At the Mann Center

for the performing arts, we (and a few hundred other folks) got to see some really cool stuff!  They had a summer kids' series.  Keegan, Kelsey, and I got to go twice and WE LOVED IT!  Caitlyn actually got to go once because The Rock School performed, but the rest of us missed that one :(.

These pictures are from a triple performance of Chinese opera (which is a combination of gymnastics and martial arts,) flamenco dancing, and African dancing.

The Chinese opera had incredible costumes!

 One of my clues that I needed to take Kelse to get her eyes checked :(.

 I loved the guy on stilts.  Keegan was crazy about the tiny kid dancers, who were awfully adorable.

One great thing about being in Philadelphia for such a long time was the opportunity to see things like these performances.  If we had only been there a week, we could have hit all the main attractions, but as it was, we had the opportunity to also seek out some less common experiences.  Once again, very cool :).

Another chess quote

Kelsey, playing Keegan, "Please help me, Daddy."
Bill, "There is no help for you, Kelse."
Kelsey, "Are you saying I am hopeless??????"

Kelsey Quote

Kelsey is learning how to play chess. She's pretty good at it, too! 
Today, while playing, she said, "It is glorious to play this game and not hear the word, 'check.' "
Hahahahaha!

More Carnival rehearsal

Isn't this cute?  Just like a dance in a musical....
oh, yeah, it IS a dance in a musical :).
Caitlyn's partner got switched because of the costumes (which are cute!)  She used to dance with the guy with black hair, now she is partners with this one.  Hope he like having his picture taken, haha.

 Friends of our, who are brother and sister, are the other couple in this picture.  They are talented actors, dancers, singers, and musicians.

 "Girls, curtsy. Boys show your muscles."  And doesn't he look thrilled about it :).

 Love makes the world go 'round, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaaaaa 

 I know Caitlyn's eyes are closed here, but it was my only arabesque picture of her, so I used it anyway :).

 So, don't you want to come see the show now?

I knew you would ;).

Colonial Muster

One of the really neat things about Philadelphia was all of the interactive historical experiences.  The girls had the opportunity to take part in a colonial muster, a military recruitment and training exercise.  It was very cool.

The drum and fife got everybody's attention.

Keegy got to hold the American flag :)!

"Everybody give a big 'huzzah!''

Caitlyn was not real sure she wanted to be doing this, but was a good sport about the whole thing.

All the volunteers had to show their teeth and have them inspected, haha.

Drilling with rifles

And away they march...

Kelsey Quote

While watching "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "If someone kidnapped me in the winter, I wouldn't be singing with them in the spring."
Makes sense to me :).

The Liberty Bell

Waiting to go in - the line was always this long - but it moved pretty quickly.  Caitlyn, Keegan, and Kelsey are by the brick post.

There were random cut outs of George Washington in a lot of the buildings, including the Liberty Bell building, so I felt obligated to take a picture of one :).

We made it up to the bell- hooray!

Yes, indeed, it was cracked.  We saw it ourselves.

Kelsey has a strong tendency to look off to the side when I am trying to take a picture, haha.

Pretty cool, huh?