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Father’s day, this year, happened right on our 12th year wedding anniversary. Bummer. I guess we should have thought about it when we chose the day…Jokes aside, we got our romantic date night the night before: we had a nice dinner on a restaurant overlooking the bay, watching the sunset, then took a walk and enjoyed the fireworks from Seaworld. It was nice and peaceful…a nice contrast from a tense afternoon, when Keegan was running amok.

On Sunday, though, it was all about dad. Both Saturday and Sunday, I let Matt sleep in, while I got up with Keegan and watched Star Wars. Keegan did not want any special breakfast, so when he woke up we had a simple breakfast and we got ready.

We decided to go to the San Diego Fair and we wanted to get there early enough not to find any crowds. We made it before opening, so we scored a nice parking spot and a short line. We met one of Keegan’s friend, Kevin, so the kids had fun together going on rides. Kevin was not quite the adventurer, but they still found some rides to go on together.

When he left, Keegan got to go on all the rides Kevin did not want to try. Once again, the all day wristband worked his magic: we were at the fair till mid afternoon. Very tiring, but he had a blast.

When we got home, it was time to celebrate Matt!! My favorite thing was the Star Wars Card we found for our cool dad.

And talking about Star Wars…how about this one, that someone posted on Facebook? Well, if not for Keegan, I would not have gotten it.

We had all our presents ready for him. Happy Father’s day Matt!

We got him a stand-up card that says: “Quiet, dad relaxing zone”. He can put outside his room while napping. Keegan made a really cool tie card at school, pretty cool!

After all the celebrations, the boys were playing together. It is so much fun watching them play. (-: Matt is a great dad and he is really good at entertain him. Keegan and I are lucky to have such a cool dad!

 

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In 1964, the Beatles landed in US and conquered the American public. 50 years later, it is time to celebrate that momentous year. Mission Bay Montessori Academy chose the Beatles as the theme for their end of the year show. I have to say I am glad: I like their songs, and it makes the 90 minutes program more bearable.I would almost dare to say it was enjoyable.

The kids were adorable: each class sang three songs and then they all performed together for the grand finale; some of the older kids played instruments, and even dressed up like the Beatles. It was pretty fun. Fortunately Keegan was in the center of the stage, so I was able to see him even from the back. The low-res images are from the video that we could, “voluntarily” purchase for the bargain price of $35. Of course,we didn’t have to, but we were forbidden from taking your own video or photos during the night show.

While purple is not my favorite color, they did look very cute. With this show, we got two uses out of his black slacks and dress shoes. Not bad…and we inherited them from our neighbors anyway.

Of course Keegan can’t stop goofing around, especially if there is a female audience. It is hard to believe that Luiza is only 1 year older.

Mission Bay Montessori Academy was not the only place that was celebrating the Beatles’s invasion. The annual San Diego Fair was also dedicated to this event. Colors, look, promotional materials and even the logo were a throw back of the era.

They even had an exhibit of never released photos, chronicling the famous appearance at the Ed Sullivan Show, and other famous stops. A separate part of the exhibit was showing the photos from the John Lennon and Yoko One “bed-in”. Keegan loved to look at the photos and memorabilia.

They also had music stations to listen to the songs and some TV excerpts. I am sure my mom, a Beatles fan, would have enjoyed it a lot. Since it was father’s day when we visited, every dad received a Fab Father Pin, a take on the Beatles’ nickname: Fab Four. Matt refused to wear it, if not on his backpack, but I got a picture of it at home.

It was a fun day…or should I say a Fab Day?

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It is hard to believe, but Keegan’s kindergarten year is coming to an end. I can’t say it has been always easy, but he worked hard and finished the year well. As expected, when we met with his teachers, they commended his effort and dedication and good academic results, while obviously commenting on his improvement areas:  maturity, focus and keeping his emotion under control (as well as his loud voice). In one word: self-control.

They held an open house, so parents could see the school and watch their kids work. Keegan displayed his penmanship book, as well as his reading exercises…and his favorite activity: sand sifting.

We also admired their artwork and crafts. Each kid also made a pledge for helping the environment. Keegan promised to pick up trash, two pieces each day to be exact.

I have to say that I feel this year has been a really good one, challenges aside. We can see a lot of improvement, not only in his writing and reading, but also in his personality. I really think it is a good choice for him. We are also very impressed by the extra curricular activities: computers, science, music and art. And speaking of art…remember that painting of an Eggplant and egg I was so impressed about back in January? It was especially impressive if you look at his usual drawings, like the one above. Well, I guess the teacher was impressed too, since she selected that drawing, together with only two other ones from his class to go to the San Diego Fair exhibition. Keegan was so proud!

All the chosen pieces were displayed first in an exhibition at school, identified as Best of The Best. He also received a certificate and a free ticket to the fair.

Finding his work at the Fair was not easy, but we finally found it. It was cool to see it hanging with all the other pieces.

He received a “first place” ribbon, even if it is not really clear first place of what…

Even more confusing if you look at all the other pieces: basically all of them got first place. However, one of his classmates got second place, so he felt very proud. All the other drawings around his were also created at his school, so you can see quite a variety of projects, and quite a good quality.

Overall, it was a very successful year, and we are looking forward to next year, when Keegan is going to enter first grade. Unfortunately, we will not know till the end of the summer in which class he will be, and if he will have any of his friends from this year, but I know he will see them around school anyway. Keegan is sad about leaving some of his friends, but luckily he is quick to make new friends. So, for now, we will not worry, and just enjoy summer school.

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Keegan is very voluble in his interests. He is usually obsessed with some theme or toy for a while, and then he moves on, and don’t play with it anymore. Cars probably have been the longest lasting love, since it has come back to them in waves, but now we have a new winner: anything Star Wars. He has been talking and admiring Star Wars for a year or two now, since he has learned about it in preschool. He even asked us to get the movies, but till a few months ago it was not an obsession. Now it is pretty much all he plays with. He even makes up stories and uses his light saber to make them come to light.

He finally mustered the courage of watching all the 6 movies (multiple times) and he is enjoying his Lego sets…well, he mainly likes the mini figures and the built-up ships I put together for him. But as I have said before it is a win-win, since I really like building Legos. It just gets a little frustrating having to rebuild them for the 100th times, after he “explodes” them.

This is the typical scene I see when I get home from work.

obi wan kenobi standing guard

Fortunately I have found these cute Lego shaped boxes, so most of the chaos is safely stored away, and so far, stepping on Lego incidents have been extremely rare.

We are also lucky to live in San Diego, where the volunteer Star Wars society is very active, and it is easy to see some of its members at various events. He always gets a kick out of it (and so do we). We saw quite a few at the latest Touch A Truck Event. It is a fundraiser event with lots of car and truck you can mount and play on. We also saw a medical rescue helicopter land, and got to climb on board. Pretty cool!

Keegan had a blast last year, also thanks to the Robosaurus, absent this time, but this year he did not seem all that interested…except for the Star Wars characters, of course. Can you guess who they are?

Aniken Skywalker and Padme Amidala

Senator Palpatine, as a Lord Sith

A clone warrior

Darth Maul

Of course, it is still hard for me to keep all the characters and ships and planets straights, but Keegan is more than happy to explain and show me who is who. Books helps too. I guess I do enjoy the movies more now that I know all the back story. As I was growing up I only saw the first movie (the only real one, if you ask me: Episode IV), at the movie theater…imagine that! Not sure who took me, since my parents have no memory of it, but I know I saw it and was not too impressed.

Talking of movies, Keegan is looking forward to the new movie coming out next year…I am not sure. Disney and Star Wars???

Of course there are plenty of other Star Wars things to see, especially at Legoland. During a recent visit with Keegan’s friend Kevin, the kids posed with Lego Darth Vader, before admiring the awesome reconstruction of each episode in Legos.

Millennium Falcon

A visit to Legoland, though, is not complete without trying all the other rides (and some overpriced treat), and Keegan tried the “big kids” driving circuit…he was able to drive on the roads, but blew through traffic lights and signals…well, it is his first time.

So, now we are trying to use his passion to our advantage: we are getting Star Wars books specifically created for early readers…Hopefully he will be interested in the topic enough to want to practice his reading…

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