Spring break writing

On this last day of spring break, the girls each spent some time coming up with new writings.

First, a poem by Amalia:

Seeds
I see you are
a seed. Tell me
What do you need.
I need some water to grow
and some sun
to glow and some
air for my
leaves to get and
some dirt for my
roots to spread.
Now I am a plant!

Next, a micro-story by Lily:

California's Water Town
Once, there was a rather large town in California. But it was not just any town, it was a water town. A water town is a town that, instead of streets, has rivers and lakes and streams and all different kinds of bodies of water. It was a very happy little town. Until one year, it was said that there was a drought. The worst drought in 100 years, in fact! So one by one, very slowly, all of the different kinds of bodies of water disappeared, and the people of the town were devastated. From that year on, that town had normal streets like everyone else. And the drought just kept on getting worse and worse, year after year. And that's where we are today.

Strings and things

Lily had a violin recital a couple of weeks ago. While Andy tries to figure out how he can get the video of Lily's performance off of his work phone, here are a few pictures taken by the event photographers.

 She played "The Gypsy Dance"

 In a duet with her instructor, Sally Dalke, who plays in several area orchestras. 

 Rocking leopard print and Chucks.

She did a fantastic job--nerves of steel. 

SOM

 Amalia was one of the "Students of the Month" for March. 

 She was recognized for her "creativity, positive attitude and motivation to always do her best." 

All of the March SOMs.

 The Bagby Barracuda school song--to the tune of Yankee Doodle. 

 After-ceremony pics.

The door of her classroom decorated with pictures for her teacher (they're celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week early since Mrs. Bacon will soon be going out on maternity leave). Amalia's drawing is the one on the lower left (of the door)--the one with the swaddled baby.

Beginning band geek

 Lily all dressed and ready for her first school band concert. Amalia being her ever-supportive self.

 Under the playground solar panels while we wait for the concert to start. 

 Monkey. 

 About to begin. 

 The flautist. 

"Go Tell Bill" (a beginning band version of the William Tell Overture). 

"Bugler's Dream" (version of the Olympic anthem). 

 Our fantastic band director, Mr. Golden. 

 Post concert. Maybe she can relax and unbutton that top button now...

After sitting still for all of 20 minutes, Amalia and her friend Stavroula had to get some energy out in the yard.

Painting party

 A couple of Amalia's friends had an art-themed birthday party yesterday. 

 They did pastel and water color paintings and then made clay salamander sculptures. 

Big sister Lily crashed the party. 

Mug shots

 The girls both got haircuts today. Lily wanted hers above her shoulders. 

 She got her wish. She keeps playing with it today, saying, "It feels so short!"

 Amalia insisted on only a trim. 

Her hair is getting long and she'd like to keep it that way. 

Science fair night 2015

For this year's science project, Amalia built on her findings from last year (where she learned that plants prefer Diet Coke to water and other liquids) to explore what type of "soil" plants like best. She still "watered" them with Diet Coke.

 As expected, the seeds in the potting soil outperformed those in dirt, leaves, and gravel. (The seeds in the gravel never did sprout.)

 And for this discovery, Amalia won first place (1st grade).

Lily also experimented with soil this year, but her project sought to find out which type of "soil" earthworms like the best.

 She repeated the test four times (those poor earthworms!). The results were a bit mixed, but in the end the leaves won out (though the worms also liked the potting soil and dirt--but never the gravel).

 Lily won third place (4th grade).

 Continuing our science fair tradition, we then headed out for a celebratory frozen yogurt treat.

Though I should point out that Amalia's cup does not have any actual yogurt in it. She skipped straight to the toppings bar.

Happy scientists.