The musicians

Shayna and Skyler both seem to have a knack for playing music. Tonight they were both in the dining/living room. Skyler was playing the keyboards (and in a rock method with lots of gusto) and Shayna was playing the recorder. then Shayna went to the piano and started to play the song that the sheet music was opened up to on top of the keyboard, I think it was Yankee Doodle. Shayna has managed to self teach herself the piano from what she has been taught in music class at school. She can read and play simple piano sheet music. This blows me away because I was never musically inclined (love listening but can't play or read sheet music). Shayna is a true Renaissance Girl!!

Our playground

It has been warm enough this week to go outside, and with short sleeves. This is the playground I got for free on freecycle. Its nice to enjoy the simple things in life and feel the sun on your face. Shayna can do the rings (her level) while Skyler enjoys the "baby" swing. There is a slide too (not seen in the photos).

Sibling Fun & Frolic

Skyler enjoying play time with Shayna today.

1. Playing horsey. At the moment I snapped the photo he bounced too hard.

2. Skyler delighting in pulling Shayna's hair. What a little prankster.
3. Hugs!
It was warm enough to walk to the Valley playground today. It was great for Skyler to get out and run around.

Pennsylvania Youth Chorale: Generations Concert

The "Generations" Concert was held tonight (3/25), with the theme being "Happy Birthday Mozart." Besides the PYC's Junior and Senior Choirs, there were also choirs from Neshaminy High School, the Westminster Youth Chorale and the Philadelphia Chorale (adults). At they end all the choirs sang together in a grand finale.

Presentation

Shayna presented her SIP project to the entire 1st grade today. Her project was a huge portrait that she painted (hanging on the wall outside the 4th grade pod) and a filmstrip and story all to go with the portrait. She showed the filmstrip to the 1st grade. It has an audio tape she made to narrate the story, with music too. Its the old fashioned kind of filmstrip where she turns it after it goes "ding." Here she is after the filmstrip was shown answering questions. The title of her filmstrip/story was "magic celebrates." She had already presented to 3rd grade and will present to the 4th grade next week.

DOD= Deed of the Day

Here is Skyler's latest deed of mischief. He opened this drawer and found a black marker. I will try and use Goo Gone to get it off. OY VEY.

Prince of Pain

Skyler has had some amusement lately in torturing Manny.

Today Manny thought Skyler was pinching his arm. When he says "ow" Skyler laughs. Manny was surprised at how hard he was pinching, it was really hurting. Then he looked at Skyler's hand and he was sticking him with a thumbtack!!

A few days ago Manny had a rude awakening. He was laying on the sofa with his eyes closed and Skyler threw a glass of water in his face.

Any suggestions?

Shayna has her audition for the Bucks County Playhouse's summer childrens theater this coming Saturday March 25th.

For the auditon they have to:

1. Sing 16 bars of a musical piece.

They bring the sheet music and sing with the piano player. Last time she sang "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. This time she wants to sing "Seasons of Love" from the play RENT.

2. Do a short monologue.

This is where we need suggestions!!!

Toilet Paper Caper

Skyler has exhibited gerbil like tendencies lately. He loves to shred paper, especially toilet paper. But napkins will do. He also likes to play with the magnets on the fridge. We had a puzzle magnet and now 1/2 the pieces are missing. He also de-magnetized the Pillsbury dough boy. But when I put the dough boy into the family room with the other toys (since he is no longer a magnet) Skyler brought him back and placed him on the floor in front of the fridge. To Skyler that is his home.

Another Ped visit & shopping

The last few days Skyler started having a lot of crusty stuff on his eyes so I took him to the Ped today. Dr. Tyrala said he has conjunctivitis and also has some fluid behind his right ear. So she gave him a script for Augmentin, which I found out is really Amoxicillin with extra ingredients to make it stronger. So he will take that for 10 days and then go back in 3 weeks to get his ears checked. He had fun in the waiting room though- playing with 2 little girls, one his age and one a bit older. He was bullying them a bit so we need to work on that. He also tried sitting on about 4 different chairs.

