The following is an interchange between Lilia and Alex this morning.
Alex: "I am the king!"
Lilia: "You're not the king, Jesus is the King."
Alex: "Oh."
Lilia: "And one day Jesus is coming back and we will let him into our house."
Alex: "And he'll play trucks with me?"
Lilia: "Yes!"
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Got one for your bucket list
Dave and I had the incredible opportunity to attend a recital at The Curtis Institute.
If you've never heard of this school, don't worry about it. I never did before November.
Dave saw a piece about it on Philly.com and learned that the school is 40% international. Curtis is the top music school in the world. If you get, IF you get in, you go there for free. The average age of a Curtis student is 14-16 years old. Most don't graduate high school; they are that good!
Dave contacted a family where all three siblings got into Curtis. They all play the piano. They are a Christian, Chinese family and the kids were born in America. They were thrilled to meet with Dave in order to gain his help with reaching out to their classmates.
Two of the three siblings were performing on Monday night and we were able to go and see them play. Daniel accompanied a girl on flute, while Ashley accompanied a violinist and a cellist.
Neither Dave nor myself have ever been exposed to live classical music. It was phenomenal!!! I loved it!
You know the best part; IT'S FREE!!!!!
Take a night out with your spouse or a good friend, and sit to hear up and coming professionals play extraordinary music. The theater is just off of Rittenhouse square at 17th & Locust. Believe me, it's worth putting on your bucket list!
If you've never heard of this school, don't worry about it. I never did before November.
Dave saw a piece about it on Philly.com and learned that the school is 40% international. Curtis is the top music school in the world. If you get, IF you get in, you go there for free. The average age of a Curtis student is 14-16 years old. Most don't graduate high school; they are that good!
Dave contacted a family where all three siblings got into Curtis. They all play the piano. They are a Christian, Chinese family and the kids were born in America. They were thrilled to meet with Dave in order to gain his help with reaching out to their classmates.
Two of the three siblings were performing on Monday night and we were able to go and see them play. Daniel accompanied a girl on flute, while Ashley accompanied a violinist and a cellist.Neither Dave nor myself have ever been exposed to live classical music. It was phenomenal!!! I loved it!
You know the best part; IT'S FREE!!!!!
Take a night out with your spouse or a good friend, and sit to hear up and coming professionals play extraordinary music. The theater is just off of Rittenhouse square at 17th & Locust. Believe me, it's worth putting on your bucket list!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Now-a-days
We are in a really good place.
Dave's job (ministry to international students) is going really well; exceptionally well.
We are continuing to love our church and really feel at home there.
Dave and I are doing pretty good. We're getting date nights here and there. (It rocks that the kids are asleep by 7:30 most night.)
The kids are at a really wonderful age. Lilia will be 5 in about three weeks, and Alex is 2 and 4 months exactly (tomorrow).
They play together really well for the most part. Lilia is so much better at sharing. (I did read that developmentally kids can't share till about 5, so take it easy on your toddler.) Alex is pretty good at sharing too. That's probably only because he has a big sister.
Just now Lilia and her My Little Pony, Pinkie Pie, were showing around Alex's new Finn McMissle (from the movie Cars 2) . Lilia was introducing Finn to our kitchen, the chalkboard, and then upstairs. Alex was playing along and responding for Finn.
It's stuff like that happening quite frequently. I love it! It's glorious! I can be getting dinner together and they are just playing upstairs. Sometimes together, sometimes in their own rooms. I may hear bickering and tears occasionally. I don't go running up. If Alex needs me he comes down and I go to him. Sometimes they work it out.
I am really appreciating the kids right now and enjoying their ages.
Sincerely,
Thankful
Dave's job (ministry to international students) is going really well; exceptionally well.
We are continuing to love our church and really feel at home there.
Dave and I are doing pretty good. We're getting date nights here and there. (It rocks that the kids are asleep by 7:30 most night.)
The kids are at a really wonderful age. Lilia will be 5 in about three weeks, and Alex is 2 and 4 months exactly (tomorrow).
They play together really well for the most part. Lilia is so much better at sharing. (I did read that developmentally kids can't share till about 5, so take it easy on your toddler.) Alex is pretty good at sharing too. That's probably only because he has a big sister.
Just now Lilia and her My Little Pony, Pinkie Pie, were showing around Alex's new Finn McMissle (from the movie Cars 2) . Lilia was introducing Finn to our kitchen, the chalkboard, and then upstairs. Alex was playing along and responding for Finn.
It's stuff like that happening quite frequently. I love it! It's glorious! I can be getting dinner together and they are just playing upstairs. Sometimes together, sometimes in their own rooms. I may hear bickering and tears occasionally. I don't go running up. If Alex needs me he comes down and I go to him. Sometimes they work it out.
I am really appreciating the kids right now and enjoying their ages.
Sincerely,
Thankful
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Lilia's Quote of the Day
As a family we were talking over dinner tonight.
I had made the kids carrots and we talked about how they help you to have good eye sight.
That also led to my comment of wearing sunglasses helps to keep your eyes healthy.
Lilia then says, "The sun is your worst enemy. Water is your best friend."
Dave and I look at each other absolutely puzzled!
I ask, "Where did you learn that?"
To which she replied, "Remember, Man vs. Wild."
Lilia and I had watched that show last week some time and Bear Grylls was in the Sahara Desert. I guess she was learning something after all!
I had made the kids carrots and we talked about how they help you to have good eye sight.
That also led to my comment of wearing sunglasses helps to keep your eyes healthy.
Lilia then says, "The sun is your worst enemy. Water is your best friend."
Dave and I look at each other absolutely puzzled!
I ask, "Where did you learn that?"
To which she replied, "Remember, Man vs. Wild."
Lilia and I had watched that show last week some time and Bear Grylls was in the Sahara Desert. I guess she was learning something after all!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
For our next performance...
I love our adventures in Philly.
Yesterday afternoon after Alex played in his crib for an hour instead of napping (his usual routine now) we headed down to Clark Park.
As I was parking the car we observed a little boy maybe 4 walking on this same tight rope holding this man's hand (James).
We were all amazed and I asked the kids, while still in the car, if they would want to try it. They responded with an excited yes.
We walked over as the boy was finishing and we met James. James is just a random guy who put up a line to walk along. They kids both tried it, doing nothing more than standing on it. But I was very proud that they even wanted to get on and try it. James asked me if I was going to try.
Absolutely!
I love stuff like this. It was so difficult. I couldn't even stand on it, let alone move, without holding James' hand. It was really fun though!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Schooling update
For those of you who know about/are praying for our school options, here's an update.
Last Tuesday Lilia was tested at the Christian school (Spruce Hill) at 42nd & Baltimore. She scored pretty much within her age range, falling behind in writing (she does not enjoy coloring) and excelling in the visual. Yesterday we had an interview at Spruce Hill and they unofficially accepted her. However, that means nothing.
The big thing with Spruce Hill will be how much financial aid they can provide for us. The school is about $6,000/year. So we will apply for that and wait to hear back from them.
Then there is the public school, Greenfield at 22nd & Chestnut. Dave was the 1st person to receive at date & time stamp from the school, which should mean we are in, but I'm not counting on that totally. We won't hear from them until early April!!!
Both choices are still on the table. We don't prefer her to go to one or the other. Since we moved here 2 year ago I've been praying about this and asking God to lead and guide us. I am confident that God will.
It's just a game of patiently waiting...
Last Tuesday Lilia was tested at the Christian school (Spruce Hill) at 42nd & Baltimore. She scored pretty much within her age range, falling behind in writing (she does not enjoy coloring) and excelling in the visual. Yesterday we had an interview at Spruce Hill and they unofficially accepted her. However, that means nothing.
The big thing with Spruce Hill will be how much financial aid they can provide for us. The school is about $6,000/year. So we will apply for that and wait to hear back from them.
Then there is the public school, Greenfield at 22nd & Chestnut. Dave was the 1st person to receive at date & time stamp from the school, which should mean we are in, but I'm not counting on that totally. We won't hear from them until early April!!!
Both choices are still on the table. We don't prefer her to go to one or the other. Since we moved here 2 year ago I've been praying about this and asking God to lead and guide us. I am confident that God will.
It's just a game of patiently waiting...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)