A Little Magic, A Little Music

Today we completed the last of the birthday celebrations with my gift to the girls - a vist to Harry Potter at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry! (Well, the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre, anyway.)

Unfortunately, they do not permit photos inside the exhibit which is a real shame, because it was so wonderful to see. If you have been a fan of the movies, then every twist and turn through the authentic rooms full of actual movie items was thrilling. And Bryanna was chosen at the beginning of the exhibit to sit on a stool and have the Sorting Hat placed on her head...and then was sorted into Gryffindor House! (Okay, Bryanna thought it was neat, but this mom - who is a major Harry Potter fan - burst into enthusiastic applause to hear that familiar voice intone through the room "Hmm, daring...brave at heart...Gryffindor!"

We saw costumes, wands and crystal balls, life size models of many of the characters (Auntie Kim, we saw Dobby!), and full size recreations of some scenes (Hagrid's hut was COOL). The girls pulled crying Mandrakes from pots and threw blodgers through small Quidditch hoops on the first try (oh, oh, oh, to be able to take a photo!). Anyway, a very fun afternoon that I enjoyed as much as the dynamic duo did.

And the music?

Well, this was Education Week and the time that Osprey Woods P.S. holds its annual Spring Concert. We headed over early with Nanny and Papa to line up for the first come first served seating in the gym - it was chilly outside but a beautiful evening.

We paused to see the Killdeer bird that had made a nest in one of the schools's tulip gardens...roped off now to keep the mom and her eggs safe until the babies hatch...very cool.

Then it was inside to see the performances. Bryanna had been practicing in the ukelele choir all year and it was great to see her perform - the group was really good!

Then Cassidy and the junior choir arrived to sing a couple of pretty tunes related to the earth and the environment (the theme of the evening). However, why one of the tiniest girls in the choir was placed in the third row behind taller kids baffled all the Thompsons, but fortunately our seats up front allowed us to see her between the rows! She gets a real kick out of performing...

(Cassidy's video clip...)

A little later Cassidy performed with the grade 2s and 3s in a funny take on the three pigs story...is this a priceless photo or what?...

Finally, Bryanna and the grade 5s returned to perform Wavin' Flag...I had no idea that this was coming and was part of the school's committment to teach an awareness of the needs of others around the world...I had heard nothing of it from Brya and found myself very emotional as all the kids broke into song at the end of a video presentation.

(Brya's video clip...)

So, yes there is gardening waiting for me, and purging (again) of far too many closets and drawers and basement boxes. Work is very busy, and multiple projects are piling up.

But, still, these magical, musical moments with the dynamic duo make the everyday so much fun!