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?".