Later I took Shayna shopping. There were a bunch of items she needed and we also a starting to search for the perfect dressy dress for the girl scout father/daughter dance in May. We did pretty well and found her black mary janes on sale at sears for only $6.99!!! and they are TKS brand- trendy-which I love. Lucky find because they were in the fall/winter left over section and most stores don't have ANY fall/winter shoes only tons of sandals and spring shoes. also found her good black tights at Target (the ones she has she says are itchy and I always have trouble finding black tights in stores) and a compete set of undershirt and white shorts to wear under her casual uniform for choir so she won't be embarrassed changing...they have no changing rooms and they have to all change together to thier dress uniforms- girls and BOYS. She got a casual white skirt/skort at Target and I even found Skyler a cute complete spring/summer outfit, the kind I like with the button up shirt on top of the T-shirt and khaki shorts with velcro pocket.

Supreme Court Justice

Shayna got to try on an actual Supreme Court Justice robe:

Our day at the Constitution Center

Manny, Shayna and Skyler about to enter the Ben Franklin exhibit.
This is in the Constitution Hall. They have statues of all the signers. Here is Shayna signing the Constitution:
Here I am (holding Skyler) signing the Constitution. That is George Washington behind the desk:
Shayna and Skyler with Ben Franklin:
Manny and Shayna sitting in the "jury" area watching a movie about being on a jury. Skyler enjoyed climbing on the chairs. That is a tower of law books behind them. It was all about one famous Supreme Court case.


Shayna got to try on an actual Supreme Court robe and get sworn in a President of the US. They don't let you take photos of that so we bought the overpriced digital one that they took.

we finished the day by getting take out from Chinatown. YUM! Chinese food from Chinatown is the best...what a culinary treat:

Ben Franklin Exhibit

We went to the Ben Franklin exhibit at the Constitution Center today. It is definately worth seeing!! We were not allowed to take any photos in the exhibit, so here is the description from thier site:


Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, is a blockbuster exhibition created to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Philadelphia’s favorite founding father.


Making its world premiere and only East Coast showing at the National Constitution Center from December 15, 2005 – April 30, 2006, this must-see exhibition will immerse visitors in Franklin’s world, expose them to his ingenious problem-solving methods and leave them inspired by his example. Franklin’s own words narrate the 8,000 square-foot exhibition, which was designed in the spirit of his curiosity, wit and wisdom.

Exhibit highlights include:

Original copies of five of America’s founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and Franklin’s own copy of the Constitution

More than 250 priceless original artifacts, including many owned by Franklin’s family and never before displayed in public

More than 40 interactive devices, featuring special effects, hands-on opportunities and family-centered fun

25-foot model ship that visitors can climb aboard to recreate Franklin’s method of charting the Gulf Stream

Shayna enjoyed playing on the ship. The exhibit had a lot of interactive things. Skyler's favorite was the one about how Ben Franklin invented the lightning rod and the concept of grounding a house. They had a screen showing 2 houses being struck by lightning, one grounded and one not. The one not grounded would blow up. That was Skyler's favorite part. It was hard getting him away from that exhibit. Shayna liked watching the cartoonish videos and sitting on one of his inventions, the "fan chair." Cool fact: Ben Franklin created a math game exactly like Soduku, to keep himself busy while attending meetings or waiting. They had a computerized exhibit with movable tiles (set in like toss across style) where you can play it. He was also in various societys ranging from his "Junto" group of 11 , to the American Philosiphical Society and the Masons. There was even a fossil of a elephant like creatures tooth. The kids enjoyed using the microscope set up with slides of what he looked at and his comments for each. It was great to see all he accomplished in: art, science, math, printing, music (he played many instruments and invented the water harmonica thing), politics, writing, diplomacy, oceanography, the commmunity, and more!

St. Patricks Day

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I made corned beef and cabbage for dinner... I had originally thought about going to Bennigan's for some family fun, and Manny said "we're a filipino and a jew, what are we doing going to a st. patricks day party?" LOL

anyway, Shayna went to a birthday party tonight at the same place she had hers, the Backsteps. Juliana had her 7th birthday party there tonight. Shayna had a really great time. It was pretty rushed since she had dance from 7-8 and the party began at 7:30 so she had to leave dance class at 7:30.

as for the corned beef & cabbage...Manny was just glad I didn't make pasta again.

Shayna also had off today, she swears its because of St. Patrick's Day, but it really is just a coincidence. Apparently, its a bigger holiday then Halloween since they don't get off for that one (but they should, how exhausting is that holiday?!!!).

