Halloween 2021: The Addams Family

When the calendar struck October 1, we started decorating the house, watching scary movies together (Monster house! Muppets Haunted Mansion! The Addams Family!) We carved pumpkins and maybe ate a bit too much candy. 

And after all that fun build-up, Halloween 2021 turned out to be one of the best Halloweens ever! But don't take my word for it, take yours! We trick-or-treated with the Hanrihans, Longs, Larsens, and Rainey-Ellises in a new neighborhood and after the panedmic, everyone was so excited to have a regular-ish Halloween that they were super generous and gave out so much candy!

Julia, you got a full-size snickers and ran down the road with it high in the sky like a victory trophy! "I GOT A FULL SIZE SNICKERS!"

Aidan, your basket was so full that it was almost too heavy for you to carry!

You guys got candy and play-do and crayons and more candy! And more candy!

And when we got home, we were able to GIVE candy to neighbors and trick-or-treaters!

And we got to do it as a family... one creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky family!

And for me, that is what Halloween is all about-- being together with friends and family and divulging in a LOT of sweetness together.

Trick or Treat!

Beavers Bend 2021

Before the pandemic you didn't get a fall break, but I'm so glad you do now!

It's a vacation week without any holidays in it; nothing we have to do. Just relaxation.

And this year, we decided to take our relaxation on the road to Oklahoma and visit a place we hadn't been to in many years: Beavers Bend State Park!

We rented a cabin, played Monopoly during the rain, had camp fires, s'mores, hot dogs, told silly disgusting jokes, kayaked down the river, skipped stones, went into town for mini-golf and wax hands and 'mining,' rode horses, rode the train (twice...and julia you won the cotton candy raffle the second time!), hiked...and hiked more...and got lost...and hiked more to get unlost, and went on nightly walks with our headlamps. 

We saw deer at night, deer during the day; creepy glowy eyes at night (deer and one opossum); a lot of cool frogs and one bigfoot (just kidding).

You two set up a trading post and system to trade precious gems. 

It was a time of togetherness -and waters rose and fell- and I am so thankful we were able to do it as a family.

I can't wait to be in the woods with the four of us again...no cell signal...smell of campfire...and sore legs with fully bellies and hearts. 

Julia turns 9!

 Julia,

You are thoughtful, and silly, and impish, and earnest, and capable. You are loving and crazy, you are strong and smart. You are adventurous and friendly and always, always, you have a plan...and a way to execute it.

This year you really got into Roblox, and making your own videos about Roblox. Before that, you made and edited your own videos about your dolls and other toys in your room and made your own Youtube channel: Julia's Sweet Things.

And we made lots of silly movies together- you, me and Aidan-under your clever direction:

You've been working very hard on learning piano, and this year you had your first recital!

Also, you fell in love with Drama this year, thanks to 2 acting camps over the summer! You were a princess, an old lady, a lemur, a monkey, and you had SO much fun!

You excel at school, and give your schoolwork- and your friends- your all. Your teacher told us you were an inspiration. Your're grateful and you get along with everyone. You're not a complainer, but you will advocate for yourself. You are precocious and a rule-follower. 

One time this year, you got in a little bit of trouble at school. You decorated your body with a Sharpie beauty mark. Your friends followed suit and weren't as restrained as just putting a beauty mark. The Sharpies were taken away, and your teacher let you know that she wanted to talk to you the next day. You were so upset at yourself; you confided in us that you felt you had let your teacher down and your friends down. You were worried that the Sharpies would be taken away permanently, and that really upset you. Because you love to use them in your art. You made a plan. The next day at school you would talk to your teacher and apologize and promise to never do it again. You were so worried she'd be mad at you. Well, you executed your plan, and the teacher was not mad at you at all; in fact, she appreciated you coming to her and being honest.

And that is just a snap-shot of who you are at 9. We can't wait to see what comes next, and will be by your side as you continue to learn and grow!

You are Creative, silly, serious, strong, amazing, wonderful, loving. And I'm so proud to be your Dad! And I love you forever! Wave riders forever! Survivor Forever! Tootsie Rolls forever! Beavers Bend forever! Ka-kaw Ka-kaw!

Agents In Black

 Some weekends, when Julia has an idea, we all get on board and make it happen.

This one started when Julia said "Let's make a movie. I'll wear a mustache."

And then aliens, agents, adventure, space cars, and worlds to save were born. 

The purple curtain theater presents..... Agents in Black.

First Day of School 2021

 Summer's Out for School Year! 

Wow... summer went by so quicky...but felt so...meaningful. And to everything, turn, turn, turn... it is now time for another amazing school year!

...And even though you may have  (a little or a lot bit) not fully wanted summer to end (I mean, who does?), y'all were ready for school!

