Julianna: First Grade
Katie: Fourth Grade
Friday, November 20, 2009
so much to tell
As usual, things have really been hopping around here.
Sigh... summer, why did you have to end?
Yes, I am a broken record.
Summer, summer, summer, we get it! You like summer! Get over it!
Katie's class went on a field trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano. They took Amtrak from Union Station. They really enjoyed their day. I think I was the only mom who had taken that exact same field trip herself in fourth grade! (except we took Amtrak from the Santa Ana station, which is much closer to San Juan Capistrano, of course) I was pretty tickled about it.
Julianna's class also got to take a field trip to see a short production of "Charlotte's Web," which she liked very much.
Nick's class went on a field trip to the local fire station. This was the only field trip that I was able to chaperon. I have been to that fire station for many, many field trips!
The kids and I went down to Disneyland one Friday because my wonderful friends Anna & Justin were there that day with their four-year-old daughter, Maya. They live in Houston, and I hadn't seen them in almost five years. They are expecting a boy in January! It was such fun to see them. My kids fell in love with Maya! They have asked if we can go visit her in Houston; and when we left them at Disneyland, we were not even to the parking shuttle when they said "we miss them already!"
The kids and I went back to Disneyland (California Adventure, actually) on Wednesday the 11th, because both schools had Veterans' Day off. I had heard it would be a busy day, but we decided to give California Adventure a try - it's less crowded than Disneyland. Goodness, the parking was difficult. It took forever to wait in line to park, and we had to park in some far-away lot and then find our way (on foot) to the Entrance Plaza. I was pretty frustrated, but the fun of Disney cheered me up quickly! We only did about four rides/attractions, because I wanted to get home before rush hour... that's the great thing about Annual Passes!
We took the kids to see the Michael Jackson movie, "This is It." Eric and I thought it was very interesting to watch that rehearsal footage. The kids liked it as well, but thought it was a bit long for them. Katie was afraid during the "Thriller" part, but Nick and Julianna thought it was the coolest part of the whole movie!
Katie and Eric went horseback riding with their Trailblazers group (formerly Indian Princesses). Katie also had to find time to meet with her group for the Explorer Project. I think this was the first group project she has had to do that required time outside of class. It was challenging, to say the least. Between orchestra, violin lessons, choir, Girl Scouts, volleyball practice and games, and tap class, she is keeping herself busy.
Julianna is also taking violin now. She wanted to join the after school Beginning Violins class with some of her first grade friends and is having a lot of fun with it.
All three kids decided to play in the Winter basketball league. Nick is particularly excited, as expected! He's also going to play tee ball in the Spring.
We watched "The Incredibles" for the first time last weekend. The kids LOVED it! They sure are growing up!
Sigh... summer, why did you have to end?
Yes, I am a broken record.
Summer, summer, summer, we get it! You like summer! Get over it!
Katie's class went on a field trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano. They took Amtrak from Union Station. They really enjoyed their day. I think I was the only mom who had taken that exact same field trip herself in fourth grade! (except we took Amtrak from the Santa Ana station, which is much closer to San Juan Capistrano, of course) I was pretty tickled about it.
Julianna's class also got to take a field trip to see a short production of "Charlotte's Web," which she liked very much.
Nick's class went on a field trip to the local fire station. This was the only field trip that I was able to chaperon. I have been to that fire station for many, many field trips!
The kids and I went down to Disneyland one Friday because my wonderful friends Anna & Justin were there that day with their four-year-old daughter, Maya. They live in Houston, and I hadn't seen them in almost five years. They are expecting a boy in January! It was such fun to see them. My kids fell in love with Maya! They have asked if we can go visit her in Houston; and when we left them at Disneyland, we were not even to the parking shuttle when they said "we miss them already!"
At this point, Maya was too tired to continue :-)
The kids and I went back to Disneyland (California Adventure, actually) on Wednesday the 11th, because both schools had Veterans' Day off. I had heard it would be a busy day, but we decided to give California Adventure a try - it's less crowded than Disneyland. Goodness, the parking was difficult. It took forever to wait in line to park, and we had to park in some far-away lot and then find our way (on foot) to the Entrance Plaza. I was pretty frustrated, but the fun of Disney cheered me up quickly! We only did about four rides/attractions, because I wanted to get home before rush hour... that's the great thing about Annual Passes!
We took the kids to see the Michael Jackson movie, "This is It." Eric and I thought it was very interesting to watch that rehearsal footage. The kids liked it as well, but thought it was a bit long for them. Katie was afraid during the "Thriller" part, but Nick and Julianna thought it was the coolest part of the whole movie!
Katie and Eric went horseback riding with their Trailblazers group (formerly Indian Princesses). Katie also had to find time to meet with her group for the Explorer Project. I think this was the first group project she has had to do that required time outside of class. It was challenging, to say the least. Between orchestra, violin lessons, choir, Girl Scouts, volleyball practice and games, and tap class, she is keeping herself busy.
