Gakko Week 1

This happens ever year... before Medaka no Gakko begins, I think to myself, "This is going to be a long two weeks."  We begin and then it seems like the first week is done so fast!

The kids were so excited to start gakko this year.  They looked forward to seeing their friends, having fun and learning a few things along the way.

Like we did in the old days, we brought back the silk screen and had the kids do their own shirts.

They've done some projects that I hope they'll remember even years from now... especially since Ben chose a couple of really good goals when doing his daruma project.

Uncle Ross again agreed to be our language instructor and has taught the kids (and me) so much in this first week.  It's been fun to use some simple Japanese phrases around the house or when we're out and about.  How can you be mad at Ben for dropping some ice cream on the floor when it's quickly followed by a "gomen nasai".

Sho has been working hard feeding everyone at gakko and keeping everyone very happy!  In week one he's made oyako donburi, fried rice, homemade tofu, yakisoba and shave ice.  Without a doubt, everyone looks forward to snack time.

The day we silk screened shirts, I decided to bust out the vintage gakko shirts and we surprised Grandma by showing up in the shirts she gave us as hand-me-downs.

The kids asked me, "So are you a teacher?" to which I replied I am not.  They said, "Then what are you?  Are you like the principal?"  It was easier to say "yes" than explain that I hold a title of Curriculum Director, but I'm not really sure what that truly means in this situation, so we went with principal.  Then Kara asked, "When I'm an adult, do you think I can run gakko so we can have three generations of the family?"  I told her Grandma would be so proud... 

It has been a busy, but really great, week of gakko.  What better way to finish off the week than with a little Ampersand Ice Cream!  So we already had shave ice (with ice cream) today for snack... we're on vacation, right?!

Reasons to Celebrate

Saturday was the last piano recital before the summer vacation from piano lessons.  Starting back in March, Mrs. Snyder challenged the kids to practice every day for 100 straight days and if they succeeded, she said there would be a reward.

With a portable keyboard and some reminders, the kids were able to practice for 100 days and the enjoyed a bowling and pizza party with some of the other students.

To their surprise, they also received medals at the recital.  They were all excited.  Kara has received a few medals from school for honor roll and such and because of that, Ben has been pining for a medal (but honor roll does not begin until 3rd grade).  He's been lamenting about what he needs to get a medal... and now he's earned his very own!  Jason was kissing his medal and rubbing it against his cheek.  And as much as I'm not one who thinks kids need trophies and rewards for everything, I have to say, it was fun to watch them enjoy the reward for their hard work.

They each played solos and duets and that practice paid off!  All of the songs were played perfectly from memory. 

On Father's Day (and hopefully every day), the kids give some special attention and love to their incredible father.  Maybe next year we'll have a medal ready for Sho.

HOPEFULLY, we'll have one more reason to celebrate later tonight after Game 7.... I don't know, it's gonna be stressful at our house! 

Last Day

Since the kids have not had homework for the last two weeks, it feels like we've already been on break... but today is their last day of school and then summer vacation begins!

Clay always has Water Days the last two days of school and yesterday was for kindergarten thru third grades.  Siblings were invited to join in the fun and Jason had his swimsuit on at 8am just waiting for the Water Day to begin.



Sho commented that Jason looks like one of the gang already...

Ben has had a great 1st grade year.  He has lots of friends, but has two best friends who he really likes.  The best part is we like them too and like their parents just as much.

This is Kara's last year on the "little kid" side of school.  Fourth thru eight grade classrooms are on the other side of the sidewalk divide and they have different recess times... but truly, I've heard parents and teachers say that there is a big difference once the kids are in 4th grade.  As with Ben, we are reassured knowing that Kara has a great group of friends that will be right there with her.

With the end of the year and the excitement about yearbooks, I showed Kara and Ben my old yearbooks and in my kindergarten yearbook, on the front inside cover, I made a list of all of my "favorets" and then proceeded to draw a line under their names in my yearbook. 

So Ben showed me his yearbook, where he had put stars and hash marks showing how much he likes the people in his class...

Summer vacation... here we come!



Our Star Always

This was Ben's week to be Star of the Week at school.  Ben took pictures to share with his class.  He was able to share three items from home:  an acrylic painted Japanese mon (family crest), his shirt and name tag from the Youth Tech Academy, and his Mindstorm.  Ben shared one of his favorite books and Sho and I wrote a letter to Ben that was read to his class.

We joined Ben for lunch and there was no debate on what he'd have for his Star of the Week lunch.  Carne asada enchiladas from Los Pepes.  Yum!  I think the teachers that monitored lunch were jealous.

To cap off the week, he came home from school and pulled out his tooth and now will enjoy a visit from the tooth fairy as well.

This week we've been reflecting on how much Ben has grown up, how he is a hard worker, a creative mind and a tender heart.  He truly is always our star.

Twinkle Award

Jason has been taking piano lessons along with Kara and Ben.  He started with just a 5 minute lesson and now his lessons are just about as long as Kara and Ben's.  Like the older kids, if he plays a song perfectly, with no mistakes, he earns a polished rock because the it's a "polished" piece that he has "rocked."

Jason got his four polished rocks when he learned the four Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star variations.  Next was playing all four of them in a row, with no mistakes.

Each lesson he had one chance to play the four variations perfectly... and week by week he got closer and closer... There was some pouting.  There were some tears.  But Jason earned his Twinkle Award!

When he got his trophy, you would have thought he was Steph Curry with a unanimous MVP award.  He kissed the trophy, many times.  He held it up high in the air.  He rubbed it on his cheek.  He said, "I love it.  This is what I've been wanting my whole life." 

It's that time...

The weather is warming up, which means the kids have been wanting to spend as much time as they can in the pool.  The kids also informed me that grades for school are due at the end of the week... so now I really feel like summer is here. 

Kara is getting ready to finish 3rd grade, which means next year she'll be on the "other" side of the school with all of the older kids and have different recess time and lunch time.  Ben already says he's going to miss her next year.

Ben is finishing up 1st grade and this week he is Star of the Week, so he's had the chance to have some special things at school... and Game 1 wasn't so great, but we're all cheering for the Warriors and Ben (like Sho) goes around the house practicing his shot.

Because he's an August baby, we decided to have Jason spend one more year in preschool.  When I asked Jason if he'd stay with me for one more year, he replied, "I'll stay with you for a hundred years."  

With Jason now  more independent with his swimming, it's going to be a fun summer in the pool for these little fishies!

4.13 = 3.14

Before I realized that there is a national Pi(e) Day on 3.14, we had already started a silly (but wonderful) tradition of having pie for breakfast on April 13th.  This started a few years ago when we had some left over pie and decided (on a Sunday morning) that we should just have it for breakfast.  I remember writing down "Pie for Breakfast" on the calendar and just like that, the tradition was born.

After dinner on Monday, Grandma was nice enough to help the kids make the sour cream apple pie.  Kara and Jason both learned different techniques with the pie crust.  Ben learned about leveling off a measuring spoon with a knife.

Everyone enjoyed Grandma's baking lesson and everyone LOVED the yummy pie this morning!  When Jason woke up this morning, his first words, literally, were "pie for breakfast!"  I love this kid!

So you can plan for next year... 4.13... Join us and enjoy pie for breakfast!