ArtConnections 2016

Annual student art show for Charlottesville City Schools. Abby had three pieces in it this year!:

Benji really liked the peg board (this is just a day pre-haircut, too)

Ms. Pagni gave Abby her fancy hat

Easter 2016

Benji came down with a stomach bug the night before Easter, so we had a subdued holiday. He said he was feeling up to searching for Easter baskets, but when push came to shove he let Abby do all the work:

Abby had enough enthusiasm for both of them

Benji read clues but stayed in his seat

at least he liked the basket

We left Benji in his room for brunch and had a quiet meal with Gammy:

We figured we would leave off the rest of our planned Easter activities for another day, but Benji rallied around 6pm and started sobbing about not having an egg hunt, so we quickly hid all the eggs and had a twilight hunt (in the rain):

That just left dying eggs, so we went ahead and finished that up, even though it was after dark and Benji's energy was starting to flag:

Better luck next year!

Aida

We took the family and the girl scouts to the CHS production, which was very well done:

Purim 2016

Last Wednesday was Purim, and in preparation, Abby and I baked hamantaschen at Chabad House:

Making cards to go with the cookies

the bakers

On Sunday, CBI hosted a Purim carnival.  Abby decided she was too old for such revelry, but Benji had a blast:

Donut eating contest

Putt putt

cake walk

spinning the prize wheel

Fishing for prizes - I love the look on this girl's face as Benji swings the rod

St. Patrick's Day 2016

It was a busy week, but the leprechauns still managed to find us:

Our soda bread was a bit flat -- we added baking soda but forgot the baking powder

Odyssey of the Mind

This past weekend, we traveled to the Northern Neck of Virginia so both kids could compete in the Odyssey of the Mind regional competition. This is very similar to the Destination Imagination that Abby has done in years past, but this year the teams were school-sponsored.  We decided to stay in Kilmarnock overnight, because 2.5 hours each way seemed like too much for a day trip.  Since we ended up with a little time in the morning, we checked out the beach on the Northern Neck:

It was very chilly

As usual, we had a fair amount of time to hang out before and between the team performances. Benji's team spent most of their time on the Kindle:

Abby's team used their time to re-assemble their props and practice:

Benji's team had an early slot, and they were AWESOME. The younger teams are not scored or ranked, but we heard through the grapevine that they were the best by a fair margin:

Getting set up - their problem was to create a skit involving a magic object (a magic bubble ball - Tabitha, in blue), waking up three other objects (they chose a giant juice box - Henry in yellow, an ipod - Joey, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Alex, in mustache), as well as a special friend (Abe, the singing celery, in green) - singing a song. Yhey choice Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) for the song.

Benji was the narrator

Doing the whip nae-nae song

Bows

Team photo - Alex, Joey, Abe, Cameron, Henry, Tabitha, Benji and Abe, with coaches Rosa and Helena

Abby's team actually had the last slot of the day, which was good because they had lots of last minute kinks to work out. There problem involved creating a vehicle that could collect three objects and turn them into something else.  They wrote their skit about a recycling truck that makes people's days better:

In the staging area

 

Setting up

Abby, as the factory worker

Abby as narrator (she had two parts)

Since Abby's team went last, we only had to wait about 45 minutes until the awards ceremony.  Everyone was in good spirits, despite the long day:

Tabitha insisted on sitting next to Benji

Abby's team hanging out in the bleachers

They moved to the floor when it was time for awards

Second place!

It was a long drive home and we were all tired on Sunday, but Benji is already talking about next year's competition.