Social time with Jack and Jill

Loose change winners - Jack and Jill - earn a jump house party!!  

Sonata Festival

Haley has her Sonata Festival.  She scored Superior- which is actually her lowest grade in a Festival.  

Omni Dallas and Dallas Women's Foundation

Fancy night at a honorable presentation with Ms. Ping Fu as key-note speaker at the Dallas Women's Foundation Maura Young Leader Award ceremony.  

Filming for Good Morning Texas.  

Alisha Woodall - Founder of Village Moms 

Gauthami Vemula - Founder of Color Me Safe, LLC. http://www.colormesafe.net/p ages/bios.html 

 Judge Staci Williams - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dallas-attorney-staci-williams-agrees-045500052.ht

Easter

Easter is a time for reflection, new beginnings (Resurrection) after a period of contemplation (Lent).  A time to refocus on "what's important" in life:  love, peace, happiness, and for us that means FAMILY.  

In America, it is very customary to do the "commericalization" aspect (Easter bunnies, little candy chicks, eggs and egg-hunts, treats, big dinner, and church).  Being that we are American and enjoy having "excuses" to solidify "cute" childhood experiences (and disconnect from the "outside" and focus on our own).  

Mall Easter Bunny Photo: 

 This photo went something like this:

Ian: You want me to what? Life-sized rodent? Yeah, I don't think so...

Hana: YAAAAHHHH!! I want to see the Easter bunny!! MEEEE!!

Haley: I'm probably too old for that, don't you think Mommy?

Me: Of course not, Haley. Never too old to take a photo with the Easter Bunny! It'll be FUN!! C'mon Ian...for Mommy...!!

*click*


Ian had an Easter-egg hunt with his teacher and the class.  The class being silly:

Easter Sunday:  New outfits and dresses, hair done, and jewelry.  All dressed up and ready to go.

Children's Blessing at Church

Playing on the church playground while we wait for the adults to finish socializing after the service and celebration.

The Easter-egg hunt.  Like the Amazing Race, SOME of the eggs contained "Mommy-Money."  Collect the Mommy-Money to be saved in the Mommy-bank.  When you get enough, you can cash it in for something that the parents would not otherwise buy.  :)

Gifts and goodies!!

What a fun Easter Sunday!!  Spiritual re-connection, family time, fun and games...LOVE and HAPPINESS celebration!!

6th grade

Scenes of homeschool and projects.

Learning multiplication tables on an abacus.

 Harp practice in preparation for her last recital of the academic year!!

 Biography project - Harriet Tubman (he did it all on his own; lamination with scotch tape and everything!

 Haley's Viking and Castle projects.  Two projects, both with great marks.

 Everyone has their own space!!

Addition and subtraction with her fingers!!  Way to go Hana!!

Hana does gymnastics: Update

Hana was accepted into a "local" ELITE gym pre-level 3 (which is pre-competition but on Level 3 team).

Videos can be viewed as follows:

Back hand-spring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz9mmjGnh0Q

Floor exercise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQciYlQju0I

Horizontal bar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxNFmXun_vg

Spring Recital - Sonata in C Major K. 545: 2nd mvt (pianist Haley)

Receiving her applause after a job well done!!

The studio's pupils with the teacher.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRfUmUfn7y8

Pageant Girl.

I have an idea for a "STEaM pageant" after this experience. I think this experience was valuable for Hana because (1) she enjoyed it, and (2) being on stage before a friendly crowd who thinks she's beautiful for just *existing* was very reaffirming for her. At this age, the girls all feel like beauty queens, and are friendly and its all about complimenting each other. It was great for these reasons. But, we are not "pageant people" so I'm not sure she'll participate again in this (or any) pageant.

No Toddler and Tiaras here.  But I do think...there can be tremendous value in celebrating beauty (both inner and outer) in the "right" way. This...served that purpose for her, IMO.

I think, there needs to be a "beauty" pageant that, while acknowledging the diversity of "outer" beauty (because that's important, whether we like it/admit it or not) FOCUSES on inner beauty and self-development. I realize there ARE pageants that endeavor to incorporate components that extend beyond the external...but I haven't appreciated a pageant where a TRUE comprehensive evaluation has been done that actually celebrates ALL aspects of a girl (as objectively as possible). Maybe...a "talent show" is what I'm thinking...but...we all know that "what is beautiful" is more than "talent.

Lesson:  Self-Esteem, confidence, pride, beauty (inside and out), public appearance, poise, and self-love.

Children's Cluster

The Jack and Jill Children's Cluster (which is an area conference) was an awesome opportunity and demonstration of talent and self-confidence for the children.  Haley and Hana were particularly benefited as they both took advantage of the opportunity to speak before an audience and fully participate (and excel) in competition.  Haley prepared a self eSTEaM speech, with powerpoint visual aid and totally impressed the judges.  For the entire conference words of admiration came from parents and judges alike.  To watch Haley shine reinvigorated my desire to give her more and more opportunities to speak publicly.  She was really in her element up there.


 Community service:  Making blankets for children in the hospital so they have personalized, fuzzy, warm wraps.

 What's great about ME:  Self-esteem and loving the person I am!!

Hana does her impromtu public speaking with an audience:  demonstration speech on gymnastics and cart-wheels with Q&A

And the teamwork demonstrated during the girls' engineering challenge was a great sight to see.

Ian is more of an introvert, and would have preferred to stay home.  Stretching him out of his comfort zone was advantageous to him as well.

The "highest honor" was granted to Haley for her prepared persuasive speech that she delivered flawlessly.




The winning speech can be viewed HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTnL7Kn926E