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Monday, August 21, 2017

First Day of School 2017

We went out for yogurt...


We painted nails...


We got a haircut... 


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!








Sunday, August 6, 2017

KISS


Julia, you said: 'Dad, me and Aidan want to put on a rock show upstairs. Can you paint our faces like Kiss? I want to be the kitty and Aidan wants to be the one with the long tongue!'


Heck yeah, I can!




And HECK YEAH to you and Aidan for wanting to ROCK AND ROLL all night and PARTY EVERY DAY!







You guys are amazing rock stars, amazing actors, amazing imagine-ers, and I hope you never lose that confidence to dream big and creatively express yourselves!

What happened next was some pure magic, made entirely by you!

Rock on, my children!









Rock ON FOREVER!



Saturday, August 5, 2017

Wonders of the World

I travel sometimes for work. Sometimes to amazing, foreign locals.

I've seen 2 modern wonders of the world.

I've been to India:


To Korea:


and I just got back from Brazil:


Don't get me wrong: I work hard on these trips, and have fun, and see amazing sights.

But, the best thing I ever see on these trips are the three smiling faces waiting for me when I return.



Upon my return from mys most recent trip to Brazil, I was fortunate enough to get back home first thing Saturday morning...and I opened the door...and the two of you, Aidan and Julia, ran into my arms and embraced me as if it was the first time you'd ever seen me. You help me tight and squeezed your faces close to mine. And showered me with love. This was by far one of the greatest moments of my life. 

You two made me feel like the most amazing dad on the planet. You of course make me feel special and loved pretty much every day. But this homecoming, this organic, unscripted moment made me feel like the luckiest guy on the planet. I will never forget that feeling and will carry each and every hug from you with me wherever I go.

Thank you for this most amazing gift. 

I love you so much. 



Monday, July 31, 2017

A Taste of July

Summer summer summer...

July was a flurry of family, friends, furry friends, finding frogs with friends, fireworks, fish, fancy pastries, biking to bakeries in the rain, Legos, and little bugs, manicures and pedicures from daddy (i tried my best), science experiments with pennies,  sleepovers, swimming, skinny dipping, and sunshine.

Sweet summer...goes by so fast, but hopefully the memories last forever.









Julia's note in which she asks Mimi and Pops to buy her ruby slippers with high heels. 


















































How Julia Packs 
How Aidan Packs




...on to our next adventure...