Talent Show

Sometime at the end of January the kids brought home information about the school talent show. Connor has refused in the past, and I knew it wasn't something he would even consider, but I thought Isabel might like to participate. So I asked her. She immediately said no. I asked again, a few days later. No again. A few more asks, a few more subsequent and emphatic negative responses. I gave it one more push (because she loves to sing and perform). This time I threw in some enticement.

"Isabel," I told her, "I'll give you a whole candy bar if you do the talent show (imagine that, one whole candy bar! We roll with the big boys, I'm telling you)." Anther no. I told her that's fine, I'm dropping it.

Maybe 30 minutes later she came to me and said, "so... I've decided to be in the talent show, but it's not because of the candy. It's because I realized I have a talent to share with others." Sold! And for a mere 75 cents or thereabouts! How 'bout them apples?

She decided to sing "You're a Grand Old Flag," because she loves patriotic songs. She rehearsed with a few motions that she made up on her own, got a cute outfit, auditioned, made it through the dress rehearsal, and did a fabulous job in the talent show on Friday night. She even had a few teachers comment on her amazing pitch and timing! I do think she has a decent voice, although she battled some nerves during the actual show. But seriously, it takes decent confidence for a kindergartner to get up and sing a solo in front of hundreds of people! We are so very proud of her.

Afterward, I asked her how she felt when she saw how many people were there. "Well," said said, "I was nervous, but I also knew I could do it." Major life lesson: check!

Ready for the show:

With her good friend Bryn, who was in a rock band for the show:
Hallelujah for the iPhone/earbuds/Elmo video to help Mason stay quiet during the show-


In addition to our little family, Isabel was fortunate to have Brian's parents, her two uncles and an aunt there to support her. She was thrilled with the balloons and candy from Uncle Nate and Aunt Alli!

The show went really late, so we saved our celebratory banana split party for the next day (I upgraded from a candy bar). A well-earned reward!

Mason is clearly yummier than any treat ever could be-

And the performance! Sorry for the sideways video, I keep rotating it but it still uploads sideways. FYI, every time they changed the mic setup they did a sound check. She performed in the middle of the show.

Preschool thus far

Lucas has had a fabulous preschool year thus far. His teacher is just amazing and preschool is definitely a highlight of his week. He has recently started reading, and wants to identify letters/sounds/words all the time. It's always so great to see a young one put the pieces together and start reading. I will never tire of the wonder.
In addition to all the awesome academics, they do monthly field trips. I have been able to help with each of them, as has Isabel, who is off of school on T and Th, the days Lucas has preschool. Thanks to Miss Wendy for letting her join the fun. Thus far, we've been to:

The fire station. We've toured lots of fire stations, but this one was probably the most in depth. They even got to spray the hose!

Our local Safeway, where they got a great behind-the-scenes tour, and were able to blow up a helium balloon, decorate a cookie in the bakery, and purchase a small items and check themselves out!


Our local Papa Murphy's. They got a behind-the-scenes look, saw the huge refrigerator, watched dough being made, and got to make their own mini pizzas to take home.

It is unfathomable to me that Lucas will be starting kindergarten in August. Keep up the great work Lucas!

Dancing queen, reading queen

Isabel's first kindergarten report was a glowing success. In almost every area she was graded as above grade and either mastery or advanced. I find it interesting, though, that this was the comment on her report card: "Isabel is a model for behavior. But please remind her that she doesn't need to be so serious. She never smiles when she is trying to do what's right."

I really need to do post sometime about the infinite number of ways in which she and I are the same. And perfectionist overachiever is just one of the ways. When I was younger my friends used to gently tease me about how seriously I took things like school and dance. I totally understand her because she is a mini me. Not so much in looks - although there's some resemblance - but in personality and behavior. I am seriously talking CLONES!

Her teacher is considering moving her to a first grade reading group because she said not only is Isabel the top reader in her class, but by a long shot. We are looking into this, and if the principal agrees to it, it will start after Christmas break. I thinks she just came into kindy with a really strong grasp of language, which developed at a really early age (like full-on adult conversations at 18 months, thus astounding speech therapists and developmental pediatricians). Kindergarteners come into school at such a variety of levels, I suspect she will begin to blend in more as time progresses. Although I certainly would like for her to always remain top of the class. She simply loves words and school in general. Like her mama.

She always has been excelling in dance. She started the year as a 2nd year Shining Star (primarily 5 and 6 year olds), and last month her teacher asked me for permission to move her to the Dance II class (mostly 7 and 8 year olds) because she said her ability to listen and perform far exceeded the rest of her class and she spent most of her time waiting for everyone to catch up). So I agreed, and it has been a good move. Isabel seems to enjoy dance a lot more since the move and is definitely more challenged. And she likes that she is now learning jazz in addition to tap and ballet.

It is just interesting how children are all driven in different ways and by different things. She definitely likes to please her teachers and challenge herself and achieve the uppermost level in her pursuits. I know, because I do too.

Anyways, her Dance II observation week was last week, so here are some pics and video of her new class. Very proud of her!

3rd grade C.A.M.P night

Our elementary school does a wonderful curriculum night for each grade, scattered throughout the school year, called C.A.M.P. night (classroom, art, music, PE). The 3rd grade C.A.M.P night was last week, and it was a great opportunity to spend an evening at school with Connor and see what he's been up to.

In the CLASSROOM they've been working and learning about gratitude, thanksgiving, pilgrims, the United States and freedom. He showed us the modern-day and pilgrim villages the class built, as well as a number of related projects-

For ART the uber fabulous art teacher was doing demonstrations on making origami pilgrims. Uber fun!

For MUSIC the students performed three songs they have been learning. I seriously loved these songs. One is a Native American (Iroquois) song about a naughty baby bear who has to sleep alone outside of his den and sings himself this lullaby so he's not afraid; one is about first coming to this country (such a fun song!); and the third is a thanksgiving prayer, and I was pleasantly surprised that they were allowed to sing "thank you God." These videos are at the end of the post.

For PE they had bowling set up in the darkened gym with fun disco lights and music.

We are very happy with our school and are grateful for the good, well-rounded education they are receiving and the opportunities that go along with that. Enjoy the videos!-

Halloween 2011

Halloween was a bit low-key for us this year. No costumes at school (this is not new), no ward trunk or treat (this was new), no friend parties. Which basically left Halloween itself. So we packed it into one day.

I couldn't bring myself to make a sweet breakfast, in light of the class parties and trick-or-treating that would ensue. So I made malt-o-meal with sugar pumpkin shapes. The children fortunately deemed this acceptable. Good thing. 'Cuz there was no plan B.

Connor and Isabel had costume-free class parties at school. Isabel's class was very structured, they rotated between game, craft and treat stations. Very calm and kindergarten-like.

Connor's class had a pajama day and had a board game/treat fest. He's getting so good at chess, thanks to 2 years on the chess club at school.

I kept dinner fairly healthy too, but still tried to make it fun and festive. So we had swamp milk, grilled cheese sandwiches, mummy dogs, and carrot critters.

Fortunately the children chose pretty simple costumes this year, seeing as how they only wore them once. Connor wanted to be a black widow spider-

Isabel chose to be a butterfly-

Lucas wanted to be a ghost. With his skeleton shirt and black eye makeup, without the sheet he ended up looking like a member of the Cobra Kai (all hail the Karate Kid!).

Mason was a train engineer-

It was a gloriously warm and lovely evening, and we had a great time trick-or-treating. The haul was substantial.