Music to my ears

A nice thing about being at grandma’s house, at least at Grandma Karen’s house is the encouragement and teaching of music.  The kids are really getting into their various instruments.  Matter of fact, as I am typing this I can hear Kassi strumming the guitar.

How many instruments can three play?  Well, lets add them up . . . two violins, two flutes, a guitar, a trumpet, a snare drum, and a clarinet.  Apparently, if you play an instrument in a certain family you can pick up another in that same family.  At least that is what I have gathered.  I have to admit I love to hear them play the piano (the keyboard right now) and all their instruments.  I really enjoy listening to them play something together.

Well, yesterday Grandma gave them some music they can all play a part of. 

Before getting started, Grandma showed Zack the trumpet part and went over a few things with him.

The girls had been practicing off and on all day, so they were getting a little farther than Zack.

So, then Grandma directed them through a section.  They sounded pretty good together.  Just need a little more practice.

Then Zack decided he could play the percussion part easier than the trumpet.  So he switched instruments and Grandma played the trumpet. 

As I am finishing up this post, Kassi has moved in to the music room and she is playing the keyboard (in place of the piano that is in ND). 

Keep on playing . . .

How many?

I have been feeling the pains and stresses of being apart from my other half.  I have been to the doctor more in the past three months than I have been in the past three years.  At my last visit, the doctor told me to try and reduce my stress level because  (apparently) there is a correlation between health and stress. 

Yet again, I am fighting – just one week off antibiotics for an ear infection & soar throat – another head cold.  I’m not sure what is to blame.  Maybe this crazy Ohio weather.  How many Indian summers can there be?  Maybe being pulled in all directions.  Maybe having a FULL calendar of activities.  Maybe no time to catch my breath. 

Today I received this card from my mother-in-law . . .

I am not sure how single parents do it.  How do spouses of deployed military personnel do it?  When there is only one you have to wear many hats and sometimes several in one day.  Oh trust me, if my husband was with us, he would share in wearing these hats so  I wouldn’t have to change so many times in a day. 

I know we all are in different seasons of our lives. I know things make us stronger.  I know I MISS my husband.  I know the kids miss their dad.  I know I am surrounded by family and friends.  I know we will be together soon and I can divide up these hats.

Decorating Dilemma

It’s time to decorate for the holiday season, BUT there’s one problem.  All our Christmas decorations are in North Dakota.  So, when I found this at the thrift store I thought it was quite fitting for us this year . . .

No, the picture is not upside down.  This is the perfect tree for us this year – an upside down Christmas tree as our holiday will be upside down.  We will (we already do) miss Jay and being away from him has been a little harder than I thought it would be.  

When Jay came for his pre-holiday visit, he brought us some stockings.  I collect stockings.  I have no idea how many I have, but I like to decorate all around the house with them.  I will miss that this year. 

Then the day when we took Jay back to the airport we decided to check out the thrift store.  Which I am so glad we did.  My in-laws had offered one of their trees and decorations for us to use, but with this holiday just not the same – being in two different states – I wasn’t even sure I wanted to put up a tree.  I definitely didn’t want a big one since this Christmas just won’t be the same.

Anyway, I was able to find this gem at the thrift store for only $9.99 – still had tags on it, sold at Wal-Mart for $25.99.  Jay is sending us a few of our ornaments to adorn it, so we’ll have a little bit of our own.  I also found that adorable – working – Winnie the Pooh at the thrift store for only $4.99.  What great finds!!

What it is about

Family.  Little ones.  Laughter.  FUN!

We have been enjoying some quality time with some of the littler ones of our family. 

Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  We are giving thanks today for our family, our freedoms, our health, our friends, and all the blessings in our lives. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Closing out the session

In the spring when we came to visit, we attended showcase as guests seeing what the students, our friends, had completed and achieved during the session.  This time was different, it was our first experience as participants of co-op’s showcase.  In the years past, it just didn’t fit in our schedule.  Not only was it our first time at Showcase – kids performing & work on display, but Jay was able to attend too.  :)

To kick off the evening performances, the Shakespeare production class performed a couple of scenes from Much Ado About Nothing.

Kassi did an excellent job as the narrator delivering the opening and closing monologues. 

There are several music classes for the kids.  It was a great pleasure to listen to the little kids sing and then play the bells.

Several students also had solo performances – piano pieces, singing, reciting.  Kassi’s friend Alyssa shared her love of music with us all.

The older kids have a guitar class and a choir.

Kassi loves singing, so she was so excited to be a part of such a group. The choir did a beautiful job!  Kassi is already looking forward to next session’s choir class – she’s even hoping to be able to participate at both co-ops.

Mackenzie had so many things on display.  Above she is next to the sewing class table and below she is amongst the art history class work.  Mackenzie’s pieces of art include the sunflower stain glass diagonally to her right and the the ‘Screamer’ piece on her left shoulder. 

