Saturday, January 31, 2009

CADSA Winter Family Fun Day


Joe, Emma, Tim, Elisabeth
Tim & Joe

Joe in the cupcake walk

Today we went to the second annual CADSA Winter Family Fun day. We had a chilli cook-off, a "dutch auction" and the always popular cupcake walk. Joe and Emma had fun seeing friends and eating lots of treats.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Snacks on a Snowy Day


Today was another cold, snowy day. Most days when Joe and Emma come home from school they have a snack in the kitchen and watch the neighbors walk by or the snow fall or whatever else is happening on our street. Emma knocks off her homework and Joe tells us about his day in Mrs. Olance's class. Today Joe brought home a matching project that he completed in school.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

This Lovely Life


Many of my blog readers have commented about how much they enjoyed Vicki Forman's aka "Special Needs Mama" essays on raising Evan. Forman has just published a book that chronicles her experiences titled, "This Lovely Life." I haven't read it yet, but based on her beautiful essays such as "The Mother at the Swings" I am sure it will be insightful and deeply moving.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Fooling around with my new computer


I have a new computer.  Emma & I are trying out all of the features.  She figured out how to make a quick movie on photo booth.  

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Dear Mr. President

Emma wrote a letter to President Obama and it was posted in the online version of our local paper, the Lansing State Journal. Click HERE (and scroll down a long way) to read her letter and others. Here it is:

Letter from Emma DeRogatis-Frilingos

Dear President Obama,

My name is Emma DeRogatis-Frilingos. I am in Mrs. Daley's class in third grade in Marble Elementary School in East Lansing, Michigan. I think that you should put swimming pools in the public schools. Swimming pools are good exercise, and if it was indoor recess people could have a choice of staying in their classroom or they could go swimming. This is very important for people who live in snowy places.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Emma DeRogatis-Frilingos
Marble Elementary, age: 8


YES WE CAN!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

A Fairy Tale by Emma



The Panda Bear’s Adventure
By Emma DeRogatis-Frilingos

Once upon a time no later then one year ago a panda bear named Max was eating a piece of bamboo when he saw a shimmer of gold falling from the sky. He wished that he could fly so he could see what the shimmer of gold was. But he was a big, fat panda and did not have wings. He tried flapping his arms like he was flying but it didn’t work. Then a pretty panda bear named Katie said, “I am under a spell! Can you help me? You can ask me anything and I will answer it but you must help me.” Max thought about it for a long time and Katie was getting impatient. Then Max said, “I will help you. Here’s my question. I saw a shimmer of gold falling out of the sky when I was eating a piece of bamboo. Do you know what I saw?” “You found it, you found it! Where did you see it?” Katie said, her voice was all excited. “Please tell me now! Where did you see it?” Max thought that Katie was getting a little bit demanding. Katie interrupted his thoughts by saying, “this is the last time I am asking you. WHERE DID YOU SEE THE SHIMMER OF GOLD?” Now Katie was yelling and it was hurting Max’s ears! “I saw it falling to the left,” said Max. “No, it was to the right.” Max started to think again. Katie yelled, “Just choose one,” she said. “Yup, I was right, it was to the left,” Max said. “I remember now.” “Let’s go,” said Katie. They ran to the left and what do you think they saw? They saw the biggest forest in the whole, wide world. Max said, “Let’s go.” They didn’t run through the woods because that wasn’t a good idea, so they walked through the forest. Max saw a light and he said, “I think that is the way out of the woods.” Katie was so happy that she did a little jig. Then she ran out of the woods. Max saw a big, old chest and Katie opened it up. Inside was a golden shoot of bamboo. Katie bit into the shoot and she began to change from a panda into a human. She also began to grow long, strawberry blond hair. A golden-yellow dress appeared on her body with little pink hearts on it. And she had a crown on her head and held a wand with a star on top. Max was scared to death. “Wha-wha-what has happened?” He said. “You broke the spell! Thank you! Thank you!” Katie said, “I shall give you anything. What do you want?” Max thought about it for a long time. Then he asked, “May I have wings?” “Sure,” Katie said. Then she said, “Wings, pings, rings!” Then golden wings appeared on Max’s shoulders. He said, “thank you!” And the two friends said goodbye to each other and Max flew off and lived happily ever after.

The End

Monday, January 12, 2009

Snowy Day



It keeps snowing and snowing. The weather report calls for more snow tonight. Luckily, Emma loves the snow. Joe, on the other hand, loves to be warm and cozy indoors.

Guitar Hero


Joe loves to strum his guitar but he also loves dancing while Chris plays it.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

The Music in Me


Check out the preview for this movie "The Music in Me" HERE.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Chef


Joe assisted me with making guacamole yesterday.