Thursday, July 7, 2011

Penguins

Last week we did penguins. Honestly, we didn't do as much as we could have but it was a crazy week. E had camp at the arboretum and then was sick on Wednesday and Thursday. I did get books about penguins. We also read the book Mr Popper's Penguins and then went to see the movie on Friday. Anyway, here is our book list for the week.

Penguins: Growing up Wild by Sandra Markle
Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester
Penguins by Emily Rose Townsend
Penguins, Penguins everywhere by Bob Barner
A Penguin Chick Grows Up by Joan and Richard Hewett
Mr Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Snow week reading list

I almost forgot to list the books we read for snow week!

Snowmen at night by Caralyn Buehner
There was a cold lady who swallowed some snow by Lucille Colandro
Hello Snow by Hope Vestergaard
Frozen Noses by Jan Carr
Snow Day by Scott Nash and Patricia Lakin
Winter Friends by Mary Quattlebaum
Snowmen all year by Caralyn Buehner

I really liked this batch of books. My favorites were Snowmen at night and snowmen all year and also snow day. I think E really liked the two snowmen books too. I also think it was more fun to read books about snow when there was none on the ground!

A week of winter!

Two weeks ago we had a snow storm! In June!


So we had a snowball fight!
Kicked the snow around a bit.
And made snow angels!
Later we made snow sculptures.


I bought a big bag of cotton balls, dumped them on the floor and let the kids go to town! Then I sat back and snapped pictures. I got some good practice in on my new camera! Don't worry, I got to throw some snowballs too! It was fun!

Trinity Academy of Irish Dance

Today I just wanted to help spread the word about this new dance studio and some events they have coming up later this month. If M were just a bit older and at a point where she would follow directions just a bit better, this would be a lot of fun to take her to. As for E, well he is going through a stage where he dislikes anything "girl." He looked at M's dance teacher like she was crazy when she suggested him taking a class for kids his age. Even after she told him that she has had boys in her classes. Anyway, I hope some of you are able to make it and would love to hear from you if you do!


So here is the information:


TRINITY ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE ANNOUNCES OPENING OF

NEW STATE OF THE ART DANCE STUDIO IN ELMHURST

ELMHURST— After 30 years of success and being regarded as the most widely recognized Irish dance program in the world, Trinity Academy of Irish Dance is thrilled to announce the opening of a brand new state of the art dance studio in Elmhurst, Illinois located at 747 N. Church Road, Suite A3.

The new facility features two large dance studios as well as a parent and sibling waiting room. The new space serves not only as the location for weekly classes with Elmhurst-area locals, it is also the Illinois hub for special programs as well as advanced Trinity dancers from Illinois and Wisconsin who train for regional, national and international competition including the All Ireland Championships and the World Irish Dance Championships. Among these dancers are numerous world gold medal champions, fresh from the competition that was held this April in Dublin.

Trinity’s Founder and Artistic Director, Mark Howard, stated, “I can hardly believe that after 30 years of teaching in Illinois that we have our own studio in Elmhurst. The teachers and students of this remarkable organization deserve it. It’s been a long time coming and I am beyond excited to see what the future holds. I’m also excited to watch the kids walk in the door and see pieces of Trinity’s history and legacy on the walls.”

Trinity’s countless competitive titles, national and local television appearances and tours of the world demonstrate the power of the school, but the vast majority of the students just attend a weekly class, whether it be to connect to their Irish heritage or to express themselves through dance. With both sides of the coin at their fingertips, Trinity’s focus is set on elevating children and the world through the passion of Irish dance.

Howard continued, “We chose Elmhurst not just because it’s centrally located, but because of the people and the unique energy of the community. It’s really the perfect fit for our family-based organization.”

Trinity Studios Ribbon Cutting/ FREE Drop-in Day

To celebrate and welcome the community to the new space, they are inviting children and their families to their ribbon cutting/open house.

12 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011 at Trinity’s Elmhurst Studios,

747 Church Road in Elmhurst

The ribbon cutting ceremony lasts from 12-1pm. During this time, children get to meet current Trinity dancers, watch them perform and see some fancy costumes! At 1pm, children get a free lesson in Irish dance where they can learn a step of the jig themselves!

If you represent a local business that would like to help sponsor this event, please send an email to info@trinitydance.com with the words “sponsor Elmhurst” in the subject line.

Trinity Dance and Tell! July 26, 2011 at 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Trinity’s Elmhurst Studios

Trinity invites moms, dads, and children ages four through 12 to spend a fun summer morning at their first ever Trinity Dance and Tell! Arrive at 10am for fun activities, a performance, a workshop about Irish dance and a meet and greet session with plenty of time for questions and answers. This is a wonderful opportunity to get up close and personal with Trinity’s wonderful dancers. Participants find out what it’s like to do this healthy, cardiovascular form of exercise that emphasizes confidence, poise, teamwork, support, respect, friendship and best of all – fun! Trinity Dance and Tell! is the perfect way to get your child thinking, learning, up and moving! Cost is $15 per family. Visithttps://www.trinityacademyofirishdance.com/registration/ElmhurstDanceandTell.php to register!

Get a Taste of Trinity this summer at Trinity’s Elmhurst Studios

New students are invited to participate in Trinity’s Taste of Trinity program this summer, where boys and girls ages four through 12 discover the basics of Irish dance, learning the proper techniques of movement set to the rhythm of Irish music. The last class concludes with a 15-minute special performance for family and friends. No previous dance experience is necessary. Registration for Taste of Trinity is now open; space is limited. Cost is $95 for six classes which includes a Trinity t-shirt. Visitwww.trinityirishdancers.com for information.

Elmhurst Taste of Trinity Schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays

7/11-7/28 (held at the brand new Trinity Elmhurst Studios at 747 Church Road, Suite A3)

Dancers born 2006-2007: 1-1:45pm

Dancers born 1999-2005: 2-3pm

About Trinity
For 30 years, Trinity has thrilled audiences with its inspiring showmanship and been a flagship for dance programs worldwide. From humble beginnings in church basements to sold-out performance tours across Europe, Asia and North America, the Trinity dancers have consistently redefined the genre and elevated everyone who has seen them by sharing their undying energy, innovation and passion for the art form. Trinity was the birthplace of “progressive Irish dance,” which opened the artistic pathways that led directly to commercial shows like Riverdance.

In Trinity’s unique program, instructors focus on the importance of having fun while developing self-respect and confidence in their students. The Trinity program is held together by its powerful philosophy of empowerment that teaches students life lessons both on and off the dance floor. Trinity instructors utilize a noncompetitive teaching method that places children on a “journey” through Ireland, teaching the beauty of the dance form along with poise, agility, strength, confidence, sportsmanship and cultural lessons along the way.

While only five percent of Trinity dancers compete at the highest international levels, the great majority of students
learn solo and team dances to celebrate Celtic traditions and have fun performing around town and competing in smaller local competitions. The Trinity program allows dancers to take Irish dance at their own pace, giving them the choice to get as much or as little as they want out of it. Classes for team and performance dance are optional.

The
Trinity dancers have appeared in numerous feature films and on national television programs including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, Good Morning America and The Martha Stewart Show to name a few. Trinity has also won two Emmy Awards for appearances on PBS.

Trinity Academy of Irish Dance has a convenient location in Elmhurst, as well as Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Palatine, Western Springs and the Northwest Side (Irish American Heritage Center) and Lakeview neighborhoods of Chicago in Illinois; and numerous locations in Wisconsin. For more information, call 773-529-4822 or visit
trinityirishdancers.com or facebook.com/trinityirishdancers

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

I'm behind I know

I planned on updating this weekend, I really did but I just never got to it. I could make excuses about having company over on Saturday and spending the day cleaning and baking or how Sunday was my birthday and how I spent Monday organizing (all true stories by the way) but the truth is, I still had time to blog I just didn't. I will work on catching up this week though. I have to because I know I won't have time next weekend.


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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Kid's Klub at York Center Park District

York Center Park District is located at 1609 S Luther Ave in Lombard. Every Thursday they have some lunchtime entertainment from 12-1. They also have a concession stand that opens at 11:30 although we have never checked that out. So if you plan on going, pack a lunch and maybe a picnic blanket (there are several tables) and sit back and enjoy the show while you eat your lunch. All shows are kid friendly and free! This week was the first week. We got to see a magic show preformed by John Measner.


After the show we stayed to play at the park for a bit.

Here are the rest of the upcoming shows:
Steve Beno: Musical Entertainment
Matt Wilhelm: BMX rider
York Center Fire Department
Jim Nesci's Cold Blooded Creature
Ken Schultz
Camp Talent Show
Dave Rudolph: Musical Entertainment
Little Nashville: Musical Entertainment
Wacky Game Show Challenge

Check out their website at www.yorkcenterparks.org to see descriptions of each of the shows.
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Wild Wednesday!

Wild Wednesday is a great, free, activity! It takes place every Wednesday from June 15th- August 17th from 10-2 at Lake View Nature Center in Oakbrook. The address is 17 W 063 Hodges rd Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. It is right off Kingrey across from the Oakbrook mall. Parking in their lot is difficult because it is so small but you can park down the road and take a quick walk. You can't park on Hodges but if you pass the entrance and take either a left or a right at the stop sign onto Monterey Ave, you can park along that road. We did it this week and it's not too much of a walk and sooo much easier than trying to get out of their parking lot if it is full! I would suggest not even trying the parking lot unless you can clearly see an open spot or you drive a small vehicle!

Activities include:
Story time
Special animal visitor (different each week)
Scavenger hunt hike w/prizes
Lemonade (free) and popcorn ($1)
Fishing equipment available to borrow
Paddle boats
Nature center exhibits

They do story time at 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, and 1:15 and the animal presentation at 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, and 1:45.

Here is a list of the animal visitors that are scheduled for the rest of this summer:

6/22 Civet
6/29 Mouse
7/6 Hedgehog tenrec
7/13 Prairie dog
7/20 Blue-tongued skink
7/27 TBA (they told us this week but I forgot)
8/3 Tortoise
8/10 Bald eagle
8/17 Donkey

And now for pictures of our time there this week.




Story time



Getting the kids up and involved!



Getting to touch the legless lizard.






When we went inside the kids got to hold a walking stick bug!


Here is E taking a closer look of it climbing up his arm.



M got to hold it too. Once it started crawling up her arm I thought she was freaking out but she was actually giggling because it tickled!



Inside there was all sorts of things to see...


And touch...



And bury...



And find again.



Of course, no nature center is complete without stuffed animals!

We had a nice time but I will do a few things different next time, either go earlier or pack a lunch. We have soccer in the afternoon so we have to go to the earlier ones. This week I would like to go at 10 and also bring a lunch so we can stay longer. We may even rent a paddleboat (which is $3/half hour, $5 if you want the big swan boat). Another good thing to know is, they do this rain or shine! If it rains it is inside.
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