Onward & not looking back!

One in Middle School & one in High School...no time for looking back!
No time to hold my breath either
If I do, I may pass-out

Our lives are in constant motion
I've fasten my seatbelts
I'm enjoying the ride :)

NEED (noun) : a thing necessary for life

Today after school, Kaitlin, Breana & I "manned" Salvation Army's Angel Tree for a few hours. The Angel Tree represents gift requests from kids 12 and under. These children's names were pulled from files of families that are in dire need.
Kaitlin & Breana each took a moment to silently read the tags that were hung on the tree and that laid side-by-side on 3 tables. They went their own direction around the tree & table and each had their own purpose that they put on themselves.
Breana sorted out the toys that were received and sought out gift requests by girls her same age - she was so affected by all the tags that signified kids in need.
Kaitlin counted the tags and sat a bit numb at the number of kids in need {approximately 200}. She even answered a few questions by a passer-byer. Kaitlin had read the binder of instructions that was left for the volunteers and was able to answer questions intelligently & confidently.
Breana took a tag for a 10 yr old girl who requested a board game. She asked me if she could buy a board game for this girl. (How can I deny her that?) Then on the way out of the Mall she found a fairy doll that a 9 yr old girl requested and wanted to buy that one, too. Her "need" was to fill the requests of two girls she hadn't met.
They were both overwhelmed at the amount of kids - their age - with basic desires & needs. We talked about needs being met and desires being filled - we acknowledged that our needs are fully & completely met as are our simple & reasonable desires. We don't need much more than that materialistically.

Next week we watch over the Angel Tree for a few hours again although I want it to be more than helping those in need. It's about putting faces to stories of those in need, it's about realizing that these faces are human & real and could be the girl/boy that they sit next to in class, and it's knowing that we all have our own stories and all should be treated with respect & kindness.

I'm proud of my girls - the difference between how they reacted while serving Thanksgiving Dinner at the Salvation Army 3 years ago to how they served this year is leaps & bounds. They were less timid and less hesitant. They approached individuals on their own and helped each one with sincerity. They do walk away from the evening affected, just as being in the midst of the Angel Tree affects you, there's no way you can't be.

District Cup

The last tournament for this season and the Jaws fought hard, they hung in there tough, they dug down deep inside, they shined, they recovered...and they also laughed, developed their own team superstitions, hung out and enjoyed a weekend together.

First game was against Stanford Lightning:

My girls caught onto my tactic of counting backwards in order to best organize our days, especially soccer days - game at 9:30am, be on the field at 8:30, leave home at 7:30am, wake up at 6:30am which means bedtime is 8:30-9:00pm! Initially they resisted the early bedtime on a friday night but once they got into bed their bodies succumbed to it, albeit slowly but eventually.

The first half of the game they were at 0-0. Unfortunately the game ended at 0-4.
The team went to lunch and the girls hung out. Feet were rested, spirits were lifted and gear was dried out by the warm sun.

The second game was against the Gryphons. The team played like a well-oiled machine and they won 1-0. It was tough though, bodies crashed against each other, mud was kicked and the girls fought hard for possession of the ball - but that ball met the back of the net and the game was won.

The next day at 10:30am the team played against Revolution Red in a tough fight, they girls came into this game knowing they had to win. They've been there before, twice - at the SC Classic & the Tiburon Tournament. Glory was made by 2 players who tasted sweetness for the first time - scoring a goal does that to you, it makes you want to come back for more, it makes you hungry.At 2-0 it placed the girls in a position to be in the Consolation Round the rest was based on two games that were being played at 12:00. One team needed to lose and another team couldn't win their game with more than 1-0. With that, by 1 point, the Jaws advanced to the Consolation Round at 3:00pm.

At the first half the girls were holding at 1-0 but with the switching of the field, the sun setting with a bright glow towards their faces and the game ball being white, it added an element of difficultness to the game. No excuses though - game ended at 1-2.

Glory was still to be had though - the Jaws team with 2 subs that whole weekend, placed 4th out of 12 teams. That's something to be hugely proud of.

The drive home was beautiful, the orange vibrant sunset and the promise of a home-cooked meal at Mia & Bill's house. We spent the entire weekend together, Dan on one side of the field, me on the other and the girls in between us - as Dan would say, "As usual" :) and that's said with love...and pride.

A day in the life...

We met at Johnny's Rockets for lunch - gotta love those onion rings & straw dispensers! We were definitely on the low sugar level side and needed to be fed immediately for fear of emotional & physical breakdown - in public! It took incredible amounts of patience to wait for our order. No one to blame - the servers looked short-staffed so I tried to be pleasant. :{ It's never good to lose your patience...in public...in front of the kids...when you're hungry.

The kids went another route - instead of being irritable they got silly. Lots of laughing for no apparant reason. So by the time the food came they were out of control!

We waited for after lunch for a photo-op. Spirits were at an equilibrium and mood was nice & mellow (i.e bellys were full!) - all was happy again!

(Kylie, Kaitlin, Breana, Dad Q/Poppa & Brayton)

Walking outside leaving AC behind was like running into a sauna. The temperature is always too much for us in Los Gatos during the Summer. A day at Courtside pool is all the girls need. I lounge w/ a book. It's a sweet luxury of ours to have Dan work at a Sports Resort - sigh...where are the palm fronds and lifeguards?

Yes, you got it - Kaitlin & Breana in lifeguard gear (Breana w/ the life-saver). They were asked if they would pose as Junior Lifeguards for Courtsides Member's publication - August issue. Another giggly moment for them. (I sure am glad they have each other to share these memories with.) Funny - in between photo takes they were longingly looking at the pool - all they wanted to do was swim!

Wouldn't you want her to save you?

Last day of school

They're all real anxious - the anticipation is killing them!
The HV Fire Department obliges...
they so look forward to this!

Sweet friendships

Brigette & Kaitlin have been friends since kindergarten. When they were 5 years old, Brigette taught Kaitlin how to do a front flip on the trampoline. Together they hiked up to the top of Brigette's property at age 7 with a lunch they packed themselves and at age 11 they would ride the horses out to view the sunset. Next year they go off to different schools. It's hard to say good-bye to the thought of not seeing one another on a daily basis.
It is truly hard to say "so long" to special people. We've all been there - you want to stay together - you have great intentions and may even be successful for a short period of time...but you hope for more. As Kaitlin & Breana's Mom I will try my darndest to keep these ties together. Their friends mean a lot to me as well. I have watched these kids grow into incredible human beings who have positive energy, serious study habits and who are thoughtful for those around them. I feel the need to see where they head off to in the years to come!
They gathered as many of the 6th graders as they could to pose with their beloved teacher.

Before me I see an athlete, a surfer, a choral singer traveling to perform in Carnegie Hall this summer, a fashionista with forever a book in her pocket, a concert violinist, a competitive gymnasts, all academias...all dreamers...truly exceptional kids with the world waiting for them to make their marks - their possibilities are endless!

Is it true - they're 12 years old?!

Where did the time go?

Talent Show

My friend & I were in charge of the Talent Show this year. It entailed making sure the acts were age-appropriate & family friendly, singing acts were backed-up by preferably karaoke music, fitting 50 acts & 2 recesses into 3 hours and laughing the entire time. It involved a bit of work from us but it was managable.

Kaitlin was one of the MCs.

She, with her fellow 6th grade girl-friends, sang their own rendition of "So Long Farewell" from 'The Sound of Music'. Kaitlin's line was "I'd like to stay and be held back a grade, yes?" with her teacher responding, "I wish, but no!" :) They ended with, "We know we have to go to seventh grade...so long farewell..." (as they walked off the stage waving good-bye to one another)

Breana sang, "Breakaway" which was quite fitting for one who has chosen to move on to Middle School instead of spending her 6th grade at this school.

"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

I'll do what it takes 'till I touch the sky

And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change

and breakaway.

Out of the darkness and into the sun

but I won't forget all the ones that I love

I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway.

.

.

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk, make a change and breakaway..."

Kaitlin & Breana

You give a 12 yr old & almost-11 yr old a task:
Needed: One head shot photo (to be cut 1" by 1") for their soccer id.
These id cards are given by the Coach to the Head Ref at the start of the game. The Head Ref uses these cards to identify the player...much like our driver's license. Straight on head shots.
Instruction: Take pictures of each other for this id card.
Due: Tonight





Are you almost done yet?

