On Stage

Hi Sidra,
Here's a couple of performances you've done this summer.  The first is an encore of the number from your dance recital.  It was done at your Mom's Family Fun Fest event.  Your dance school was giving some demonstration performances and dancers were invited to come and perform.  You were the only one of your class to show up for rehearsal so you got to solo. At the moment that you were asked if you wanted to dance alone I fully expected you to refuse.  The dance instructor made an astute choice and had you dance second.  No pressure of being first and not enough time for nerves to cause you to back out.  I think you hit the steps pretty good but it's hard to tell because you didn't have to sync with anyone. 

 

The second one if from your "Regal Productions" camp.  This was a camp you did at the Multnomah Arts Center which I dubbed "Advanced Dress Up." It was about behaving regally and you just ate it up.  As you can see, you got to wear princess wings in the performance.  You would never have argued with that. I am impressed that in both of these instances you are poised and comfortable in front of an audience.

 

Love, Aba

Spring 2012

Hi Sidra,

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything and you've been doing a lot of things that need to be reported.  I'll be telling you about your artistry, music, dance, tumbling, reading, camping  and sisterhood.

First I'll explain about your drawing that is pictured here.  It's not a particularly special one, I just wanted to show that this is a typical thing that you do with your drawings.  You've become a prolific drawer producing several drawings a day sometimes.  Often the drawings are about something that happened to you recently or a movie that you saw.  Then you tell us about what you drew. So I've posted a picture of one your drawings.  Along with it is a video interview about that drawing.  So, it's pretty typical of you to do the drawing and then give us a pretty good explanation of what's there.  

Next is your dance experience.  You went to a class called 'creative movement' weekly in Gresham ending with a recital which featured all the school's dancers.  Your dance bag had both tap and ballet shoes.  In the recital your number was kind of a modern dance routine.  Appearing here is a photo from the session with the commercial photographer.  We haven't actually received any proofs or prints yet, this we lifted from the facebook page of the photographer.  Your recital was a big affair that lasted a couple hours.  Your dance only lasted a minute or so, so there was a lot of waiting around backstage for you and your mom.  You were great in the performance, the first in the group to strike your opening pose and hitting all your transitions on cue.  I think you enjoyed being on stage. 

I've mentioned to you before that you have been a great big sister to Shira.  For the most part that has continued to be true.  Occasionally you are mean to her but mostly you are the big protector and guide for her.  Recently the two of you began a Kinder Gym class together.  The age range is just enough for you to be probably the oldest in the class while your sis is probably the youngest.  It was Shira's first such class.  You were a perfect guide and helper for her.  You made sure she got her turns, lined up right, and encouraged her as she attempted the moves. 

You are a reading sensation.  I'm not an expert of reading at your level but I think you read like a 3rd or 4th grader, but you'll just be starting Kindergarten.  I know the books that I remember reading in first and second grade would be too easy for you.  The coolest thing is when you sit down with your little sister and read to her.  I tried recording one of those sessions a few days ago but you were too soft spoken and the mic too far away to hear you very well.  It will have to remain one of those special moments that only I got to witness. 

The 2012 Bike Derby took place this week.  You did very well.  I didn't do so well coaching you, though.  I just made it to the track a few moments before the start of the race because I was with Shira at her art camp session.  I told you to pedal "cheetah fast" (which is your term) and go straight down the track.  I didn't realize that your group was going to be going a half way around the turn of the track.  You had a good position on the start line and began well.  At the end of the straightaway you were in second behind one boy.  But you were in an outside lane and stayed there.  So, two boys who were in inside lanes were able to pass you on the corner.  All the other riders stopped near the finish, but you continued on around and did a full lap without slowing down.  

