Rockin' In Front of the TV

Here is a much, much shorter video, shot last night while the soup we were having for dinner cooked. The bambini had changed into their pajamas and we're dancing and singing, using the TV as a mirror.  Or rather Clara was singing. That is, in fact, one thing to note: she sings a stream-of-consciousness narration while her band mate-sidekick rocks out mute.  Loop it and pretend like you're here Fans!  (Berenice Fans should watch for cameo appearances.)

Our Hero as Guest Reader

When Julie saw this picture, she thought that Joe looked like the Big Man on Campus.  "Hey, Kids.  I'm a first grader.  This could be you one day.  Stay in school."

Our Hero did not have school yesterday. Ted stayed home with him and, among other things, took Joe to Clara's pre-K class in the afternoon where Joe was the guest reader. Guest readers can select their own material. Joe selected The Polar Express. Our copy was a gift from Fan Great Aunt Janie and her family when Joe was Itty bitty and Birdie wasn't yet even here. The Polar Express is in heavy rotation right now because it is Joe's go-to pick if we are reading anytime before bedtime, of then but altogether instead of separate.

It was a somewhat bold choice, however seasonally appropriate, because it is lengthy, and awkward to hold while reading aloud such that the pictures might be seen by a group in front of the reader. This poster was not there to see it but our stringer in the field reports that Our Hero was amazing! Clara's teachers were very impressed. Clara and her friends were dazzled--after they shifted to the right to see the pictures. You can see the whole event here. (Advanced notice: the video is 11 minutes long.)

The Right-Now

Fans. Are you still there? We are here, despite all evidence to the contrary. And we will catch you up on all manner of news soon. For now, we plunge into the right-now to share back-to-back funny moments from tonight's tuck-in time.

Of late, when possible, have been reading to the bambini separately. Joe is in the midst of Danny, the Champion of the World. Tonight, he pulled the covers up over his head at a suspenseful moment and demanded that Julie (who read Danny as a child) tell him what happened. Julie refused of course.

About this time, Clara padded in with Ted wanting to know if Julie had pitched her bouquet after her wedding--to the other female, unmarried guests she meant. Julie did not. Clara demanded to know what traditions had been followed. She demanded Ted kiss Julie. Ted did. Clara noted he had kissed Julie on the lips.  She further noted, "Kids don't kiss on the lips. That's gross. That's germs." And that seems a fine thing for her to continue to think.

After she went back to her room, Julie asked Joe what he was doing. Because he had his head tipped back and his back arched. And Joe said, totally straight, like he was commenting on the weather, "I'm making a C."

Roller Garden!

This evening Joe was invited to his classmate Brandon's birthday party at the Roller Garden!  Readers may be interested to know that the Roller Garden was built in 1930 for horse shows and over the decades has been used for tennis and of course rollerskating. This was Joe's second visit to the Roller Garden so when Julie brought him inside he was quick to tell her he was a size 1 skate, laced them up and was off to the rink barely looking back.  At pick up he was enjoying a piece of pumpkin pie (apparently Brandon's favorite because this was discussed all week) but then went back out to roll. He also discovered the benefit of using a "triangle" which is a type of walker on wheels to help kids learning to skate. You can see from the picture that the Roller Garden has the requisite neon lights, disco balls, and the like. It also plays your standard popular music by which to roll. It is amazing the place exists, but on a cold Wednesday evening there was a respectable crowd including a first grade birthday party!

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Joe and Clara love to spend their free time creating various paper projects. Joe has recently written little books and a Happy Thanksgiving banner to hang on the window.  Clara wants to be just like her big brother so will also write out a string of letters and proclaim it to be "a funny joke" at which point the reader will sound out what she wrote so it sounds something like "vas-ooo-dee-ack-lay-eee-eye-oh-eye" because she tends to be heavy on the vowels. Then said scrap of paper with letters will be taped to the wall for prosperity. Everyone finds this hilarious. Repeat.