Catholic Schools Week

We went right from dance show to Catholic Schools Week, and every day there's something special...blue & gold day, Very Important Person Lunch Day (Lolo go the invite), Red/White/Blue Day, Pajama day and today...Mismatch Day....Bea's favorite, since that's about the way she'd look every day if I left her to her own choosing.  Here's Punky Brewster II:

We're enjoying having Lolo & Lola her to participate in all the wildness and fun.  Last night was a potluck dinner and grades pK-1 sang "Grand Old Flag."

We go right from CS Week into Tet, which we celebrate Friday and Saturday.  Then I hope we can slow down for the rest of the month just a bit.  This winter is just flying by.  The school year just started its second half and I don't know where the first went!

Dance Show Weekend

Last year's winter show, Beatrice was sick with a fever.  I remember she had a costume which included a bathrobe, and I stuffed it with Kleenex, which she used throughout her performance one night, the one in which I took her home during intermission.  Luckily this year, she is healthy and rarin' to go!  Lolo and Lola arrived last night and, since we can't take pictures during the show, I got some of her before:

Her hands on hip action from last night's show deemed her "star of the show" from several strangers:

"Stop, don't, no, please! Mama I'm a big girl now"  That song from Hairspray is included as part of their performance and she just loves that part:

Some of her "moves" today were so beautiful and innocent and I wanted to freeze time and remember her as this little girl.  And other moments (see hip shaking above) I was reminded that my tiny but sassy little girl is quickly dissolving into a 6-year old.  Sigh.....

What else would you do when it's 9 degrees out?

Heading out the door after dinner, into the insane cold for..

swim class!

The pool temperature read 90 degrees.  No complaints here:

I think tonight was the first time ever that she jumped in without holding Miss Dianne's hand:

It took a lot of courage to leave that sauna, but we braved it and are back home in our cozy home.

Proof the Winter is wearing on us:

Walking around blindfolded is big excitement:

We can't get close enough to the portable heater:

(p.s. how I love this new chair I picked up at Mekong Market when shopping for TET supplies! Makes me miss Vietnam so much!)

A black tutu and the right sound effects=Black Kitty:

or Roaring Panther:

Cabin Fever = Fairy Maid Ballerina???

So much crawling feline activity:

This act was part out of affection but more to get warm!

Art Snob

WARHOL, that is.  Mary Jane got Bea this cool shirt and 4 Andy Warhol books for Christmas. This girl has seen original masterpieces in Paris, Florence, Washington, and New York City.  She sketches constantly.  She's dying to go to the MoMa. Paper, and recently tape, is her best friend. She keeps a pencil and pen in the car at all times. She knows the name Ai Wei Wei.  She has already owned (and filled up) a Moleskine. She wrote and directed an 8-act play at the age of 4 in Tuscany, and continues to love imaginary play. My friend Teta told me when Bea was about 3 years old that I'd "better save for RISD" (art school).  The other options are ballerina, taxi driver, counselor, engineer, or custodian.  Whatever she chooses I'm starting to believe that art is going to figure into this creative soul's life always. Lucky girl.

Good advice

6:30 a.m......getting ready for work/school....I say, thinking out loud, "hmm..how should we do your hair today?"  Beatrice replied "Just think outside the box!"

Architect vs. Philosopher

The awesome book Young Frank, Architect (Frank Viva) inspired this evening of  building a city out of paper and ordinary objects with Daddy in the studio.

They had a blast cutting and drawing and taping and talking (the debate question she posed: "which is more importanter:  books or paper?") and planning for their expansion tomorrow. 

After they were done, it was bath time and Beatrice asked me "Mama, do you know everything about everything?"  No, I answered, no one knows everything.  Well, maybe God.

"I know who knows everything.  Dead people.  'Cause after you die you go to dead school and learn the answers to everything. But you have to be dead first.  Then you will know."

Sometimes Beatrice walks a fine line between genius and just scary-creepy!  I then asked her what she'd like to know the answers to if she could know everything and she said:  "Africa, Arabia, Matatunia (?), Molokkum(?) and just all the places!"

You want to learn about all the countries all over the world?  "Yes!" Someday, my little voyager through life, some day.  It's hard for me to imagine that some day you'll journey away from us and your home, but I know you will.  For right now though, there's still no place like home: