Serafina's "Me Box"

Serafina presented her "Me Box" today in class.  Leo made one when he was in first grade.  Serafina was excited about the project and worked hard to decorate the box with pictures and words.  

 The three meaningful items she decided to put inside were a pair of ballet slippers, the reading medal she won in TK and a little mermaid figurine her Nana gave her.

 She did a great job presenting her box and explaining all the pictures.  Most of the pictures were from our Oregon trip.

Here's a little video of her showing off the contents of the box.  

Leo gets cast in the Nutcracker

 Two weeks ago Leo attended an audition for the school's production of the Nutcracker.  They do a very adapted version that includes a choir and sheep and shepherds.  Only third, fourth and fifth graders are allowed to participate.  Only a handful of third graders appear on stage and most are stuck in the choir so the forth and fifth graders have a chance to do acting roles and perform dances.

Of course, I got roped in to helping with the production and will be co-directing the sheep and shepherds.  I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do, but I was brought in on the audition and casting process.  Of course, helping out means the other directors look favorably on your kid and make sure he gets to be part of the show.  So when Leo brought home casting letter letting him know he will be a Toy Solider, it wasn't a surprise for me.  He was thrilled though.

Leo visits Comic Con

 The local library had its very own Comic Con today.  It was free to attend, but we needed to get tickets in advance.  I got the tickets a couple weeks back unsure of Serafina's soccer schedule but hopeful Leo could go because I knew he would like it.  Unfortunately, Serafina's game was right in the middle of the event, but Nana was willing to take him so I dropped the two of them off at the library a little before the start time.

Leo received a Captain America costume in the mail from his Grandma Sharon.  It was the perfect Comic Con outfit.
 This is a jeep was used in the Jurassic Park movie.

 Of course, he was out dressed by several others.

 Leo took this picture of Nana and her new friend.

 They visited the Lego building area.

 After Serafina's game I came to pick them up and take a lap around all the displays.

He's was in geek heaven and I will freely admit I was geeking out pretty hard too with these droids.  

Brain testing and muffin making

Our school district has been selected by UCSF neuroscientists to be part of a two-year study about students' brain development and executive function.  The program includes third, fifth and seventh grade students. Today, Leo's class had their first round of testing.  I was there to help with other tasks, but was asked to stay for the testing.  When the head scientist (Dr. Melina Uncapher) was pitching this project to parents, she claimed the kids would love it because it just felt like playing games on an iPad.  

 Picture day is tomorrow.  I really hope he doesn't make this face.

 He listened well to the instructions.

 The games got increasingly challenging and they didn't seem like much fun, but all the kids did a great job participating.  The room was very quiet while they concentrated, which I never have heard before.

 After school, Serafina had a playdate with her friend Millie.  Millie is a wee bit shorter than Serafina.

 Since it's officially Fall and the weather chilled a bit today, we decided to make pumpkin muffins. During this process Millie announced that this was the first playdate that she hadn't cried.  Apparently, she's a bit of a mommy's girl.

Beyonce

Last night I had the amazing experience of seeing Beyonce perform at Levi's Stadium.  My dear friend Cara got us hooked up with VIP parking and seats in a suite.  Beyonce does more than a typical concert; she sings, dances and creates performance art on stage.  It's a spectacle and I feel so lucky I got to experience in person.  

Queen B. 

Here are a few videos I posted on YouTube (one, two, three and four).  My kids are Beyonce fans so they have enjoyed watching these.

Serafina's first soccer game

 Serafina kicked off her soccer season this morning.  She was nervous before the game because she hasn't played before and the rest of the girls all have a couple of season under their belts.  She was also pretty excited.  

She did well, but needs to get a little more aggressive.  She also got pretty tired so maybe I need to make her run some sprints.  

 She also got to play goalie, which she was enthusiastic about.  Maybe because it gave her a break from running.

American Girl birthday lunch

So the final part of the birthday extravaganza was a trip to the American Girl store and bistro.  She dressed herself and her doll in their matching outfits, of course.  She went to this mall last summer when we had family visiting, but I steered clear of this place.  Now I have reluctantly accepted that American Girl is part of our lives.  

 Can you tell she's excited?  It's a two-story mecca of retail and femininity.

 Here she is at the bistro for lunch.  The doll didn't order anything.  One of my favorite YouTube clips of all time is Cohan O'Brien visiting the American Girl store in Los Angeles.

 Nana was such a good sport about joining us, and Serafina was so happy.

She picked out a little cat so her doll can have a pet and another outfit for the doll.  This is officially the end of the birthday celebrations.  I didn't really intend to celebrate her for three days in a row, since that seems like the page out of the "raising a narcissist" handbook but that's the way it worked out.  Plus, she really was overjoyed with the experience and we won't have to do that again for a good long while.

Serafina's Pool Party

Today we hosted a pool party to celebrate Serafina's birthday, but to also just enjoy the last days of summer with friends.  

The pool was kid soup - full to the rim with little bodies.  

 It was screaming, wild fun.  We ordered pizza and then it was time for cake.  Serafina wanted a cake from Safeway, just like last year.  Last year we were living in the apartment so I wasn't really able to make a cake or cupcakes.  But even though I could have made her cake, she still wanted the store bought cake.  I did make some cookies to serve too; I just couldn't help myself.

 It was a very fun day.

Serafina is seven!

Serafina has been soooo excited about her birthday.  She woke up early this morning and found the present I left in her room - a new bike helmet.  

She came home from school with this birthday crown and was excited to open a present from Nana.  

 Then it was off to dance class.  She got to pick the restaurant for dinner and she picked her favorite burger place.

 Her final present of the day was from the American Girl Doll store.

 She got an outfit for herself and the matching outfit for her doll.  

 She had a little birthday treat to end her day.

Tomorrow we are hosting a pool party at our house and Sunday we have a special outing planned with Nana, so the celebrating will continue.