Like the music? Yes, that's what it has felt like to me the past couple of weeks. Here is the "short" version. I'll start with today and then work backwards.

This morning we all had to be out of the house by 7:30. Ev and I made it and the others were mostly ready so I trusted them to make it to the neighbor's house so she could get them to school and then Ev and I went to choir practice. The last one! We practiced and then Grandma O came to the school and watched Ev's choir perform (Ev also played her violin for one song) and Ev and Iy perform. Then Ev and Et both received medals and certificates for perfect attendance. And then Ev and Et both received a Superintendant Academic Award for having a 3.7 or higher for the whole year. And then Ev received one of 3 citizenship awards for the whole school this year. And then Et received an award for having a Reading Iowa Test score in the top 10% for the nation. And then Ev received an award for top 10% in the nation Iowa Test scores in a couple of subjects, I don't remember which, and also composite and core test results in the top 10%. We were all proud and surprised--great work kids!

Last night we had a school swimming party which included dinner and fun in the water. For the kids anyway, I just sat on the side and watched to make sure they didn't drown. It was perfect timing because we were in need of a little bit of R&R.

Last Friday we drove to Eagle Mountain and stayed the night with Grandma O so we could start fixing a few things with her and dad could get up and help Uncle W pour concrete early Saturday morning. The concrete job went really fast and dad didn't have to do too much and I was able to help with a few things at Grandma's house with Vince finished. Then we drove to Orem and helped Uncle K move. Vince and I were REALLY proud of our kids! Ev, Et, and Iv basically helped me and the four of us moved just about all the boxes ourselves. Uncle K was moving across the street so we would load the Expedition and then unload. The kids also helped take care of their little cousins. Vince mostly worked on helping with the refrigerator--it difficult to get through the doors. He also disassembled both cribs (yes, they have two babies) and reassembled them. By the time he finished that there was only one small load of stuff left to move. After the move we came home and crashed! Sunday was quiet and restful and normal. Monday morning we woke up and helped Uncle J and Aunt L build a patio in their backyard. It was a long day but we were able to get it almost all finished!

Et had a pack meeting and received his bear badge. He has also earned some arrows, a Leave No Trace Award, and several belt loops and a couple of pins. He will probably get those this month and the next. Ev expressed a desire for and we have been able to make it possible for her to play cello with the elementary orchestra next year. Because apparently she doesn't have enough to do. She is also starting a new piano student this summer and is raising her teaching rate. She will charge $5 instead of $3. The piano has been a great way to build her saving account.

N had preschool graduation. I cried. I have never cried at any of this stuff because I am just not a crier but the whole experience was really touching. It was kind of funny because they had a little place for the kids to step up on where they would receive their award and stand for a minute so a parent could snap their picture. Some of the kids would literally set up "camp" there. I have a picture of N heading to the spot and then....
nothing.
He just kept walking, didn't stop for a minute or even turn and look. He grabbed his envelope from his teacher and kept walking, head down, until he got back to his seat. So we had to get his picture on the stand when it was all over. It was sad to say good bye to these teachers and people that have been working with N for 2 and a half years. They're the same people who worked with Iv for over a year. We will have to visit them. Now N is home and he doesn't have school and he is BORED! He keeps saying, "Do I have school?" I say "No." He says, "What are we going to do? How about now? What are we going to do now?" Yesterday we made cupcakes together. Today he is playing with a friend. I'm taking suggestions for what to do tomorrow...

I do have pictures. No word on when I'm going to get around to putting them on the computer and blogging them. But I will get to them. And I can't find the white books. I think the kids got wind of my intent to publish excerpts. But I will share a couple of memorable quotes for now. When I find them I'll blog more. Et had some of the most memorable stuff. The first assignment of his book was to write a descriptive word for each letter of his name. I don't remember all of them but I do remember E was Energy and N was Nice. I laughed when I saw it because he NAILED it with Energy!! He also wrote what he likes about our family and I don't remember what it was but I do remember what he didn't like about our family. He doesn't like that "we all have to do piano" and he doesn't like that "We all have to weed the garden". When I talked to him about it he expressed frustration that his teacher wouldn't let him use the word "HATE". His book had some great stuff in it!

Magic Ingredient

Monday night I needed a quick dinner because we had to be at the school for a dance festival, so I prepared something in advance. It didn't turn out like I expected but I have decided to seriously consider making it again or at least include the one special ingredient. Why? Because even though it was a really hot day, my kids were well hydrated. They drank tons of water at dinner. They also ate a significant amount of salad and carrots. In addition to their dinner. It was amazing! And all because I put a can of jalapenos in the taco soup. It was an accident, of course. I really thought I was opening a can of green chilies, but I was clearly mistaken. The experience has left me wondering what else I could slip a few jalapenos into...

The dance festival was great! I have some pictures, and might get them posted next week. It was also author's night at the school where the kids get to show us the books they have written and illustrated this year. I will have to blog some excerpts from their books! I have had a great time reading them.

