SMILE On!

Miss Lori

“As a mom February is the month that I have to sign up for camps for my children. Are you thinking about Summer yet? What camps have you or do you hope to participate in?”

Abi age 10~
My family and I always have a special Valentines dinner together.  We exchange small gifts and celebrate our family.  It is actually one of my favorite holidays and I can’t wait!

Tess age 9~
I hand make Valentines, and I put hershey’s kiss on the cards for the people I love the most. I like to do community service—this year for Chicago Canine Rescue, and in Girl Scouts we sing for senior citizens.

Arianna age 10~
Yes! Last year I found out about a camp Rock that I could go to but it was to late to register for it. This year, my mother is signing me up because this camp looks awesome! Just like the movie, there will be singing, dancing and music every day and I cannot wait to go!

Elita age 9~
I give extra hugs and kisses on valentines day!

Kyra age 11~
I send everyone in my extended family Valentines, usually handmade. This year we are making heart-clovers and picture cards. Last year we made candy cell phones! I love Valentines Day. It is one of my favorite times of year!

Ava age 11~
Valentine’s Day is fun. I like to make a special card for those I care the most for. And of course the treats are fun to make and give (and eat) too!

Anaiya age 7~
I like going to Summer camp because at camp, I get to meet new people , do fun activities and go camping outside. Last year at camp, I got to go horse back riding and it was the best!

Jaedyn age~6

A music camp is what I really want to go to. And also one kind like Skyler’s, (big brother), camp for directing. I want to become a professional director. I also know that I get to go back to Museum camp which will be better since this year I will be with the 7 year olds. I didn’t like the 6year old counselors. They always assumed you were going to behave badly.

SMILE On!

Miss Lori

“February is Black History month. What do you do in school to acknowledge this month? Is there something else you would like to see happen either in school or in Chicago?”

Abi age 10~
In my school we talk about different people who have made a difference in our country.  I really like Rosa Parks because she didn’t let bad people push her around.

Tess age 9~
We read about famous Black people—this year we haven’t really started, but the last two years we read Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky. I like reading stories.

Arianna age 10~
To celebrate Black history month in school I am creating a project about a famous African American. I decided to do to my project on Laila Ali. I am going to create a collage depicting her greatest achievements as well as her life from youth up until now. I want my project to show how this great woman was able to rise above the challenges in her every day life and prove that she could be someone important no matter what color her skin may be.

Elita age 9~
I read more books about black history. I would like to see more people do the same!

Kyra age 11~
Since I am homeschooled, my school isn’t doing anything, but I went to a Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration service, and my choir is doing a bunch of African American and African songs. I can’t think of anything right off the bat that I would like to see happen, but I do miss the things I did in public school. I can’t wait to do them again.

Ava age 11~
Black History month has started off in a great way with discussions about Martin Luther King Jr. and many other important African Americans like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman.  It’s great to talk about these people because of the life changing things they did for for equal rights for all. We are all affected to no matter what color of our skin.

Anaiya age 7~
I am going to be in the Black History Bowl at my school for Black history month. The Black History Bowl is a competition, sort of like Jeopardy, where 4 students from each classroom compete against each other by answering questions about famous and historical African Americans in History. The winning team wins a prize and last year, my team came in first place!

Jaedyn age 6~

In my school we’ve read many books about great African Americans, including Martin Luther King Jr and Harriet Tubman. We even get to do projects. My favorite was about the book Martin’s Big Words. We had to choose words from the book and then draw a picture. I chose “Love is the key to the problems of the World.” I drew a picture of Martin Luther King Jr shaking the hand of a tanned skinned woman. Then I drew the same picture using kids, one white and one black.

SMILE On!

Miss Lori

“At the start of the new year many grown ups talk about their resolutions. Do kids make resolutions too? Are they something personal or do you discuss them with your friends? What helps you bring those resolutions to fruition?”

Abi age 10~
I make resolutions every year. I sit down with my family and we write our resolutions down in a notebook. My Mom helps and encourages me to meet my resolutions throughout the year. I work on them a little bit at a time, and before I know it I am done. I like setting goals for myself. I like how I feel when I reach them.

Tess age 9~
My resolution is to be nicer to my brother. He drives me crazy, but I really thought about it, and my life would not be the same if he was not around. I talked about it with my mom, and think about it myself. I don’t know how good I will be at a resolution, but I am going to try.

McKenna age 11~
Kids can make resolutions too. Sure they might be a bit weird or immature, but they’re resolutions. Most of the time, the kids will forget their resolutions. So when a kid will remembers and follow their resolution, it’s a sign that they’re getting more responsible. Your resolutions can totally be personal like; “I will eat healthier this year.” Or a very common one, “I will clean my room everyday,” (which probably never happens). So, if you have really good friends you might tell them if its really personal, but you should only tell them the resolution if you feel comfortable telling them. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t tell them. When you start a resolution you have to keep reminding yourself how good you’d feel if you kept this resolution through the year, and maybe even on into the future.

Elita age 9~
I make resolutions too! Sometimes they are personal, sometimes they are for sharing! I just tell myself I can do it, and I usually do!

Ava age 11~
Just like adults we do make resolutions. Some of our teachers make us write paragraphs about our resolutions, and make us share them to the dreaded class. Though I’d rather share with friends and family, just to let them know, and ask them to help me keep this resolution.

Ariana age 9~
Some kids do make resolutions. The reason why they make resolutions is because they want to be a better person in the future. It’s okay to discuss resolutions with your friends. Sometimes your friends can encourage you to do better. If you did a lot of bad things in the past, you can change them in the future. Someone can be nice to you if you’re nice to them.

Anaiya age 7~
I think your friends can help you change and help you become a better person. So I think you should tell your friends your resolutions, because then they can help you do them.

It’s time for Winter break. A chance for our children to shake off their school routines and hang loose for two weeks. (I think I am looking forward to it even more than my own kids. This has been a hard semester!) Typically vacations have meant just that, VACATIONS, a chance to get away from your regular routine by getting out of town. But money is tight for so many people these days that traveling is not often and option. Lucky for us we live in a city rich with opportunities for enrichment and fun. I love visiting Museum CAMPUS, Millenium Park and Navy Pier downtown. But I also love visiting The Kohl Children’s museum and Make-a-Messterpiece in Glenview, OR the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, OR Ikea and Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, (now that’s my kind of Amusement park!) The CAMPUS Kids and I have had the great pleasure of performing at so many wonderful sites around Chicago, and there are still so many more we have yet to encounter. So I asked them which Chicago attractions they would most like to visit during a STAYCATION this holiday break. There suggestions paint a beautiful picture of this wondrous city.

SMILE On!

Miss Lori

Winter Break is almost upon us. With the economy as it is many people are doing “staycations” instead of traveling. Imagine yourself as a tourist visiting Chicago, what attractions would you most like to visit?

Abi age 10~
I love going to Navy Pier, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Zoo Lights at Brookfield Zoo. The Museum of Science & Industry has Christmas trees decorated from all over the world. They also have a dollhouse of the White House there right now. The zoo is fun to go to at night and see the animals surrounded by tons of Christmas lights!

Sinead age 17~
Chicago is a great city! I’ve lived here for about 9 years, but I still love going downtown Chicago! It’s always exciting to visit, and it never gets old! If I had never been to Chicago, and had only one day to tour the city, I would definitely go to Millenium Park, because it’s always so packed with people. I love being around a lot of people! Michigan Avenue is my street, of course, because of all the shopping. So that would probably be at the top of my list! There are so many stores that surround you while walking down Michigan Avenue, not to mention the Water Tower Place, a mini mall in itself. Every 17 year old girl’s dream, if you ask me! There’s definitely not enough time in a day to fully experience Downtown Chicago, that’s for sure. But if you’re looking to shop, downtown Chicago is the right place to be!

Tess age 9~
I would like to see the Science and Industry Museum. I want to goto the Mayor’s Sports event. I also want to goto Devon Avenue and Little India!

McKenna age 11~
Well I would like to see the Willis Tower, (aka Sears Tower), for the phenomenal view of the city. I’d also go to see the Big Bean, I love going there. While I’m there I’d go to the outdoor ice skating rink, even though I’m not the best ice skater. On the top of my list would be Macy’s, the Walnut Room, (located in Macy’s) and the Magnificent Mile.

Elita age 9~
I would like to see American girl doll place, and Dillions Candy Bar!

Kyra age 11~
I would visit the Willis (Sears) Tower first, and then probably go down to Navy Pier. I would also like to see some of the museums. Chicago really is a cool place.

Jaedyn age 6~
Museums! Museums! Museums! Navy Pier. And my favorite, The Kohl Children’s Museum!

Ava age 11~
Skating in Millennium Park by the Bean is the coolest, but sometimes too cold when you fall a lot! But it’s a lot of fun. I think the Science and Industry Museum with all the Christmas trees from around the world is very pretty. I would love to see more shows with singing and dancing. And of course shopping is fun. Sightseeing too!

Ariana age 9~
I would most like to see the Sears Tower (I keep forgetting it’s the Willis Tower now). I want to go up to the very top of the Sears Tower and see how far away I can see. I wonder if I can see other states from up that high!

