Walt Disney Concert Hall

Nothing says beautiful acoustical music like the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  We had the opportunity to hear young musicians play in the hall and we had amazing (free) seats!  My hope is that these cultural experiences the boys receive will inspire them to create beauty in the world.  After hearing the music, I wonder if they will they want to learn a new instrument???

Art

After 20 years (yes, we met in 1999), we still like going to art museums and hanging out with one another.  It's always lovely being around Jawsh and an immersive art installation from Yayoi Kusama.  How many more art galleries will we visit in the next 20 years???

Culmination Party

Today was Micah's last hooray with some of his 5th grade friends from elementary school. They had fun watching a movie in the private screening room and playing games afterwards.  Being part of a magnet school means that the kids separate into various middle school programs.  Micah is bummed that he is no longer with his close friend, M, who is attending a different school.  What new friends will Micah make in middle school???

Micah's Culmination

My baby is no longer a baby.  I guess this has been a true statement for some time but now that he has culminated from elementary school and he is heading off to middle school, I really feel this.  Micah had such a wonderful, nurturing, and fun experience in elementary school and I feel incredibly blessed that I was able to be there to witness a lot of it.  I am so proud of the person he is and the person he is becoming.  How will Micah transition into middle school???

Noah- Resident Artist

Noah's middle school has many after school opportunities and we were so thrilled when they offered an art class!  He was selected to be a resident artist and participated in a ten-week session where he worked on painting.  At the end of the semester there was an art show in the library.  Noah was so happy to show three pieces inspired by Robert Oxley.  Isn't his work amazing???

Micah+Kona

Micah loves, loves, loves dogs.  Here he is with Kona.  Isn't this too cute???

Bandette

Jawsh was gifted this awesome electric guitar by his friend who plays in the band, Bandette.  Jawsh has been designing Bandette album covers for years and this was a nice surprise to find in the mail.  Will Jawsh take up guitar lessons???

The Bruin Experiment

The Bruin Experiment was started by UCLA neuroscience students to help young students pursue technological and scientific interests.  Noah had two mentors and studied the effects that video games have on the brain.  He presented his research at UCLA in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom and was judged by UCLA professors.  It was amazing to watch Noah discus his interests and findings.  We were very proud of his efforts and he was awarded an Honorable Mention Prize.  Will Noah want to pursue a career in the sciences???

TED Talk

Back to life in LA...  Micah created a Ted Talk on the Great Barrier Reef.  He worked incredibly hard on his research and that was reflected in his video.  We are so proud of the work that Micah has accomplished at school.  What will he think of middle school???

Liam

I don't even know how to start this post...  it was a freak accident that Liam slipped while playing basketball that led to a major head surgery.  I can't even believe what would have happened and how much our lives would have changed if Liam did not receive the proper care.  We are so blessed that Liam made it through surgery and that he will be okay.  Will this trauma affect him in the future???

Bryant Park

Our last day in New York City was not spent at the MET as planned but outside enjoying the city at Bryant Park.  We literally spent the day sitting, drawing, eating, and playing games.  It felt like we were locals and I loved it.  I loved not having to catch a subway to the next stop and to have to use my maps to get to our next destination.  We had such a lovely time that I look back at this day with great fondness and gratitude for our time spent in the Big Apple.  When will we come back???

Midtown Comics

If I had to search through New York looking for my family, I know where I would go... Midtown Comics.  The boys found their happy sanctuary here.  I thought we were popping in for a few minutes but an hour went by faster than they imagined.  A mecca of comic books, Noah and Micah were happily reading and catching up on series.  We were impressed by the depth and knowledge that the workers also had... when will we come back for a visit???

Word Trade Center

This was one of the more somber times we had this week in New York.  We weren't sure if we were going to come to World Trade Center but we decided that this was just too important to pass up.  It was quiet.  It was sad.  It was frequented by the most officers than we have seen yet.  We were all in awe and in appreciation of all  those that lost their lives in 2001.  A wonderful tradition is to place a rose on the plaque on their birthday.  Happy birthday to Stephen Harrell.  We wonder... we will ever see peace in our life time???

Central Park

I love going to the quiet and still parts of the city and was so happy to spend a leisurely day at Central Park.  We enjoyed walking the paths, seeing the cherry blossoms, visiting Strawberry Fields, and watching the boys make massive bubbles with a Bubbleologist in the park.  It just felt like the right time to visit and to get away from the bustle of the city.  When will we come back for a visit???

Empire State Building

To think that we were going to pass up on this iconic building is crazy to me... but there we were debating if we should wait in line to nature up to The Empire State Building.  Thank goodness we decided to take the plunge!  We went to the 86th floor and enjoyed the sites of the city!  It is a beautiful Art Deco skyscraper with a height of 1,250 feet and stands  total of 1,454 feet tall with the antenna.  The boys seemed like they enjoyed this experience more than the Space Needle in Seattle, although that is only half the height of The Empire State Building.  What iconic structure will we visit next???

Hamilton

Tonight we went to Broadway and watched Hamilton!  It was very exciting to be in the theater where it all started.  Jawsh and I had the opportunity to see it in LA but there was something magical about watching it in this city.  The boys were mesmerized and so thrilled.  They even got to meet the actor who played Hamilton after the theater.  Can anything beat this awesome experience???

Brooklyn

Today we ventured to Brooklyn where we met up with Cam.  We took the metro into Brooklyn and walked back to NYC over the bridge.  The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.  It is one of the oldest roadways and was the world's first steel wire suspension bridge.  It was so beautiful and the weather was just right.  Will we be able to walk across it again this trip???

The Vessel

After lunch in Chelsea, we decided to walk to The Vessel.  It just opened in March so we had to wait for an hour to explore and take in this enormous structure. It is 16 stories and has 154 flights and 2,500 steps.  Since we had been walking the day before and walked through the city earlier, we decided not to venture all the way to the top.  Plus, the strong gales deterred us as well.  It was pretty col to be inside The Vessel.  I wonder if we will ever see a structure like this in LA???

Highline

After our time at the Whitney Museum, we walked up to the Highline to Chelsea Market for lunch.  The Highline is a 1.45 mile long elevated linear park, greenway, and rail trail created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan.  There were many interesting art pieces.  There was a chilly wind that met us on our walk, so we definitely walked briskly to Chelsea Market.  I wonder what the rest of the day holds???

Ellis Island

This is a big year for Noah as he starts his Bar Mitzvah studies and we wanted him to appreciate his family history so we thought that we should take him to where it started in America...  Ellis Island.  Jawsh's relatives came to the United States at the turn of the century.  With the help of docents, we were able to read historical documents and learn how relatives came in steerage, which were on the decks and were the lowest fare to cross the Atlantic.  It was amazing to witness the history and to try and comprehend what immigrants went through to make it to this country.  Our hope is that Noah and Micah understand the perseverance and grit that it took for their ancestors to come to this country.  I wonder can anyone really understand their struggle???

Statue of Liberty

Our first full day in New York started early in the morning.  We made our way to Battery Park and took the ferry, Miss Liberty, to Liberty Island.  It was so foggy that I was worried that we were not going to see the Statue of Liberty, but the fog wore off and we enjoyed our time.  We had tickets to go up to the crown so we walked up the 354 steps and a great view of the tablet and the torch!  It was definitely an amazing experience and it makes me excited for the rest of the week.  What else will we do???

NYC

Our first night in the Big Apple.  We ate dinner at Shake Shack and then walked around.  Grand Central Terminal is very close to our hotel so we bought our metro tickets for the week and read about the history of the building.  Afterwards, Micah wanted to eat a pretzel so we grabbed one on our way out.  It is so exciting to be in New York... I wonder what our week will be like???

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my brother, Billy!  He's a great dad, fun uncle, and we're so blessed that the cousins are growing up with one another.  Another birthday in the books!  I wonder what he wished for???

Western State Champions

They came, they saw, and they conquered!  The Blue Jets won Western States!  I can't believe it.  I remember when the Coaches said they would get here and it was a fleeting thought that actually came into fruition!  As team mom, I am super proud of all these boys!  Will they want to return and repeat next year???

Awkward

Noah's word: awkward.  This is an awkward picture most definitely.  As he matures, he is going through the stage where his parents are embarrassing (why, because I kiss his cheek in public?).  He's almost taller than me, he is independent, proud of his 4.0 GPA, juggling after school activities, new friendships, and we are so very proud of him.  What will it be like when he turns 13???

Soccer

The Blue Jets continue on their winning streak...  I can't believe how long this season is going!  They won Regional and now they are headed to State Finals.  Will they come out victorious???

Melting Man

Here is it...  Melting Man enjoying a cup of coffee.  Love. Love. Love.  Don't you love it???

Bavel

Happy 42nd birthday to my wonderful husband.  We drove through tough rush hour traffic to reach Bavel.  We were happy with our meal and the time we got to spend together.  The boys were adventurous and tried new foods, which we loved to see.  I wonder what Jawsh wished for???

Family garden

It's actually working!  Who knew that sowing seeds in soil, with water and sun would actually work!  It's amazing to see the fruits of our labor.  I can't wait to eat all the goodies from our garden.  Will the boys like beets???

Last day

This is the last day of the strike.  I am so happy to return to the class tomorrow.  10 days out of the classroom is a big deal and I know that everyone is happy to go back to school.  Well, maybe... Micah would rather be out striking still.  Who is this kid???

Day 6

The best picture ever.  Wouldn't you agree???

MLK

How poignant... we have been on strike for the past few days to take a collective break in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Now more than ever, I feel that we have to stand together to make a change.  I hope that Jawsh and I can impart this civic duty and social consciousness to Noah and Micah.  What will they do to change the world???

Day 1- Strike

 The last teacher strike in Los Angeles was in 1989.  Twenty years later, 34,000 educators went on strike.  As a veteran teacher, this was not something that I necessarily wanted but something I had to do.  This was a post I wrote the eve before the strike:

Tomorrow I will go on strike. I will be picketing in the rain with my husband and sons, 20 colleagues from my school site, and 30,000 more teachers from the district. This is not what I hoped would happen, but what has to happen. 

- I am striking to make a difference in the lives of all students. 
- I am striking for students who do not have the educational environment and support systems they need. 
- I am striking for the thousands of students who are sitting in overcrowded classrooms who don’t have desks and sit on the floor or lean on a wall. 
- I am striking for the 80% of the district’s students who live at or near the poverty line and have a right to librarians, nurses, counselors, and psychologists more than one day a week. 
- I am striking in the hopes that we do not break the district into “32 networks” so the haves keep having and the have-nots are left with nothing. I do not want Los Angeles to be the next New Orleans where there are no more neighborhood schools. 

I am not striking against schools but FOR schools. It’s not a cliche, teachers teach because they want to make a difference. And tomorrow, teachers will strike to make a difference.

The box

Jawsh was commissioned by the City of Los Angeles to paint this electric box located in Westchester.  I can't wait to see what he will do.  Any guesses???

Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!!!  What are your New Years' resolutions?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year's Eve!  Our last day of 2018 was spent at Playa del Rey Beach.  Jawsh and I enjoyed a coffee from Playa Provisions and the boys enjoyed a sweet treat.  It was a very relaxing day and we enjoyed the time together.  What will the new year bring???

Santa Monica Pier

One of our gifts to the kids is the gift of time.  We spent the whole day in Santa Monica with the kids riding rides at pier and eating grass-fed burgers at Hiho.  It was a great day and the boys love spending time with their cousins.  At the end of the night, we played Catan as a family.  These are the memories that will last a life time, don't you think???

Adventure awaits!

Kaitlyn spent the tonight and we decided to have an adventure... we took the Playa Vista shuttle to the Fisherman's Wharf in Marina del Rey.  Unfortunately everything was closed and we didn't spend much time there so we walked a few blocks to eat at CPK.  Will we take the shuttle to Venice next time???

Candy Party

Now that Micah is expander free, we celebrated with a candy party and watched Wreck It Ralph.  All of the kids had a great time, eating all the candy they wanted and then playing Chubby Bunny with marshmallows right after.  When will Micah head into Phase 2 treatment???

Community Garden

We spent the morning in the community garden tending to our raised bed.  We dug out at least 200 grubs (yuck) and then tilled the soil so we could plant herbs and root vegetables.  It was a lot of hard work, but satisfying.  The boys had a great time.  When will we reap the fruit of our labor???

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Min Family!  The kids had a wonderful time celebrating Atticus' first Christmas.  There was an abundance of food and presents... what more could anyone else ask for???

Life Cycle

We had a new adventure today!  We went to a museum for the first time called the Marciano Art Foundation.  They are exhibiting Ai Weiwei's project Life Cycle, which is a cultural response to the global refugee crisis.  It was amazing to see the work that he made and the intricate details of his work.  Were the boys as inspired as I was???

LACMA

After Micah's ortho appointment, we went to LACMA for a few hours.  I definitely see a difference when the boys are with their friends versus when they are just with family.  The kids went into the Boone Gallery and did some Korean Brush Painting and Noah made a marvelous tiger and Micah made a wonderful bird.  They have so much talent... will they want to get int o the arts???

Blue Jets

Micah's team, the Blue Jets, came in first place in their region.  Hard work, pays off!  How will they do in the state play-offs???

Candy Cane Lane

Tonight we took a stroll down Candy Cane Lane with the K family.  It's so nice to walk and see all the houses decorated with lights and animatronics.  The boys are of the age, where they walked swiftly and then would stop and stare at their phones.  This was disappointing but I get it.  They are feeling like they are too old.  At least they humored me and got into the sleigh, right???

Winter Concert

Today is Micah's last Winter Concert... his class sang two songs: Christmas in Hollis and This is Me.  The kids did a nice job performing and I can't believe this is his last performance because they do not sing in middle school.  Will Micah want to be in the performing arts next year???

Water Cycle game

Micah's school project to create a Water Cycle game had to be tested before he submitted this into his class and the boys had a great time playing.  He was pretty thoughtful about the game design.  Will Micah become a game developer when he gets older???

Cool Shul

This evening we attended a Hanukkah Party hosted by the Cool Shul.  We were very excited to meet Rabbi Diane and the boys felt very welcomed.  So welcomed that the boys will be taking a class in the Spring.  This is a great time to be doing this as Noah is discovering more about his heritage.  What will his classes be like???

Happy Hanukkah

Spending the 4th night of Hanukkah with the V family was fun!  They all lit the candles and had a rousing game of Dreidel.  What will the next night of Hanukkah bring???

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah!  A friendly game of Dreidel is always fun to play.  Who will win???