Emma joined the Rancho Santa Margarita Dolphins swim team this year and took to the water like, well, a dolphin. She practiced multiple times per week focusing on the 25 m freestyle and 25 m backstroke. Despite being the shortest person on the team she wasn’t (always) the slowest. By the time for the first meet her body was tan and her stroke smooth.
Since our trip to San Francisco last year Emma has been in love with trollies. When searching for a place for her birthday party this year it was natural to choose The Old Spaghetti Factory in Newport Beach. The trolley dining car in the middle of the restaurant was a dream come true.
Emma took to the stage again last week for her second piano recital. The spring recital was nature-themed and Emma’s piece was called “Shooting Stars” by Elizabeth Greenleaf. She was, once again, delighted to be performing for the crowd.
We thought it might happen at Christmas and give us cause to sing that old song, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth…” but it came and went with Emma’s two front teeth merely wobbling. As of this morning, though, both of the shiny white front teeth are gone!
Emma has been taking piano lessons for several months now, all building up to The Big Recital. We practiced “Good King Wenceslas” at home dozens of times over the past six weeks.
Emma’s first grade class performed “The Gingerbread Man” as their holiday play. She was one of the trees, who’s sole line was, “Too bad!”
The weekend before Halloween I agreed to help Emma and Henry carve their pumpkins. Whatever face they drew on the pumpkin I would do my best to carve. Emma, as you might guess, drew a pug. I created a cute little smiley pumpkin face for Cora. Henry? Well, he scribbled all over the front of his pumpkin but I dutifully tried to carve it.
Emma has joined The Brownies this year at school and, unlike her experience with blah, she seems to be enjoying herself. There are no protest signs this time around and she looks forward to each meeting.
Emma has been taking piano lessons for two months now and I wanted to snap a quick video to remember the progress. I’ve been a little surprised at how quickly all the new concepts keep coming but Emma seems to soak it in and remember everything.
“Daddy, I promised Mrs. Renz, my first grade teacher, that I would do whatever I can to stop global warming. I really love penguins and polar bears so I must stop global warming!”