We had a camping trip earlier this week, too.  In fact, we had to come home one night early so you could do the bike derby and Shira could do her art class.  Both of you would clearly have loved to stay longer.  We were at Timothy Lake south of Mt. Hood and our campsite had a beautiful view of the mountain.  You came into your own as an off road bike rider there.  Your mom is calling you 'Champ' now because of how well you did.  She took you on some pretty challenging sections of trail and you didn't flinch, always ready for more.  Indeed, you got up in the morning and did a little riding before breakfast or changing out of your jammies.  You also did quite a bit of swimming in the lake, too.  Both your mom and I took you out for short trips in the Kayak.  You're not quite ready for paddling but maybe next year. 

You've been taking piano lessons.  I have been trying to learn how to play with you.  I've been wanting to learn for a while now and it seemed like we could learn together and it might help motivate you to practice.  After your last lesson the teacher thinks a break is in order for you.  You seem distracted and unfocused during the lessons.  This last time you blamed it on the anticipation of visit from an adult friend that didn't materialize.  In any case you say that you want to keep having the lessons but you don't practice nearly as hard as I do or seem that engaged when your teacher is here.

Another activity you've been taking part in is gymnastics.  You've been through a couple of sessions last fall and this last spring.  That experience has helped you be one of the more accomplished tumblers in your mom's Tuesday Tumbling class at your school.  When you are focused, that is.  Sometimes you seem checked out of the activity and just going through the motions, as you did in the tumbling show at the school's open house.  When you're in gymnastics class you have similar bouts of inattention.  When focused, you do very well.  It's a bit perplexing because you're always very happy to brag and say 'did you see me do _____' when you have your head in the game. 

Maybe the most engaging thing of the last few months is your developing conversational ability and curiosity.  You frequently ask the meaning of words and then use them appropriately a little later.  Or you ask about how something works and listen carefully to the explanation.  You've caught on to my habit of repeating a fun line from a movie or story.  My problem is that I haven't seen all your movies from start to finish and it's easy for you to stump me. 

We covered a lot of ground here because you've been busy.  There will be more coming because you're a busy girl thanks to your mom's scheduling. 

'til next time,
love, aba

One of your drawings

Sleepy sisters after swimming

Sweet sisters at Kinder Gym

A collection of needlework from school

Your stitched pillow

Morning Ride by the lake

Showing mom how it's done

Dressed to dance

 

Explaining the drawing

 

A little ditty

 

Cruisin' the trails

Showing Off

Hi Sidra,
Quoting your uncle Ben, I'm "blown away" by what you did last night.  Your mom has changed the focus of her open mic nights she promotes for the city.  Now it's an event for kid performers rather than adults.  Last night was the first one and this proud dad has to say that you stole the show.  There was another impressive performer but he's 11 so it's hard to make a comparison.

What did you perform?  You sang two songs solo and teamed with a friend on another song.  You also did a reading of your kid version of "Tangled," the Disney story of Rapunzel. 

Your confidence in front of the audience was like that of a seasoned artist.  You were calm and played the crowd like a veteran.  While singing the valentine song you improvised a little and named people in the audience in the key parts of the verse.  You made eye contact with the principal characters in your song and played to the camera a little.  While reading your story you had the presence to show the audience the pictures in the book (until I suggested that it would take too long to do that on every page) and took care to speak into the mic.  You weren't even ruffled when the sound system squeaked out a little feedback.


In video of your book reading perhaps the most important member of the audience is visible.  Your kid sister can be seen actually looking "up" to you.  You could not been a better role model for her at that moment.  She adores you and takes your lead on nearly everything.  She's clearly willing to fill your shoes if she could.  It's wonderful that she has such a great standard to aspire to. 

Only recently have you said anything about what you want to be when you grow up.  Whoops, I mean other than being a princess.  Recently you said you wanted to be a fashion designer and sew your own clothes.  After you came home last night you said you might consider being a storyteller.  And in a moment of grace, you thanked your mom for setting up the program that you performed in. 

That's all for now....

