The phone

Nicole has been wanting a cell phone ever since Jessica got her phone for graduation two years ago. Since Nicole never really goes anywhere without us, we told her she would get her cell phone for graduation too.

Well for the first few months after Jess had hers, Nicole began to lobby why she should get one. Jim and I decided that if she stayed on the honor roll for two years, she could get her phone in May of sixth grade. Well true to her word, she made the honor for two years. Luckily for her, school issued reports a month earlier so we honored our word.

Of course, the shiny pink phone never is far from her side and it beeps with all of her friends' text messages.

Congrats Nicole!

St. Patrick's Day Limericks

Nicole's teacher challenged his class to come up with a limerick for school. The prize is lunch with him.

Here is our submission:

Social Studies has places
Science experiments looks for traces
As English tells rhymes
and Home Ec has chimes
Art draws many faces.

My favorite is this:

There was a mom from Floral Park
She liked to eat peppermint bark
She ate so much
Her pants' buttons could not touch
So she went dancing in the dark.

Happy Saint Patty's Day!

Seussical-Thing 2

One of the best things about the Floral Park-Bellerose School is the drama club. This no-cut club is open to fifth and sixth graders. Each production includes a cast of about 120 children.

Jessica was a wiz behind the stage and could recite both the Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan line-by-line though she never said a word.

Nicole was out in front for Annie as a maid last year. It really was a cute show.

This year Nicole was cast as Thing 2. While she only had 1 line to memorize-"Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up!"-she was in the show a lot. Now while I volunteered to help on costumes and designed the program, I never really saw the show until opening night. I had an idea how much Nicole was in the play as I placed her character in about every scene of the program.

On opening night, I asked her what she wanted to eat. She said something "hardy" like a deli sandwich. Since it was snowing and there was only an hour until she had to be to school, I offered raviolis. She downed them quickly and then off to hair and make up.

Through the ninety minute show, Thing 1 and Thing 2 wizzed on an off stage. They moved props, the moved the story and they moved the audience. Acting without words in ridiculous costumes is not easy-nurses, hunters, flower pickers, feather attachers, etc. They had a tough job but they were great! I almost wished she had some lines it might have been easier but not funnier.

On closing night, I was prepared with a big meal so she had energy to go! She definitely broke both legs!

While she said I could not post a picture on Facebook, she said nothing about the blog!

Bravo!

Finally Summer

So we are all done with school for the year! Jess has survived 7th grade and did really well.

Nicole is now a 6th grader and had a great year too! It is the last year at Floral Park Bellerose which will be a hard to go there for only one more year.

The girls are off to Grandmommy and Grandpoppy's for the week. I will miss them but they will have a blast!

Nicole's Take on EPCOT

Do you think she could sell this as stock material? Not bad for a little point and shoot picture!

Christmas Day

This year Jim and I made the girls a present. These are known as Linus Blankets. They were orginally made for children in hospitals to have something of their own while they were getting better. Nicole received one from her friend Emma but she wanted another. Here are the instructions to make a no-sew polar fleece blanket (we used 2 yards of fabric)

Crispy Sugar Treats

I saw a recipe on the Food Network to make healthy treats. The recipe was by Ellie Kreiger, and it is simple enough so we tried it tonight.

You take a package of wonton or egg roll wrappers, 2 tablespoons of canola oil and powder sugar.

You heat your oven to 375. You cut the wrappers into triangles and dip them in the canola oil until coated. You then bake until light brown - about 5 minutes in our oven. When cool, you sprinkle with powder sugar and they store for up to four days. These are great snacks for under 100 calories.

Student Council Representative

Nicole was elected as Student Council representative for her fifth grade class. As a fifth grader, she can go on and run for Vice President of the entire Student Council.

I wish she was 25 years older because she would make an excellent President.

Congrats!

Nicole Fifth Grader

Nicole is venturing to Floral Park-Bellerose alone this year. She has Mr. D the most popular fifth grade teacher. She is continuing chorus this year and is going to join the drama club.

She was even selected to be in Probe which is for gifted children.

Dinner with the Whales

Okay so I got a little crazy and decided at the last minute to eat with the whales. The food was good but the experience was unique. I do not know if I would go back but those whales are about ten feet from my girls.

Dolphins

Nicole and Jessica are petting and feeding the dolphins. We wanted them to experience these gentle and kind creatures before we go swimming with them on our next vacation. The girls really had a lot of fun with the dolphins.

Rays

Jess and Nicole pet the rays. Jess and I actually swam with the rays but they always make her sad now because of Steve Irwin. Hopefully, they will make her smile again!

Sea World

For our last day in California, we went to Sea World. Jess and Nicole are in front of Shamu's Stadium though there is no longer a Shamu.

Nicole decide we needed to sit in the splash zone so I am standing at our seats taking this picture. Jim who was buying popcorn could not believe we chose these seats. But where else would any kid choose to sit?

We did not get soaked but we did have fun!

Wanted Two Cute Girls

Nicole and Jess stand for their mugshots in front of the Shrek attractions. This was one of our favorites rides at Universal and it was well done. After a long day in LA, we headed South again to San Diego for the final day of vacation.

Indy's Helper

Nicole got to help Indiana Jones with one of his adventures. Here she is helping the "assistant" solve a clue.

The Rest of the Crew

Jim's cousins, Rick and Erin, along with Nicole, smile for the camera. Rick is Nicole's Godfather and Erin could be her mom because they look so much alike! We love hanging out with them whether it is out their house or on their boat! I always smile when I think of them especially when I am making my coffee!

Camp Round Two

With a Mets game in
between, the girls headed to round two of camp. For Jess, this meant traveling down to Pennsylvania and Camp Expressions. She got to stay at my parents house and go to camp daily. At camp, she worked on social skills through a variety of activities including writing the newsletter, taking karate and her favorite, stream stomping.

Her camp had a luau, favorite color, an animal show and crazy hat day. Of course, Grandmommy could not let Jess go with any old hat. So Grandmommy and her designed a hat which of course won! Besides camp, she went horseback riding and shopping as well as scooter until her heart's content with Ryan.

Nicole got two weeks without her sister and a minimum of four hours a day with one of her best friends, Brigid. They attend an acting camp and then got to hang out afterwards. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it was pay dirt as they were together almost 12 hours!

Nicole got the part of Annie for the finale which she was very excited about. The problem, her very cool parents, got Jonas Brother tickets for the same night. The drama over what to choose!

Camp Round One

Jess and Nicole spent two weeks at camp at Hofstra University. Nicole chose soccer with her friend Emma and Jess chose Camp Adventure which is a program that physically challenges you.

Each morning at 7:45 am the girls would board the bus and would not return home until 5:30! For Jess, it was not so bad because she could relax after camp. For Nicole, it meant going to lacrosse at 7 on Tuesdays and musical theater at 6 on Wednesdays!

They were both great and made new friends as well. Jess had the added responsibility of being in charge of Nicole and Emma and texting us and Emma's mom when they were on the bus.

Both girls want to go back next year which means we finally made the right choice!

Last Day of School

Nicole poses with Mrs. Oerzen, her fourth grade teacher, and Carroll outside of school. She is dying to look inside her envelope not to see her grades (straight As) but to see who she got for next year.

The lucky teacher - Mr. D. He is the most popular 5th grade teacher and she is happy!

Coley and Kelsey

Luckily for the kids, Rick has a pool. Here Nicole and her mini me, Kelsey, have fun in the pool.

Kelsey likes to think she is a big kid and luckily her older cousins like having her to play with.