Fancy Nancy

On Friday, Emily's school had "Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character" Day and Emily decided to go as Fancy Nancy (Pinkalicious was a close second).  Fancy Nancy loves everything French, so she wore her hair in french braids, wore a fancy headband, all sorts of bracelets, and a very fancy feather boa.  When I put the boa on her, she almost exploded with happiness.  Friday was a good day!!!

The little case she is carrying has sunglasses - which she apparently wore at recess... 

Frog Fridays - Part II

Last Friday, we went on our second Frog Friday adventure with Everyone Outside.  We went to the same place and, one month later, were able to see all sorts of new plants blooming and growing creatures.  It was another neat experience!

The Jack-in-the-Pulpit flowers were blooming everywhere! 

Elizabeth loved finding them along the side of the trail. 

Elizabeth and Emily, helping Lucy. 

Emily, looking at the tadpoles. 

Lee, waiting patiently for a frog. 

This frog sunned himself in the middle of vernal pond the entire time we were there. 

Lucy scooped up a handful of salamander eggs to show everyone. 

Elizabeth and Lucy.

April Odds and Ends

Some photos and events that didn't make the blog last month:

Serious cuteness.

Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

Who can say "no" to this face? 

My big girl.

Saturday night at the Diner - that's what happens when Lee has an out-of-state commitment on a dreary and cold Saturday - we turn to food!

Watching Elizabeth swim.

French braids - might be my greatest success as a parent....

Mystic Seaport

Last weekend, the girls and I spent the afternoon at the historic Mystic Seaport, which is the nation's leading maritime museum.  Mystic Seaport is a "town" of old homes (we toured one built in the 1600's), shops, churches and, of course, tall ships.  We were completely enthralled watching the restoration of old ships, walking through some tall ships, speaking with craftsmen who ply their trade as they would have more than one hundred years ago, and walking through the maritime museum.  It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The figurehead of the Amistad, which was in port at Mystic. 

On the deck of the Charles W. Morgan, the world's last wooden whaleship, which is being restored at Mystic Seaport. 

At the old lobster house, where the lobstermen sold their daily catch. 

Lobster traps. 

The Joseph Conrad, a full rigged tall ship from 1882. 

At the wheel of the Joseph Conrad. 

Inside the Shipsmith Shop, the only manufactory of ironwork for the whaling industry known to have survived from the 19th century. 

The Smith works with hand tools to create beautiful ironworks.  He was incredibly knowledgeable and we listened to him talk for almost twenty minutes.

This clock, built in 1790, was in the Nautical Instrument Shop and still works. 

At the drug store. 

Playing Jacob's Ladder at Stone's General Store. 

A flour mill on display at Stone's General Store. 

A weaving loom on display in the Buckingham-Hall House, part of which was built in the 1600's.

One Hundred Years

On Sunday, St. Mary School celebrated its one hundred year anniversary.  For a Catholic school to be open for a century, especially in this day and age, is truly an amazing feat.  Over a thousand people - former and current students and their families, former and current teachers, the nuns and priests that taught at the school over the years, and many other dignitaries were invited to be a part of the anniversary mass and more than 600 people attended.  Although incredibly long, the mass was very moving.  Thirteen alumni who graduated in the 1930's were in attendance, including the oldest living alumni, a delightful woman of 95.  The current principal, who is retiring at the end of the year, gave an oral history of the school that was very interesting - and typical of a working-class immigrant town (I would be willing to bet that the Catholic schools in my hometown share similar histories). Almost every student in the school was in attendance and Elizabeth made her debut in the children's choir.  It was an amazing day and we are so happy to have been part of it!

Elizabeth, standing in front of the original front doors to the school (which are rarely used today). 

Faith, Elizabeth and Alex, members of the children's choir, before mass. 

Singing Immaculate Mary. 

The meditation song was The Bells of St. Mary's - between the chime choir and the children singing, there literally was not a dry eye in the house (I should mention that the chime choir played again the end of the song, but I didn't know that was going to happen, so had already turned off the camera).

After mass, some students were asked to make presentations in the classroom, as alumni and other dignitaries toured the school.  Here is Elizabeth and some of her classmates, reading a poem. 

Elizabeth reading her book report on orcas, while Faith holds her poster.

Smarty Pants

A few weeks ago, we attended an assembly at Emily's school to watch her receive an award for academic excellence.  Emily's school went through a significant amount of turmoil in January and as a result, there is a new, interim principal who is absolutely wonderful.  One of his greatest challenges was bringing the school together as a community and getting all of the students to feel appreciated; and part of that is recognizing students for their commplishments. 
The assembly was really great.  The principal recognized Students of the Month from each grade, as well as the academic and social performance of several students (awards included "doing great independent math work" and "being a good friend to her classmates").  Emily received an award for making improvement in her journal writing. Kindergarteners write in their journals each week and the progress that she has made since the beginning of the year (with her handwriting, her spelling, and transferring ideas from her imagination to paper) has been remarkable.  Lee, Elizabeth and I are so proud of her and she was so honored to be rewarded for her hard work!

So happy that we were there to see her get her award! 

Just in case anyone is wondering - no, I did not know about the assembly before sending her off to school that day.  If I had, she would have been in a dress, not an Angry Birds t-shirt!! 

Proudly showing us her certificate.

Mystic

The girls and I ended their school vacation week with an afternoon at Mystic Aquarium.  It was incredibly crowded due to a short term Titanic display, but we enjoyed ourselves nevertheless.  Mystic never disappoints and I have a feeling that we will be renewing our family membership yet again, they enjoy it so much.

Up close and personal with Juno, a super friendly beluga whale.  This photo really captures how the belugas interact with the visitors and how amazingly social they are.

Love this photo, as Elizabeth shields Emily from the crowd at the beluga whale tank. 

Watching the sea lion feeding. 

Ballard's Titantic display, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the sinking. 

A replica of the communication room.  The entire Titanic exhibit was very dark and this was one of the only photos that I took.

The jellyfish exhibit is always one of the girls' favorites.