DECATS

Emily volunteered as a graduate assistant this year at DECATS and David is experiencing it as a 1st year scholar.  DECATS is an enrichment program for academically talented students, or those scoring in the 90th percentile on standardized tests.  Each student takes some standard courses as well as electives they get to choose.  David is in a course called Wellness which got him a pedometer and he has been obsessed with reaching 10,000 steps each day and eating healthy so I say, "Win!"  David also signed up for Under Siege, a castle design course, Fork it Over, a recycled art course, and The Medieval Times where he is helping to create a newspaper.  It has been a great experience for him and he is already talking about doing it again next year.  Oh yes, there is a lot of singing and dancing and general silliness as you can see in my video.  David is hamming it up!

And I wasn't surprised to see my girl up on stage leading the dance moves...

Vacation Bible School

June 19-23 was Vacation Bible School week at our church and Lia was excited to be a part of it again. The Theme was :  Maker Fun Factory - Created by God - Built for a Purpose

Here is Lia with her "Blue Bubba" group.  I love the bright orange t-shirts this year.

We are always excited to see the decorations and they did not disappoint!  Just look at this life sized paint brush.  So fun!

Each of the letters is unique.  I am always so impressed.

Isaac loves robots and was over the moon when he saw this!  Every day he could not wait to go see the robot.  :-)

Emily and David had DECATS during VBS week this year but were excited to see all the decorations and music and dancing on family night.  Maybe we can make a robot out of our refrigerator?

A taste of some of the fun:

Emily's Graduation Formal

This year's graduating 8th grade class was treated to a formal party at the Hyatt Centric Market Street.  Apparently a few extremely generous families picked up the tab to spoil these lucky kids.  I had never been inside this hotel and was dazzled by its swankiness.  :-)

Aren't they lovely?

David's Artwork

Here is a sampling of David's school artwork from 5th grade.  He has always drawn funny stick characters and has a great sense of humor.  I think these samples just take it up a notch.  :-)

I call this one:  "Scared Kid in the Storm"

"Dabbing Snowman"

*Dab definition below... this was a new concept for me!

Dab (dance)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dabbing, or the dab, is a simple dance move or playful gesture, in which a person drops their head into the bent crook of a slanted arm, while raising the opposite arm in a parallel direction but out straight. The move looks similar to someone sneezing into the "inside" of the elbow.

And this is just some crazy cool origami!  I like it David!

Emily's 8th Grade Graduation

It's official:  We have a St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School graduate!!!  The school treated us to a lovely graduation breakfast and awards ceremony followed by mass.  The girls all agreed to dress in white and looked so lovely and tall in their heels!  Emily cleaned up at the awards ceremony gaining recognition for student council homeroom representative, national junior honor society chaplain, the president's award and the Washington DC citizenship award we are so proud of her for.

You know it's official when you get your graduation certificate from your parish priest!

Thank you Lia for this Mommy and Daughter pic.  :-)

They clean up good!

I didn't know this one got taken till I saw it in the school paper.  Fun!

This was the best I could get after the photographer finished.

And the 8th grade theme song:  Go Make a Difference

(I love the energy.)

And another good one to remember the day:

And yes, they are all scattering to different places next year.  Good Luck Graduates!!!

Pic's from The Little Mermaid

Emily was in her first musical this year and *loved* every minute of it.  She was a mersister, Alanna, in her school's production of The Little Mermaid.  These kids worked really hard with 10 hours of rehearsals in the final weeks leading up to the show.  Emily's favorite part about the experience, while not on stage, was working on all the sets and backdrops.  Of note, she also learned that wearing a wig is really uncomfortable and that she never wants to be a blonde with pink highlights... ;-)

And a little sample from the show!

Mother's Day 2017

May 14, 2017