Julianna is also taking violin now. She wanted to join the after school Beginning Violins class with some of her first grade friends and is having a lot of fun with it.
All three kids decided to play in the Winter basketball league. Nick is particularly excited, as expected! He's also going to play tee ball in the Spring.
We watched "The Incredibles" for the first time last weekend. The kids LOVED it! They sure are growing up!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Halloween!
Halloween almost always begins with a trip to the pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, I usually can't find a day to drive out to the pumpkin farm. Instead we tend to go to the pumpkin patch down on the corner, and each child seeks out the pumpkin with the size, shape, and stem he or she likes best.
The next Halloween events were at the kids' schools. The girls got all dressed up to participate in the parade!
"Gabriella" from High School Musical and "The Ghost of Betsy Ross" headed off to a fun day at school!
What fun costumes, huh? Miss Rogers didn't recognize Julianna in that wig, and lots of people loved the Betsy Ross idea.
Katie had wanted to wear the stars & stripes dress for Halloween, and her first idea was to be "Lady Liberty" or perhaps a "Liberty Fairy." Then when all of her friends decided they wanted to march in the "Scary" category in the parade, she told me she wanted to somehow make the "Liberty" dress into a scary costume. I suggested she could be "The Ghost of Betsy Ross," and we could do ghost makeup and make a tattered ghost-like shawl. I made her the white cap and put together the flag-sewing prop as well. I love it!
At Nick's school they have Orange & Black Day, with no costumes or candy but lots of orange and black pumpkin fun. They all get together and sing a few songs for the parents, which Eric got to see this year.
After spending most of the morning at Orange & Black Day (including reading the kids a story), I left before the song performance and went over to Holy Family for the parade.
Nick and Daddy got there sometime during the parade.
After the parade, Holy Family kids are dismissed. Daddy went back to work, and the kids and I went to Souplantation for lunch. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon making jack-o-lanterns.
Mommy did most (not all) of the cutting on Julianna and Nick's pumpkins. They each chose intricate patterns from our pattern books!
On October 31, we went to a Halloween party in the afternoon. Katie decided that she didn't want to wear her "Ghost of Betsy Ross" costume again. She had several reasons for this (none of which made much sense to me). Some of the things she told me were that she "freaked herself out," that "the makeup was itchy," and that she "didn't like not being herself."
It was suggested to her that perhaps she could just be regular Betsy Ross, but she decided to wear her prince costume from the Third Grade Literature Tea project.
I had decided a few weeks ago that this year, for the first time in a long time, I would wear a costume. I went as Snow White.
After Katie put on her prince costume, I realized that she and I were a good pair! It's kind of fun the way that all turned out!
Here are Gabriella, the Cowardly Lion (with his Courage medal), and the prince!
At the party, I took this shot of the kids, with Catherine & Emma, at the cupcake decorating/craft table.
While I was trick-or-treating in the Condits' neighborhood with the kids and the Condits, Eric was back at our house handing out candy!
The next Halloween events were at the kids' schools. The girls got all dressed up to participate in the parade!
"Gabriella" from High School Musical and "The Ghost of Betsy Ross" headed off to a fun day at school!
What fun costumes, huh? Miss Rogers didn't recognize Julianna in that wig, and lots of people loved the Betsy Ross idea.
Katie had wanted to wear the stars & stripes dress for Halloween, and her first idea was to be "Lady Liberty" or perhaps a "Liberty Fairy." Then when all of her friends decided they wanted to march in the "Scary" category in the parade, she told me she wanted to somehow make the "Liberty" dress into a scary costume. I suggested she could be "The Ghost of Betsy Ross," and we could do ghost makeup and make a tattered ghost-like shawl. I made her the white cap and put together the flag-sewing prop as well. I love it!
At Nick's school they have Orange & Black Day, with no costumes or candy but lots of orange and black pumpkin fun. They all get together and sing a few songs for the parents, which Eric got to see this year.
After spending most of the morning at Orange & Black Day (including reading the kids a story), I left before the song performance and went over to Holy Family for the parade.
Catherine was "Vampira."
Julianna marched in the "Fantasy" category.
Nick and Daddy got there sometime during the parade.
After the parade, Holy Family kids are dismissed. Daddy went back to work, and the kids and I went to Souplantation for lunch. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon making jack-o-lanterns.
Katie only needed a little help with the scooping and the drawing of the face of her pumpkin. She cut the pieces out and did all of the finishing touches - just wait until you see this jack-o-lantern a few pictures down from here!
Mommy did most (not all) of the cutting on Julianna and Nick's pumpkins. They each chose intricate patterns from our pattern books!
Julianna made this little jack-o-lantern completely by herself!
Julianna's jack-o-lanterns
Nick's jack-o-lantern, the headless horseman
Katie's jack-o-lantern
On October 31, we went to a Halloween party in the afternoon. Katie decided that she didn't want to wear her "Ghost of Betsy Ross" costume again. She had several reasons for this (none of which made much sense to me). Some of the things she told me were that she "freaked herself out," that "the makeup was itchy," and that she "didn't like not being herself."
