This school year Ella and Ike have been in a special program at the School of Arts. We are always trying to find ways to help our kids continue on with their Russian and to connect with other local kids. This program is 2 evenings a week, and gives them experience in dance, music, art, and drama.
I peeked into Ike's dance class one evening and snapped this photo.
The school held an Open House one evening for parents to come and watch what the kids do in a normal class. Here, Ike and Ella are pressing modeling clay onto their pictures.
They also danced for us:
We got flowers for both kids to congratulate them on a job well done! The lady at the flower shop didn't want to sell me 2 bouquets, as it's very unlucky to get an even number of flowers. She wanted me to get one or three. I assured her that the flowers were for 2 different people, and she acquiesced.
The kids' favorite part is playing on the way back from the School of Arts. At the beginning of the season, the snow was warm enough for packing into a little snowman.
There's a skateboard ramp that the kids love to run around and slide down.
Once it got colder, we switched to sledding on our way there and back. It's really hard to get pictures in the dark, but they start at the top of several flights of stairs and sled down the middle on little sleds.
Anneka and I get to have special mother-daughter time together while Ella and Ike are at the school. Sometimes we'll get fruit and tea at a cafe not far from the school and wait there and play games.
And sometimes we play games at home. This night we played with a dreidel, to go along with what she's learning in history. Sometimes Leif joins us, and sometimes he gets a special date with Anneka, too.
Mother's Day is in November here. Ella and Ike were in a performance for this special occasion.
Ella has such a beautiful smile and likes to perform.
They invited some of us moms up front for a competition. Ike and Ella had to dress me in a silly costume. For another competition, Leif and I had to go up front and draw each other blindfolded.
Right before New Years, all of the young kids from the school were invited for a special "Ёлка", which is a special peformance and party with Grandfather Frost, his grandaughter, a tree, and presents for all. The kids were supposed to dress up. Usually little girls wear poofy dresses and are princesses, but Ella wanted to be a cheetah. Anneka made her this costume, and Ella was simply delighted. Ike wore a costume his sisters gave him for Christmas.
At the end of the performance, a big Rooster led the kids in games. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster.
Aferwards, the kids played on and around the snow sculptures and ice slides.
On the big snow throne
so fun to slide!
and so fast!!
