Destination: Rock and Roll

Kairi's last chorus concert was definitely worth the price of admission. The elementary chorus is up to 175 members, and they surely do rock! They were asked to wear their hair in a crazy style with colors and glitter. I wasn't intending to go this crazy with Kai's hair, but... it WAS her LAST concert. Anyway, it was a truly great performance - the songs are all accompanied by dancing and motions, and Kai looked like she was having a complete blast in the back row with Sheri. Next year, though, both girls decided to give up chorus in favor of band every morning. Considering they're the entire fifth grade low brass section by themselves, I think that's a pretty good choice!

Still, I hope Kai doesn't forget how much fun it can be to sing out loud!

Dorney Days

It's good to have season passes to Dorney Park again. We had missed out for a couple of years due to financial concerns or the cost of certain mouse-ful vacations south. But Dorney is a scant 15 minutes from our new house, and since we aren't planning vacation until August this year, we thought it was a good investment for family fun. We headed over today for our first day of the season. The cute matching t-shirts were only $5 each, so how could we resist?

Here's a few pics. Kai ADORES this "horse" on the carousel. She's waited in line over and over until she got on it in past years. This year, we lucked out - we were there early enough to be the only people on the whole carousel. I think this steed is meant to be a seahorse - but Kai always calls it the "dragon".
Nicky's most favoritest ride (today, anyway...) was the Whip. Which is odd, because he was completely freaked by the corners on the Wild Mouse - but the corners on this are much faster! Guess that's the difference 60 feet in the air makes....
Good to know they both still like the kiddy rides... though Kai was disappointed she only got on TWO of the five roller coasters she wanted today. We'll be back all summer, girl!
The best part of season passes, though, is that we have time to see the sides of Dorney that day visitors miss. Like the swans and rainbow trout you can feed with pellets from one bridge.... ... and the tiny goslings watched over by their protective mama in this clearing.
So, while it was tough to call it quits after only about four hours, it was good to know that fun's just a short car trip away! And who knows? Maybe walking around in the heat all summer with food too expensive to waste money on will help me lose weight!

Kickin' It With Nicky

"A black belt is just a white belt who never gave up." -Grand Master Jhoon Rhee

It seems like we just started Nicky in TKD yesterday, and here he is already, at his first belt promotion. It actually WASN'T that long ago, but Nicky took to Tae Kwon Do like a duck to water. He is so used to following directions in another language - "plie, ronde de jambe, releve.." that "cha ryuht, kyung nae" came pretty easily. Once he had gotten his black stripe for positive attitude at home, and two orange stripes for kicking technique and effort in class, his instructor said he was ready to graduate with the group that was moving up on Friday.

The actual graduation ceremony was lots of fun. Nicky was highlighted by Sahbumnim Periera, who explained how he had earned his attitude stripe. She recommended him for the Leadership Academy. We got to see many really cool demonstrations of breaking by the various students, and some "martial ballet" (forms to music). Nicky got his new belt, "Advanced White" which is white with a gold stripe. All in all, it was a pretty cool evening. We're very proud of Nicky - he not only really loves Tae Kwon Do, but he's trying hard to do what he's supposed in class and out.

Mini Miracles

Last weekend, I was finally able to plant all the perennial seeds I had bought for my garden. I have never really grown perennials from seeds - usually, I'll buy them already sprouted at our local garden center. But the cheap price and "do-it-yourself-ness" of the seeds struck me this year, especially since I'm starting a garden that will hopefully bloom in front of my house forever.

But here's the thing with seeds. You need a LOT of faith to plant a seed. With a plant, you can watch it grow and say, hmm... that one looks healthy... ohh, that one's not gonna make it... But with a seed, you have to TRUST that it's growing in there somewhere. So a long, slow week passed. My "garden" looked like a patch of dirt. Monday: nothing. Tuesday: nothing. And so on. Was I watering them enough? Too much? Was the area not sunny enough? Was it too cold?

Today, though, my patience was rewarded. All over my garden patch, variations on a theme are appearing - a shoot here, two leaves there, a little green growing thing still trapped in its cracked seed. Daisies and black eyed susans, hollyhocks and columbine...twelve little varieties of brightly blooming plants are pushing their way to the sun.

Each one feels like a little miracle.

Oh, the Drama

I spent a good chunk of this week on finishing out the year for Drama Club. The actors did a great job at Springfest, and a really good job during the performance Thursday night. We had a lot of laughs in these last two weeks, and I'm sorry in one way that the performance year is over. Of course, I'm really, really glad it's over in terms of exhaustion factor!!

Just a Saturday in Spring

Today is notable for being a rare day with nothing at all scheduled. Sure, there are many things we COULD be doing, but nothing that HAS to be done RIGHT NOW.

So, we've goofed a bit, we've worked a bit, and generally enjoyed the beautiful weather and the schedule break.

A picture's worth a thousand words, so here's a few. (The extreme close-up on the flowers is a plea for help - Mom or anyone, can you identify that tree?? It's in our front yard - who knew we had a blossoming tree there?

Photo Safari

Woohoo! I got a new digital camera, so the blog is back in business. I'll backtrack and add the kids' art contest, Kairi's dance competition, and my front garden as I get that nasty film stuff developed. But for now, I'm jumping ahead to today's photo safari at the Philadelphia Zoo.
I've always felt guilty that I can't attend my kids' during-the-day events at school. I never get to go because I only get two personal days a year, and they are usually saved for emergencies or trips. Not to mention, I always miss open house because their school and mine have it on the same night. But today was Kai's last field trip as an elementary student, and I just wasn't going to miss it! Better yet, my group as a chaperone consisted of Kai and her best friend Sheri (we were later joined by Emily and her chaperone).

It was definitely a field trip to remember. From the extremely rare weeknight sleepover to the final giggly bus ride home, the girls had a fabulous time. They rode on draft horses and a safari simulator, had their faces painted and ate pizza, shopped for souvenirs, and, of course, saw lots of AMAZING animals up close. The Philly Zoo is shaded, well-kept, and never smelly. The animals look well cared for and (relatively, anyway) happy. We'll be back at least twice this year, and I can't wait - my only complaint about today was that we just didn't have enough time!

Here are some photo highlights. Well, a few, anyway - it's less than 10% of the pics I took!

Amazing Love

Wow. There's not really much else to say. 'Cause when your husband remembers the day you started dating, 12 years ago, and sends you a dozen gorgeous roses to commemorate the occasion, at school, in front of your whole class and all your teaching buddies, wow is pretty much the only reaction.

Until you read the note. And it says "A rose a year for my Irish rose - I love you more than anything." Then the only appropriate reaction is tears. Even if all your seventh graders are watching. And applauding.

I don't know what I did to deserve someone as wonderful and loving as Scott. I lost my country side a long time ago... but the only appropriate reaction seems to be suggesting itself with a twang:

Every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you.

A Party Fit for a Prince

Nicky was definitely royally treated at Putt U. He had a truly wonderful birthday party. The fun started as we drove toward the mini golf course - it's on the other side of a Jersey wall, so we had to go past and turn around to get to it. The big marquee out front read "Welcome Nicholas"!

Once we arrived, (and once the guests arrived) the kids got a personal lesson from a member of the staff. He helped them learn to putt and play (which of course the boys completely ignored for the rest of the course. Ah, well...) He made sure the birthday boy got first pick of ball color, and got to pick which course we played. The kids had an absolute blast playing the well-maintained course. Although I think they were AIMING for the water hazards.

During the game, the loudspeaker announced a very happy seventh birthday to Nicky, and everyone clapped. He thought that was pretty cool.

After the game, we returned to a warm, covered pavillion with awnings to block the wind. The kids donned their "winner" medals, and got ice cream and soda. The staff member even let us substitute chips for one girl who didn't like ice cream - without us even asking! (Oh, and that last minute store cake got eaten as well. Although, truthfully, I think the kids might just have been happy with the ice cream. And no cake. Don't let's go there.) Nicky got a Putt U T-shirt and a special golf ball with Putt U on one side and Happy Birthday on the other. After opening presents, the kids returned to playing on the stationary golf cart, which had amused them before the game started. Since no one wanted to leave, I guess it was fun!

Here's the kicker. For Nick, 6 of his friends, Kai, and one of her friends, the whole party cost a grand total of $63. (Not including goody bags, or anything associated with a certain dessert that shall remain nameless.) I think that's a pretty darn good deal!

Here's some pictures: (Let's not go down the road about how bad they are, either, 'kay?)

Pride Goeth Before A Fall...

So. Serves me right for bragging up my cake in the last post. Serves me right for making a cake for selfish, boastful, look-how-cool-my-kid's-party-is reasons.

