The Smiths: An Olympic February

By the end of the month I always think, "gosh, nothing even happened this month." And then find I've taken 800 pictures. So either I'm taking pictures of nothing (true) or life just happens whether I realize it or not (also true). Whatever the case, looking back, February proved to be more eventful than I thought. . . in fact, I'd have to say it was Olympic!

This month Isaac finished reading all 34 books for the Name That Book Club (considering I read about that many in a year, that is quite a feat!) and his artwork won second place in a local Black History Month art contest (woo hoo!). Brigham competed in the rigorous HTMA piano competition and placed in the silver medal division (huge!). He also lost two more teeth (the bigger news is that the tooth fairy actually remembered) . Eliza and Lydia started swimming lessons (with new cute swimsuits!) And Clayton attended the Middle School open house where he discovered that middle school not only has a Science Olympiad team and an Origami Club, but ice cream vending machines at every corner. He is stoked. February, of course, also brought Valentine's Day and the 2014 Winter Olympics. Does it get any better?

We celebrated Valentine's Day multiple times. Nate was at a conference for the actual day so we made up for it with Valentine's parties every chance we got. . . all month long. The best party came in a box from my mom - full of cards, decor, and candy galore.

The kids designed their own Valentine's cards again this year. Here they are busily glue-dotting candy for their school friends.

Happy Valentine's Day from Clayton.

Happy, Marvelous, Wonderful, Awesome, Incredible, Amazing, Magnificent Valentine's Day from Isaac.

Happy Valentine's Day from Brigham.

Happy Valentine's Day from Eliza. (who dressed up for the occasion)

And Happy Valentine's Day from Lydia. (who did not)

Whew. . . that's a lot of love.

Clayton also made some hand-crafted pop-up Valentine's cards that were stuffed with candy. They were a hit at school.

And of course, a day of love is never complete without chocolate covered strawberries. Lydia "helped". It was a race to see who was faster: me dipping strawberries, or her eating them.

Isaac is a reader. This picture with his stacks and stacks of books, studying for "Name That Book", makes me smile.

Lydia and Eliza started swimming lessons. Lydia, for the first time ever. If you ask her about swimming lessons she'll say she swims like a mermaid. If you ask her if she swims like a mermaid, she'll say, "No. I swim like dolphin." If you ask her if she swims like a dolphin she'll say, "No. I swim like mermaid." Just as defiant as always.

This is my favorite picture. Don't I have the cutest little swimmers?

Here's Lydia in action, she's about to slide to her teacher, Mr. Rudy.

After two weeks, Lydia graduated from the Guppy class. She's now a Goldfish. But don't ask her, because whatever you say, she'll say she's something else.

Eliza is swimming like a champ. She even wears "gozzles" now.

Brig competed in the HTMA piano competition. No amount of blog posts can come close to describe the hours (hundreds) of practicing that went into preparing for this. It was so intense, we nicknamed it the "Piano Olympics". Yeah, it was that nuts. Everyone in his age category played the same two pieces: "Play Song" by Bartok, and "Air" by Henry Purcell. The winner performs with the Houston Symphony.

Here we are in the "waiting room" (a practice room with rows of keyboards with headphones). The room was full of contestants all pounding away noiselessly with headphones. The room was buzzing - it was very unnerving. When a keyboard finally opened up, Brig played through his songs once on mute (no headphones) and then we left to get gummy lifesavers from the vending machine - which is where we hung out until his name was called. I wasn't allowed into performance hall with the judges but from what I heard from the hallway, he played flawlessly. He placed in the silver medal division which - to medal at all in a competition like this - is a big accomplishment. We are so proud of Brigham.

Here is a practice video of Brig playing his competition songs - it's all I have to document this. Still you'll get a taste of his great style. (and our messy piano)

February was Black History Month. Isaac's picture of civil war soldiers marching in front of a rising sun with the caption, "Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won." (from the song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" also referred to as the Black National Anthem) won second place in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Black History Art Contest.

His art teacher submitted this. I knew nothing until I received a congratulatory letter and a phone call from the sorority head.

He was honored at a sorority event and awards ceremony along with all the other winners from around Houston. I love these pictures of Isaac standing so straight and proud. Love this kid.

We are so proud too.

Way to go, Isaac.

Brigham also wrote a very nice paper about George Washington Carver, in honor of Black History month.

February brought a few more days of warm weather. We spent our afternoons outside catching lizards and climbing trees.

We have a new tree climber in the family. . .

Warm weather also meant chalk drawings! We have been enjoying a very colorful back patio.

Along with some very colorful fingers and faces!

In this picture Eliza is just discovering that she has accidentally turned herself into. . .

Pinkalicious! Oh my!

Inside, the girls have been practicing some ballroom dancing. They love dressing up, turning on elegant music and dancing the day away.

Eliza is a very dutiful teacher. . .

and Lydia is a patient learner.

February was a great month for scouts. With a court of honor and the Blue and Gold banquet, we were very busy.

Eliza is showing us how to use a "dingle-hopper".

Some great Indian dancing and chants at the Blue and Gold. . . so much fun.

Eliza has picked up the pace with violin this month - she now practices for five minutes before flopping on the floor in exhaustion. But five minutes every day is something, right? It's about direction. That's what I keep reminding myself. Direction.

But she'll dance for hours on end. . . hmmm.

February was also loaded with school projects and homework. The girls always get out their "homework" too whenever the boys do theirs. The boys do not understand this.

And last but not least, February brought the 2014 Winter Olympics!!!! We were glued to the games. And of course, the kids organized their own backyard Olympic games. Here are the events: