisconsin boy! I guess it helps when you normally live in a climate 30+ degrees colder....