The cake fell. And crumbled. Too much weight, and frosting. Too light cake batter. Generally, an unqualified failure. It happened slowly overnight and into the morning, but the final catastrophic failure was only moments before we SHOULD have been leaving for the party. And I was trying, and trying to fix it, getting more and more frustrated every second. Scott tried to remind me we should just forget it and go. But no. I had to get myself all frostingy, trying to salvage the last remains, and then tossing it in the sink in disgust. So I had to change, didn't I? I ran through the house, trying to get ready and not make us late, especially since we now had to pick up a cake on the way.

Well. Scott decided to be helpful. He grabbed my filthy clothes and tossed them in the washer. I came down about two minutes later, and started frantically looking for my camera for the party. Not in my bag. Not next to the computer. Not on any surface I could see. Wait...

That's right. My camera, which I love, was in the washing machine. It's completely broken. Beyond all repair. And there's no way I can afford another one until my drama salary in June. No dance recital pictures. No Springfest pictures. Maybe even no fifth grade graduation pictures.

All because I had to be a show off. And lose my temper and toss my clothes on the floor.

You see, I know I was just showing off with that cake. Because Nicky had the best party of his life with a plain old boring store bought cake. I'll post about that soon. When I'm in a better mood. And when I get the disposable camera pictures *shudder* developed and put on disk.

I'm having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I think I'll move to Australia.

Eat your heart out, Charm City Cakes

Or maybe not. :-) Okay, so I'm no Ace of Cakes. And my sister could kick my butt at cake decorating with one hand tied behind her back. (In fact, without her phone coaching, I never would have even managed this cake.) But I like the way Nicky's golf cake looks. I liked the way it looked in my head better, but we takes what we can gets. Here's a closeup.

We spent our Friday evening bustling about getting ready for Nicky's party at Putt U tomorrow. I have 7 confirmed RSVPS, 2 "no"s and 11 people who might show up since they didn't tell me either way. We put together little goody bags of sports themed pencils, erasers, and paddle balls, and added cool actual size chocolate golf balls from Josh Early. I even decorated the bags.... at least, for the kids who RSVP'ed. Beyond that, they'll just have to live with plain ol' green.

Nicky considered this birthday hat, but I don't think it would stay on long at the golf course tomorrow, so it stayed at the store. (Phew.)

I'm crossing my fingers all goes well.... and that the cake survives the car ride!!

Now I just have to learn to tie it.....

Nicky earned his white belt in Tae Kwon Do today. Truthfully, it's the beginning belt, so the earning didn't involve any skill in TKD. But he did have to learn the students' creed:

To build true confidence,

Through strength in my body,
Honesty in my heart,

And knowledge in my mind.

To keep friendship with one another,

To build a strong and happy community,

Never fight to acheive selfish ends,

But to develop MIGHT FOR RIGHT.

Which is a mouthful when you're just seven! So we were proud of him. He also got an "Academic Achiever" patch for bringing in his positive report card to his instructor. Between that, and the fact that he's already calling adults "sir" and "ma'am", we're really starting to like this whole martial arts bit.... even if he does want to spend all his time punching and kicking paper targets!

Happy (Belated) Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter, but it was too busy for me to blog about. Here's some highlights.

First, we had the traditional egg coloring.

Easter Sunday morning found us at church (naturally). The children's program was a big hit, as was the children's sermon I gave. The kids looked beautiful, and the service was lovely.

Easter Dinner was yummy and relaxing. Course, the dog got into the leftover ham, which meant I had to waste it all. *sigh*

The weirdest part of our Easter, by far, was the snow falling the day before! Here's a nice shot of it frosting my poor daffodils.

Even without all of those accoutrements, the very best part of Easter was just the knowledge of our salvation!! Christ IS Risen!! And every Easter, our voices and hearts answer, He is Risen Indeed!

Too Cold!!

What happened to our 70 degree weather?? Nicky wanted to try out his new bike this morning, but he didn't even make it down the street once because it's so bitterly cold. He was even wearing his winter jacket, but nothing doing. Ah, well. When spring and summer arrive full force, I'm sure there will be days when we wish for a chilly breeze!

Rainy Birthday Blues

Well, Nicky's birthday will probably not go down in history as the best one he's ever had. In fact, it may be the worst. First of all, it rained ALL day. Second, the office SWORE to me they'd get him his invitations, which I dropped off yesterday, but either they lied or his teacher just didn't pass them out. So the chances of anyone coming to his party next Saturday (since they won't get the invites until next TUESDAY at least thanks to break) are slim to none. And since his party isn't for another week and a half, we didn't really plan to do much on his actual birthday, which means that if no one comes to his party, his whole birthday will be pretty messed up this year. I wish we had done things differently, but what are you gonna do?

