The Third Grade RECORDER Recital

It takes a very special person to be able to teach 150 kids (6 classes of third graders) to play the recorder.

I'm not that special person.

Emily has one dedicated music teacher at her elementary school!

And now, what you have all been waiting for...

...THE VIDEO!  (just one of 9 songs)

the rest of the story:

Emily came upstairs this morning in a PANIC.

"Mom you HAVE to come to my recorder recital.  IT'S TODAY!"

I had no idea when or where this recital was taking place.  I had not seen any note, nor heard anything about a recorder recital today.  So after emptying the enormous quantity of paper from Emily's backpack and not finding the "purple note she forgot to give me last week," I made a few calls.  "Luckily" the three youngest kids and I made it to her school for the grand performance.  Wish I would have known sooner so I could have sent out INVITATIONS!

:O)

Great Job, Emily!

(Dad, does this top attending my 4th grade violin recital?)

Olivia's Birthday

Olivia celebrated her 1st birthday this week.  I can't believe it has been a whole year!

She loved this piano/xylophone.  So did everyone else.

In fact, she didn't want to open any more presents after she opened her new "piano."  The short video clip shows her throwing another gift and going back to the piano.  She did this over and over and over.  (sorry for the low resolution.  I'm still learning to use my new camera.)

Finally, she opened the last gift (with help) and inside was a new doll.  The first thing Olivia did was suck on all four appendages.

The cake.  Yes, the frosting is the same pudding and Cool Whip frosting I used for Emily's birthday back in August.  (click for recipe)  There is a middle strawberry gel layer (danish dessert mixed with Cool Whip), and more Danish dessert used on top for the writing.  It doesn't look amazing, but it sure tasted good.  My boys usually don't eat the cake, but they ate this one.

Olivia has had cake before - after all, there is always a birthday in our house full of seven people.  So she wasted no time attacking the cake.

First, she had to get rid of the plate.

Then, she ate frosting as fast as she could.  A little cake too, but not much.

Can I have more?

Getting clean! 

Thanks a bunch to all the grandparents who sent cards for her birthday.  :)

Emily's cricket

The kids were out playing in the dirt, and I could hear Miriam screaming.  It wasn't the pain scream or the scared scream so I didn't think much of it.  It was only Miriam's excited scream that something is happening and she doesn't know how else to react.   We tell her she can't use that scream inside.  After a while, I heard the back door open, followed by the slam.  The next thing I knew, Emily had shoved her containment capsule, that is all that is leftover from her bug vacuum, in my face to show me her latest victim (I mean catch.)  This is what I see:

In full 8-year old, tattle-tail style, she relates how it was hard to catch the cricket because it kept jumping away and Miriam kept screaming at it.

Emily was very proud to catch such a fast bug.

Two Olivia videos: new book, and walking

This is how Olivia enjoys her new book.

It's a touchy-feely book with different textures on each page.   

Olivia's new talent - walking.

Early Birthday present arrives for Olivia

Look what I got!  A box in the mail for my birthday! And I won't turn 1 until next week.

I better climb all over it.  After all, I always climb on things I really like. (mom, dad, mom's laundry baskets, mom's computer, stairs, etc.)

"Mom, when can Olivia open her present?" really means, "We can't stand the suspense.  Will you cut the tape so we can see what Aunt Lori sent?"

Only Olivia was allowed to touch her stuff.  It was torture on the rest if the kids because she was so slow.

I finally let them look.

So what did Olivia get for an early birthday present?

She got onsies, shirts, snacks, and an adorable book about what little feet like.  It is a touchy-feely book with lots of fun textures.

Thanks a million Lori, Amaleki, Jared, Michele, Mom, and Dad!