Scarborough Faire

 We braved the extreme Texas heat and headed back in time to a medeival-ish time period full of mazes, monsters, uneven accents, tunics, and fair food and had an amazingly fun family day at the Renaissance Faire: Scarborough Faire!

We rode elephants, saw a crazy juggler, spotted a Star Trek away team, found Waldo, dined on turkey legs, frozen orange drink, and funnel cake!

We purchased wares from a metalworker and an oyster splitter; we found, and ate, and shared the last pretzel; we made our way in and out of the maze with ease; had the best pickle on the planet; and felt like (very hot, but very content) royalty!

Medieval Times: Julia's 3rd Grade GREAT Project

 

Julia, for your 3rd grade GREAT project, you studied the Medieval Times! You made an AMAZING presentation and built a model castle, complete with a drawbridge and inhabitants!

We are so proud of you!

I know things now: Julia as "Little Red Riding Hood" in "Into the Woods!"

 We weren't sure there was going to be "East Dallas Arts" this spring. You guys had so much fun doing it last summer. But then there was another wave of Coivd in the fall, and we hadn't heard anything all spring. Then we got an email from EDA: they were doing "Into the Woods" as a Middle School Musical, and they had one spot open...one for a young woman...and they thought you, Julia, might be interested in it.

And interested you were!

You worked so hard and auditioned for the role of "Little Red Riding Hood"...and you GOT it!

You BECAME Little Red over this semester; nailing her spunk, innocence, and sassiness...and nailing all of your lines and songs!

And you did it on your own too. Sure, you made a lot of friends at EDA, but this time- this first full play- you did not go in knowing anyone. That took bravery to go into a mess of new people (mostly teenagers) like that and to come out with your head held high and such a great experience and performance!

You were only 9 years old; and you wowed the crowd. One other dad, after a performance, asked me how old you were. I told him, and he said 'pretty damn good!"

I think he was pretty damn right! 

We are so proud of you, Little Red Julia! So many people came out to see you perform, and you brought smiles to so many faces! You inspired so many of your friends to get into EDA! And, you know things know- many valuable things- that you didn't know before!

 

Aidan's First Belt Test!

You used to do Karate a bunch when you were way younger...when you were 4!

Then, through the years, you tried out a bunch of different activies - swimming, soccer, gymnastics- and on top of it you went to Spots and Bliss to help you grow. And, grow up you did! During the pandemic when I asked you what activity you might want to do when Covid was mostly over, you said "karate!"

And, although you did want the "costume" you also wanted to get back in a dojo and learn martial arts again. You had fond memories of it from when you were younger. And you were ready to kick it into high gear!

First we tried one dojo that you decided wasn't right for you (you later told us that the teacher told a boy that if "he didn't shape up, he was gonna slap him upside the head." You later reported that you thought to yourself, "I gotta get outta here!")

Then we found Mr. Garcia and East Dallas Arts! Mr. Garcia is a GREAT teacher, and you have been loving what we call "karate" on Mondays and Wednesdays. Except we just found out that it's actually Tae Kwon Do. But even though we missed that major detail, you- my friend- have been kicking and punching, and learning forms, and memorizing, and aspiring for black belt excellence!

After many months of hard work as a white belt, you earned enough stripes, and you were ready to test for an orange belt.

You knew your forms, you nailed the discipline, you grappled and sparred...and you passed your first belt test with flying colors! From White to Orange!

We are so proud of all of your hard work, SIR! 

HAI!