Update on Fundraising: Now we are selling delicious CANDY BARS for the PA Youth Chorale. Since Shayna wasn't allowed to sell them at school to the kids, her teachers generously bought 4 bars each (ms. Welch and Ms. Blaswick) and even Mrs. Novella put in an order for 2 bars. Grandpa is selling them at work for her, sold 3 so far- hopefully he sells some more on Monday. The program book ad campaign ends on March 23rd, I am still waiting on a few more (the bank,the mayor, Beat Street, the accountant) hopefully enough to cover most of her tuition.
Shayna and Skyler enjoying the new Dr. Who TV show (it has the same music!)...well we all watched it except skyler.

Continental Math League

Shayna had her last CML test Tuesday. She has tied with Timothy for #1 3rd graders in the district. Not sure about regionally, she was not told those results.

Rent

Since I was sick, we stayed in this weekend.

Shayna and I enjoyed watching the movie "Rent" and was a good venue to explain the themes within it like AIDS/HIV, starving artists, drug use, etc. This was the 2nd time drug use came up, the first time was in "Lord of War." Anyway, besides that, we both loved the music in the film. There is also a wonderful documentary about Jonathon Larsen, the writer/composer/creator of Rent, who sadly died the night before the 1st opening off broadway in 1996. I really regret not taking up Jennifer Little's imploring of me to see this play when it 1st opened in 1997, because then I could have experienced the original cast seen in the movie.

Add this to the list of plays I - and Shayna- really want to see on BROADWAY (not Phila.) along with Mama Mia. Maybe next year for our birthdays we will make it a goal to see one or both in NYC or possibly this summer. Anyway-- I HIGHLY recommend the movie version of Rent.

Sickness Again

Lack of posts week of March 5th until now: I again, caught whatever sickness that Shayna had 1st, but of course, I get it much worse. I wound up getting bronchitis and taking Zithro. Now on the mend, getting caught up with everything from work to blogging to everything else. Hopefully this will be the last of the public school germs.

Various News

1. Shayna was sick again this week. My hunch is because its her 1st time in public school she is being exposed to many more germs then she ever was in any of her preschools (Childventure and Judy Sare) or her small private school (Trevose Day School). I did think ahead and picked up all her missed work so she will be caught up on Monday. Unfortunately, we had to cancel her overnight playdate with cousins Alexis and Alex.

2. On an entertainment note. Who ever said that Deuce Bigelow: European Gigolo was a bad movie has an awful sense of humor. Maybe its not high brow Oscar fare but its one of the funniest movies I have seen (although 40 year old virgin is still the funniest of the year). Maybe even funnier to me because I did the same exact dumb thing the DB character did when he ate a chocolate space cake in a coffee shop in Amsterdam.

3. Starting to think about Shayna's summer plans. Right now we are thinking: she will be in Bucks County Playhouse's summer childrens theater- depending on how she is cast after the March 25 auditions. Also looking into weekly martial arts/karate and ice skating camps (Camp Freeze at Grundy). Basically more activities/sports/skills that she has no time for during the school year when she focuses more on dance, singing, and girl scouts.

4. Shayna has signed with the Reinhard Agency in Philadelphia. Will see how that goes.

5. Fundraising: Just finished girl scout cookies. Shayna only sold about 39 boxes, due to bad luck of: me hurting my foot, bad weather/snowstorms, birthday party planning, and sickness.

Now we are working on selling ads for the Pennsylvania Youth Chorale's spring concert program book (concert is May 20th). 75% of what she sells goes into her account towards tuition. So far we are doing well, we have: East End Salon, Shoprite, PNC Bank, ReMax (Manny's ad). Pending ads are Bensalem Mayor, Beat Street, Tax Express/Integrated College Solutions (our accountant Ed). I'm trying for some other politicians like Senator Santorum.

6. I am hanging on every sound Skyler utters hoping for some words to emerge. Tonight I got "ba ba" and "maaaa.... maaaaa."

7. Shayna went to a martial arts party last sunday and basically kicked butt. she was the only one able to break the boards.

8. Shayna and I went to see an extremely girly movie last Saturday, "Aquamarine." Just found out that Emma Roberts, one of the leads, is Eric Roberts daughter, Julia Roberts niece. We both liked the movie and want to read the book. Shayna was scheduled to record her review of it for Radio Disney on Wed. but since she was sick we re-scheduled it for this coming Monday March 6th.

9. Looking into something for Skyler to do socially, maybe a playgroup or mommy and me. Still working on this.

10. Very tired of the cold and darkness. Looking forward to spring!

Predicament

Skyler got his hand stuck in the lid of his shape sorter toy.