It's official! I'm no longer a wimp

We have had such a wonderful week! Realizing that Blake would start school this coming Monday, we decided to paint the town red while we had the chance . I had an outlined agenda for each day of the week- One day we visited the Prospect Park Zoo and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Another day we spent on Coney Island at the NY Aquarium, beach and boardwalk. We walked through the Central Park Zoo and Tisch Children's Zoo where we saw a few polar bears (Evy's favorite animal). We walked all of Manhattan- Central Park, Time Square, visited the big Toys 'R' Us, Hershey's and M&M store. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, ended up in DUMBO (artistic district of Brooklyn Heights) and had a delicious lunch and ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

I've really made strides in my effort to take both children on the subway. I think I'll be ready to do it by myself next week! The stairs are the killer because you have to either a. dismantle the stroller and carry/hold hands down the stairs with the kids while carrying the stroller, or b. bounce both kids in the stroller down the stairs (most moms do this). I've tried both ways and in either case I'm sweating bullets and looking like the world's most frazzled mom. Most people are really kind and give sympathetic looks, but it is still quite embarrassing for me!

Funny story- all week I tried manuevering the subway stairs by myself, despite the fact that Blake was with me. I would tell him to stand away so that I could see if I'd be able to go it alone. He'd watch close by and only help if I appeared desperate. So... it was really funny because all the people heading up and down the stairs could see that I was struggling and could also see Blake nearby doing very little. I could tell they were feeling for me as I attempted to carry a heavy jogging stroller, backpack, sippy cup, 2 children, jackets, etc, etc, while Blake did nothing.
Yeah.... he received quite a few dirty looks! It was funny.

One last note: the moms that I've met here so far are really, and I mean REALLY good sports. They are tough cookies! Husbands arrive home at 9pm regularly, or they even spend the night at work! They may be at the office on Saturdays. There is no affordable preschools around here, no affordable babysitting. Very few sources of relief from children! But these gals just do what needs to be done, despite the challenging
circumstances--and with a great attitude. They do hard things- subway being one of them! Some of the ladies at church invited me to a camp out- 2 nights, 3 days-over the 4th of July. I was thrilled, assuming both Blake and I were invited. I quickly discovered that only mothers and children attend! They do this every year. Can you imagine camping with no husband and two children? Well... I've decided to do it! Typically I am such a wimpy mom . But, if they can do it, so can I. Wish me luck!!