Taiko Club Performs at I-Fest
Wow, this group of kids just keeps getting tighter! The best performance to date for the Taiko Club - and in front of an audience who gave them two rounds of applause - the first for their performance and the second for learning Japanese every day!
Taiko Club Performs at Wake Forest Japan Fest
The boys' Taiko Club took a field trip to Winston Salem to perform at Wake Forest University’s annual Japan Fest. The Japanese Spring Festival is a cultural experience designed to spread awareness of Japanese culture not just among the university students but also among the community. Coordinated by the Wake Forest Asian Student Interest Association (ASIA), the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), and the Japanese Club from Clemson University, this year’s event featured authentic Asian cuisine and many entertaining festival booths. Helping bring home an authentic matsuri experience was the Taiko Club who took the stage to perform as the event’s main performance. A little windy, but otherwise beautiful weather was a great backdrop for the Club’s performance as seen here at Manchester Plaza.
Boy Scouts!
We Decide to Check-Out the Annual Southern Christmas Show
Thanksgiving with Gma and Gpa & a trip to Old Town Salem
Halloween!
Cait's Art Wins in Regional PTSO Contest!
Fall Marching Band: Football Games & Performances!
Beauty and the Beast Jr.
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Beauty and the Beast was an absolute hit this weekend. The kids played to a full house on Saturday and Sunday, knocking 'em dead. Cait was a perfect 'Chip' - bubbly, perky and effervescent. Everyone was so very proud of her and her performance. Here she is at the finale and after party at the playhouse.
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Overnight Camp on the USS Yorktown
From PatriotsPoint.org, " The USS Yorktown was the 10th aircraft carrier to serve in the US Navy. Under construction as BON HOMME RICHARD, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed YORKTOWN in honor of YORKTOWN (CV-5), sunk at the epic Battle of Midway (June 1942). Built in an amazing 16-½ months at Newport News, Virginia, YORKTOWN was commissioned on April 15, 1943, and participated significantly in the Pacific Offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. YORKTOWN received the Presidential Unit Citation, and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II. Much of the Academy Award-winning (1944) documentary "The Fighting Lady" was filmed on board YORKTOWN. In the 1950's, Yorktown was modified with the addition of an angled deck to better operate jet aircraft in her role as an attack carrier (CVA). In 1958, YORKTOWN was designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS), and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-1968). The ship also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule (December 1968). YORKTOWN was decommissioned in 1970 and placed in reserve; and in 1975, was towed from Bayonne, NJ to Charleston to become the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum."
Patriot's Point Vietnam Support Base CampThis true-to-scale exhibit shows the operational and living areas of a U.S. Naval Advanced Tactical Support Base (ATSB) during the Vietnam War. Visitors are reminded of South Vietnam (1965-71) when the US Navy supported ground troops and counterinsurgency operations throughout a vast network of waterways. The primary mission of the "Brown Water Navy" was to block the movement of insurgents and their supplies into South Vietnam. The exhibit features a rare Mark 1 River Patrol Boat (PBR) dedicated to Medal of Honor recipient James Elliot Williams. It also features a UH-1m Huey gunship dedicated to the "Seawolves" of HAL-3. This elite Navy helicopter squadron helped provide close air support for the PBR's and other Brown Water Navy watercraft. Other helicopters featured in the exhibit include a UH-1H Medevac, UH-34 Seahorse, and AH-1J Sea Cobra.
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USS ClamagoreCLAMAGORE is the only GUPPY III submarine preserved in the United States.The CLAMAGORE (SS-343) was built as a Balao-class submarine by Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Commissioned too late for action in World War II, CLAMAGORE would serve 30 years during the Cold War. In 1948, CLAMAGORE underwent GUPPY II conversion to improve underwater performance. GUPPY was the term used by the Navy for its Greater Underwater Propulsion Program. CLAMAGORE was one of only nine submarines converted to GUPPY III (1962-63). A 15-foot (55 ton) section was added (forward of the control room) to accommodate upgrades in technology. This would be the ultimate upgrade for World War II era diesel-powered submarines. CLAMAGORE was decommissioned in June 1975.
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Sigh, there is a teenager in the house...
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Wow - can you believe -- actually believe -- that Tessa is 13!?!?!?!?
Ironically, it snowed on her 13th birthday, just as it did on the day she was born. (Yes, we celebrated Pokeman style!) |
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School isn't so bad...not when you are learning from the Sushi Guru, that is!
For an early birthday present, Tess learned how to create Sushi. Everything from making perfect rice to rolling was covered by the Executive Chef, who called himself The Sushi Guru! No kidding. We had a great time celebrating her birthday while learning how to cook. Tess even taught everyone else the following weekend, with a mini Sushi-making class of her own. Thanks Tess for an awesome dinner!
Happy New Year!!
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Grandma sent us these really cool, fun mini hats for our New Year's Eve celebration this year. We constructed them ourselves as we watched the ball drop and sipped on 'kid champagne' (aka Welch's sparkling apple juice).
For once everyone made it all the way to midnight -- but not much longer after that! Happy 2014 y'all! |
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What could make your Birthday 2x the FUN? A Brother, Of Course!
!!! Decorated our Tree Today !!!
A December to Remember!
Another completely awesome birthday!!!!
Out of Town Guests for Turkey Day!!!
Boy oh boy did we have fun over Thanksgiving! We had Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Kevin and Uncle Scott here for a week and it was so much fun! We played lots of games, ate a lot of food, watched Uncle Kevin wear out Oliver, and even took a trip to the Nature Museum. Thank you so much for coming to see us!!!!