Anaiya age 7~
I would want to go to Navy Pier and take a boat ride. I also want to ride the big ferris wheel and the hot air balloon they have at Navy Pier. Me and my family could spend an entire day there and not get bored!

In my DVD Activate & Be Great The CAMPUS Kids and get ready for one of our fit-family-fun performances by practicing our songs and dances. In the Summertime we perform those shows live 4-5 times a week. In the Winter it’s only a couple of times a month. It can be hard to stay active when the weather makes you want to burrow underneath the covers to stay warm. At my house we have turned our family game night into a family video game night that involves physical competitions using the Wii. In the event of a power outage we break out our mini trampolines and have jumping contests in the living room. Anything to get our blood pumping. That’s the trick, whatever you do make sure you raise your heart rate and break a little sweat. That along with healthy meals throughout the day, will ensure a peaceful nights sleep. Like I always say, “Active Play, Healthy Food, and Peaceful Sleep” added together equal AWESOME Fun!

SMILE On!

Miss Lori

“The weather outside is frightful which makes it hard to get regular exercise. What do you do in the winter months to keep yourself active, healthy and fit?”

Abi age 10~
During the winter I take dance classes and play Wii fit a lot. I drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy snacks like apples, strawberries, grapes and carrots. I also like doing sit-ups and push-ups with my mom and brother. We have competitions and it is fun.

Sinead age 17~

In Winter, show choir season really starts up at my high school. With rigorous dances, I get so much exercise rehearsing every week! I never dance harder throughout the year than I do in Winter, because competition season begins in January, and the months leading up to competitions are spent solely on dancing our butts off to prepare for competing! I also teach gymnastics throughout the winter. I think it’s really important to stay active, even throughout the winter, and teaching gymnastics helps me to get the exercise I need on an almost daily basis while I’m at work. Plus, it’s fun! I really love being active and running around, so I make sure to stay fit throughout Winter!

Tess age 9~
To keep my self healthy and fit I do indoor speed skating, (and of course gym at school).

McKenna age 11~
Well I dance all Winter long… It’s my winter sport. My dance team rehearses more in the winter than in the summer…. but during Winter Break… I love playing in the snow!!!!! We have a BIG hill right behind our house. No more than 5 minutes… (well not when we’re in snow gear). I love going to the hill with my friends. Last year they were doing construction and my older brother Jason and I went to the hill to find a GINORMOUS hill of dirt. It was SO steep and SO much fun to go on. I also like going to my friends houses and making snowmen and drinking hot chocolate. That takes a lot of energy!!!! (no joke!!!!). If we’re not found at my friends houses, we like going to the YMCA. Most the time we go swimming. They have a diving board and if we get lucky the diving board will be open and all we have to do is take a couple minute swimming test and we’re in!!!! This year we’re old enough to go in the exercise room, so we might go there this year, I’m not sure though. Thats how we get exercise in the cold winter months though!!!!!!!

Elita age 9~
My family and I are concerned on how to stay fit, but we found an answer! We will do exercise tapes and jog on our mini tramp! I think those are two great solutions!

Kyra age 11~
Sometimes we choose to take public transportation instead of driving places. Since the train station is 6 blocks away from our house, I get exercise that way. At Christmas and other seasonal holidays with lots of sweets, I try not to eat to much!

Jaedyn age 6~
I do the Wii Fit Plus! My favorite games are Hula Hoop, Ski Jump and Obstacle Course. I like them because they are really fun and really active. The Hula Hoop is really active because you are moving around like you have a hula hoop on your waist.

Ava age 11~
During the winter season I like to swim and when the weather is nice I ride my bike or walk. If there is snow on the ground I might have a HUGE snowball fight with my neighbors. I also live near a forest and my family and I take long walks with my dog.

Ariana age 9~
I love being active. My favorite activity to do when it is cold outside is swimming! Yes, I said swimming but of course, it would indoors! Swimming is my favorite activity because it works out all of the muscles in your body. My mom, sister and I play games in the pool. Sometimes we pretend to be mermaids and other times we will play water volleyball. For some reason, even other sports seem more fun when you play them in the water!

Anaiya age 7~
I love doing gymnastics! I just started taking gymnastics classes and I love doing it and the best part is, you can do gymnastics even when it’s cold outside! I am learning to do flips and handstands the right way so that I don’t hurt myself and I get to learn with my friends which makes it even more fun!

We can thank the sun for giving us warmth.  We can thank the trees for giving us air.  We can thank the plants for giving us nutrients.  We can thank the people who surround us with protection.  Most of all we can thank our family for giving us love.

So let’s remember that there’s more to Thanksgiving than filling your belly.  Never forget to fill your heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK0RyWWmlx0

Happy Thanksgiving all year!