Interview with a Monkey/Bear

About 6 months ago, I sat down with each of the girls individually and interviewed them. I thought it was time to check back in with them. So without further ado, Eleanor and Abigail interviews, part 2.

Hula gloves?

Last week was Beach Day at school. The girls got to go through their summer clothes to find the perfect outfit. So below is what they came up with...Yeah, I don't know either, but apparently you need them for the Hula Festival, which must be what Beach Day is in the girls' minds.

January Hymn

About 3 weeks ago, the Decemberists, my most favorite band (yes, even more than Mumford and only slightly more than the Beatles) released their new album, "The King Is Dead," on NPR. I listened and listened and listened and loved the whole album, but one song, "January Hymn," really struck me. I couldn't stop listening. It was so beautiful it alternately took my breath away and made me want to cry. Cheesy, and cliche, but I am totally serious. You know how once in a great while, an idea or an event strikes you, and it won't leave? Well, that was this song. I knew I had to do something with it. So I whiled away the days until the CD came out, which was today. Here's what I made. Watch it then run, don't walk, to your nearest CD retailer and purchase the album. For serious.

Watch out Rockettes...

Here come the Gacek Girls (fourth and second from the right):

Holidays Wishes from Clan Gacek

Happy Holidays and rock on!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

How much Cat in the Hat is too much??

Abbie and Ellie LOVE the new PBS version of the Cat in the Hat. We have DVRed all the episodes, so they watch them over and over. In a recent episode, we learned about bower birds:

In the episode, we learned that male bower birds collect pretty things to make a house to attract a friend.
Today Abbie announced that she was a bower bird and made her bower on her bed:

Getting My Polish On

So St. Nicholas Day is fast approaching. As a kid, I could always expect a brown manila envelope from Calumet City filled with little trinkets and a few dollars in honor of the saint, a tradition my mom continues to keep. For those of you who don't know, St. Nicholas Day is December 6 and is the saint's birthday. He is model for our American Santa Claus. On the 6th, boys and girls leave out their shoes and their list of Christmas wants. They also leave a treat for him, often a cookie in his likeness (speculaas) or, in Poland, pierniki, which are kind of like gingerbread. Then the saint gives the good boys and girls a small gift, like an orange and something like a stocking-stuffer.

I decided this year that I should start this with the girls. So I mentioned it to Abbie yesterday about the tradition of putting out their shoes and she looked at me, horrified. "Really?!? I don't think eating an orange that's been in my shoes sounds very appetizing."

So on that note, I leave you with the very best story about St. Nicholas ever. Until next time, kiree-a-kee.

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