bike repair shop

In preparation for summer, the kids are doing tune-ups on their bikes. Ave is also sanding down the frame of her newly acquired bike so she can repaint it a more girly color.

Ave is wearing the required eye and ear protection (if not exactly OSHA approved shoes and pants), which means she's YELLING everything she has to say.

twinkle toes

the big chill

Ave's big 2nd grade show was tonight, and they did a show called "The Big Chill." In nutshell, it's a story about kids and teachers excited at the prospect of a snow day. They sang several songs and each child had a spoken line. Ave was one of the weather forecasters. Here she is ready to go before the show:

And here is a video clip - it'll take a bit of time to load:

And here is a clip from Max's recorder concert, there's some fidget time at the beginning, but it's the best clip I got:

caught reading

dancing burritos

This is Ave and Elise, dancing in a Chipotle restaurant. We met Elise's family there Friday after work, and left when the place closed for the night. The kids had to entertain themselves somehow while the parents talked. And talked. And talked.

recorder karate

On Tuesday, the fourth grade had their recorder concert. All the kids are learning how to play the recorder and read music with a program called recorder karate. First they learn 3 notes, (B, A, and G) that can be played with one hand. White belt. Then they learn break marks. Yellow Belt. Then another note. Orange. And so on. Max has his white and yellow beads (the beads are on their recorder case and show the level attained). He's ready to test for orange, green, and purple. Some of the kids have gone through black and Mr. Wiebel had to create 2 more levels, tie-dye and pink.

Max is the one standing up in the back row - craning to see Mr. Wiebel be presented with a blinged out recorder - a gift from the 4th grade. Apparently, Mr. Wiebel wears his recorder 24/7 so that the kids can test for the next level at recess, lunch, or whenever they corner him. He has even left it on after school, and been spotted in public wearing it. The students thought if he was going to wear it out and about, he should have a 'spiffier' one. The concert was pretty darned good - considering 40 some kids were playing an inherently squeaky instrument. I shot some video of it, and will post it someday.

great reading

http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp

someday i'll learn how to put a link into a post.