Hamners' Unbelievable Magic and Variety Show

In Branson we got tickets to see Hamners' Unbelievable Magic and Variety Show. When we sat down they asked if Isaak would like to come up on stage? When they mentioned that he'd get a prize pack he was all excited. 

Mica was immediately jealous. He said, "I don't ever get picked for anything like this." I said, "Mica Isaak hasn't been picked for anything like this either." He said, "Well he won a book once." I said, "Mica that was like 2 years ago. You've had special things you've done. Let this be Isaak's moment." He said, "The things I've done, I worked for Mom." I said, "Ok, but the fact is, is that he was picked. Let it be." 

We watched the show. The boys seemed like they really enjoyed it! They made birds and money appear out of nowhere. 

They had a special guest that was a performer for Cirque Du Soleil. He was a hoop artist. They had singers, a ribbon dancer and more. It was really pretty fun and visually stimulating. 

All the sudden Travis got up with Isaak and said he needed to go to the bathroom. Soon after one of the Hamner's came to get Isaak to go up on stage. 

I didn't know what to do so I said, "He had to go to the bathroom. Take him. I pointed at Mica. Mr. I Don't Get To Do Anything was up on stage in replace of the boy they picked. I was heartbroken for Isaak. I knew he'd get back, and see his brother on stage. I wished during that time I could pause time. 

While Mica was "floating" in air. Isaak got back. Tears flooded his eyes. Travis took him back out to talk. We agreed that Isaak would get the merchandise that they handed off to Mica, since Isaak was the one they chose. 

I did pay $20 for photos of Mica floating in air. It was pretty cool. 

Isaak opted to sleep with Dad that night. After their talk they bonded more. I think Isaak wanted to be anywhere - except next to Mica. I explained to him that I didn't know what to do, they couldn't exactly stop the show. Isaak said, "They should have." There you have it...Isaak wished they could have paused time for him too. 

Brita the Elf

Last year we started The Elf on the Shelf. I don't do anything too elaborate with her. 

I know some people hate this elf. It's extra work on the parent's part, even though he/she is supposed to watch for good or bad behavior - kid's behavior doesn't change for the elf, and other random reasons.

I'll tell you why I like her:

• She encouraged Isaak to read and write last year. Isaak would write our Elf Brita, and Brita would write him back. If you remember Isaak's never been much of a reader, so I'll take anything that gets him to read and write.
  

• She encourages creative thinking. 

A few days ago Brita left a a paper train of people. Isaak has been trying to make a paper train ever since that day.

• The boy's other toys get played with. I use Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle(s) as Brita's side kicks. 

They were zip lining across our kitchen.

 

• Brita sometimes gets Isaak up in the mornings. At times he jumps out of bed to go find her. 

Floating in a boat.

 

•  She puts a smile on both boy's faces. 

She was hanging with Michelangelo up until this point. Leonardo took Michelangelo's spot. He kissed her.

 

Poor  Michelangelo was throwing a jealous fit.

• She gets rid of things that Mom and Dad want gone, but Isaak want's to keep. 

Isaak has been getting stickers from school for "good behavior". He leaves these stickers laying everywhere. Michelangelo decided to stick them on Brita. Isaak wasn't too happy about this one.

 

 

Pinterest has a lot of ideas. If you find that you're not super creative there's a lot of ideas online.

 

We have had a few elf hiccups. 

 

Isaak thought the elf was supposed to bring him presents. I said, "Nope, possibly sometimes (like the Kisses), but it's Santa's job is to bring the presents. Brita is just here to watch you, and do funny things." If he doesn't expect presents, than it will be all the more special when she does bring things. 

Isaak thought it would be fun to hide the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to see if they really would take part in Brita's antics. It's his own way of testing his faith in her I suppose. I've had trouble finding them twice. 

Do You Believe in Magic?

The boys gave Daddy and I their Cat in the Hat tickets, and said to use them at our house to see a magic show. We handed our tickets to Mica, and he punched it with a hole puncher.

We both sat down to enjoy our magic show.

Isaak was the star of the show. Mica told him what to do. 
Typical for a big brother to tell the little brother what to do.

 

Isaak pulled a rabbit out of a hat. 
He covered his hat with his magic cape, and did all the action under the cape. I really couldn't figure out how he did it. ;)

They did a few other tricks.

The pen was their wand. 

After their show they had a question and answer session time.

The cape I got a long time ago for review. It was from a company called Bean Soup. They had cute aprons on their site to. They must have gone under. Sadly their site no longer exists. 

Here's Isaak when I first got it. He loved walking around with that thing on!

Here he is today. Just as cute, but a little bit older.

A Touch of Magic and Science

Mica got this magic set at Christmas time:

Source

It was great because I got it for 1/2 off! It was one of those presents that got kind of shoved aside. It's not that we didn't want to play with it. I think we were just saving it for a rainy day.

Last week Mica had Friday off of school. This week he had Monday off of school. I got the kit out and Mica started making some magic happen, or should I say Science happen? Daddy thinks it's funny because magic and science are kind of opposite things, but they are placed into one sometimes.

First we made a paper hat. Every Magician's has to have a hat. 

Then we made crystals to put in a magic wand.

Then Daddy helped him make foam. Isaak loves watching Mica's magic or science tricks. When he made the foam, Mica wore his magic cape from BeanSoup.

Mica's been having fun making magic or science happen!