Ballet

 Saturday, MK and I had a Mommy-Daughter date. We went to SLC to see the Ballet. Ballet West put on a production of "Cinderella." It was amazing. The Wicked Stepsisters were hilarious, Cinderella was beautiful, the music was great, and the whole thing was so well done. MK and I had a great time.

MK in the lobby. After I took the picture, she told me she did pointy toes like the ballerinas.

MK at the Ballet

During one of the intermissions, MK and I walked around the theater. She was captivated with the Orchestra Pit and all the musicians and instruments. I got this photo of her looking into the pit before an usher told me I wasn't allowed to take photos inside the theater. Oops.

MK looking into the orchestra pit

While MK and I went to the ballet, R and the boys went to the Dinosaur Museum. They had a blast.  They've talked my ears off with all the things they saw and did. They learned so much and had a great time.

What it takes to be a Police Officer

Conversation we had in the car the other night.

Me: Kids, what do you want to be when you grow up?
C: I dunno.
S: I want to be a police. (He always pronounces it as "please" and it's one word, not policeman or police officer, but police.)
C: Well, S, if you want to be a police officer you'll have to grow a mustache.

Piano!

Holy Cow! I bought a piano today. I'm still in shock I actually did this.

Piano

The Covey Center for the Arts had a piano sale this weekend. They sell off their slightly used pianos to replace with brand new ones. I paid 25% of the regular price. Not 25% off, but 25% total. I KNOW!

I've pulled out my small stash of sheet music and have been trying to remember how to play. Wow, I am rusty. I've never was very great, but now I'm abysmal. One more thing to add to my projects list.

The Many Uses of Duct Tape

The kid's elementary school offers a great after-school 4-H program. The boys have each enjoyed the classes offered. They have taken cooking, Harry Potter Club, pottery, buggy arts, edible arts, Olympics, Fun with Science and more. This term, C is taking a class on Duct Tape Art. He has made a duct tape wallet, a duct tape belt, and a duct tape tie.

Today, he had his dad help him tie his duct tape tie and wore it to church. 

C and his duct tape tie

He is saving up money to buy assorted colors of duct tape so he can make more things at home.

Chess Tournament

Last year, S came home with a flyer about a school district chess tournament and wanted to enter it. He was 6 years old and in 1st grade. I didn't know he even knew how to play chess.

Me: You don't even know how to play chess.

S: Yes, I do!

Me: Really? Ok. Set up the board for me.

S: *after setting up board correctly* See?

Me: Ok. Show me how each piece moves.

S: *tells me about each piece and how it moves*

Me: Ok. Well, let's play a game. 

We played; I BARELY won. Apparently, C taught S after I taught C how to play. I took S to the school district tournament and he placed 5th. Wowza! A couple weeks later, both S and C participated in the state tournament. Neither placed, but had a really good time. 

Since then, we sent both boys to a Summer Chess Camp taught by teenagers who are nationally ranked. We've also gotten a computer game/program at the recommendation of Grandpa to help teach and play. Both S and C periodically get out the board and play. They are teaching MK--She's 4.

Today was the school district chess tournament again. C had a basketball game, so it was only S playing today.  He had a great time and did pretty well. His goal was to earn a trophy. 

S getting ready for his first game

S with his 8th place trophy

In a couple of weeks, we'll be heading for SLC for the state tournament again. It'll be a LONG day as we have to be there with kids in their seats by 8:15 am and it is about 1-1/2 hour drive for us to get there.

Super Secret Hush-Hush Project Revealed

 

So, I have had a Super Secret Hush-Hush Project in my WIP and now I get to reveal it. Okay, so it was revealed on Christmas Day, but I'm only just getting to adding it to my lists. I kept waiting and waiting for R to get me the picture from his camera...and finally just took a not-so-stellar picture with my phone camera so I can get it uploaded.

Ta Da!

Hidden Stars Quilt

Hidden Stars Quilt

Hidden Stars Quilt

This was a surprise Christmas present for R. He had NO IDEA! I worked on this while he was at work. It's called "Hidden Stars." I didn't want to have it under the tree because I was afraid he'd guess what it was, so I wrapped the Quilt Label along with a hint on how to find it. He then had to play "Hot-n-Cold" to find it. The back has navy blue minky, so it's super soft. I made it with fabric I already have that was left over from the quilts I made for C and S.

Fraction Day

The Second Grade is learning about fractions. Last Friday, they had "Fraction Day." Everyone was encouraged to come as a fraction. Maybe wear 2 colors to be a "half," or paint nails different colors to be 1/10 or something like that. S decided to do what his big brother and cut his hair as a fraction. 

S cut his hair into fourths.

Top view

S and his new haircut

Front view

S and his new haircut

Yes, he went to school like this. 

Happy Half Birthday

MK's 4-12 half Birthday

Today is MK's Half Birthday. For those of us who have birthday's during the summer, we get used to celebrating Half Birthday's during the school year. My sisters's still call each other on their half birthdays.

At preschool today, MK got to celebrate her Half Birthday and be the VIP. She came home wearing a birthday crown, a Twinkie, and 4-1/2 candles (because today she is 4-1/2). Once home, we lit the candles in her Twinkie for her. I LOVE this picture.