NY Botanical Garden and Myachi

W has been keeping very busy with Myachi, reading pokemon books, making more crossbows, karate, CCD, playing outside for hours with the neighbor kids, card tricks, making videos, and playing with his DS.   We'll get back to the formal academic seatwork after the holidays.

We went to FAO Schwarz again last week and W spent the whole time with 2 real Myachi masters - "Metal" and "Monk"  (Monk is on the Myachi packaging and part of the House of Skillz). They taught him new tricks and they spoke what seemed like a foreign language for over 1/2 hour.  It was like there were 3 of my son - they were all on the same wavelength and with the same enthusiasm.  W decided he'd like to work there, too.

After FAO, we met up with B, the girls, and my mom to go to the annual musical at LaGuardia High School.  This year they did Guys & Dolls and it was unbelievable.  It's amazing that these are only high schoolers.  It was like being at a Broadway show.  The sets, the orchestra, the acting and singing - amazing.  

Another cool field trip last week with the homeschool group was to the NY Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Displays and Gingerbread Adventure.  I've always seen that advertised, but never got around to getting there.  We had such a great time.  It was all so beautiful.  They built a bunch of NYC landmarks out of all natural materials (pistachio shells, juniper berries, etc) and trains were whizzing by all of them .  They even made NY bridges and Yankee Stadium.  There was so much to see.  The Gingerbread Adventure had them in a class at 3 different stations learning about gingerbread ingredients and where they come from, then checking out huge beautiful gingerbread houses made locally from different bakeries, then sampling some cookies.  We had a fantastic tour guide who was funny and kept the kids interested.  I loved it!

Last week was also Parent Observation Week at J's school.  B and I gt there at 9am to watch J in both double dance periods.  She has 2 periods of ballet (90 minutes) and another 2 periods of modern dance.  The kids are so beautiful and talented, the teachers are just phenomenal, and I love that there are live musicians.  We left at around noon and grabbed some breakfast at a local cafe near Columbus Circle.  

Just about all my Christmas shopping is done.  It certainly has been a stressful season.  It arrived way too fast this year and I wasn't ready.  Oh well - I just hope my Amazon order gets here before Sunday.  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Here are some more pictures of the trip to the NY Botanical Garden: