The One where Kiff Turns 17

 

 

 

Today was Kiff's 17th birthday. And, we celebrated in rather unusual fashion. 

First, we all ended up being home, including Bri, who had been home from college. As a result, we were able to do our scavenger hunt all together with Kiff.

Then, we ended up taking Bri back to college. It was a little bit of a long trip - and probably not the way to spend a birthday. But, we were together. And, she gave us a nice tour of UMass. Emmie got Kiff a birthday gift there. And, Bri got his some birthday macaroons.

After that,  we made our way home. We opened some gifts, including one that will commemorate the movie Stand By Me....which is pretty cool.  We went to Century House for take out for his birthday. Kiff loves their food. Then, Kiff was able to put the ultimate wrap on a TV show he has followed since earlier this year. He watched the final episode of FRIENDS (which is ironic because the titles of this blog are modeled after Friends).

 After Friends, we watched Frankenstein, which Kiff has been waiting to watch.

 Then, we called it a night. Quite a 17th birthday adventure. 

The One With the Museum of Fine Arts

 

 

 

Today was a fun day. It was Kiff's last day of NYFA camp, where students share the videos that they made. At the same time, it was a chance for Emmie, Bri, and I to spend the day in Boston doing something. So, we decided to try something new - we went to the Museum of Fine Arts...which we have never done together.

What was neat about that is we were able to arrive in mid-morning when it was not too crowded. Right away, we were able to see something new -  Orange Coca-Cola was sponsoring a drink truck outside the museum. So, of course we had to try some. It was phenomenal.

Inside the building, we were able to take in several sights. Some highlights were:

• Seeing the Egyptian room, where they had mummies. I always liked this room.

• Tracking down the cathedral that I went to when I took 8th graders on a tour there back in 2018 on Holy Thursday. It was amazing!

• Getting a chance to visit the Scottish manor room, which is thrilling

• Seeing some of the Americana paintings as well. They are really endearing.

Following the museum, we were able to book it over to the NYFA film fest. It was great. Kiff's movie was particularly clever - it was about a person who has writer's block and then makes a story about a terrorizing water bottle. It was awesome.

What a fun start to the summer!!! 

The One With the Rain Out

 

 

Tonight was the second marching band performance of the year. It started off great, with the annual potluck dinner. That is always a fun time. However, the band performance was cut a lot short. Periods of rain in the area made the half time show literally cut in half.

Emmie and I help run things out on the field....but we cut back what we did so know parents had to be on the field. Instead, we were able to watch a pseudo-show...which was awesome! We got to hear Bri get called out, which was cool.

The One With Kiff's Track Meet

 

 

Although it was May 20, amid a dark sky with some light rain, Kiff had his last middle school track meet today. This was the first year Kiff did track in middle school and certainly won't be his last.

 The middle school track year is only a few meets long - 5 in fact. While Kiff missed two when he was sick, he did take part in three, developing a hankering for three different events:

 

• 100 m dash

• long jump

• relay

 

Today, he wrapped up a solid first season by finishing in the middle of the pack in the 100 m dash and by jumping a record (for him) 12 feet in the long jump.

 

Congrats on a great first year, Kiff.

The One With The First Annual Jazz Night

 

Danvers Public Schools hosted their first ever annual jazz night last night...almost two years after it was originally planned before Covid-19 shut everything down (ironically, two years to the day yesterday).

 

 What a great night!!! There were a whole host of performers last night from the 7th grade jazz band and 8th grade jazz band, to the DHS Sax quintet and DHS jazz band. Also, the Pharos Sax Quartet joined as guests artists.

 

There was an eclectic catalog of music performed last night. Kiff's band started it off - becoming the first band ever to perform at the DPS Jazz Night. There song final drive started the night on a solid tone. It kept on rolling from there. Songs like "In the Mood," "Take Five," "Cantina Band," beloved jazz standards, rocked the night. The Pharos Quartet played a special song just for parents and grandparents to sing along to - "Mah Na Mah Na" - from the Muppets.

 

Perhaps the most amazing sight was when all the jazz bands, including the guests bands, got up on stage to perform Night Train together. It was amazing to see what all of the eight trumpets from the jazz band (including Kiff) sounded like when they all played together. That was quite a way to wrap up the day!!!

 

It was quite a night...and a fun way to celebrate Tony's birthday (he came with us). I know my Dad, Mom 2, and Dad 2 would have loved it. 

 

Though the concert only last 90 minutes, the memories will linger on forever. Kudos to all of the bands.

The One With Kiff's Tenth Birthday

It is hard to believe that the era of single digits finally came to an end in our house. It really does. It seems like only yesterday, our two kiddos were toddlers, ambling around the house. In fact, Kiff was but two when I first began recording events for our family in this blog.



But now - well - ten years have passed. I can remember where I was ten years ago (although not as good as Emmie).

It is hard to believe a decade went by that fast. But it did!


We celebrated in memorable fashion.

1. We had a breakfast of pancakes. I made them of course.

2. We then went on the traditional scavenger hunt.

3. We went to the movies to see Venom (which Kiff wanted to see). It was a pretty unique movie.

4. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory

5. We came back and had cake and presents

6. We got a snack at China Villa

7 We watched Dead Pool (if you can believe that...though we had to fast forward a bit)

All and all a good day.

Happy Tenth Birthday Kiff. We love you.

 

The One With the Art Show

This week was Kiff's art show. It was a hint that his pre-school year is coming to a close, and with that his pre-school career.

So, there was a touch of sadness as we went to the art show. But, it was also a touch of fun as well. Because, once we were there, we saw all of his glorious pictures.

And he did quite a great job.

There was his penguin picture - cute with googly eyes.
There was the vegetable picture - it look like a vegetarian army.
There was the giraffe picture - a homage to Mr. G.
There was his leprechaun - very clever and cheery
There was also his pottery - simply colorful

The collection was a wonderful assortment of his best work...and a collection of a year long memories commemorating his last year in pre-school which is slowly - and sadly - coming to an end.

First Day Skating

On January 1st, we did something we have never done before as a family. We went for our first family skate.

We were originally hoping to do this at a rink last year, but that never quote materialized. So, we decided to give it a try on ice to start the year off right.

We went to the Meadows in Danvers. What a great take! Highly recommended.

What fun!

Bri seemed to get the knack of it pretty quickly...though she did stumble on the ice a ton. But, luckily, she has gone to the Roller Palace several times and has learned how to roller skate. So she was able to do the Frankenstein walk (that all new skaters have) across the ice pretty well.

Kiff had a little tougher time at first. The ice and the feel of the skates was a bit new. But, after a little while, and some practice, he was able to get the hang of it, too. He still needed someone to hold onto him - he didn't have the Frankenstein walk down, but he was well on his way.

A couple of things that stood out. First,  the new types of skates that they have are amazing. They are adjustable. Second, watching teaching that kids that "clear ice is slippery," proved fun because they wanted to see for themselves...did they learn.