Another mistake we made was in trying to start a "tradition" of sorts that turns out not work at all for our family. For the past two years, we've given Kairi a $100 bill for her birthday. It seemed to work really well - after all, her birthday is two days after Christmas, and our gift ideas are really low. She loves to spend money, and it seemed like fun. Nicky always acted jealous, so what did we get him this year? $100, naturally. Only, it turns out that really isn't so much fun. It's a lot harder to figure out what to buy when it's "your" money. If we buy presents and go a little over budget, no harm done. There's no way to do that with a money gift, without looking supremely unfair to the other child. So when your son makes a VERY wise decision to get a bigger bike with part of his birthday money (that he actually needs, not just wants) and then buys a hoodie, or your daughter buys jeans, you can't say... Oh, those don't count... you need those things, and give them more money. Because spending the money in the first place is taking HOURS AND HOURS.... It's hard to explain, but basically, having money to spend is nice... having your seven year old HOPING that Grandma's gift is gift wrapped because he hasn't actually OPENED a present ALL day... not nice. So after running around all night spending Nicky's birthday money (his choice - we were GOING to go to some sort of fun activity - laser tag, Chuck E Cheese, something) we decided, and told the kids, NO MORE BIRTHDAY MONEY. From now on, we go back to brightly wrapped packages on the dining room table and more time to play.

Still, there were bright points to the day. Nicky got to take cupcakes that looked like ice cream cones to school. He had his favorite breakfast of bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls. He got to choose dinner, and we went to Old Country Buffet (more cinnamon rolls....) He had fun trying all the bikes in Toys R Us and riding down the aisles. He bought a ninja costume, and two new video games, plus his bike and Pirates of the Carribean hoodie. He got to stay up WAY past his bedtime playing video games. He got "Happy Feet" from Grandma and Grandpa and a vacation journal from Grammy and Pop-Pop. And....

He FINALLY got to start Tae Kwon Do. He's been clamoring for martial arts classes for at least two years. We never seemed to get things together for him to try a class. Finally, though, I got in contact with the teacher at Red Eagle Black Belt Academy. She seems to really know her stuff, and Nicky had his first class right after school (and she had Kairi and me participate as well - so of course, Kairi wants lessons now, too). He got his uniform at the end of the class, so he's thrilled, and he's practicing his "student creed" to earn his white belt. Nicky's over the moon about the whole thing. I am a bit concerned, because the cost makes dance look cheap (ow) but I'm going to let him give it a try for a 6 month contract. That was probably the highlight of his birthday - he was still showing Daddy punches and kicks at nearly midnight. Plus, he's taken to addressing adults as "sir" or "ma'am" and doing things the first time we tell him, which is what his teacher told him to do as part of his courtesy and respect training. (We'll see how long that lasts!)

All in all, it was a busy and not very festive birthday, but not too bad, either. I'll be crossing my fingers that SOME of his classmates come to his party!!

Oh... and HOW did my baby get to be SEVEN???

Spring

I have the whole week off for Easter this year. I've been spending my time working on the house/garden and getting ready for Easter. We don't usually really "decorate" for Easter, but I added a few little touches this year. I seem to be on a flower kick at the moment, because I made this wreath, arranged this centerpiece, and bought this pretty floral tablecloth for our Easter table.

We've also been thinking flowers outside. I dug up all the big stones near the house and by one of the trees, and used them to create two flower beds. I added just a few spring bulbs to the front bed (more for next year than anything) and have a few more bulbs to plant that will bloom later in the year. I plan on doing annuals in the porch garden this year, and trying to use staggered blooming perennials in the little oval garden. For now, though, I've stopped planting, because after I put in the daffodils and tulips and hyacinth, I checked the weather and found out they're calling for SNOW from Friday to Sunday. *sigh* I THINK it's spring.... but maybe nature has one more trick up her sleeve.

Happy Birthday! April Fools!!!

It's too late for Pop-Pop's birthday. It's too early for Nicky's birthday. But it's just right for a shared cake and presents! Nicky's birthday falls rather close to Easter this year - he'll be seven just 4 days before Easter. So his birthday party with friends isn't until the 14th. Plus, on his actual birthday, he has an appointment for his first martial arts lesson. So we combined Pop-Pop's late March Birthday with Nicky's.

Nicky picked a Cars cake, which surprised us a bit - there was a Star Wars cake right at the bakery too. But he 'splained that the Cars cake came with a toy, and the Star Wars cake just had decorations. DUH!