'Tis the Season!

While turkeys won't be stuffed nor trees trimmed for another month, for many Brooklyn families, the 2009 Holiday Season is already unofficially underway! As the Village Halloween Parade showcased the best adult costumes in New York City, the tiny cardboard box N trains, miniature princesses and pint-sized superheroes that flooded the streets of Brooklyn during the Park Slope Halloween Parade proved that for our city's tiny residents, the season of magic has begun.
Parents and other astute observers of children know that for several weeks beginning in mid-October, children become filled with an energy and playful spirit in anticipation of candy and costume parties, which makes it difficult to focus their attention anywhere else. For the Explorers in 2: Cool for School on Friday, that meant a fun day of games and crafts were in store for them, as Amy and Yamileth abandoned any hopes of flashcards in favor of bowling and board games (Chutes and Ladders, anyone? Thelonius will give you a run for your money!)
At the temporary home of Explorers Club on Atlantic Avenue, Gayla and Brittany opted for a full-blown celebration. After all, not only was Friday the day before Halloween, it was also the very last day that the most enriching pre-school program in Brooklyn spent at the location before moving to New York City Explorers' amazing new home on Schermerhorn! Black and orange balloons, ghosts and bats hung from the ceiling and walls, and goody bags waited to be placed in the eager hands of the Explorers, as games, dancing and singing made our pre-Halloween celebration one to remember. We didn't think Laudan, Lev or Shayna could get any more adorable, but dressed as a kitten, a fuzzy Elmo, and a super-huggable Cookie Monster, the three of them were too cute for words! The afternoon was made extra special by visits from Reza (as Handy Manny) and his dad; Philip (as a dinosaur) and his mom; Noe's parents; Coley's dad; and Lili and Simone's mom and grammy!
We hope everyone had a very Happy Halloween, and that Noe and his parents, who enjoyed the American custom for the first time since arriving from France, enjoyed seeing their neighborhood transformed into a wonderland of cute characters!
So far it's shapin up to be a "boo"-tiful season!