The Summer Tradition - 2012

It appears that the Asanovic/Shepard/Stefanoff-Imhoff clans have settled on three annual get-togethers per year.

The first get-together is on New Year's Day.

Get-together number two is in June or July and centers around a beach or an amusement park (or both).

And get-together three is in the fall and involves apple or pumpkin picking.

On June 10th we headed for Rye Playland at the suggestion of Lisa Asanovic. I don't think any of us had ever been there before and it turned out to be a perfect destination.

Since we loaded up with unlimited ride passes, the girls were able to ride as much as they pleased. And they did!

At one point, Stella and Marni shuttled between the Family Flyer and the Sky Skater, on their own, for almost an hour as Lisa and I just relaxed on a bench.

Around 6 we headed for the Tiki Bar for dinner. The Shepard and Asanovic kids demolished a large serving of steamers and the adults got sloshed.

As the sun set, the prerequisite group photo was taken and everyone headed for home.

The Shepard family unanimously agrees that Rye Playland is the nicest amusement park we've been to!

The girls and some creep.

Ouchie Ocho

I almost forgot to post about Stella's latest missing tooth.

Every missing tooth has a story, and this is no exception. Tooth number eight was knocked out on May 24th  by friend Rosie while at Beansprouts. We all considered this a public service.

Not my real work

Stella had no problem with it either.

Since we were going to Maine the next day, Stella requested that the tooth fairy give her the money at the cottage.

Luckily the tooth fairy got the message and Stella received a five dollar bill, in the shape of an origami heart, under her pillow at the cottage.

The Graduate

It seems like every year someone is graduating around here.

Oh, wait.

On Wednesday Marni graduated from Kindergarten in a stepping-up ceremony in Prospect Park.

Sang songs. Got certificate. Ran around.

I think I've gushed more in the past. Maybe I'm jaded, already.

But I'm just so proud of Marni. This girl is nailing it! Smart. Popular. Beautiful. Talented. Crazy.

(Not that our other child is slacking in any way.)

Congratulations Marni!

You can watch video from the graduation here.

State of Their Art - June 2012

It was time again for the annual PTA Art Extortion Fair.

This is where the PTA has your kids paint something and then you have to buy it back from them. It sounds borderline illegal to me. But I guess it's worth it.

Below are Stella and Marni's contributions to the cause.

They keep getting better and better every year. I'm a little troubled by the dark undertones of Marni's artwork though. I hope I don't wake up one night to find her standing over me with a hatchet.

Marni

Stella

To see previous years artwork, click below:

http://thedaddydiary.blogspot.com/2011/06/state-of-their-art-june-2011.html

http://thedaddydiary.blogspot.com/2009/06/artist-currently-known-as-stella.html

(Disclaimer: After I posted Marni's artwork, she informed me that it was a picture of a bunny and that it was upside down. So I flipped it the way she intended it to be... even though her name is upside down.)

Dancing Queen

I remember well from my childhood when recital time rolled around at the Shepard home in Natick. My sister would emerge from the house dressed in some insanely bright-colored outfit and head for the front lawn for photos and movies.

She would do some moves and strike some poses for the still camera and for the 8mm movie camera, and then we would pack into the car and head to the recital venue.

(Please note... those home movies still exist!)

Flash forward 40 years, and now our little Marni has been swept into the recital circuit.

Yesterday Marni performed two numbers at the annual Creative Arts Studio dance recital. 

Hip Hop and Tap.

So, how did she do?

She crushed it!

But don't trust the opinion of a proud papa. Take a look for yourself.

Marni's 2012 Dance Recital - Surfboard Soiree from Stephen Shepard on Vimeo.

P.S. - An extra bonus of Marni's dance enthusiasm is Stella's renewed interest in dance. She's asked to go back to dance class next year. Yeah!

The 2012 PS 39 Dance Festival

Not much to say here except enjoy the awesome performances of the Shepard sisters!

You can also get a retrospective of previous Dance Festival performances by checking out the

PS39 2011 Dance Festival
PS39 2010 Dance Festival
PS39 2009 Dance Festival

This post contains video that is only viewable from the website.