Room 44's "Not So Much" Halloween Party

Ka'iulani's teacher granted them a Halloween party as a reward for good classroom behavior and hard work on some strenuous assignments. It was a lot of fun for them because they got to dress up in their costumes, which is something none of our girls have had the privilege of doing before at school. I was surprised when she told me they were having an actual "Halloween" party and she told me, "Well it's not so much Halloween, it's just a party we can dress up for."

 

By her castle that she and Daddy worked really hard on. It's one of the big projects that required lots of work that I mentioned above. After a lot of consideration of what she would go as, she decided on Bride Minnie Mouse.

 

The kids waiting for Herr Klein to tell them what is next. Rebekah sat right down with Alyssa's classmates like she belonged there all the time.

 

Alyssa's friend, Martina wanted to carry Rebekah everywhere. They were being silly and having lots of fun.

 

Laughing at Martina and Rebekah. I think Tina got a little more than she bargained for with Rebekah.

 

Class photo.

 

Ka'iu and Kamele looking a lot alike.

 

Watching the big kids from a distance.

 

Running to catch up as we go inside.

 

Concentrating on her word search. They had a lot of fun puzzles waiting for them at their desks.

 

Laughing at something funny the teacher said (it was in German and I forgot to ask her about it afterwards, so I still don't know what she was laughing at). I love her sense of humor sometimes, notice how she's laughing so hard she's covering her face, and the girl behind her, Stephanie, is just looking at her wondering what's so funny.

 

Still laughing, by now she had added her own commentary that she also thought was funny. After games, they watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I was very glad to be able to be at both girls' parties. This is the first year since our girls have been in school that I am not a room parent, so I was especially thankful to be involved in their parties, even if I'm not the one planning them this year!

 

Her big castle project up close. This is probably the most extensive school project she's had so far. They studied about castles and then had to build one of their own with specific requirements of certain buildings. They also had two writing assignments that went along with the project. She decided back in 2nd grade that she wanted to have a castle in Germany one day, and this project solidified that decision for her.

 

Long before we knew about the castle assignment, I stumbled upon the "Sachs Family Crest" while googling something unrelated. When we were decorating the castle, I remembered having seen it, so I printed out a couple for her to put on the castle's turrets.

Little Red and the Hoods

The day after First Stage, I took the girls to a performance of Little Red Riding Hood, they referred to their version as, "Little Red and the Hoods." It was a very cute audience participation play put on at our local high school.

 

As soon as we sat down in our front row seats, the girls were handed flowers as props.

 

Alyssa was the first one called to the stage. She was asked to put the finishing touch on their set so the show could begin. This pot of flowers was the big "finishing touch." As we would come to find out, there was not much of a set or decoration to work with. They needed the audience for all that!

 

The whole premise of the play was that the theatre company and their stage coach that carried all the props and scenery got stuck in a swamp on the way to the performance. What they were left with was a hodge-podge of actors that couldn't agree on who should play which part, and no scenery to stage the play. Emma was asked to go up on the stage and help them open and move this trunk, the contents of which should help them figure out what to do next. You can barely see her in this photo, she's on the far side.

 

Perhaps the funniest thing of the evening, Rebekah was chosen as a cheerleader to encourage the unwilling wolf to carry out his job. She looked like a deer in the head lights, standing up there, waving her poms all wide-eyed. Alyssa and Emma were practically rolling on the ground with laughter.

 

Alyssa was asked to build a bridge across the river, and here she is running across and off-stage again. I'm not sure if they decided upon this theme due to necessity with a limited budget in their theater program this year, or if it was just a cute idea someone came up with. It sure was a lot of fun for the kids to play a role in their show!

First Stage Fun with Friends and Junie B.

Alyssa and Emma each have a friend whose birthday is during the same week as Emma's. Instead of a "regular gift" the girls decided they wanted to give their friends a coupon to have a sleepover at our house and see the First Stage Children's Theatre performance of Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. And yes, all their birthdays were back in April, so this is a gift 6 months deferred. It was the show they all agreed they wanted to see, and First Stage never disappoints.

 

The Skywalk is one of the funnest things about the parking garage by the Marcus Center Complex.

 

Alyssa running back to me, so happy and excited.

 

Alyssa and her April b-day friend, Georgia having a talk with the beautiful fall colors outside.

 

Emma and her birthday buddy, Catherine.

 

The girls and their special birthday guests.

 

Georgia was trying to encourage Rebekah to be a part of the photo above. She was great about including Emma and Rebekah in everything she and Alyssa wanted to do.

 

The girls in their seats.

 

All of a sudden, the stage lights went up, and I wasn't ready for Bekah's excited face (that's why the pic is so blurry), but it was very cute.

 

The stage is set for Junie B!

 

At intermission, eating a cookie that is as big as her head.

 

Looking at the poster listing all the characters.

 

All five girls. It was a great performance, probably one of the most talented casts we have seen at First Stage, which is saying a lot, because they are always quite good. All of them could sing very very well, Alyssa was on the edge of her seat the whole time!

 

There is a fun outdoor stage area that the girls had a lot of fun running around after the show. They were playing an elaborate game of hide and seek tag.

 

Emma telling Georgia not to give up her hiding spot.

 

Peeking out from behind the pillar.

 

Now, Georgia is the one peeking around as Bekah steps up to run and hide.

 

Posing on the stage.

 

Excited jumps from the littlest one.

 

Glancing back to see who's coming.

 

Off and running again.

 

Taking a princess break.

 

Emma looking out at the river.

 

TAG ~ almost!!

 

Chasing, chasing.

 

I've had enough of all this running around.

 

Catherine slept over the night before the play, and the girls made homemade pizzas that turned out to be very delicious.

 

At one point the girls took our small camera and clicked several pics of each other. I thought these of them pretending to be models were funny.

 

Alyssa's model profile.

 

Super Sassy model Cate.

 

Another thing I thought was funny was Emma's excited face as she pulled the jenga piece, and Cate not being able to watch for fear that it was falling.

 

We made and decorated fall cupcakes.

 

Concentrating on the all important sprinkles.

 

Georgia spent the night after the play. The girls asked if they could go outside, and five minutes later they were at the back door asking if they could have rakes to rake up leaves. I've never thought of raking leaves as being much of a recreational activity, but when they came in, I was hanging up their coats and Alyssa leaned in to whisper to me, "Thanks so much for letting Georgia come over, we are having so much fun!!"