Hearts

It was Pappy's first Ironman 70.3 so I just had to be there for him in Camsur. We went without the kids, marking another family first--first time to leave town without them for 3 nights and 4 days. Our longest stretch apart, so far.

In the end, it all turned out okay. Better than okay. Pappy finished the race. Mission accomplished! Plus we had a great time. Good vibes and good friends all around in Camsur during Ironman weekend. To top it off, we got home to kids that were alive and well, and so happy to see us back home my heart could have burst. Chicha posted this in our front door...

While we were away, there was crying during the goodnight phone calls. There is something about the evening that makes kids want their moms and dads even more. The I-want-mommy cries were a bit tough to take. But mornings and afternoons they'd tell us how busy their days were. Which doll got a haircut from Chicha... Lily! What new beyblade Bear invented... Dragon Anaconda, who was originally SUPER Anaconda, but it is DRAGON A now, not Super. There is a big difference. Got it Bear.

Lately, Chicha never runs out of projects requiring pen, paper, cards, tape and what-not from my office table. So I shouldn't be surprised she thought of a project relevant to the whole situation. You could call it the Write Mom And Dad Everyday While They're Away Project...

She wrote this card for her brother. The rounded dot on the letter i is a dead giveaway...

All that from her little head, made from her tiny hands inspired by her big, big heart. Big brother Bear helped out, a bit. He signed his name and wrote out one card, upon her insistence. Haha! Busy little sister did all the writing and artwork as he dictated some words she couldn't spell right. She's not a fan of inventive spelling, although we insist that that's completely okay at this point.

In this card for Mom and Dad, Yaya had to take some dictation part of the way since her "hands were already tired." A.k.a., there will be words that she "cannot spell like the dictionary"...

We love you too our little ones with big hearts. Even more than all those adorable hearts you made and signed for. In conclusion, The Best Welcome Home. Ever.

Irondads 70.3

This is more like a postscript to your previous post Nana. Viva la vida papas indeed. 

Way to go Irondads!

Viva Papas

Just a few more hours before our very own VivalavidaPapas kick some serious butt in Camsur. We are mighty proud of you both!

Tonight's bedtime prayer...
Tato: Dear God, Make my Papa big and perfect. And the fastest biker in the race.
Mak: ...but not faster than a car.

Amen.

Traditional or Progressive School?

Deciding between progressive or traditional schooling for your child? What exactly is the difference? There's an Explorations Preschool parenting forum that can help answer those questions.

The Inside Scoop on Traditional and Progressive Settings 

21 August 2010, Saturday, 9 to 11 am in Explorations Preschool. 

Attendance is free to all enrolled Explorations families.  

Guests are welcome for a fee of P350.00 per person.  

To reserve a slot, call the school at 724-3320 or 724-4271.

Keys Math Fair logo inspired by the Borromean Rings

What in the world are Borromean Rings?

If you know me or you've been here before, you probably know my take.  There was this internet-tirade, then this post that was all love and rainbows.  Once, I even connected progressive schools to The Blue Man Group. I can't help my pop-references! Of course... if you have kids to put through school, you have to listen to Ken Robinson. Ken is the man, I swear. He did it on TED again this year. 

Above link-a-palooza is pro-progressive, yes. That's where I stand. My kids go to Keys and Explorations which are both progressive. But the Explorations event is not a progressive school hard-sell. Trust me. You'll hear all points of view. Explorations is quite known for sending a lot of kids successfully into big, traditional schools.

problem solving process for Keys third-graders

I was among the parents tapped as a speaker in the same forum last year. Together with parents from progressive schools Keys and Beacon, as well as parents with children in traditional schools like Ateneo, La Salle and Xavier, we talked about why we opted to send our kids to their schools and how the experience matched our goals and expectations. Progressive and traditional, both.

What's great about this year's forum is that moms, dads and kids--yes kids--are joining the discussion. Last year, it was just a number of us moms who were speakers. This August 21, you will hear actual school experiences from Keys, La Salle, Ateneo, ICA and they may add representatives from another school or two.

problem solved

Teacher Didi Manahan will start off with the basics--what exactly is the progressive approach and how it differs from the traditional method. From there it should be an interesting and enlightening free-for-all discussion. 

If you have questions I didn't cover, drop it in the comments box and I'll oblige if I can answer. Oh and, here's the Explorations Preschool phone number again, 724-3320 or 724-4271. Call them. They're great with kids... and parents too.

Coffee Break

Dear NinangEs, 

We don't know if you had anything to do with it but... Thank You! for the great little additions over at our favorite cafe. Kid-sized seating. Now we're talking. 

We're totally loving our banana bread dates now.  Oh, and big week for you.  Happy, happy B! 

Music! Music!

Just one of the many things I love about the boys' preschool is its rock solid music program. Fourty-five minutes of every single three- hour day is devoted to all things music. And it's not just singing and dancing. The boys shake, drum and use mallets on all these sorts of instruments, some of which I confess I can neither pronounce nor spell. Today, as an added treat, I got to sit-in and join the kids watch a mini concert by a multi-awarded, twenty-four year old pianist. Oliver Salonga, this wonder boy who is even more wonderful for agreeing to play for the kindergardeners, has been making beautiful music on the piano since he was seven. Do the math. Ahh-maz-ing.

Somewhere in the middle of his variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a three-year old belted out her own little variation. Think My Way by the dreaded office mate who's had one too many on karaoke night. Amusing side show. After the first few keys from Beethoven, a little one shouted "I know that!" His Chopin piece brought the house down. Mak was overheard in between all the applause and the More! More! shouting "O-li-ver! O-li-ver!". Hmm... son, very classy but one day I shall teach you to say Bravo.

Waiting for the show to start. Do you see Tato?

Mak (in yellow) with classmates

Oliver Salonga working his magic

Answering questions from curious minds

Tonight, still inspired, there is some clanging and banging coming from the playroom. Tato is trying to revive an old battery-powered drum set he received some Christmases ago. Mak is looking for a tambourine he won as a prize in some birthday party. They are both screaming to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Ta-na-na-nan! Ta-na-na-nan! Music to my ears.

Week Ends

We're off.  It's that weekend again.

Enjoy yours!

Child Labor Two

Since we're well into the subject of employing child labor building character, here's a sneak peek at the boys hard at work in GrandmaB's farm.  Secret's out. Now you know who's actually looking after all that arugula. 

Voila!

Heigh ho, heigh ho...