Mother's Day

Sunday is Mother's Day and yesterday Iv came home from school and informed me that I could not look in her backpack because my mother's day gift from her was in there. I agreed and suggested she hide it somewhere, which she did. Twenty minutes later she came back and said, "Mom, don't look in your closet because I hid your gift there." Which I guess makes sense because that's where I hide all the gifts I am saving for people, but I did tell her that I WOULD have to look in my closet before Sunday and suggested she "rehide" it. So she did. In my piano studio.

Miscellaneous Fun

 

The local bookstore hosted a storybook cake contest and Ev submitted this: It's Marianne, Mike Mulligan's steam shovel. It turned out to be a family event as dad was the designer and so it was difficult and we only had 90 minutes to get it there in time. Ev won and received a $10 gift certificate! Since it was a family event everyone got a new book. Et surprised us all by selecting The Hobbit, Iy picked a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book, and N got Harold and the Purple Crayon. Ev got an American Girl Doll Craft book--no surprise there!

 

We saw this outside while we were getting ready for school. The conversation was fun:
Et: Come look! It's a parachuter!
Ev: It's not a parachute, it's a hang glider!
Et: No, parachute
Ev: No hang glider
Et: I know! It's a triangle!
Ev: No, a fermata!!

When we told him about it later and showed him the picture, Vince told us it was a paraglider. House full of opinions!

New Computer Password

I have to reset the password for the kids log-in because I keep finding unauthorized users (kids who "forget" to ask) on it. I'm considering the following for passwords and want your votes and/or suggestions:

MOMSGR8--I stole this, it is also a JC Penney coupon code

Ilvchores--What's not to love about chores, right? And maybe when they type this password they will remember how much they love chores and then they will do chores instead of computer....

Ilvmom--I like this because maybe it will feed their subconcious so I hear less "YOUR SOOOOO MEEEEAAAN!"

worksfun--If they say it long enough maybe they will believe it, right?

askmom--This would be good because I frequently hear, "I forgot to ask you...." If I used this password then they couldn't use that excuse, right?

timeforbed--Bedtime is good all the time, isn't it? Nothing wrong with a nap.

eatcarrots--This one is nutritionally sound.

So which do you like best? Or maybe you have a better one....

Spring Performance Report

For the past several weeks we've been involved in several spring recitals/performances. Here is a rundown:

Ev started with a piano recital--she played two pieces excellently! Next she played a violin recital and violin Federation. She played a Seitz Concerto magnificently--the Federation judges in Salt Lake rated her Superior and raved about her performance: "Great music making". Then she performed in Salt Lake with her Chamber Group--they make great music! Her two choirs performed this Tuesday and we could tell she enjoys singing. She also accompanied one of the choir pieces with her violin. Way to go Ev!

Et played in our piano recital. He did a great job! And we all learned that Et can chew gum in rhythm as he plays. People looked for him singing with the choir but could not locate him because choir is not his thing. And also they practice early in the morning.

Iy played the piano for recital and she is a great announcer--she annunciates very well. The funny thing about this was that when she was finished she walked off the stage and when she reached the bottom she remembered she had forgotten to bow so she quickly jumped back up, bowed, and then walked to her seat. Funny. Iy also sang in the school choir. Four different adults came and found me after the program to tell me how much they enjoyed Iy and that they had to remind themselves to watch their own kids because Iy is very entertaining. This is true. Drama is in Iy's future. Her facial expressions and body language is expressive and captivating at the same time.

N didn't have any formal performances but he and I did perform the following play the other day:
Scene 1: Mom walks in the front door and closes it. Two minutes later N walks through the front door in tears, clearly traumatized, because Mom had shut the door on him.
Scene 2: Mom walks through the front door, remembers to not shut the door on N who follows her in the house. Mom looks back and sees the front door open and says to N, "Go close the door." N replies, "No." Mom: "N you left the door open and you need to close it." N: "No, YOU left the door open. You opened it, not me. YOU close it." Sigh. Mom's bad. Mom: "N, close the door or take a nap." N: "OOOKAAAY".

I've had several performances this year as well. I accompanied all the violin students in Ev's violin teacher's studio for Federation and Recital--about 30 pieces. I also accompanied students for solo festivals at the local, regional, and state level. I accompany Ev's honor choir. Last week my students all performed their spring recital--Vince said it was my best recital! I was quite proud--it was pretty good. Mostly I am just glad that all these events are finished.

Can You Repeat That?

I find myself answering the same question repeatedly. Throughout the day I will have to answer many different questions and no matter how many times I give my answer I find I have to give it several times. Sometimes I notice this and stop and say, "Am I speaking Martian?" The kids say, "What?" I reply, "You don't seem to be understanding me--am I speaking your language or what?" I have even been known to answer a question in gibberish. (After I have answered the questions 3 times already.) Tonight I forgot all these silly things and became a little irritated that I had to say "No" to "Can we have ice cream tonight?" 6 times! Yes 6! And I am sure it would have been more if I had not lost my cool a bit.

Where do kids get this inane ability to repeat things over and over? I was thinking that it must be because I have 'caved' too much lately or something. Until I heard me ask my son 8 times to clean his room. Maybe they get it from me.