A Page Full of Skorskis

Ok, so this is the obligatory Family home page with the obligatory family picture (even more family pictures can be found in the Gallery section).

	Mike, Sugayo, Mayumi, and Paul Circa November 2000

Some things to take note of: this was taken about a year ago and the kids are even bigger now. Take a look at a picture of Paul and Mayumi standing next to Sugayo. Paul is taller than Sugayo's shoulder, and Mayumi is not far behind. Now, compare this picture to the old family portrait family portrait that was previously on the web site. It may be a cliché, but the kids just keep growing like those little sea monkeys you used to order from the back of Highlights magazine (What? That's not a cliché?!. It should be...)

Some things not to note: How much older I look, how much weight I've gained, how my hair is thinning. In other words, do not take notice of how much more "mature" I've gotten.

Mike

At the end of 1999, I left CBS to join a company called Teachscape (no, not Cheapskate, Teachscape!). The company provides professional development resources for teachers — that is, content and services that help teachers become better at what they do. One of the things we do at Teachscape is go around the country capturing examples of teachers teaching literacy, math, and science on film; and put this video on the internet for other teachers to see and discuss along with research about what makes effective teaching practice. It's a great job, because it combines my interests in technology and education. It's also a great group of people who are really dedicated to what they do. To get a closer look at what the company does, you can check out the website at www.teachscape.com. For more about what it's been like to be at a start-up company over the past couple of crazy years, check out the past couple of "Years in Review" in the Archive section of the site.

Aside from work, life has been extremely busy on the personal front. As the kids get older it seems the number of activities they participate in, and the number of days blocked out on the calendar increase exponentially. I've also been doing a number of things at church this year including playing in a new contemporary Christian band, and helping to lead the Sunday School (who knew how much work it would to organize the Sunday School Christmas program?!). And aside from that, we've been doing some home renovation...

...Um, I have to stop typing now, I have work to do...

Sugayo

Sugayo continues her work with the "Japanese in US Culture" program at our church. And — now that Paul and Mayumi are both in school for a full day — she has started teaching Japanese again to Junior and Senior High School students. These students, it just so happens, are not in New Jersey; she does it all by teleconference. Aside from telecommuting, she also works at the school library and helps out the school art teacher (both of which give her a chance to observe our kids in the wild).

Paul

Paul is still a Lego maniac (as I write this he is using the couch as a testing ground for a new vehicle he has created). He also likes skateboarding and scooter-riding. Last year, we took a family ski trip to Gore mountain, and by the end of our stay there, Paul was skiing the intermediate slopes (while I was tangling myself up in trees). He played soccer again this year and he and Mayumi were on a T-ball team together. He is involved in scouts, and is looking forward to this year's pinewood derby car building bonanza. He also still really enjoys drawing.

Mayumi

I'd have to say that Mayumi's favorite activity is imaginary play: school, store, pet store (especially when Paul plays the pets who have to obey her commands). She loves music and has just started ballet. She, like Paul, likes to draw and especially to create books. One of her latest creations, "Stuff About Me", is available in the Gallery. Mayumi learned to ride a bike this year and also played T-ball with Paul. One other thing, she likes to play on the computer, often while I am on it — making it hard for me to t[aetuy[pe!