Daycare Grad

Last Friday our little Marni Moo Moo (as she is affectionately known by parents and teachers) graduated from Raindrops Daycare.

The ceremony took place in the blazing hot skateboard park across the street from the school. After performing a couple of songs for the adoring and biased crowd of parents, it was time to hand out the "diplomas".

Carlos, owner of Raindrops, called her the "mayor of the school" as he handed her the diploma. The girl that everyone knows. She is definitely a kid that is hard not to notice.

And now she moves on to public Pre-K. Or "free-K" as our wallet affectionately calls it. For the first time ever we have a single drop-off of both kids to the same place for school. Yippie!

I have no doubt that Marni will do great in Pre-K. She is so ready. Through Stella she already knows the school and teachers. Many of the teachers already know her.

So watch out P.S. 39. Here comes Hurricane Marni. They'll never know what hit them!




(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

Unhealthy Competition

Because there isn't already enough rivalry between the ladies, daddy decided to stir the pot a bit last week in the skateboard park.

Bring on the scooter race!

I eventually gave up trying to explain the concept of handicapping to Stella and told her she just had to let Marni go first because Marni is two years younger and one month shorter than her.

So here's the video of their first-ever scooter race. Just between you and I, Stella may have the speed, but Marni has the style.



(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

Kindergarten Grad

Thursday we attended Stella's Kindergarten "Stepping Up" ceremony. Basically graduation without the caps and gowns.

The festivities kicked off with the Procession as each Kindergartner walked down the aisle to their seat. Stella was all smiles. Then some welcomes, the Pledge of Allegiance, some fantastic song performances and then the Presentation of Diplomas.

Once again, Stellie was engaged and having fun. There's a big change in this girl this year. She even told me so later that night.

"Daddy, last year I was scared and shy. This year I'm not. It's amazing!"

Insert here the discussion of how fast the year went. How quickly Stella is growing up. Where did the time go? What a great kid she is. Yadda yadda yadda.

But it's true.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were fretting over how Stella would do in Kindergarten?

Now I only have one or two more chances to walk my girl to Kindergarten and hang out with her and the other parents and kids in the school yard. I really enjoy the morning school ritual. And summer vacation always seems to strip it away from me.

Oh well.

Next year we start all over again. This time with Marni. Another milestone. Two girls going to the same school! And a year from now I'll be carrying on about how wonderful and fast the year has passed. And so on, and so on...

The Procession:



What Kindergarten Means:



Skidamarinka:


(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

The Apple of Our Eye

Marni with two admirers at Coney Island on Father's Day.

Tooth Two

Stella's second baby tooth ejected and then promptly disappeared yesterday. After hanging on for dear life for a few weeks, tooth two let go during lunch yesterday.

Valiant efforts by teachers and students alike couldn't locate the tooth in the cafeteria garbage.

The tooth fairy still came by though.

A Tale of Two Daughters

On their first Coney Island roller coaster ride:

Marni...living life.

Stella... sheer terror.

Marni and Mom Take On BP

Marni and mom take on BP in this news story about our neighboring stinky construction site...



(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

My Other Beauty

Marni's 2009-2010 school photo from Raindrops Day Care. Beautiful even with the road rash.

What A Difference A Year Makes

Last year Stella was a bit reluctant to participate in the PS 39 Dance Festival. So her teachers crafted a solo performance that allowed Stella to feel good about taking part. She did a fantastic job even in the cramped gymnasium where the festivities were moved due to rain.

Fast forward to 2010.

It was a beautiful sunny day and all three Kindergarten classes lined up for their performance as soon as Pre-K got out of the way. Stella was far right. Next to her best buddy, Sasha. She was in great spirits. Smiling and already bopping to the music that had yet to start.

First up... "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. Man! What an improvement from last year! Happy and totally into it.

Next... "Footloose". Adorable. Especially the parts where the boys and girls dance towards each other. Stella's partner was Sean.

