Concert Week!

Thomas had his end of term orchestra concert this week!  He had lots of fun!  He really loves the orchestra teacher, and I think she is fantastic!  

Kaley got a new choir teacher this year.  It has been a little rough on her.  She absolutely adored the previous teacher, and auditioned for a choir FOR him. She was pretty devastated that he left (to take the high school choir position). Kaley did not love the choir she made, so she opted instead of quitting choir altogether, she would just switch choirs and be in Bel Canto again.  It was a compromise - she really just wanted to be done with the teacher, but I talked her in to switching so she at least would have a few good friends with her in the choir.  It has been only a little better - mostly because she has friends.  The teacher situation really hasn't improved that much.  

All that back story, for a concert night!  Kaley's teacher asked a the beginning of the school year if there were any parents that would be willing to accompany for the choir at their performances.  I was so excited and signed right up!  I received my 4 pieces and literally practiced hours every day to get these songs ready.  Really, it was just one song that gave me grief!  Haida. *shudder*.  It really was awful.  It was fast, it had big jumps in position, and it had tricky rhythms.  By the concert night, I was ready to turn it to God.  I had done all I could.  I'm not sure how the teacher thought it went, but I was relieved to have it done and over with!  When I arrived that night (not having EVER practiced the songs WITH the choirs) - I quickly noticed the piano was front and center.  In the past, the piano is tucked behind the choirs.  That just made my nerves even worse!  I have NEVER been this nervous to perform IN MY LIFE!  

Kaley was no better.  She was horrified at how awful *she thought* her choir sounded.  I thought they did great.  They weren't up to the same par as in years past, but her previous teacher really pushed them!  Here's a few snapshots from the night!

By then end, I think my ulcer had mostly subsided!  Seriously!  I have a little more empathy for my students that get so nervous for recitals!  

Fall Break!

We had a great Fall Break!   We drove up to Idaho Tuesday night, and enjoyed the best sunset!  

We stayed the night at Papa and Grandma's house in Jerome.  Grandma had cookies and milk for us! She's the best!

We read SO many stories this week!  Danielle's kids love to be read to, and my kids love to read!

Cousins had a sleepover downstairs.  It was so late and they were so tired, they fell right asleep! 

Wednesday we drove up to Muldoon.  The water in the kitchen was leaking, so we ended up washing our potatoes for dinner in the river!  We were real pioneer women!  

We played outside SO much on Wednesday!  It was SO warm!

Thursday was a little chillier, but we still played outside as much as week could! 4-wheeler rides galore!

Thomas fished in the river any chance he could get!

We went for a walk down to the river too.

I tried to take a picture of Jace and Soph, and these are what I got.  These two!

Walks down to the river!

The boys tried to push over this tree on a ride down to the river.

We laugh at how many people we cram into these couches.  

Papa and Grandma came to hang out too!

Saturday morning I was rewarded with the BEST sunrise!  It was especially nice because the rest of the day was a snow storm!

French Toast eating competition!

Playing "Puppies" under the pool table.

We haven't had a snow storm like this over fall break up there like, ever!  It was fun to just hunker down and watch movies, play games and do puzzles.

When it cleared out that evening, we snapped a quick grandkids picture!

Grammie brought the candy bar game.

Thomas and Kaley loved riding 4 wheelers in the snow - so much fun!