November has been a month of trying new things for our family. This is our first fall ever in a place that doesn't have clearly defined seasons (except Aaron, of course). Though this is not much of a problem ten months out of the year, fall is my favorite. I walk into grocery stores stocked with cinnamon brooms and scented pinecones, and there is such a disconnect between what I smell and what I see outside. There are a handful of trees that are changing color however, and there are theories floating around that we should be able to expect a bit of rain sooner or later, so I'm holding out for that. Meanwhile, the beach is great for curing my nostalgia.
Emerson and Sera have branched out this month by starting hula and Tahitian fire-dancing classes (they actually started in October). They like them quite a lot, and I
love them! Not only do they teach the great skills of coordination and patterns that all dance classes are good for, there is also a cultural element that I just adore. Emerson has gotten so good at shivering his knees together and walking with his knees bent and his body only a few inches from the ground--if you want a good workout, give "duck-walking" a try. Sera is mastering the skills of moving her feet and arms without moving the rest of her body a bit. There is an international element to the class as well--hula dancing is sought out not only for kids of Polynesian descent, but also those with Japanese or other Asian island heritage, so I especially enjoy conversations with other parents during the classes.
Asher has taken on a role as a den leader with a local cub scout organization, helping younger boys at activities. It was an opportunity offered to him by a friend of ours, whose son was involved with the troop, and it has been so good for him to have a chance for leadership among other boys who are Emerson's age. Because Emerson is not involved in the troop, I think it ends up serving to make their relationship closer, as Asher learns to interact with younger boys in a positive, encouraging way. I've noticed a lot less fighting between them, and many instances of collaboration and play together--something that has been diminished or absent over the past couple of years.
When a friend told me about auditions for "Annie" coming up, I was thrilled. "Annie" was the very play chosen for Addy's fifth-grade musical--the one she never got to be in because we moved in the middle of the year. It broke my heart to drag her away from it. But somehow things come right in the end. I decided to take her for auditions, dragging Emerson and Sera along as well, as they remembered all the fun Asher and Addy had in "Oliver!" last year. Well, once we were there, I ran into an acquaintance from church who was auditioning as well, and found myself persuaded to sing a quick audition song along with the kids. Although Addy was called back for an orphan role, she wound up cast as a Hooverville/ensemble member with Sera and I, and Emerson was cast as a dog-catcher--a role he is positively thrilled about. Although I initially wished Addy had landed a role with the orphans, as the holiday season has kicked in, I couldn't be happier that our rehearsal schedule is extremely manageable, and that all of us attend the same rehearsals. We're looking forward to performances (seven of them!) next month.
Another fun thing I've taken on recently is substitute teaching at Pacific Ridge School. Though it's not the most glamorous job in the world, I have loved the school since before Aaron started working there, simply based on their teaching philosophies and practices, and I think the kids who attend are fantastic. We would love to send our own kids there, though tuition costs are quite steep. Anyway, I've filled in for several classes already, and have especially enjoyed breaking out my rusty math skills for some calculus and algebra classes, though my favorite was probably the Colonial South Africa class I got to fill in for a couple of weeks ago. The course offerings are so varied and so
interesting. I think I wouldn't half mind going back to high school if I could take classes like that.
At my own kids' school, I have continued to provide
Arts Attack lessons for Emerson's and Sera's classes (as there is no art teacher at the school), and so far have taught classes on portrait sketching (line), watercolor fall trees (color), and helped other volunteers teach projects including Day of the Dead figure constructs and Japanese stamping. They've been fun to prepare and teach.
Last week, when much of the country got their first blast of artic air, complete with a "snow day," we had to make do with our sunshiny weather and gentle breezes. Since the kids were out for parent teacher conferences, I took them to the beach where we had a "snow day" of our own--which is to say that we attempted to build a snowman with sand . . . it's harder than it looks! We had a great day on the waves, enjoying the beaches that we avoided all summer because they were too crowded. The kids are getting pretty good at "boogie boarding," although I think both Asher and I would love to graduate to a surf-board. We also took some time to visit Sea World's new exhibition, "Snow World," where they make fake snow every day for all of us who live too far away from the real thing. We had a great time making and throwing snowballs, and the kids even got to stand in line for a little "sledding." It wasn't Indiana, but on the other hand, we got to wear flip-flops!
For Thanksgiving we talked our friends, the Pecks, into joining us. They brought over all kinds of fancy creations, from cantaloupe/fruit kabob turkeys to mini-pies-on-sticks to sugared cranberries, along with half the makings for our feast. We had a lovely, laid-back meal together, topped off with some Christmas carols to usher in the holiday season, and a watching of
The Sound of Music. I so appreciate having good friends to share the holidays with--especially the kind who can get excited about music and singing! Though our holiday season is shaping up to be ridiculously busy and full--that's life in a musical family, after all--we've definitely gotten off to the right start!
