Winter Update

Hi Sidra,

Again, it's been too long since the last post and a lot has happened so I have a lot to report.  

First , not long after the last post you lost both of your front teeth in quick succession.  One of them was loose for the longest time and finally fell out.  The next day the other one fell out at school.  But that was a couple of months ago.  You new teeth have been slow to appear in their place.  One of them has begun to emerge but only in the last two weeks.  So you've spent quite a bit of time toothless in front.  

Since your first lost tooth you have been exchanging cute notes with the tooth fairy. The one pictured here may be your first attempt.  The tooth fairy(mom) has had some crafty responses directing your attention to taking care of your little sister. You seem to hold the tooth fairy in high regard (she is, after all, a fairy) and thus have taken the advice seriously.   The tooth fairy has been very generous as well.  I questioned some of my students about relative tooth fairy largess and it seems like you made out pretty good.  

You've become much more confident and self assured.  It can be witnessed by how you perform at Tai Kwan Do and other events.  You have made your yellow belt.  I got to see some of the belt test.  I saw you break a board with a roundhouse kick.   There were many others there with higher belts that were not as confident with their board breaks.  You did it like you'd been doing it for years.  Not only that, but your mom says that you were the best of the group at answering the questions about Korean words before I got there.  You were not shy about raising your hand and answering.  I did see the same swagger in one of your classes recently.  You were one of the only ones willing to raise your hand.  You didn't get the right answer that time but it was because you didn't hear the question correctly.  We talked later and you said you knew the answer but thought the question was something else. 

At a recent open mic arranged by who else? Your mom.  You took the mic and stood with a couple of your classmates and some siblings (including yours) and sang one of your songs from school "Family of the Sun."  Actually, your supporting cast barely mumbled but you sang confidently and worked through a couple of rough spots without getting flustered.  You clearly showed leadership. 

You've learned how to snowboard!  Your mom got the urge to go and decided to take you along.  You had two really nice days to try it out and you have picked it up in a snap.  You had two lessons and have already gone down the Magic Mile at Timberline.  Your mom got a couple of videos and I have to use your Uncle Ben's usual accolade: I'm blown away.  You looked really good.  I'm going to have to see for myself.

All right, I wrote the prior paragraph last night.  Today I went with you to Timberline. You had a another lesson with Dennis who was your first instructor.  I got a couple of videos.  I was blown away.  You are fearless.  I was stunned at the speed you are already willing to go.  I think  you are braver on the board than you are on your bike.  Maybe because you've hit the deck a lot on the snow and it hasn't bruised you.  Anyway, I had a hard time skiing ahead quickly enough to get the camera out before you had passed.  And I don't think Uncle David should worry that you're on a board instead of skis.  I think on your next visit to the lake you will make water skiing look easy, too. 

I  have to comment on the picture of you and your sis chillin' to the street music together.  I think it's a pretty good picture.  I think it could be framed a little better but I only had a few fleeting seconds to decide what to do.  I have to give your mom credit for spotting you guys in such a touching moment.  I was on the street corner trying to keep Fenway in check in all that excitement and your mom nudged me to notice what you were doing.  I wish I could have frozen you there until I could have gone around behind the musicians so I could have your faces in the shot.  All in all, I think it's pretty great and I think your mom likes it too.

You are becoming more aware of your surroundings and better at having a conversation.  You pick up on things and make reasonable inferences.  Last week, a UPS delivery arrived. It was in an envelope instead of a package.  It was for your mom who wasn't home at the time so we didn't open it.  You suggested that it might be instructions for the new phone because you heard your mom asking for them over the phone.  It turned out to be a birthday gift card from Uncle David but I was still impressed by your reasoning.  I also love to talk with you about what animals are mammals vs. reptiles and what makes each fall into which category.  

I have to say that my favorite part of the day is bedtime reading.  Both you and Shira pick a book for me to read to you and I pick one that you will read to me.  I love it that you're both so into it and either sit between my legs or lean on me from the side. 