Love, Aba

Turning 5

 Hi Sidra,
You've just turned 5 years old!  Wow.  You just had an amazing birthday party that was arranged by your mom.  I've posted a lot of pictures this time because it was such a big day.  By the way, blog readers, you can get a better look at the pictures by clicking on them.

Let's do some stats first.  You are now 42½ inches tall so you'll be able to go on some rides that you were too short for last year, like at the state fair.  And you're up to a little over 40 pounds.  You've grown about an inch and a half in the last 6 months. 

Now, about this big party.  It was a Princess Party.  Two women came dressed as Belle and Cinderella.  They brought some dresses for you and your guests.  You eventually wore at least 5 dresses before finally settling on the pink one.  I thought that you looked best in the white one with gold sleeves but I recall that you asked me about any of them.  Some of your guests tried other dresses but most stuck with the one that they picked first.  Your sister stuck with the purple one that they gave her based on her response to the favorite color question. 

My favorite part of the party was when your guests arrived you went to greet them and invite them over to try on one or more of the dresses.  You were very good at greeting them and making them feel welcome.  They all got to meet Belle and Cinderella and join the charade. 

After all the guests arrived Belle directed some fun activities.  First, some magic was performed so that you and the guests could become real princesses and princes.  You sprinkled magic dust on each of your guests and then a chant was recited to complete their transformation.  You got to sprinkle the dust on your little sister which was a cute moment.  Then all the guests sprinkled the dust on you and you got the special wand as the guest of honor at the party.  Other activities before the 'tea party' were storytelling, musical pillows, and limbo dancing. 

The tea party was next.  You sat at the head of the table while Belle and Cinderella served you.  They brought popular kid foods- cheese and crackers, peanut butter sandwiches cut into the shape of  a crown.  In the tea cups was either lemonade or water.  Dessert was a nice cookie. 

Then Belle sat with you on the stage while you opened your gifts.  Cinderella kept track of which gift came from which guest.  You were quite gracious about the gifts and did well thanking each of your friends for their gifts.  We only had to remind you once to do that.  Best of all, you read most of the cards yourself! All the adults were quite impressed with you.   Belle only helped you when you needed it and there was only one card that you didn't try to read yourself. 

There was also a "graduation" ceremony where each prince and princess was introduced and given a certificate.  I can't remember if that occurred before or after the tea party.


Belle asked everyone to take off their dresses before having birthday cake.  She said she could deal with most stains but cakes were tough to get out.  The guests sang happy birthday to you and you blew out the candles.  No one asked you what you wished for. 

I know you had a great time at this party and your mom raved about it being one of the best days ever.  She believes that because she was the one who made this happen and she saw what a good time you had.  I confess that I still prefer the "Paper Bag Princess" to any Disney Princess and the subterfuge required to make you believe the Princesses were real made me uncomfortable.  I got in trouble with your mom a few days before the party because I said something that could have revealed the truth to you if you were listening carefully.  I hadn't realized that she was telling you it would actually be Belle attending the party.  Another parent at the party told me I should lighten up and not worry about it because it's only for fun and your obsession about princesses is only a phase.  I suppose, but if you ask me a direct question I'm going to tell you the truth. 

Some other fun stuff happened yesterday.  You had two Skype calls from your uncles.  One even came from Israel.  In that one you turned the tables on your Aunt Jane.  She said "Sidra, do you want to know something funny, it's almost 8 o'clock at night here in Israel."  You said, "Ok, you can tell me the joke now."  We all had a good laugh about that.  Your Grandma and Grandpa came to our house for the day and to see your party.  I'm not sure if they had a good time at the party but they enjoyed spending time with you throughout the day. 

One of the pictures in the post is not a party shot.  It's your drawing of our family.  I asked you to draw it because I posted one about a year ago and I wanted to see what would be different in the new one, how your drawings have progressed.  I'll probably ask you to do it again next year. 