A concert with a girl's best friends!
Cait had so much fun with her besties at the Big Time Rush and Victoria concert last night.
A TMB Birthday Party - Woot!
When you ask for a pool party, that's what you get -- even if you have to wait for the pool to open. We had a great time at Tessa's birthday party yesterday, having fun at Laser Tag (Red Team won!) and the sky trails rope course which is suspended high above the arcade room that is designed to test your balance... and your nerves. Followed up by pizza, cupcakes, ice cream, and a dip in the pool (or canon balls in the pool, more appropriately). But the night didn't end there... A sleepover was followed up by giddy girls and home made Italian donuts with Marscapone Cream. Happy Birthday Darling!
The Fire Department came and tested our Hydrant!
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Got to go to a Special Indian Dinner and Dance.
We love Easter!
The Easter Bunny Came to School, Too!
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An early visit: The Easter Bunny!!!!
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The Easter bunny found its way to our neighborhood this past weekend - where he hid eggs for us to find. We had so much fun seeking eggs, and opening them afterward! Thank you Easter Bunny!
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My first birthday party - at the local firehouse!
Blue and Gold Dinner - Cub Scouts Moving on Up!
Gingerbread House - oh so fun! Thanks Oma & Opa!
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Toys for TotsTonight at Cub Scouts, we had a guest, a marine who was stationed in charge of the local Toys for Tots program. He is getting his masters in Asian Studies and speaks Japanese, which the boys thought was really cool. The troop filled his box with gifts; it was really neat to see.
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The Polar Express... Science Style
We spent the day at the Science Museum where they had a screening of Polar Express in the iMax theater. Whoa, it was terrific! More than that, though, they made a whole event of it, with hot cocoa, yummy treats, winter-themed science experiments -- such as making snow grow, and connecting circuits on Christmas lights -- and of course, a reading of the book. Even Santa was there!
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Visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Oh what fun it is to chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Unbelievable - they came to our neighborhood and visited with us all over donuts and juice. (The candy canes were pretty good, too.) Micah asked for Legos and Carson couldn't remember. Santa told him to make a list and mail it to him. =)
Decorating our Tree...
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Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....
How fun you are to choose! The kids made a unanimous decision yesterday at the Christmas Tree Farm, picking a beautiful Leyland Cypress tree. The sky was clear and blue and we ran around the tree lot making sure to choose the absolute best tree -- which they did! Everyone helped cut it down. We brought it home, but not before having some yummy hot cocoa (with little marshmallows!) Everyone is just so excited for the holidays!
Parades, Plays, Turkey and Yams!
What a wonderful Thanksgiving it was! We have so very, very much to be grateful for. We had a sleep-over and got up early to watch one of the nation's largest parades (it was 3 hours long and ended with none other than Santa!) We took the train uptown, which was a new experience and lots of fun. After getting back home, we all chipped in to create a delicious turkey dinner, with yams, and apple pie. Mmmmm... The kids wrote a script and enacted their own play for us, describing the history of Thanksgiving. It was so creative, factual, and moved us to a standing ovation.
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Happy Halloween!
Selling Popcorn at the Ladder Climb
In memory of the firefighters lost on 9-11, this past weekend there was a ladder climb event, with over 600 people climbing the stairs of the Duke Energy Center building. The boys were there, showing for their Den. We were stationed right next to these really neat old fire trucks.
The boys are so excited...
We went tonight and signed the boys up for Cub Scouts. They already earned their Astronomy belt buckle by learning about the planets, stars, comets and other elements of space. They also did a scavenger hunt and learned how to tie a couple different types of knots. They were having so much fun they didn't want to leave. They can't wait for the first meeting... and of course to don their new uniforms!
VBS is here; VBS is here!
It won't make you famous like the new phone book, but it'll certainly elevate your spirits to that level! Outfitted with new VBS t-shirts (as modeled here), the kids spent the week learning new songs, making crafts, playing games, and most importantly, learning about God. The theme of Babylon is the backdrop for lessons such as 1) God will protect you; 2) God will never abandon you; and 3) Don't be afraid because God is with you.
Little Super Heroes make Super Hero Shields
How cool is this???? Toys R Us had a free event today for the kids where they could come in and make a Lego Super Hero Shield! Micah chose Batman and Carson Superman. Audrey made a modified, rainbow super shield =)
They also got a DC Universe Comic Book and Lego Superhero poster for their bedroom. Just look at those smiles as they buckled up to head home!
They also got a DC Universe Comic Book and Lego Superhero poster for their bedroom. Just look at those smiles as they buckled up to head home!
Fun in the kitchen making cupcakes!
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I can't even begin to express how very impressive these are -- the girls are becoming so talented in the kitchen! I'm not even sure I can eat these they are so good-looking; it would be like eating art.
The carrots were the most fun to make, but the peas turned out so realistically! Even the little shovels are darling. How cute and what a fun project! If you look closely...the carrots look like they just came from the dirt (with a little magic from cinnamon...great idea girls!) |
Caught Doing the Right Thing!Caitlin ran in the door this afternoon with the biggest smile on her face! She was on the school TV station (WMKE) this morning. Why? She was given the "Caught Doing the Right Thing" award. You can see her holding the certificate here that she explained was signed not only by the school Principal, but the Superintendent, AND Police Chief. Wow!
She also received a pin, T-shirt and magnet, which she proudly attached to the outside of the front door, so that, as she says, anyone coming to visit will get to see it! What an amazing way to end the school year! |
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