Justin's Class Studies the Letter 'T'

Kevin and Justin were back to school after their Thanksgiving breaks. This last week of November went by quickly with their regular routine of classes, homework, and playdates. Both of them enjoyed their time off from school, but were excited to return and see their friends again.

Justin shows off the Turtle he made out of construction paper and a bowl.

Justin’s class continued the study of the letter ‘T.’ On Friday, they had a Tea party. It was so cute seeing the kids dressed up. Various mothers had signed up to send in crackers and wafers, and Justin’s teacher brought dainty, little exquisite teacups and saucers that were given to her by her grandmother. The kids made place settings for their teacups and saucers.


Justin’s class poses for a group picture on Tea Party Day

Before and After (Another Picture From Trip)

Dad & Mom with Darrell and I in front of our old house in New Jersey ('72) 35 years later - same people, place, and pose

Thanksgiving Trip With Family

For Thanksgiving, we went to New York and New Jersey. We planned a trip for my parents to celebrate their 40th anniversary. My parents, Beryl, Kenton, I, the boys, and Darrell, his wife and son, piled into two cars for the trip. Kevin was so excited about the trip that he packed his things a day early.

We went to different places where Dad and Mom spent time 35-40 years ago – hospitals where they worked at and where we were born, places they lived, buildings and areas they frequented, etc. Dad and Mom truly enjoyed the sentimental journey – remembering and telling us stories of what they did and where, having their children and grandchildren see, hear, and experience their past, and seeing how places had changed.

Boys in front of Christmas trees Boys enjoy some time at the ocean Kevin walks along the beach Brian feeds some pigeons Justin and Brian feed the pigeons Not so clear picture of us at Battery Park The boys and their cousin with Statue of Liberty in background Thanksgiving dinner at Legal Seafoods Group picture at Grandpa Arriola’s grave Back home, Kenton and the boys show off their ‘I Love New York’ tee-shirts

National Postal Museum

We went to the National Postal Museum this afternoon. We first went through security check, then downstairs to see the exhibits. The center exhibit, called ‘Moving The Mail’ showed life-size vehicles used to deliver mail in the past – a stagecoach, a train, a truck, an airplane, and delivery vehicles. There was a gallery of rare stamps from every country in the world, and a section on federal security with mail. The kids liked the truck and train the most – they got to move around and explore in both. They also enjoyed playing games on the computers and using a postcard machine that personalized cards.

The boys pose outside the National Postal Museum building At the upper level of the National Postal Museum The boys pretend to drive a truck The boys inside a mail train car Sitting in a stagecoach Mailboxes from around the world Statue of Ben Franklin (first Postmaster General in 1775)

Justin's Class Celebrates Thanksgiving

Justin’s class had a Thanksgiving mini-feast today. They made Indian headdresses for their craft, so I asked Justin’s teacher if they could pose for a group picture. The kids had their coats on (class was over and it was time to go home), but were happy to show off the headdresses they made. Justin is on the front row, far right.

One, Little Two, Little Three, Little Indians

Kevin’s school had a mini-program in the morning. Each class performed a Thanksgiving poem, song, or skit. Kevin’s class did a poem about Indians. They were dressed so well - brown tops, a headband, a long necklace made of pasta, and each carried a drum that they had made. Kevin and buddies pose before the program Here is Kevin's class performing their Indian poem After school, the boys had a playdate with their friends – Adam, Alyssa, and Nathan. The kids played for several hours, then we all enjoyed a Filipino dinner together - good food and good company!

Justin's Pen From Fundraising

Justin got a prize today for participating in his school’s fundraising. It was a long pen with an even longer stretchy rope and sticky star connected to the top. He had so much fun swinging that star around and having it stick to every surface he swung it onto. (Unfortunately, the stretchy part broke off within an hour.)

There are rocking horses outside of Justin’s classroom, and Brian insisted on riding one of them today. He had so much fun rocking back and forth.







Auntie ‘Berber’ came to see the boys in the evening. Brian sleeps in the bottom bunk bed, and he insisted that she join him. Of course, Kevin and Justin thought it would be fun to squeeze in also.

Playdate with Ben and Veronica

Justin and Brian were playing with a set of Little Einstein flash cards this morning. They were saying the names of the pictures over and over, and for some reason kept laughing with each card. It was too cute, so I had to take a picture. For speech class, Miss Sarah and Justin sat on some cushions on the floor. They worked hard on the ‘k’ sound today. Justin did very well, and before he knew it, class was over and it was time to go home. Kevin had a playdate with one of his classmates, Ben, and his sister, Veronica. The kids first did their homework outside. We have our old leather couch sitting in our carport (haven’t disposed of it yet), so they all sat in a row reading and doing their work. Then they played school and rescue heroes downstairs, ate pizza for dinner, and played Wii sports until their Mom came to pick them up.

Auntie 'Berber' Picks Kids Up From School

Kevin and Justin both had school today even though it was Veteran’s Day. Beryl was off, so she offered to pick up the boys from school. The boys love their Auntie ‘Berber,’ and were happy to see her.

Justin makes a self portrait at school.











The kids have begun to set the table for dinner themselves. They even argue at times as to who gets to place what utensils. It was their idea to make and place purple name cards to match the plates.

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

The highlight of our day was going to the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries. In the Imaginasia classroom (Sackler Gallery), we learned about Arabic writing in a workshop called ‘Peace Be Unto You.’ The classroom was decorated in Arabic calligraphy animal pictures. The décor, the incense, and the music playing in the background gave us a sense of being in the Middle East. We were each given an activity book and sent to the Freer gallery to find examples of Islamic calligraphy (the Sackler and Freer galleries are connected underground). Kevin and Justin found all the examples, answered the questions, then returned to the Imaginasia classroom. We were each given a plate, along with markers, stencils, protractors and rulers, and a sheet with examples of many modern styles of Arabic writing. The workshop spokesperson encouraged us to design a plate incorporating what we saw and learned. Two renowned Egyptian calligraphers were present and helped us write our names on the backs of our plates in Arabic. The boys really enjoyed designing their plates. What an informative and interesting workshop!

Justin and Kevin in front of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Brian looks at hangings of beautiful writings of Arabic in animal shapes Justin shows off the plate he designed in ‘Peace Be Unto You’ workshop Kevin shows off the plate he designed and made Kenton and boys with Capitol Building in background Kenton and boys with Washington Monument in background In front of the Smithsonian Institution Building, a.k.a. Smithsonian Castle Boys pose at fountain in Mary Livingston Ripley Garden

Brian's First Playdate - National Building Museum

Brian had his first playdate today. It was just him (no older brothers or their friends) and his friend, Jake. We went to the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. There is an area in the Building Learning Gallery called the Building Zone, which was designed to introduce children to the building arts. The boys played with trucks, magnetics, builder tools and clothes, puppets, and several varieties of building blocks. After playing for two hours, it was time to go home. The boys had a fun time in the Building Zone, and Brian enjoyed having his very own playdate. Both boys fell asleep on the drive home. (I forgot my camera, so I took the following pictures with my cellphone).

Brian and Jake in lobby of National Building Museum Brian and Jake climbing on blocks inside Building Zone Brian and Jake playing with measuring tape