Long time no see..

It's been a while since I posted something new. Kids are growing a lot, many things have happened. We have been very happy, and very busy too. But overall, together.
Bruno and Fabrizio never cease to amaze me with new words, phrases, thoughts and actions. They are very clever, but they need to make mistakes to become better.
Good and bad will always be present for them, and it is never early to plant the the right and wrong voice in their heads, hopefully helping them to take good decisions.

Here some pictures from our last visit to the Museum of Natural History with the super doopers to see plants and animals, as they love them.






















And here the last movie I produced for Bruno's English Speech:

ICT skills in the family

I've always been curious about technology and children. I know from my work that they can get to be very savvy (boys), or very uninterested for it (usually girls).
Bruno and Fabrizio are a clear example of boys' interest in technology and thier initial steps in the ICT world are supported by their curiosity, easeness to use basic functions in a computer and endless imagination.
I've been using a movie-making website, Xtranormal, because it was entertaining, easy to do and potentially useful for academic purposes, especially in the area of digital expression.
Anyway, this morning I woke up after Fabrizio jumped to my bed between me and Jenny and started his day at 7:30 am. So I figured, might as well entertained him at the very beginning of the day with something different.
Fabrizio and Bruno had been practicing doing movies with a digital camera for a few weeks already, but never digitally. And, even though my assistance in the process was required, most of the script is theirs.
Here are some of the examples, enjoy!

Movie 1: Fabrizio and Dadda.


Movie 2: Bruno and Fabrizio.


Movie 3: Bruno and Dadda.

Monkey in the Middle - Park visit

The video from this postcorrespond to one of our park visits last april. We went there to have fun with my kids and stepbrothers.
Measuring forces, enforcinf physical activity and allowing them to relax playing in the sandbox is a routine.
Nothing like holding them upside down, while I still can. They grow too fast, at their current age, 7 and 5, I have trouble carrying them in my arms.
They told me time flies, and the minute you realize they're moving out of the house with a driver's license and a college life to begin.
Anyway, that is still a few years away. in the meantime, I'll be the monkey in the middle.

Earthday

We spent Earthday in the park. After i came back from my classes in the URP and had a late lunch, we went directly to the grass and sand to have fun. Bruno loves playing in the sand to make holes, dig dinosaurs and move ships in sandstorms. This time we found a cute little girl, Sasha, she got into Bruno and Fabrizio right away and didn't leave their side until it was time to come back. In the meantime we played in the sand box, soccer and we had our second session of American Football. Kinda hard to play with only 4 players, but the defense and the attack lines were covered by two tough players wretsling their positions.
Here is the photographic evidence:

Birthdays - Bruno and Fabrizio

Last year, Fabrizio had two birthdays celebrations, one at school and one at home. Something similar had happened the previous year, and you asked him at that time, how old are you now?, he used to answer 4 during the first birthday party, but for the second party a few days later, he answered 40. It was difficult for him to give up to the fact that he didn't have two consecutive birthdays in a matter of days. Off course he spent his 4th to 5th birthday saying that he was 40, with a very strong conviction, I prefer to think it that way to concede to his stubborness.
His 5th birthday, with two celebrations was the opportunity to remove the 40, and we were careful to explain that he was turning 5, and only 5. He understood.
The cake selection is a long, everchanging and tedious process. Given the fact that dinosaurs, spider-man, ben 10, and incredible hulk are popular names in thier minds, they finally made their decision and chose the cakes. Here are the birthday pictures for both of them:

Summer isn't over!

It's true, even though summer isn´t over, we all have to go back to school. I go back to teach and my kids go back to learn, study and socialize.
This has been an interesting summer. It started sort of early, but I'm not sure if getting that old that I feel that time flies or what?
Bruno (7) spent lots of time playing with his animals, dinosaurs, insects (all plastic), etc. While he enjoys watching movies in english and spanish. I wonder what he likes most.
This has been the summer where he has open his language to everyone. He's not as shy, except around gurls...a little. But he has enjoyed experimenting with Robotics. He really liked to play with the LEGO Robotics kits at school. He also learned to swim and loved it from the beginning.
Fabrizio has been stretching his links with computers, internet, and video games. It started very innocently sharing some games with other kids and all of a sudden he was captured by the magic of Mario Bros. He spends lots of time fooling around the computer. I allow him to do that because he's learning quite a lot just by interacting with it searching for online games, downloading games, and images for the desktop. Even though he's been assisted by his nanny, he's showing clear signs of digital nativeness.
My time has been like an eye blink. Only a few hours until I meet all my students again. I'm happy and challenged, it's a new academic year full of novelties and changes.
Love,
GL.