There's one more thing I want to tell you about.  Some Facebook users may have seen this already but I wanted to mention it here, too.  A couple of weeks ago you said to me, "I would never unlove you daddy."  It's certainly an endearing phrase and I'm sure you believe that and I want to believe it, too.  But I know that there are some challenging years ahead for both of us.  I know that kids commonly seek distance from their parents during the teen years and that's it's probably truer for fathers of girls than for the moms.  So, I guess I'm saying that I'm making a record of it in case I need it in a future argument.  Additionally, it's interesting the way that you phrased it, acknowledging that it's possible to stop loving.  It seems emotionally precocious.

So, you're 5.  It's seems to get better by the minute.  I'll keep you posted, 
Love, Aba

Certificate

Sidra's Family Drawing

Gift Opening with Belle

True Belle of the Ball

New Robe from Uncle Ben

Dress Up from Brookline Cousins

Skype Call from Israel

Curtsey

Shira Caught with a hat

Princess  Shira

Princess Esa

Prince JoJo

Princess Rachel

Prince Logan

Princess Megan

Awaiting Tea

Table decorations

Head of the Table

Queen and her Court

Gift Opening with Belle

Beautiful Princess

Esa gets some fairy sparkle

Little Sis

Checking with Mom

Belle's instructions

Turning Sis into a Princess

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Hi Sidra,

Posing with Glenda

Funny Face

Smiling at home

Before the Curtain

With Dorothy

I just wanted to tell you about our date last night.  Your mom suggested that we go to a production of the Wizard of OZ.  You decided you should wear your "Dorothy" dress that was your Halloween costume from 2010.  We decked you out with a basket to carry "Toto" and some red sparkly shoes.  To complete the get up your mom did your hair in pig tails.

You were a big hit in the lobby before and after the show and during intermission.  One lady suggested that you should be up on stage with the cast.  You told her that "Somewhere Over the rainbow" were the only words to "Over the Rainbow" that you knew.  You said you didn't know the rest of the song.  You even made an impression on a woman working at Burgerville where we stopped on the way home.  We ended up telling her about the whole evening.

We had a great time watching and you knew the plot very well because we had watched the movie the night before.  We wondered if my favorite song of the movie would even make it in the stage production.  It did, and we learned that it is called the "March of the Winkies."  It's marching music used by the soldiers (winkies) of the Wicked Witch.  It's what is played while the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion follow the soldiers into the castle after ambushing three winkies.

You said you didn't have a favorite song, although you do like to sing "Over the Rainbow."  We've actually sang it enough so that even your little sis tries to sing it sometimes.

We got to meet the cast after the show!  I knew there was going to be that opportunity at this particular performance.  I hadn't purchased the tickets for that because I thought it was lame that there would be a charge for it.  We had been to other kid's shows and they hadn't charged for this.  But the promoter explained before the opening curtain that it was really a donation to Ronald McDonald house, so I relented and made a donation.  You got autographs from the actors who played Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy and Glenda.  You said your favorite was Glenda, because her dress was prettier than Dorothy's.  You weren't too interested in the Lion but flat out refused to go anywhere near the Wicked Witch.

I wasn't going to include the picture of you doing the "funny face" but you wanted it in. 
You've got a big birthday coming up, and I will talk more about how you've been growing up after that big day.
Love, aba

End of Summer

Hi Sidra,

Flower girl, Old North Church over your shoulder

Kite flying on the beach at Newport

So why I am I saying 'end of summer' in late October?  I've been slacking, of course!  It's been way too long since the last post.  In any case I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful summer.  I think I did the same thing a year ago but it bears repeating.  We had a good time together on our leisurely summer days and your sister was a great playmate.

