Lego interlude

Bow and magic wand constructed with Lego.

Star Student

Keira picked up one of the first Star Student awards of the school year on Friday.

But whoever filled this out is going to get a fail for their spelling...

And sister too..

So Kassidy insisted on getting her picture taken when she saw Keira's post.

Cute kid! Cure dress!

Good idea, Kassidy.

Making Waves

Keira had her hair in braids yesterday so today she was sporting the waves.

I like the look on her.

3rd Grade Bible Retreat, Singing for the Elderly, 3rd Grade Bible Presentation

This was a big weekend for the kids. Friday night, Lukas got to go to the 3rd grade Bible a Retreat, I volunteered during the event, which was so much fun for the third graders with t-shirt decorating, a scavenger hunt through church ( yes, I hid the clues, some not so easy to find), a short bible lesson, dinner, dessert and games! I took the picture of one of the stained glass windows in the dark sanctuary.

Saturday morning the Living Proof Youth Choir went to sing and socialize and a local nursing home. They did a great job and brought some big smiles to the faces of the residents there, all Alzheimer's patients. Kassidy and I tagged along, too. Katharine is the one on the far left in blue.

This morning, Sunday, Lukas got his 3rd grade Bible in the 11 o'clock service. The Joyful Noise Choir (Keira is in that one, for kindergarten and 1st graders) and Glorious Praise Choir (Lennon and Lukas' choir for 2nd -5th grade) sang the books of the Bigle songs for the occasion.

Keira is the one in the center of the second row.

Operation Christmas Child

The kids packed their boxes for Operation Christmas Child tonight. They gladly wrote a few things about themselves, were they live, what they like, how old they are, and drew some self-portraits. They filled the boxes with all kinds of goodies, like soap, toothbrushes, socks, school supplies, toys and other small items that are needed and enjoyed.

We printed out a tracking label so we can follow the boxes to their final destination. The kids included their address and are now wondering if they will get a letter back. This is such a fun mission! Katharine participated last year through a friend, this year the children's ministry at church decided to participate. The goal is to fill 300 boxes!

Social Studies: Texas

This week the kids' social studies are covering Texas, so today we painted a Texas flag. Everything is bigger in Texas, as you know!







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Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween!

Iria sent me this great self'ie when they arrived for their annual Halloween trek in the Millette's neighborhood (with Charlotte).

Hopefully we will get some higher res pictures to post later on.

Twelve Wheeler

Here is everyone dressed in their bike rider costumes on the way to Keira's school this morning.

Contemporary Class

Katharine rocked it and was asked by the teacher to demonstrate!

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Sleeping Beauty

I took Keira and Katharine to see "Sleeping Beauty" last Sunday afternoon. It was Keira's first time at a big theater seeing a truly full lenghth ballet. Sleeping Beauty has three intermissions and runs for three hours, with more than 200 costumes! Keira wore her Frozen inspired dress and looked beautiful. The cool thing for Katharine is that she knows some of the professional dancers of the Texas BalletTheater personally. It was a stunning production!

Parent Observation Week

This past week was parent observation week at the ballet school. Here are a few pictures I took with my phone. More will be posted once they are downloaded off my camera.

 En Pointe

Center Work

In Contemporary Class

Observing Pointe Class

Katharine's been on pointe for only two to three months, but she's keeping up very well with the more experienced girls, as you can see in this video.

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Cornhusk Dolls/ Maisblätter Puppen

Wir haben Puppen aus Maisblättern gemacht:

We made cornhusk dolls:






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A Visit with Kari

I surprised Katharine today with a short get together with Kari, a dance major at VCU that Katharine knows from her time at Sheena's, and who has always been a great role model for her.

Yesterday Katharine read the following book during her breaks from lessons, after school and before dance. I had seen the extraordinary dancer in the documentary "First Position." I figured Katharine would like the book. Next she should maybe read Misty Copeland's book. She already read Jennifer Ringer's book.

My Brother's New Residence/ Die Neue Residenz Meines Bruders

My brother Stefan and his wife Sylvia had to unexpectedly move...it's a long and not so pretty story. He moved from an old house to another old, yet much prettier house. I think the pictures are worth sharing:

 Stefan and Sylvia live on the third floor, the top row of four windows. This house is called the Kaiserhaus, because it has been privately owned by the Kaiser family since 1840. It was built in 1620 as the seat of the bishops of Würzburg. It was purchased by the Kaisers in 1840.

Stefan und Sylvi wohnen im dritten Stock, oberste Reihe mit vier Fenstern. Das Haus ist bekannt als das Kaisernaus, da es seit 1840 in Besitz der Familie Kaiser ist. Es wurde in 1620 gebaut und diente als Amtssitz der Bischöfe von Würzburg. 1840 hat die Familie Kaiser es erworben.

                                                           Outside, the front door
                                                                       Haustüre

                                               

The apartment door from the inside

die Wohnungstüre

                                                                    The hallway
                                                                       Der Flur

view of the living and dining rooms

Blick auf Wohn- und Esszimmer

Inside the mind of Kassidy

Happy Birthday, Iria!

Iria celebrates her birthday today. 

She keeps on going no matter how much home schooling, soccer practices, soccer games, dance classes, dance recitals, scouting, church volunteering, shopping, cooking, baking, laundry, laundry, and more laundry that we throw at her!

We love you!

Double Dip

Today I told Lennon that he would get one scoop of ice cream for every goal that he dribbled into the net past the goalie, without shooting it.

That is a pretty hard thing to do and he had never done it before, so I thought I was safe..

Nope!