Oh yes, you did break a board with a head butt, too.  You did it first at a birthday party that was held at the dojo.  You told us about it when you came home but we were a little dubious about it.  You then recreated the feat for us with some of the leftover board.  We still had one piece left so we decided we should record it.  I have to say, it's pretty cool.   

Love, Aba

 

Early exchange with tooth fairy

Chillin to the
 street music

Toothless!

Showing off new shirts at Grandma and Grandpas.

Measuring Up

We went to Seaside!

    

Kiddie Kross, Ukeule, Tae Kwon Do, Soccer

At the Kiddie Kross

On a hike with Grandma

Front Kick

Showing off my High White belt

 

 

Hi Sidra,

 

You are a busy girl.  Your mom has scheduled you into many activities besides school.  Well, I got you into a couple things, too.  I thought I should share some of them. 

First of all I took you (and your sister) to a few Kiddie Kross races.  They are bike races held on varied terrain and coincide with adult races called cyclocross.  Both your mom and I have raced in these events in the past and have enjoyed them.  That’s why we thought you might like them.  The kiddie races are usually around the midday, as the adult races run all through the morning and afternoon with different age and ability groups.  Sometimes the kiddie course is separate from the adult course.  That’s the best thing for the kids because that means the course is probably a little easier and you get to practice on it a lot before and after the actual race.  Sometimes the course is part of the adult course and the kids can’t go on it except when the adult races are stopped.  That actually only happened once. 

We went to races in Vancouver, Cascade Locks, Barlow High School and Edgefield Manor.  The first two were probably the best experience because the weather was nice and the courses were good.  You got your first taste of having to dismount and carry your bike over a barrier.  At the Edgefield race you had your first time on what’s called a “run up.”  That’s where the course is intentionally made so steep you have to get off your bike and push or carry it up.  That’s what you’re doing in the video posted here. 

Naturally, you played another season of soccer this fall.  You have become a better focused, more aggressive soccer player.  I think it helped that you’re not the youngest/smallest anymore.  Last year, you never contested an a opponent or a teammate for a loose ball, but this year you did.  You still don’t understand some of the strategy of the game, but you’re getting there.  I think the highlight of the season was when you scored a goal by taking control of the ball at about mid field and going all the way.  The fact that your Grandma and Grandpa were there to see it brightened an otherwise miserable (because of the weather) day. 

Your piano lessons have ended or are at least on hold but you’ve taken up the ukulele.  Your mom got a local performer she knows to come to the house to teach you.   It seems like your level of enthusiasm for it is following a similar path as it did with the piano.   You were really into it a first but that energy has waned.  For instance, when I had you play and sing for the video you wouldn’t do a song that featured more than one cord and put very little effort into demonstrating all the chords you know when I asked you to do that.

You’ve started Taekwando lessons and have already earned an upgraded “belt.”  You began with a white belt and last week took the test to earn a ‘high white’ ranking.  So your belt is now white with a black stripe through the middle.  It’s a good program for you.  They train you in fitness, discipline, and confidence.  You can’t argue with the rules: 1) always respect your parents, 2) always do your best in school, and 3) always believe in yourself.  I think you’ve bought into it.  Your enthusiasm hasn’t waned yet.  One challenge you have is staying focused for the whole session.  You usually fade a little in the last 10 minutes or so.  

You will be performing in your school's holiday program this week.  You have an solo speaking part.  You will be reciting a Channuka poem  that you learned from your aunt Jane.  You've already performed it for the congregation at Beit Havarim twice.  Once during the Friday night family service the night before Channuka and once for the group gathering after Sunday school.  I got to see the Friday performance but not Sunday.  We didn't have a camera ready so I had you reprise it tonight so I could record it.  

I was lucky to be able to attend a conference with your school teacher.  Usually it's too hard to make it because I'm working.  Anyway, she confirmed what your mom and I believe, that you're an incredible reader.  You have some focus issues occasionally but you're a great student.  You're not a math whiz but after talking with your teacher I'm not worried about that.  You're just not quite ready to be that yet.  

Love, Aba

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