You took part in a couple of extended projects this summer.  First was the summer reading program through the local public library.  In the winter they have story time but I'm working then and can't take you.  In the summer there are other cool weekly events that are educational.  This year they were held in the park because the library is being remodeled.  Some of the performers were:  a band called the 'Alphabeticians,' a family(dad, son, daughter did magic, mom did sound) magic act, a puppeteer, and a 'Mad Scientist.'  The reading program was a little tough for you/us, as we had to read to you(since you weren't really able to read on your own) for 20 minute periods to get a sticker.  We got all the stickers done but didn't turn in your sheet.  I think the prizes we missed by not doing so weren't that great which is why we didn't follow through.

With Cousin Rachel at State Fair

Another project you did was through the Oregon Parks Department.  You had a checklist of things to do, mostly outdoors.  Some of them were:  catch a fish, hike on a trail, sleep under the stars, dip your feet in the ocean, and go on a boat ride.  We had a lot of fun making sure we did all of the things on the list.  We hiked a few trails- the Salmon River Trail, Zig Zag Falls trail, and short nature trail at Wildwood park.  You caught four fish at a fish farm between here and Mt. Hood.  We camped for one night (next year we'll stay longer) at Timothy Lake.  We also took the kayak there and had a brief boat ride on the lake.  It was short because all four of us were packed in the kayak and I was the only one who could paddle.  The wind was starting to pick up and make it a sketchy proposition.  I think you really enjoyed the campsite and will be looking forward to going there again.  You got to dip your feet in the ocean just before school started in the fall.  We went to Newport and flew your kite there on the beach.  We also got to visit some tide pools at low tide and see starfish, sea anemone and urchins.

In one of the videos you are on a bike ride with me around the neighborhood.  This was a frequent event in the summer, a twilight ride at the close of the day, just hanging out and enjoying each others company.  This video is from one of the last rides of the summer.
You have become a really great big sister.  You are able to distract and entertain your little sis when she gets a fussy.  Sometimes your mom prompts you but once recently you recognized the need for it and began singing for Shira.  We were in the car and mom and I had to be out of the car for a few minutes and you started to sing without any prompt.  When I came back we both sang and comforted Shira.  Later that night at bedtime I told you how proud I was of you because of that.  You remembered and said something like "I could see she was going to get fussy and as I thought of singing my eyes brightened and I just did it."
This fall you were on your first soccer team.  It's been very hard to watch you do this.  I know that you are the youngest and nearly the smallest kid on the team and that has a lot to do with how you play.  But you are without question the worst player on the team.  I didn't expect this because you are physically gifted and I know you could play better than you do.  Sometimes, your lousy play can be chalked up to distraction.  You're just not that focused on the task.  But it boils down to this:  you won't challenge any player for possession of the ball.  And that's a central characteristic of any successful player.  The funny thing is, you'll let an opponent take the ball from right in front of you and to right the goal yet be disappointed when the opponents score these uncontested goals.  It's perplexing. 
Your coaches have been extremely patient with you.  They've done a great job of helping you be part of the game when there isn't someone trying to get the ball from you.  Like at the beginning of play when the ball needs to be kicked from the center circle or a goal kick when after the ball has gone over the end line.
You are getting to be quite the reader.  We've been trading the reading with you at bedtime.  We read some and you read some.  Tonight was your first read of Hop on Pop.  We've read it you many times and some of it I'm sure you did from memory but you did pretty well.  We haven't read it for quite a while, though, and I was going to read it but you said you wanted to.  You did very well.  Near the end of the book there are some words that are bigger and you needed some help but mostly you did it on your own.

Another huge event for you was your cousin Sara's wedding.  You had the honor of being a flower girl and you were great.  You're seen here at the wedding in your beautiful dress.  It was a long day for you and your sis (and your parents) but you had a good time dancing and eating dessert.

What a Pair!

