The Great Escape to the Corcoran

The family headed downtown to celebrate Family Day at the Corcoran Museum of Art today. The theme of the event was The Great Escape and Evie and Ellie proudly took their passports all over the world - Paris, the Wild West, and New York.  After taking our picture by the Eiffel Tower, we headed over to the Wild West to make some dreamcatchers out of yarn and feathers. Evie's dreams shine through her artwork. 

Then the girls created some mosaics using various shapes. I thought Evie's mosaic was a robot pig but was told that I was mistaken. 

Then we headed downstairs to create some masquerade masks. The girls' masks kept getting more elaborate with jewels and stickers as the event progressed. 

Look at Ellie's expression under her funky mask. She particularly liked her snail nose and apple sticker with feathers added a certain panache. 

Evie's mask was sparkling! 

Finally, we checked out the "Tinker Toys" activity where Daddy helped Evie construct a statue using marshmallows, straws and toothpicks. Ellie was a fan of smushing the marshmallows into one big lump. She's really putting her back into it! 

Evie poses in front of her masterpiece - it was a little tipsy, but still kept standing through the transport. What a fun day! 

Celebrating a big birthday for Opa!

It was a big day for everyone as we gathered to celebrate Opa's 70th Birthday. The girls created a wonderful banner earlier this week using our spin art machine that was a masterpiece! 

The family got all gussied up in our finest for a night out on the town. 

We were off to Marcel's for a delicious four-course menu.  It was all quite tasty as everyone dug into scallops, foie gras, lobster ravioli, filets - the best French food one could have, although Opa reminisced fondly about his beloved liver (liver to eat, that is, not the affect of his favorite libations on his actual liver). 

Ba was a little happy after downing a Manhattan!  

We were so lucky to have so many people to celebrate with us!  Karl and Amy had traveled all the way from Florida, Bebe and Popi from New Jersey, and Aunty Karin had come up from Yorktown!  It was a lovely dinner!

At home and reunited with the kiddos, we brought out the cake.  Popi surprised us by printing out the German lyrics to Happy Birthday and as you can see Opa really got into singing to himself in his native tongue!  There was also a goofy birthday song where a line was about "Marmalade in his shoe!"

We got a delicious and authentic black forest cake and the girls loved the whipped cream! 

Ba gives Amy a big hug. Amy and Karl's next baby - a boy! - will be arriving in July!

Dia excitedly watches the action as Opa digs into his presents.  

Evie unveils the pieces of art she and Ellie had created for Opa - gardens full of 3-D butterflies!  It was a lovely night - Happy Birthday Opa! 

February Fun, even in the ice and snow...

Despite the winter doldrums, the family has managed to have some fun times and get out of the house over the last couple of days, despite the latest snow/ice storm to hit DC.  On Thursday, we celebrated Valentine's Day with Ba and Opa with a lovely dinner.  Ellie and Daddy were in a very goofy mood that night! On Friday we had movie night with Abigail and watched "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" - Ellie was not a big fan of the Oompa Loompas.  We all enjoyed the s'mores to go with the chocolate theme.    

Then on Saturday it was off to the city where we enjoyed our box seats to watch Disney on Ice.  Ellie was excited to see the princess medley, particularly Belle dancing with her beast; while Evie enjoyed the "It's a Small World After All" number. Mommy modeled the crown with mouse ears as it was falling over the girls' ears.  

Meanwhile, Evie's highlight of the show was enjoying the cotton candy, which was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! 

We stopped by the American Art museum/Kogod Courtyard for the Family President's Day celebration.  Ellie was delighted to make an Abraham Lincoln hat and would put it on Daddy's and Mommy's heads.  But she particularly liked having it fall over her head - maybe we should add some eye holes!

It's always a blast to see the National's Presidents mascots.  Teddy stopped by to admire the girls making their patriotic picture frames. Oh, that Teddy. High fives all around. 

What's this?  Does Ellie have aspirations of following in the footsteps of our first President? She certainly wears the hat and powdered wig well as she ponders her political aspirations. 

Can't miss a photo opp with these tall gentlemen.  New to the scene was William Howard Taft, or simply "Bill" as the back of his jersey stated. Hmm... I guess curly mustaches are all the rage these days.  

Before we depart, Evie models her "pop art" of George Washington.  What a lovely day!  

Getting the Party Started for Chinese New Year Celebrations

On Saturday, we bundled up to visit the American Art Museum in DC for the Chinese New Year celebration, where we saw puppeteers, dragons, and even watched video of the new baby panda at the National Zoo, Bao Bao. Evie and Ellie made some fantastic paper lanterns.

Ellie proudly holds up her lantern.

Later she took a break and watched the dragon dances and puppeteers while eating her sandwich.

Ellie thought the drums during the dragon dance were a little too loud.

We made pictures and signed the greeting cards for Bao Bao, the new panda cub at the National Zoo.

Evie also got into the craft-making, and then took over as official photographer while listening to the Chinese musicians play on the guzhengs.

Then on Sunday we visited Auntie Mailan and Uncle Tung to celebrate the new year and Kevin's birthday.  Evie and Ellie dressed in their Vietnamese ao dai and were very excited to open up their red envelopes. 

Ellie is thrilled! 

We all gather around and sing Kevin Happy Birthday! 

Ellie digs into the birthday cake! 

Snowbound! Two Sisters with different feelings about going outside...

We had quite a snowstorm last Tuesday and as a result the girls had almost the whole week of school off!  However, as you can see from these pictures, one sister is a lot more enthusiastic about playing in the snow than another! 

Evie cannot resist a quick taste of snow from her glove. 

Meanwhile, Ellie looks like she is ready to go in. Enough with these temperatures! 

She is patient enough to watch Evie make one snow angel but then insists on going back inside.  Hopefully next week things will return to normal!

More of Ellie's Modern Dance

Here are two more videos of Ellie's modern dance routine. Enjoy!

Ellie's Modern Dance Routine

Ellie loves to dance and I think modern dance is her favorite style. Here are two dance selections she wanted to share with others.