Kaitlin & Breana cont'd

Oh boy!

History projects

Assignment: Creative project done at home for chosen subject.
Kaitlin - for 6th grade Ancient History, Kaitlin chose greek gods.
Breana - for 5th grade American History, Breana chose the Declaration of Independence.
Ideas: clay sculptures for diaramas.

My job: buy the clay in yellow, white, tan & blue - easy enough...
Due: Wednesday, March 7

There are too many varietys of clay! There's polymer, suply, clay you bake, clay that hardens without baking, clay you reuse, clay you add color to while you're kneading, clay you paint after baking...here a clay, there a clay, everywhere a clayclay. The clay I found that hardens without baking for $3.49 only came in white & tan. To buy yellow, I would have to buy another multi-pack but would be stuck with neon pink, green & black. To buy blue, I would have to buy a single pack the size of a brick for approx $10. I decided on a completely different route - a neutral color that could be baked if you wanted to but would also harden without baking and could have dye added to it before baking and painted on after baking. I knew we had food dye and prayed that our tempura paint was still in good condition. This clay seemed quite versatile to me and for $3.49 a package I grabbed two, one for each girl, and intended on walking to the register but took a detour to the back of the store to walk down the aisles of pens & erasers & pads of paper before I worked my way up front...uh oh...and that's where I saw the kid's aisle. On those shelves were four completely different types of clay and colors and uses - ohmigosh this is only a 5th/6th grade project! I finally decided on 2 different types; a tub of white clay that hardens without baking and a package of 20 sticks in different colors of reusable clay. I walked out with my wallet $8 lighter, 4 minutes left on my meter & 15 minutes until the girls get out of school...my job is complete!

Kaitlin made 5 different objects significant to the greek gods and placed them on pillars. Her pieces were smaller in scale. Some pieces were easier to sculp than others. One piece, the wings on the sandal, took patience and a little bit of ingenuity to keep the reusable clay to maintain it's shape.

The end result is simple and well thought out. It makes a nice display representing symbols of the greek gods.

*

Breana sculpted Thomas Jefferson signing the Declaration of Independence. For his blue jacket, Breana kneaded 2 different sticks of blue clay together and spread it over the body made of the white clay. Jefferson's hair is swabs of cotton and the feather was cut out of vellum. Breana always gathers feathers but could not find a single one for this diagram. The end result is stunning.

They both did an incredible job.

Concerns: getting them to school unharmed.

What we learned: the reusable clay isn't the best for projects like this.

Chicklets

Two of Breana's friends started a group called Chicklets. This group involved the girls their age in their combined graded class and their Mothers. Hannah hosted the first meeting with her Mom, Sharon. Hannah emailed us Moms to coordinate a date, she mailed out the invitations, created the activities for the day and led the meeting. It was well planned, well executed and done with thought & purpose. Us Moms did the Daisy/Brownie/Girl Scout-thing where we led the meetings and attended & met the required Leadership trainings but this time there was a refreshing role-reversal. These girls want to spend some time together outside of school and involve their Moms. It was all real sweet and meaningful.The theme for the first meeting was a tea party. Sharon & Hannah spoiled us with delectable treats and sweet china settings. While my plan was to only stay for "no more than an hour" because of things needed to get done today, we enjoyed ourselves for 3 hours - how could we not?

It was a time needed for us Moms to chat outside of 'drop-off' and 'pick-up', to eat seated at a table :) and to enjoy our 10 yr old daughters - for me, it's a daughter who still enjoys wearing dresses, who still adores her American Girl doll, who still cuddles with stuff animals and who still dreams of owning a horse - gotta enjoy this time, right?

3:15pm January 8, 2007

First day back at school from winter break...the girls were pooped-out! They just needed a little 'time out' before they had to jump back into the homework routine.

I don't want their outfits to go unnoticed - the girls went through that 'jeans & tshirt' phase and now are expressing themselves with creative outfits, I love it! They spend a wee bit more time in front of the mirror in the morning but I enjoy the results!