We feel so thankful to WRM for putting yours and Mama's safety first, as Covid continues to be a jerk out there. So, yes, there are masks, and you are still in separate, smaller pods, but you get to be with friends again! and have structure again! and do works and projects and have lunches and play time and forest school again!

So...buckle up...here we go...it's time for FIFTH GRADE and THIRD GRADE for Aidan and Julia!

Name: Aidan

Grade: 5th

Teachers: Ms. Brass and Ms. Ginger

Excited to Learn: Science, Math, Language and Art

Favorite Band/Song: Maroon 5 ("because I'm going into 5th grade ...get it?")

Favorite Food: Sushi - Salmon Avocado rolls; Eel Rolls

Favorite Movie: Mitchells vs. the Machines

Favrorite Book: Sonic the Hedgehog Graphic Novels

Favorite Toy: Squishies

Name: Julia

Grade: 5th

Teachers: Ms. Bell and Ms. Coke

Excited to Learn: Researches for biology! Checkerboard with the real checkerboard. "This year we can share the materials!"

Favorite Band/Song: Lady Gaga; the Beatles

Favorite Food: Sushi; Muffins; Pizza; and Hamburgers!

Favorite Movie: Greatest Showman

Favrorite Book: Phoebe and her Unicorn

Favorite Toy: Shopkins and Hatchimals

We are so proud of you both, and so excited for you for all of the opportunities a new school year brings: new lessons, new friends, new ideas!

You two are amazing, and we can't wait to watch- and help- you grow!

Summer 2021

 In some regards it feels just like yesterday that I had the house all to myself during the workweek while you guys were at school, and then summer came shining into our lives like a bright, early sunrise. Loud, giggly, sunshiney, hot, long, wonderful summer. And now, in the blink of an eye, you guys are back at school for another amazing school year and I'm here working alone (with Toby), and missing the sounds of laughter and giggling and legos and your music.

But, it was an amazing summer! You guys grew so much- and we grew together. We tried new things, we reunited with family, we played, and laughed, and watched, and cried, and loved. This was a good summer full of long days and late bed-times, and family movie nights, and ice cream and I hope we'll remember it forever:

• We took a beach trip to Galveston-- just the 4 of us!
• You guys got the acting bug with three weeks of drama camps and putting on two shows: The Emerald Org, and Madagascar Jr. The Musical!
• Mommy worked with you on riding bikes in the parking lot and - Aidan- you mastered it so muhc that the three of us could RIDE OUR BIKES to get Donuts!
• This was the summer of hammerhead worms.... and hammerhead sharks!
• This was the summer of reuniting with friends and family we hadn't seen since Covid.
• Sleepovers
• Playdates
• Parkdates
• Swimtime
• A Second beach trip with (nearly) the whole family!
• This was the summer of Maroon 5, and Trolls World Tour Soundtrack, and Zombies and Descendents, and "Book of Life" Soundtrack, and - of course, we like to move it move it- the Madagascar Musical Soundtrack! 
• This was the summer of endless cucumbers
• Of reading the BFG with Mommy
• Of Magic Cards
• Of Legos
• This was the summer of green screens, and 'broadway shark attacks,' and more Chintuplets and more.
• This was the summer of take-out sushi and dumplings
• This was the summer of greasy Keller's burgers and TC Shaved Ice (and mommy with her pickles!)
• This was the summer of Mario Uno and Forbidden Island and Jumanji and Backgammon!
• This was the summer of Sonic and Gabby Cats
• This was the summer of Godzilla v. King Kong and Black Widow.
• This was the summer of swimming every day! CANONBALLS! The "Chairs" Game! Last-day invention of "three-man spider carry"! Yelling stuff as we jumped in! The Olympics! Joffrey can't swim!

May we always carry the spirit of summer with us and never forget the lessons learned and love shared of summer 2021.

SUMMER FOREVER!

Galveston AGAIN in 2021? Yes Please!

 

The Acting Bug Part 2: Madagascar

 After a one-week half-day acting camp gave you the acting fever, you begged us for more. So we signed you up for the two-week full-day musical acting camp to put on a full blown musical: Madagascar Jr.!!

We learned here that there are NO SMALL PARTS, only small actors. Not everyone can be Alex the Lion.... but just because you're not, doesn't mean that you don't shine!

Julia, you were the old woman, Mason the Monkey, Marcel the Lemur, and a Foosa!

Aidan, you were Kowalski the Penguin, a Lemur, and a Foosa!

You both auditioned, and were assigned parts, you learned the songs, painted sets, learned dance routines,  memorized your lines, made amazing memories, gained so much confidence and - more important than anything- had so much fun!

You worked SO hard, and we are SO proud of you!

Enjoy the show! You like to Move it Move it!