Saturday, June 30, 2018

Summer Camp: Dance Intensive

This June Genevieve did a two week dance camp at our new dance school.  It was a bit different than the intensives at our old place, but she had a great time!  They focused on ballet, repertoire, jazz, and modern.  At the end they did a little black box theater show at their school.

In a bit of a parenting fail I have NO PHOTOS.... !  But in my defense we can't film in the theater, and they didn't have costumes for the performance - they simply used existing costume treasure troves.  :)

She had a great time!

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Summer Camp: Engineering Engine Fun!

This past week Genevieve went to an engineering camp at our local university.  The camps run 7 hours a day starting at 8 am, so it's a "hard core" school experience for the kiddos!  Some of the students in Genevieve's class were apparently putting off some bored vibes, she tells me that when the teacher quizzed them on how many wanted to be there versus how many were sent by parents and had zero interest, the scale was tipped more than half on the side of forced attendance.

Yikes!

I am very glad that my kids get excited about these fun learning opportunities and have such a great time at them.  Genevieve learned all about engines.  Her team took apart a lawn mower engine and then inventoried all the pieces and put it back together.  They also explored some other engines during the week and had a chance to build an air powered one of their own design.  They had some races on the last day, and the "Pink Scribbles" (her team's name) won and officially became the "Pink Blur."  :)

Way to go, kiddo!  I'm glad it was a fun experience and that she learned so much.



Monday, June 18, 2018

Karate Belt Updates: Lincoln!

Lincoln has been dilligently attending karate for the past few months.  It is a bit rough having big brothers to constantly critique and "help" you.  On the other hand, it is pretty awesome to have two black belts at home that hep you polish technique and answer any questions you have!

Lincoln tested for the purple stripe on his blue belt a couple weeks ago!  He passed.  :)


Friday, June 15, 2018

The Big Apple! Day 1

Genevieve and Matt went on an adventure to New York City this past month.  A bit different than the trips he has done with the boys, it included the ballet, the theater, some stores, and theaters.  It also had the outdoor hikes and monument visiting, of course!

Other than a sunburn that I wish Genevieve had NOT brought home as a momento, the trip was a huge success.  They both had a great time.  Matt tells me Genevieve is an impressive energizer walker buddy, which is saying something coming from him.  I'm throwing a bunch of pictures in to tell the stories of the trip for me! :)

They headed out on a Friday evening, and managed to squeeze in a day of adventures after their long red eye.

I had to laugh at this picture from the airport - a payphone, she says?!  What is THAT?  She has seen them before but probably never really taken notice.  :)


Day 1 was rainy, but that worked out okay since they visited some fun museum exhibits!







In the evening they went to see a ballet at the Lincoln Center!





Karate Belt Updates: Bentley!

Bentley received his black belt in weapons this past month!  This is an impressive feat because not only has he studied and learned to use many different styles of weapons, but these are also some serious "we mean business" type of weapons.  No foam nun chucks or bendy bo(s) at our dojo (and yes, I have seen both of those elsewhere!) - these are some sharp metal scis, thick sticks, and wood nun chucks that hurt when they thwack you.

At our dojo the students study bo, sci, tonfa, and nun chucks. 

I am defintely impressed with how hard Bentley (and Jake!) both work with their weapons classes and how fearless they are compared to me.  :)  Bentley put a sci though his lip (I still shudder thinking about it!) a year or two back as he was practicing a little too zealously.... although perhaps that is the wrong story to share as it implies he's a bit careless.  And he is defintely not 99% of the time!

Anyway.  Great job, Bentley!  And we look forward to seeing Jake get his black belt in weapons sometime next year!