Beginning Band

Emily has always liked music.  When she was younger she asked me if she could learn to play an instrument.    I always hoped she could,  but there was never an opportunity for her too.  In fifth grade they learned to play the recorder,  and Emily loved that.  She would practice every day and learned every song she could.

  

Last year when the Junior high registration forms came home She was really excited about the band.  Being a choir person myself I did try to convince her to try the choir, but I knew my efforts were no good.  It was no surprise to me that she wanted to learn to play the trumpet just like her dad.  I knew she would get plenty of support and help from her dad and he would be happy to help her learn.  I also knew how hard she would be willing to work.    

Emily started playing the trumpet in the beginning band last September and has loved it.  I know she loves it, because I never have to tell her to practice, and she has also joined the beginning Jazz band which meets every Tuesday and Thursday after school.  She is pretty good for only playing a few months, and I am really glad she has found something she likes.    This video is part of a song with the beginning Jazz band.  She is the only girl in this extra band, but that does not seem to bother her.    The teacher placed her right in the top middle where everyone could see her though.  I think he was trying to recruit more girls.  

I am so glad Emily is getting to learn how play an instrument.  I love seeing her develop her talents.   

Biking Season Begins

Spring is here so it is time for biking.  

Last summer Joe was getting a little too big for his bike, but when we took him out to look for a bigger bike he was not ready to get one yet, so he happily spent the summer riding his little Orange Specialized bike.  This year, it was time to move on. though.  Joe knew exactly what he wanted and and it took a little bit of shopping around, but luckily he was able to find it.  He loves his new blue bike.

 He told us he thinks it looks like the Tron blue so it is his light cycle.  He had to practice a little to get used to the hand brakes and the gears, but that did not take long.

Last summer Ryan tried to teach Josh how to ride a two wheeler,  but he was not interested.  At all.  Even when his friends learned how and got rid of their training wheels,  Josh was happy to continue to ride around with his still attached.

Yesterday, While Joe was off with dad looking for his new bike Josh and mom went out to get him a new helmet. Josh is a fast shopper so it did not take us long.  When we got home he was dying to try it out.  The only problem was his bike needed some repairs before he could ride it and mom could not fix it.  Josh did not want to wait for dad to get home, so he pulled Joe's bike out and asked if he could ride it.  By then I was trying to help Valerie so I told him he could, but he would need to wait a minute for me to help him.  He asked me a few questions about riding a two wheeler and then went over on the grass and started working on it by himself. He used some of the tricks his dad had tried to teach him the year before.

 Within just a few minutes Josh had figured it out on his own, and can now ride on two wheels.  Now he keeps begging to go ride his bike.

It will be fun to get out on the trails again.  The next question will be whether or not Valerie will be willing to ride in the cart or if she will insist on riding her trike.  I have a feeling It will be the latter of the two.  During one of the shopping trips looking for Joe's bikes Valerie was busy checking out the princess bikes for herself.   Either way it will be fun.

Tea Party

There is nothing more fun for a little girl than a tea party with her friends

Valerie went to her very first Tea party today to celebrate her friend Elena's birthday. It was a princess tea party, so they had to wear their princess dress. Valerie had so much fun, and it was fun for the moms to watch all of the little princesses run around.

When Elena's mom gave Valerie her wand and heart sticker, Valerie ran right over and showed it to me. She had so much fun playing and dancing. She did not want to leave when the party was over.

(I wish I had brought my camera to get pictures, but I didn't so I had to use my phone.)