To say that Lisa and I were over the moon about today's performance is an understatement. Stella has come so far in only a year. She is so much more confident and far less shy.

What a cool kid she is becoming.

(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

Overheard #30

Homework is getting tougher for Stella and the math questions have now gone beyond ten. In order to figure out one question last night, Stella asked, "Can I borrow your fingers?".

Pajama Love

Saturday night was a pajama party/book-reading party at our local Barnes & Noble. Proceeds of books bought went to benefit Stella's P.S. 39.

Several of Stella's classmates were there. The the most special of the classmates was Nello. Stella says that everyone likes Nello. He's smart. He can already read.

Earlier in the day Nello attended Stella's birthday party. And if you look carefully at the group photo in the post about the party, you can see them holding hands. That's because Stella is sweet on Nello.

Nello this. Nello that. Nello, Nello, Nello!

I'm very happy that Stella finds "smart" to be attractive. That's a good thing. Interestingly, Stella is also sweet on Nello's older sister, Milla. She loves this entire family!

Now, flash back to the pajama party. The book-reading portion is done and all the kids are walking around the store... talking, playing, reading. I'm wondering where Stella is. So I look around and eventually find her and Nello tucked away in a corner behind the little stage, talking and reading. She sees me and gives me a big, sly smile. I walk away. Happy girl.

Stella at Six

Stella celebrated her 6th birthday this weekend with a fabulous get-together for friends and family alike.

This year's theme was "Fashion Girl" (which was absolutely thrilling to the invited boys). Pink and purple prevailed along with pictures of pocketbooks and high heel shoes (again, thrilling for the boys).

After sand-art time, the crowd moved on to the nearby park for blaster balloon chasing, relay races, and a limbo contest. Then, back to the house (with the same 14 kids we left with) for lunch and cake.

Later... frenzied present opening followed by a pajama party book reading at Barnes & Noble.

The Magic 8 Ball

Aunt Toots introduced Stella to the all powerful Magic 8 Ball this past weekend. Uncle Brian stepped up to help Stella put some questions to the orb. Stella wasted no time with the little questions and grilled the ball with some Stephen Hawking size queries such as:

• Who is God?
• What happens when you are dead?

This morning she explained to an inquisitive Marni that the ball is God. And that, while the ball is smart, she is smarter.

I am still trying to explain to Stella the concept of only asking yes and no questions. Because the ball ain't all that.

Reading?

Yesterday was Family Friday at P.S. 39. Stella was very excited to read me a book. She pulled out a favorite and, low and behold, she began to read.

Now a lot of it may be from memory. But I definitely see some progress here. There is hope!

PS... please note Marni's mimicking half way through the video.



(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website.)

What A Bunch of Maroons!

The latest thing? The girls now like to eat carrots while they watch their hero "Bugs the Bunny" on the iTouch.

What's up Doc?

Ramblings of a Lunatic

Stella, May 2010

Rock Star Marni

Marni performs "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in front of her adoring stuffed-animal friends.




(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website).

Happy 4th Birthday Marni!

Congratulations to Marni on her 4th birthday! She's an amazing girl who greets every new day with a giant smile and a squeal of joy.

Here's how her birthday celebration went at Raindrops...




(This post contains video that can only be viewed from the website).

Making A Stink

The girls lent their help last week in our fight against the stinky construction site next door. They both appeared in a photo accompanying an article about how the smell from our neighboring construction site was really bumming everyone out.

So far no one has asked for autographs from either Norma Rae wannabee.

The Era of the Whistle

A week or two ago Stella finally figured out how to whistle. I think it's more of an inward whistle than an outward whistle. I guess that doesn't matter.

She's very proud of herself.

But now she's got a bit of a tic. A cute tic though. Almost every time she finishes a sentence, she ends it with a whistle.

"I think I want Cheerios please (whistle)."

"Let's play the mommy and baby game (whistle)."

"Did you know that God made everything (whistle)?"

I'm going to assume that this will pass. Or else she is going to be a very annoying girl.