Our first snow, of course, came soon after Halloween. We had a Friday night and Saturday with nothing on the calendar and the same went for Natalie's best friends so we had a slumber party at our house. They ate at the E family's house, set up beds in our play room, watched Tangled, played, hung out, slept from about 11pm to 5am, giggled, got themselves breakfast, played board games, played a pioneer role play game, cleaned up the play room without being asked, and made themselves lunch before separating around noon. I'm missing one friend in this photo but I just had to grab a photo of what the girls ended up doing after ME went home and they were suddenly "bored." I love the way they can have fun!
Natalie's first orchestra concert was incredible, per usual at our middle school. It was so fun to see students we've known since Natalie was little all up there on the stage together. KT got a great picture of her for us that I am so very grateful for! It is now my most liked photo on FB for the year 2024! I had gotten there early enough to sit in the front but Natalie said that would be distracting so I promised to sit up top. And then I picked a place I could see her just fine but didn't work out as well for when Michelle was on stage helping out the 7th grade violas. Apparently some of them had a robotics conflict so she filled in. It was neat that Michelle could be a part of Natalie's first concert and oh, how the orchestra kids cheered for Michelle when Mrs. Fisch announced that she was a guest player!
6th Grade Orchestra
Song for Christine: Essential Elements Book 1
Matthew’s March: Essential Elements Book 1
A Mozart Melody: Essential Elements Book 1
Ode to Joy: Beethoven, Essential Elements Book 1
Lightly Row: Essential Elements Book 1
New World Symphony: A. Dvorak, arr. Micheal Allen
7th Grade Orchestra
Sahara Crossing: Richard Meyer
The Shores of Biscayne Bay: Lorrie Baum
Conquistador: Deborah Baker Monday
Wednesday became a super special day because I got to spend time with two of my friends, one of whom I hadn't seen for YEARS. After dropping off Michelle and two of her friends at the school district honors orchestra concert practice, I got to meet J.R. at a new coffee shop for tea and hot chocolate and then drive to meet M.N. at her new workplace. It was so a joy to catch up with both of them and have the gift of spending time together!
That evening I got to enjoy a very impressive performance with Hubby, my parents, and Natalie. (Danny had basketball tryouts and Kate was babysitting.) I felt grateful for a school district that not only provides academic and athletic programs but also a chance for my freshman to play with musicians from across the district. Her passion and hard work amaze me all the time but especially on night like this. A few days later I got to eavesdrop on our 7th grade next door neighbor who plays viola asking Michelle questions about the district honor orchestra. I thought it was neat that she was impressed by how long two of their three pieces were. It truly brought home to me how much these students were able to accomplish with only practicing three times together. Such a neat evening.
Folk Tune & Fiddle Dance: Percy Fletcher
Russian Sailors' Dance: Reinhold Gliere arr. Merle J. Isaac
West Side Story: Leonard Bernstein arr. Jack Mason
After 3 weeks worth of repairs (and taking out a car loan to pay for them) we got to pick up our truck! Back when our mini van had similar issues we opted to trade it in for our VW Tiguan, but when looking at options for replacing our truck we decided to go for the repairs instead of getting a new vehicle. We missed our truck and I suddenly wished we were the type of family to name our cars so that I could say something like, "We missed you, Trevor!" instead of, "We missed you, truck!" lol
That same night Danny got the news that he was placed on the JV basketball team but would be swinging up to Varsity. He will be expected to play in all the JV games and be there for all the Varsity ones. A day and a half later he got plenty of time on the court for his two JV scrimmages and then stayed and got a few minutes in during the Varsity scrimmage. He is determined to earn as many minutes as he can so even asked if he could stay home from our planned trip to Utah to visit family. Danny doesn't want to miss "Hell Week" during Thanksgiving Break so that he can be in shape for regular season games beginning the first week of December aka next week! Michelle had already voiced concerns about traveling when she has so many school projects due soon and an ensemble performance to prepare for. So I told the two of them I could stay home and we sent Hubby, Kate and Natalie to still enjoy some extended family time.
Before we divided and conquered we celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom (my dad wasn't feeling well) and it was so great to have all of us together for a while. With children old enough to be going in different directions every day it was wonderful to have a time to be around the table enjoyed the delicious meal Hubby created for us. Yes, he was home in the kitchen while I was taking Danny to his basketball scrimmages and taking Natalie's cello to the shop to get her broken C string replaced. Thank you, Hubby! In my defense, I did make spice cake the night before and I knew my mom had offered to make what Hubby doesn't enjoy making: the sweet potato casserole. And the next day we made plans to eat at Spitz before kicking off the Christmas season by watching Red One at the movie theater so there was no way Hubby would have to worry about cooking so matter what else was on the schedule. I know that movie has bombed at the box office but I will take an action comedy Christmas movie over Part One of a musical any day. Sorry, I learned the hard way with Infinity War to wait util closer to when Part Two comes out! We don't normally take photos of our food but my coworker started asking all of us what we were eating for dinner while we were at Spitz so here you go. I do recommend the Street Cart Fries over my bowl, though. Natalie did an artistic photo after I just got the information across with my photo.
Go see Red One! It's fun and all of us laughed out loud even though Michelle was tryingy really hard not to. Kate and Danny opted to go hang out with friends but I'm sure they would have enjoyed the food and movie too!
I bet you thought we had enough orchestra news for one post but here’s more! This purchase has been thought about for almost a year and finally happened. Michelle was ready to move up half a size, had to adjust her bridge almost every time she played, and her bow that she only had for about a year needed replaced. With her honor orchestra concert complete and time off school, the day came to pick out her new viola, bow and case. Michelle is now the very happy owner of an instrument that “has really good tone and good at projecting,” a bow that is easier to use new techniques such as Collé and a case that has shoulder straps and a pocket for her music. To say she is excited and grateful would be an understatement!
Meanwhile in Utah, sounds like Hubby, Kate and Natalie are having a great time with their family. Here are some photos I was sent from going to see the lights at the aquarium, meeting their newest cousin, and ice skating. They seemed to have a wonderful time!
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