Moana has been part of our family for a long time: the music, the love for the ocean, the movie...
And so when we found out that EDA was doing "Moana Jr." for one of the summer camps this year, y'all were ecstatic!
Aidan, you wanted to be Maui or Shiny the Crab; but you were pleased to be in the ensemble, and to be one of the killer coconuts! ...you were less than thrilled because your character dies again.
Julia, you wanted to be Moana...and you were cast as young Moana!
Sure, neither of you got exactly what you wanted, but that is the magic of EDA: you are part of the team no matter what- there are no small parts- and you be the best you you can be.
And you guys soared!
Aidan, you got to do some amazing slow-motion fighting against Maui and sang wonderfully, especially during "You're Welcome!"
Julia, you loved being center stage for a bit as Young Moana, you did a magical job of transitioning to "Regular Moana" and then excelled as part of the ensemble!
You guys came through getting a little sick during production- at one point BOTH Moanas were out sick! But the show must go on! And it did!
Hours before dawn, you two and Brady awoke for part-II of your sleepover. You guys chatted, played, and talked. When the sun rose, you all played some video games, hung out, at some pancakes that I made (5 out of 5 stars, according to Brady!), played outside, got muddy, got clean, and then swabbed the deck!
Then more play time, more fun and more hanging out.
Uncle Jeremy came to pick up Brady, and Aidan, you kindly gave Brady your favorite Toy Story Woody doll you'd had since your 1st birthday. That was so kind of you; you thoughtful, thoughtful guy!
By mid-morning, you both were already exhausted.
But then you had an idea...facepaint! And you find our guy to do it...me!
You were all smiles before...
and after...
Then you had another idea....paint Daddy's face! So... I said... yes!
Julia, you gave me a snowman...
Aidan...you gave me a smiley face!
Then...you both decided to put on a show! Julia, you grabbed a microphone and a bouquet of flowers. I don't know if you've outgrown the purple curtain theater or not, but since it was so nice outside, this performance was held on our newly made, freshly swabbed, deck/stage!
We had Kiss and Kindergarten Classics, Moana and Gummi Bear.
After a late sleepover night and early morning with your buddy Brady, even after face painting magic, and a live performance of awesomeness, you guys were a little wiped out. You both fell asleep in the car during errands, though you both deny it. I hope you had sweet car dreams of an awesome morning!
...And any time y'all want to paint my face, you're more than welcome to do so!
We bought place-mats and napkins for school lunch...
and we got in bed early...
That's right...It's the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Time keeps on ticking, and Aidan and Julia, the two of you keep growing up before our very eyes!
As the first day approached, the two of you were very excited.
Julia, you are so psyched to be a "full day lunch kid"- that's right: you are in full-day Pre-K with Mr. Lewicki and Ms. Mary! You are a brilliant, smart, clever, adventurous, busy-busy, curious young lady with maturity (sometimes) far beyond your years. In many ways, it's hard to believe you're only in Pre-k. But, it is the right place for you to build and grow and continue to learn. And you are just going to nail it!
Aidan, you are 'moving up' to Lower Elementary 2! New teachers (Ms. Bell and Ms. Gwynn), new friends to make, new class room, new experiences to have. You are also excited about...the girls! You're a bit girl crazy right now, and you're also very excited about going back to "school school." You also are very sweet toward your reading teacher, Ms. Newman, and have verbally told us many times that you're looking forward to working with her. You are a sweet, emotional, true, innocent, exciting, talkative, creative, pugnacious, strong, and resilient young man. You've come so far already, and we are so excited about this big step forward in your development!
But enough of my analysis, let's hear from the two of you directly to give you a snapshot of who you both were going into the 2017 school year, and shining a light on to who you've become as you're reading this.
As you may remember, I annoy you guys once a year with these questions to make some sort of time capsule for you on the first day of school. Here were your answers in 2016. And here are your answers this year:
Julia Sekina Weinstein
Grade: Full day Pre-K
Class: PS2; Mr. Lewicki and Ms. Mary
Favorite Book: 'Princess and the Pony' (aka 'Princess Fart' <second year in a row!>); 'My Big Pink Fairy Book'; 'Pat the Bunny'; 'Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast'
Favorite Movie: 'Frozen' (yes...still); and 'Moana' Favorite Song: 'Tripping Down The Freeway' (by Weezer); "Number Seven from Moana" (Track 7 is "You're Welcome"); and "Let it Go" from Frozen (yes...still) Favorite Food: Candy! and Pepperoni Pizza <second year in a row>! Favorite TV show: Bubble Guppies <second year in a row...and that's odd because you guys rarely watch it>; "Hello Kitty...if we can ever find it" <there is, to my knowledge, no Hello Kitty TV Show!> Favorite Toy: "All of them ... and sparkly stuff...and the Maui toy I got from the Easter Bunny...and stuffed animals and my pink bunny and Tucker my dog...and my Indian scarf and Mia, my baby doll." Favorite Activity: "I like to sew! I like dressing up! I like jumping. I like riding my bike and I like listening to stories." Also.. " I like going to the dentist and following mommy's and daddy's rules so I can stay healthy. I like staying healthy." What I want to learn this year: "I want to go to Ms. Bell's class and work harder and not get in trouble and do what my teachers say." also... "I'm excited for my mom to teach art." Friends you're looking forward to seeing: Ella G and Ella K and Natalia and Tara and Korah and Kara What I will do when I grow up: "I will find bone and paint nails and have fun!" When I Grow Up I want to be: An Archaeologist!
And now about you, young sir, Aidan-- our BIG FIRST grader!
Aidan Powell Weinstein
Grade: First grade
Class: LE2; Ms. Bell and Ms. Gwynn
Favorite Book: "Where the Wild Things Are"
Favorite Movie: 'Storks' ("Because this guy is smelling the baby's tush") and 'A Bug's Life' Favorite Song: 'And in the End' (by The Beatles); "Clint Eastwood" (by the Gorillaz); "Trolls" and "Handlebars" Favorite Food: Fish! Salmon Sushi! "And Toast! And Water" Favorite TV show: "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" Favorite Toy: "My Huggy" (a little white teddy bear) & "Legos!" ("Dad look I'm in a Lego spell..." Favorite Activity: "Watch a movie every day." "I like smiley faces. I don't like mean faces." What I want to learn this year: "I hope I'm going to learn about puppies" and "Science and I hope I'm going to be in LE1" and "Art with Mama!" Friends you're looking forward to seeing: Leo and Daddy- "I still love you buy you're not my friend friend." - Collin and Ella K. "And my girlfriend Tara." When I Grow Up I want to be: "Baby Groot...with Groot Power!" (you also have been talking about being a "Marine Biologist" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" and "Sonic the Hedgehog police officer.") What I will do when I grow up: "Get flies and eat them."
Joining you guys for a first day of school is your NEW art teacher: Miss Holly!
That's right, Mama is a new full time art teacher at your amazing school. She is such a good mama and a fantastic teacher; I know two of her students who have already given her rave reviews!
We are so proud of both of you! There will be challenges ahead, there will be successes and set backs, and tears and laughter, and lunches and late nights, and friends and fun. It will be an amazing school year for both of you. You walked into school with your spirits high and your heads held high.
You are amazing young people and have learned so much already. We are so excited to be on this journey with you!
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