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Katherine

Open Window School 2012 Art Celebration

Open Window School has a end of the year celebrations where the parents can see all of the work produced during the year. This year we also said goodbye to our principal Wilder Dominick who retires this year. Allison and Katherine produced some amazing projects this year. Allison as a 1st grader studied Penguins and the Ocean as key themes. She also picked Massachusetts as per favorite state and corresponded with her Aunt Sharon who lives outside of Boston.

Katherine studied Native Americans this year. She made an amazing diorama out of clay. She has also become a proficient creative writer. Christine and I are so happy with how Katherine’s first year at OWS went. We couldn’t have asked for a better set of teachers Mrs. Iverson and Mr. Shuel.

Museum of Glass and 520 Construction

This weekend we had our first puppy school with Rosebud. She performed like a champ but Christine and Katherine got “homework” to work with Rosie. Over the weekend, 520 was closed for construction work. The “old” bridge to Yarrow Point got demolished in preparation for extending the “new” bridge into a making a “lid”. We’re hoping the construction starts soon on the new sound wall to reduce the night time noise from the freeway.

On Sunday we trekked out to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. The kids were tired so it was a “rough” visit. We decided to attend the hour-long glass making workshop where the kids got to make a forged glass coaster. Christine and I didn’t anticipate how hard this project would be to figure out what to build, coach the girls through the design process, and complete with quality without an hour time limit. Needless to say both Katherine and Allison had their own challenges. Allison’s final coaster implementation didn’t match her “vision” and got very upset.

American Girl Playdate and Katherine’s Second to Last Basketball Game of 2012

Rosebud is growing up. Every morning we comment that she has grown over night. She has also perfected the “please play with me as I’m so cute technique”. One of the key projects for this week was a Pueblo Indian diorama. The first attempt used Wheaties and honey. Unfortunately, by morning the houses had collapsed. Though disappointed Katherine decided that using clay and wooden sticks would make it stronger.

Katherine played in her second to last basketball game of the season at OWS versus the Jewish Day School. Katherine is tall and plays good defensive; however, the OWS team isn’t quite yet competitive with the other girls teams in the league. Christine and I have been coaching her to stand between the opposing player and the basketball hoop and to keep her hands up. She’s learning and having a good time. It’s also great exercise as the girls have to run up and down the court.

We’re hoping that basketball becomes Katherine’s “team” sport, similar to how Allison has chosen soccer as hers.

Finally, Tori and Katherine had a playdate at the American Girl store. They sampled snacks and shopped for new American Girl gear.

Saturday Memorial Day 2012 Fun

Memorial Day weekend 2012 at the BushChang household. Friday night started out with a family reading session. Katherine likes to read in bed and Rosebud likes to play/cuddle/chew on the bed. The big news is the girls convinced Mom and Dad to buy them Apple iPod Touches. The assertion was that if we bought them the device they would want to buy music and apps. They would “earn” the new music and applications by doing things like going to Violin, Piano, and/or Math lessons. Dad had to “set up” the iPods so this made for a late Friday night. Saturday we spent doing chores and recovering from a long week. The girls spent their “free” time playing with their new iPods. Mom and Dad set some ground rules. If they don’t respond immediately or put the device away when asked then the iPod will go away for a whole day. So far, so good.

Katherine spent most of Saturday working on her Pueblo Indian diorama. The first attempt that used Wheaties and honey didn’t turn out so well. The second attempt used modeling clay and wooden sticks to make things structurally sound. Katherine planned out the diorama based on book research. The diorama included a field, reservoir, one and two-story houses, and Pueblo Indians doing various things.

Saturday evening, the girls decided to make homemade pasta. Though a fun exercise, it’s a lot of work and a big mess. However, the results were quite tasty.

Amy’s 40th Birthday Party

Amy turned 40 this year. The extended family got together to celebrate Amy’s 40th at Grandma Dottie’s house. Kevin, Tyler, Katherine, and Allison all performed charades. Rosebud joined the fun, too.

Amy suggested that we leave yellow sticky notes around the house with a note for my parents. The kids had fun finding interesting places to hide the notes. Steve placed his on the ceiling. You get the idea.

For brunch, the adults had curry chicken salad, a family favorite, and the kids had pizza. We concluded with a 40th birthday game, actually 40th times two. It was good to catch up with the Bushes and Olbrights and talk about growing older together.

Katherine’s First Basketball Game

What can I say nine year old girls playing basketball is a new experience for me. Lots of screaming and parents saying ohhh. Katherine is having a great time but I need to spend some time with her on the basics. In the first half she got a rebound and shot attempt. With 3 minutes to go in in the half the score is 22 to 0, OWS losing.

In the last 1 minute in the half Katherine scored the first OWS basket. She posted up and was wide open. The crowd roars! Mom and dad are so proud. Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Bill exclaim to dad: that’s our granddaughter.

With 10 minutes to go the score is 36-8 Hebrew Academy ahead. Katherine has the responsibility of passing the inbound pass. I need to remind Katherine to keep her hands up and to follow the ball.

Overall, it was a good game though the OWS team lost. Katherine really enjoyed being part of a team and the ups and downs of competition.