Hi Sidra,

Today was a weird day with some ups and downs.  When I got home from my early bike ride your mom said that Shira had a fever.  So, I was sort of expecting it to be a really tough day.  In the end, it was pretty challenging as her fever worsened.  However, the two of you treated me this morning to possibly my proudest and most overwhelming moment as your father.
After the two of you had had a little breakfast you eased into what is our lazy morning routine.  Typically Shira will play with her speller (it is a hand me down from you) or look at books and you will look at some books or play some make believe scenario with dolls or toy kitchen stuff.  This time usually gives me a few minutes to relax with the paper or try to work some magic on my word game opponents.
This morning took a new twist.  It was remarkable that Shira wasn't in a fouler mood, given her illness. In any case she brought you one of her small books (again a hand me down from you, from a set of tiny board books that your uncle Ben gave you) with the obvious notion that you read it to her.  And you did it!  It was a purely spontaneous incident.  I did nothing to provoke this.  But the two of you repeated the process a couple of times so I was able to catch two videos of it.
This was like a dream come true.  We've always hoped that you two would get along well and have tried to enhance that possibility.  But I know that siblings don't always get along well and can actually be at each others throats.  This is a good sign that will make a good pair.  Add to that the fact that you are 4 and a half and you sister is not yet two and here you are sharing literary entertainment.  For the next hour I had a hard time turning back the tears. Like your uncle Ben says, I was blown away.

One of the videos is a phone video and the sound might not be that good.  The other one was done with a better camera but you'll probably have to listen close anyway cause you were reading with a pretty soft voice.

Bike Racing

Hi Sidra,

This post is mostly for me to make an admission of guilt that some people might find silly.  First I should admit that I have the beginnings of 'little league parent syndrome' with regards to your athletic accomplishments.  I have to admit that I will live vicariously through your sports careers and whatever shows on the outside will be the result of intense pride on the inside.  I hope that I don't get in your way or guide unwisely because of my exuberance.  

Some readers may have wondered about this summers Bike Derby.  It was your third one and you had won the other two.  This time you were 5th and that surprised your mom and I.  You can see in the video what happened.  You were 2nd among those not using training wheels and the first girl without training wheels.  But the fault lies with me.  

Earlier in the summer your mom tried to convince me to convince you to get on the bigger bike that was waiting for you.  I opposed the move because I felt you were comfortable with the smaller bike because you could easily put your feet down almost like you did on the runner bike.  She said your legs weren't stretching out enough at the bottom of the pedal stroke.  She was right.

We succeeded in convincing you to try the big one about a week after the bike derby.  With the slightly longer cranks and taller wheels you can see the difference in speed just by watching the videos.  I think you would have given that boy a run for his money if we'd tried the big machine sooner.  

All in all, you were ok with your result.  That's good because you can't expect to win everything, no matter how good you are. 
I showed you some video of "kiddie cross" races and you seem interested in that.  We are thinking about taking you to one of those in the fall.  

The picture here is from our trip to the zoo with friends Oscar (boy) and Shayla (mom).  You were feeding the Lorakeets some nectar.  It's usually one of the funnest parts of a Zoo trip.

Apologies to readers about the placement of the videos and picture.  I'm just not geeky enough to get them aligned.  It looks fine on the composition page but totally different when published.

Love, Aba

Artistry

Hi Sidra,

This post is mainly to show off some of  your artwork  You have some skills in this area.  Some of the pictures shown here show some of your needlework that came home from school.  You are pretty good at it and very proud of your skills.  Your mom hung them on the wall while I was away.  When I came home the two of you were showing them off to me and you said "You should put that on my blog, dad."  You also did a still life drawing of a vase of flowers.   We were pretty astounded at the quality of the work.  It seems light years ahead of what you did just six months ago.

I think you know what the blog is because you hear your mom and I talking about it and I have showed it to you in order to show you which videos and pictures are on it.  After you said that my mind did a fast forward to the day when you want your own chronicle of your exploits and thoughts.  That will be ok but I'm keeping this one.  It has taken a lot of energy and thought to bring these stories on line but I've relished each contribution.

I should explain that the flowers in the vase is your still life subject for your drawing.  I am pretty amazed that you can do that at 4½ years old.  

The bike derby is next week!

Love, aba