Brendan’s 9th Birthday

IMG_3943Our kids are a lot like me when it comes to birthday. They like to celebrate. No surprise that Brendan, the star of the show, likes to go big. We’ve had an epic Into the Woods party and Anna and Elsa at our house to name a few. This year we decided to go a different route but that didn’t stop this from being an over the top , I can’t believe that just happened birthday.

We decided instead of a big party we would find a couple of days to go to New York- at some point this summer/fall for kids’ first Big Apple trip. So the party would simply be a family one. It’s never simple.

IMG_5902The week before his birthday was the performance of Legally Blonde which he had asked his high school friend Billy to be a part of. That meant a group of BCT kids would be coming to the show. It also happened to be the same day at the Boston Pride parade. Bren found out the night before he couIMG_3283ldn’t go because of a rehearsal. So the group brought him trinkets from the parade to the show. What he didn’t know what that once I knew of their plans to come I invited them back to the house for cake. I’m not sure who was more excited about jumping out and yelling surprise.

IMG_3948The night of his family party was so much fun. Chris made him a Wicked cake and he had the best day (which also happened to be Father’s Day). Then my friend Meg came by with a little gift- a T shirt from the Tony Awards she picked up for him when she went to the dress rehearsal!

IMG_3370
Bren also had a small cake with the fellow Show Boat kids cast members and cupcakes with his and Aidan’s classes at school (and celebrated the birthday of a good friend who shares the date!). The whole cast of Show Boat also sang to him!

hamiltonBut here’s the part that simply amazed us. A Show Boat cast member knew a couple of Hamilton cast members who send a video message wishing him a happy birthday from the stage!! What an awesome and never to be forgotten experience!

He got lots of messages of love on his birthday. We can’t wait to see what is in store for 9 years old.

Field Trip

I’ve been so lucky to stay home this year and go on lots of great field trips with the kids. Even more special- the last field trip of the year involved both their classes going to the IMAX theater at the Aquarium. It’s so awesome that they can take public transportation to most people and the city is their classroom. And once again I got to see first hand how very different they are!

IMG_3368

Aidan’s Project

Aidan’s teacher took a medical leave and did not return after April vacation. He had a great teacher until June 1st but she needed to return to her responsibilities within the school. So Brendan’s teacher who had been covering the maternity leave for for his original teacher (following this?) stepped into Aidan’s class.

All this is to sayIMG_3938 that coming into a new class in June is not easy. So Ms. B. assigned a project to learn more about the students. It was a project about their family heritage. And it involved not only learning more about a particular part of your heritage but also food! Aidan has been helping out by making meatballs the last few times I have made a sauce, so it was a great opportunity for him to show off his skills.

He took the opportunity to learn more about the Italian side of the family by making a video and interview both me and my aunt. Here is his project;