For now the co-op is closed, but will resume again in the new year.  We are looking forward to another session full of learning and positive experiences. 

Things are slowing down

This is what last week looked like.  It was actually a very mild week compared to several we’ve had over the past couple of months.

This is what this week will look like, at least before Thanksgiving.  Have to get those sale flyers out so you can spend spend spend the day of Thanksgiving & after.

This is what our week will look like in two  weeks.  No more co-op classes (one co-op ended last week and the other ends on the 30th).  Actually after looking more closely, there is one activity we have committed to that I haven’t put on the calendar yet.  We will be going to the Nutcracker Suite one day with our co-op friends.  We are excited about that.  So it is still a quieter week. 

We will have some quiet, school focused weeks ahead of us before the chaos begins again.

WOW . . .

Well, I took some time this afternoon and went out on my own to do a little Christmas shopping.  You see finances are a little tight this year and we have some major things coming up that we need to save for (one is going to need braces, just to start with).  Anyway, we had talked with the kids and they know how tight things have been the past year so we knew they would be okay and understand.  So, we talked about different options and I think we have settled on getting our gifts the thriftiest way we know how . . . at the thrift stores.

So, today I shopped a couple of thrift stores and found a couple of things the kids have been asking for – awesome!!  Of course, I have to check out the baby sections with our latest nephew’s arrival.  I have two baby boys to find things for this Christmas.  Anyway, I can’t forget about my only niece, too.

Well, I can’t pass up a good – I mean REALLY good – deal.  I visited the local Goodwill store and look what I got for $6.98 – and yes, that includes tax.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . five adorable pieces of clothing that look brand new and the plaid dress is Osh Kosh and the other four pieces are all BabyGap.  But wait,

6 – I also got this adorable Carter’s still with tag for my 5 1/2 month old nephew.

I am excited about our Christmas because I think if I just use the next few weeks to find things, there will be presents all around.

Saying ‘later’ for now

Our time together was short, but we had to let him go back.  We were sad to see him go, but truly thankful to have those days and memories together.  We will be together sooner than later. 

Marshmallow Fun

Okay, really??

The kids, okay the girls and that 41 year old of mine, decided trying to catch marshmallows was the best way to pass their time. 

The other day when we were preparing our Thanksgiving feast, my husband was instructed to put marshmallows on the sweet potatoes.  He isn’t a fan of sweet potatoes so he thought he’d find a better use for the marshmallows – good thing I bought a big bag.

Not sure why Kassi thought it would be easier to catch them if she kneeled on the ground. 

Mackenzie was even trying.

Finally, Kassi decided to stand up and try.  I think that’s when they perfected the marshmallow toss & catch game.  However, I am still finding miniature marshmallows all over the place. 

Last day . . .

We have enjoyed ten fun-filled weeks at co-op - hang time with friends.  Yes, there was some educating going on, too.  This was our first time ever spending the entire day, utilizing a variety of classes.  It was nice for the kids to know they had one full day designated to congregate with their friends. 

Zack took an anatomy class on the skeletal system and an Ohio history class.  I was truly amazed at his retention from both classes, but more specifically from the skeletal class.  He would rattle off this and that about this bone, this joint, etc. 

Mackenzie read, drew, and sewed.  Out of her three classes, I would guess her favorite was her sewing class.  She made so many different things and learned several different stitches.  But then again, I know she also loved her art history class.

Kassi participated in choir and a Shakespeare production class.  Since singing is one of her all-time favorite things, she truly enjoyed participating in a good size choir.  She so wants to sing along with Mrs. Fisher at our other co-op, but time will tell.

Look at that group . . .

Here’s some of the PJ crew. Some of the kids thought it would be fun to designate the last day as Pajama Day.  This is where those social networks – FaceBook, Twitter –, emails, texting, oh yeah and the old fashion phone come in handy.

slippers too

The Bailey girls are dear dear friends of Kassi.  We all love them!!

 

The future of co-op – this little guy is the youngest member of our co-op family.  Isn’t he just adorable.  Look at that head of hair!!

Mackenzie hung out with daddy in the gathering room while her sibs were in class. 

Apparently, Jay thought he’d catch some shut eye.  I guess our schedule is too grueling for him.

Celebrating with family

Well, we thought it would be nice to celebrate Thanksgiving while Jay was here.  At least we could have all the trimmings of a Thanksgiving meal with him. 

So, Jay put together a nice meal for us.

Mackenzie set the table with name tags and all.

Notice the spelling change – see older post below.

Gathering around the table.

You know it was a great meal when the plates are empty.

Grandma had the kids help her clean the kitchen and do the dishes so we could all enjoy some quality family time in the evening.