Month: October 2021

Halloween 2021

This year, Gigi insisted that costume participation would be a family affair. Dave and I were happy to oblige — Halloween 2020 was for the birds… it was time to go all out.

Halloween in our sweet Tribeca neighborhood is pure magic. Under normal (i.e., non-pandemic) circumstances, the Halloween celebration kicks off with a parade and party featuring the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band. The celebration was paused for Covid in 2020, but this year, the show went on. Gigi was so excited for the parade. It started on Greenwich and Beach Streets and finished in Washington Market Park. We initially took a spot in front of Sarabeth’s.

Everyone — kids, families, pets, EVERYONE! — is invited to “be in the parade.” When I made Gigi aware and asked if she wanted to “be in it,” I wholeheartedly believed she would turn me down. But she enthusiastically accepted, so we stepped right into line. Gigi was a natural — she waved and smiled at the crowd as we walked down Greenwich.

We’re in the parade!

When we arrived at WMP, Gigi grabbed a handful of treats from the tables out front, and then we entered the park and the real party began! The band put on an amazing show and we didn’t stop dancing the entire time.

Best seat in the house!
We danced the entire time!!
(I have twirled her like this a thousand times since she was about two years old. We can be walking down the street, and I’ll just give her a little spin… I hope she always remembers it.)

After the park celebration, trick or treating commenced! In NYC, there are two ways to trick or treat: going door to door to neighborhood store fronts (restaurants, bars, bakeries, shops, etc.) or going door to door in your apartment building. This year, our family did BOTH!

Trick or treating in Tribeca!

When we’d had our fill of neighborhood trick or treating, we stopped at The Odeon to enjoy an early dinner (in our costumes!), and then went home to experience Halloween with our neighbors. We invited Gigi’s friend, Mila, to join us and the girls had a blast, running door to door to collect their treats.

Strategizing…

Pumpkin Carving 2021

In our family, things come right down to the wire on some holidays, but we always manage get in the full celebration. It had been a busy October, so we put off our pumpkin carving until the day of Halloween. For any parents who get sick of staring at a molding, rotting squash for a month, I’ll point out that there is an obvious advantage to this approach: mere hours after you make that initial incision, the jack-o-lantern is no longer relevant, and it’s time to throw it out and focus on Thanksgiving.

Spooky! (And yes, she’s wearing a Santa ‘nightengown’ — it’s a size 2T and she still wears it with regularity.)

Halloween at School

This year’s Halloween parade at school was a virtual one, so we sent pics of G in costume in advance. How sweet is our girl?

On the Friday before Halloween, kids were invited to take some seasonable liberties with their uniforms. Gigi went the ‘black cat’ route and was fully committed to her character.

Mama Is 40!

Celebrating a birthday — especially a milestone one — amidst a pandemic is WEIRD. Nevertheless, I am so, so grateful for the gift that is another year of life. I have the greatest husband and daughter a girl could ask for, and I love our little life together.

I gave Dave very explicit instructions that I did not want a big party — the past year and a half had thrown us some curveballs and a big soirée just didn’t feel comfortable or appropriate. So, instead, my thoughtful and loving husband organized an intimate dinner with some of my favorite people — Carrie, Blaire, and Micah — at one of my favorite restaurants, Mr. Chow. Originally, Gigi was going to be home with a sitter, but our babysitter got Covid. So, Gigi got to attend her first grown up birthday dinner, and it was absolutely perfect. After dinner, Dave and G went home so the big girls could all go out for drinks. The celebration was everything I wanted.

Making my wish (it was a good one!)
Me, Carrie, Blaire, and Micah.

My little B.

On my actual birthday, Dave and I had the opportunity to attend a gala benefiting The American Academy in Rome. It was by far the biggest event or anything we had done since 2019. I was a bit nervous, but the venue was enormous and the guest list was kept to a minimum. They also required proof of vaccination at the door. It was a lot of fun and the perfect way to celebrate my 40th — we got dressed up and drank good wine and ate good food in a beautiful setting.

I am kicking myself for not having better photos! I don’t have a single one of Dave and me together.

We, of course, missed our little Gigi, but did our best to make the day special. I picked her up from school and we enjoyed treats (ice cream and cookies!) before ballet class.

Pas de chat

Apple Picking!

We took a day trip up to Connecticut to enjoy some quality family time and get into the spirit of the season. We picked apples, visited a pumpkin patch, and enjoyed apple cider and apple cider doughnuts with Benjamin, Grandmother, and Papa Bob, while Ben’s parents, Uncle Joey and Aunt Amey, took care of Gigi’s newborn cousin, Parker.

WEEKEND!

Friday has quickly become our favorite day of the week. Today, Gigi kicked off the weekend with an after school play date with her buddy, Ella, and then we went home and made pizza. After dinner, we snuggled up for Cinderella and Gigi and her daddy did some dancing 🙂

The next day, we headed over to Pier 25 for lots and lots of swinging!

She’s singing to herself. She did this pretty much the entire time. All made-up songs.