It was suggested to her that perhaps she could just be regular Betsy Ross, but she decided to wear her prince costume from the Third Grade Literature Tea project.
I had decided a few weeks ago that this year, for the first time in a long time, I would wear a costume. I went as Snow White.
After Katie put on her prince costume, I realized that she and I were a good pair! It's kind of fun the way that all turned out!
Here are Gabriella, the Cowardly Lion (with his Courage medal), and the prince!
At the party, I took this shot of the kids, with Catherine & Emma, at the cupcake decorating/craft table.
While I was trick-or-treating in the Condits' neighborhood with the kids and the Condits, Eric was back at our house handing out candy!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The U2 Concert
Eric and I went to the U2 Concert at the Rose Bowl. What an event! It was the biggest crowd ever at the Rose Bowl: 96,000 people. It was being broadcast live on YouTube, making more history. We love U2, and it was all happening in our beloved Pasadena!
Eric bought the tickets back in May (or March?), right when they went on sale, and we'd been looking forward to it with excitement ever since!
Darell and Kathryn babysat for us, and we headed out a few hours before show time so we could take the shuttle over from PCC. Once at the Rose Bowl, we got some dinner and walked over to our tunnel, which turned out to be right under the Rose Bowl sign, next to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. We checked out the history of the Rose Bowl games, making sure to find the Stanford plaques!
We had no trouble getting to our seats, but as show time neared, we heard stories of long lines at the tunnels (45 minute waits). We didn't leave our seats - we didn't want to risk getting stuck out there!
The Black Eyed Peas were the opening act, and they were great! So much energy. I've never been impressed by Fergie before, but she knocked my socks off when she sang "Sweet Child of Mine" with Slash. WOW.
What can be said about U2? Their music is very important to me. Listening to The Joshua Tree has gotten me through some tough times, particularly the first year of teaching, when I felt all alone in Pasadena and overwhelmed by teaching. While listening to that album, I realized that I could change my mindset and create a feeling of satisfaction for myself.
Without question U2 is the preeminent rock band for people my age. The music, the activism, the respect for the fans... the band does seem to be a force for good.
So, my thoughts... well, it was amazing. U2 really puts on a show for a Rose Bowl sized crowd. One of the very few stadium bands around right now! The lights, the technology, the sounds... Seeing a concert in a stadium is an experience -- when everyone cheers, and far more moving, when everyone is singing, it's quite a sound to hear and feel. When everyone holds up their cell phone lights, and you look out at those galaxies of stars, you really feel like you are part of something!!
On the other hand, a stadium is a big place, and for most people, the performers are very far away. Our seats were pretty close, but they were on the back side and the U2 guys didn't come around to us as often as we had hoped. Someone theorized it was because of the YouTube filming. I spent a lot of the concert wishing I was in the SRO General Admission area in front of the stage, where I could really see the musicians. I enjoy watching music being made, as well as hearing it. You can't really get that part of a concert when you're sitting in a stadium.
So on the whole I had some pluses and minuses, but I would not have wanted to miss being there, being a part of it all!
That blur is the lead singer, Bono, right in front of us!And what, pray tell, was happening with Kathryn, Darell, and the kids back at home?
Gourd decorating, movie watching, and, apparently, picture taking!
Hmmm, it looks like they had fun!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Yay Cousins!
What a wonderful gift it was having our cousins at our house! We had so much fun, and absolutely loved welcoming them into our home!
They arrived to a dinner gathering - we had a few families over for dinner to welcome them to town. I made a cake, which had been the plan when we had discussed them coming here for the boys' birthdays. I thought it would be fun to surprise them by making the cake anyway! It says "Yay! Cousins!"
It was great being all together in one house. They were so cute together (this is a bedtime story)!
The next day, we all went to Disneyland together!
While the girls were at school one day, Sarah and I took the boys to the golf course for some mini golf. Then, when the girls got home, the kids all went swimming.
Another day was spent at the aquarium and the beach in Long Beach.
After the beach, Noni arrived at our house to join in the fun (soccer games, Holy Family Fair and my band's gig). And then it was over too soon!
They arrived to a dinner gathering - we had a few families over for dinner to welcome them to town. I made a cake, which had been the plan when we had discussed them coming here for the boys' birthdays. I thought it would be fun to surprise them by making the cake anyway! It says "Yay! Cousins!"
It was great being all together in one house. They were so cute together (this is a bedtime story)!
The next day, we all went to Disneyland together!
While the girls were at school one day, Sarah and I took the boys to the golf course for some mini golf. Then, when the girls got home, the kids all went swimming.
Another day was spent at the aquarium and the beach in Long Beach.
After the beach, Noni arrived at our house to join in the fun (soccer games, Holy Family Fair and my band's gig). And then it was over too soon!
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