Changing times

It took me almost exactly a year to fill a checkbook register, in which I also keep track of my online bill payments and other electronic transactions.  I was surprised to see the back of the new register.

Not so useful.

Together time

What do you do when it is the last week of school and you are home sick?

craft projects

try to figure out the Danish dvd or just watch dr.dk

some games

and I don't know what we would do without Foxtrot.

Here is hoping for good health for all.

Well-known Tunes

Each school board meeting begins with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance (no invocation), but no one remembers having a live performance of the national anthem.  That was about to change.

warming up

ready to go in 

photo by Charlotte VR

performing

photo by Charlotte VR

The elementary schools have three (!) orchestras including one for beginners, one for students who have been playing at least one year, and a chamber orchestra made up of people who have been taking lessons for longer.  Because so many honors were being given out at the meeting they played for a full house and I thought they sounded great.

Later in the week we got to hear the Claremont Symphony Orchestra  play in Little Bridges, but the highlight of that performance was the group Spectrum, four guys singing Motown hits for almost two hours.  I wish I had a photo of David dancing in the aisle!

I didn't have my camera and I didn't realize until later that I wasn't supposed to take even non-flash photos, so you'll have to take my word for it that they looked sharp.  Their harmonies were beautiful, even when joined by the audience.  They have performed around the world, but are based in Las Vegas.  We felt lucky to get tickets to the sold out event and to be able to cycle there and avoid the chaos of parking.

I am guessing our next musical event will be outside.

Fabulous Faire

I know the annual Sycamore Faire allows the kids to learn many skills (marketing, customer service, finance, etc.), but mostly it is fun.

A.'s class is known for its tie-dye t-shirt booth.

before

at working helping people get the right size

adding the dye

receiving instructions so

you can have a shirt like this

behind the scenes

During the city's First Friday Artwalk I saw many children wearing their new and unique shirts.

Other activities including a chance to spray people with water,

have your face painted,

or buy a snow cone.

A good time was had by all!

Honor

School is ending and at one child's school there are no award ceremonies but at the high school they have a brief ceremony in the gym for underclassmen to give out department honors, citizenship awards, and a few individual honors.  For the parents it is a chance for some naches and also a chance to see the parents we no longer run into while dropping off and picking up our kids.

Wow - lots of girls receiving math awards 

for geometry, algebra II, pre-cal, and calculus.

R. wished she had given the Vulcan salute to all!

Congratulations, R.!  We love you on Earth and every other planet, too.

A little puzzle for you

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Put them all together and what do you get?  I am going back to my roots and will be a nanny when school starts.  Adorable baby (six months in August) photos to follow.

Serendipity

I didn't get to watch the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, but I enjoyed reading the NY Time's article about the discussion (controversy?) about the spelling of the winning word.  The official Yiddish linguists say it should by kneydl (rhymes with ladle), but the official bee dictionary lists the correct spelling as knaidel.

The article also refers to Leo Rosten's The Joys of Yiddish, which prompted me to take it off the shelf.

In this 1968 edition the spelling knaydl is used and defined as a dumpling, a term of endearment for a child, or a chubby woman.  I'll let you know how my kids react if I start calling them "my little knaydls".

You never know what you'll find tucked in a book and in this one was a ticket to services just weeks after our honeymoon.

Just one article brought entertainment and good memories.