What happened to February? It flew. February brought some beautiful warm weather and then quickly turned cold - so cold we started drinking hot chocolate multiple times a day and, if it weren't for the birds nest in our flue, we'd have been building roaring fires. But while the sunny weather lasted, we sure enjoyed it. February brought Valentine's Day, a visit from First Lady Barbara Bush, an intense piano competition for Brigham, Solo and Ensemble competition for Clayton, baseball tryouts, Name That Book competition for Isaac, new beds for the kids, Scout camp-outs, pack meetings, and courts of honor, swimming lessons for Lydia, a violin performance in Pre-K for me, and a terrible bout of the flu that swept through our entire family.
The first half of February was gorgeous. We lived outside. And everyone was happy for sunshine and space to run off all their energy.
Isaac figured out he can spy on all his friends from the top of our tree.
A pair of cardinals built a nest in our yard.
And soccer and baseball took over the back lawn.
One of the princess duties in our kingdom is playing goalie.
Eliza plays the part well.
Lydia's not so sure about the princess goalie law.
Brigham and Isaac got new beds in February. And the girls got their old beds so everyone was a winner. The boys beds were quickly converted into battleships and forts with a drawbridge.
Eliza celebrated 100 days of school in February.
She and her friends made a tower with 100 cups.
At home, she shared her crown with mermaid Lydia, who continues to treasure it.
More Pre-K crafts! She also made a robot out of recycled materials.
All the robots went on display outside their classroom.
Isaac entered a drawing titled, "25 Cents" in the Rodeo Art Contest.
He and his friend, Jerry, also made headbands for each other which they wore at school - because they are cool like that and can get away with anything! Isaac's says, "Number 1 Most Muscley"
Lydia made a crown out of straws and beads at school.
Eliza is the queen of crafts. If you can tape it, glue it, staple it, tie it, color it, paint it, fold it, create it, draw it, write it, or make it, Eliza is. She made this picture for Lydia. So cute.
Here is Isaac's Goldfish for Chinese New Year.
Eliza made some stylish glasses. With eyelashes!
Lydia is the swimming mermaid of the universe! She has been swimming like crazy and graduated to Dolphin level in February! When her instructor congratulated her, she started to cry and said, "I don't want to be a dolphin. I want to be a mermaid"
Here she is showing off her new purple swim suit.
Here favorite thing about swimming lessons are the mermaids painted on the walls.
Isaac and Brigham got more scout patches and awards in February. Here we are at the Blue and Gold banquet. Isaac is singing the Texas State Song in this picture.
Lydia is eating her water and ice soup. Delicious!
Brigham passed off his Wolf requirements and was renamed "Running Wolf"
When I asked the boys to stand next to each other for a picture, Brigham yanked Isaac's ear and Isaac, in true Isaac fashion, made a theatrical scene of it. All the world is a stage when it comes to these kids.
Clayton's scout troop is growing! Look at all these handsome boys. Hats off to Nate for using his ebay prowess and getting them all in uniform! They look great.
Eliza and Lydia are in constant motion at scout meetings. I've lost control.
I snapped this picture just as we were heading to baseball tryouts and then to scouts. We had already been to piano and violin lessons. We barely had time for dinner so I have no idea when Lydia found time to dress up - gloves, shoes, the works! Oh well, at least she's always ready for anything! Sometimes by the end of the day I am amazed that I made it at all from point A to point B with this crew. We are a traveling circus.
Halfway through February the weather turned cold, cold, cold! Which meant all of our fun had to move indoors.
The girls practiced their synchronized swimming routines in the bathtub.
Lydia brandished her latest fashion statements.
And the boys finished their month-long game of Axis and Allies.
Isaac studied like crazy for the Name That Book competition. Our school's team came in 2nd place this year.
She is so cute. I'm going to miss my little buddy so much next year!
Clayton received a "1" at the Solo and Ensemble competition which is the highest score you can get. He played a piece called "Holiday" on the marimba. We all enjoy listening to him practice the marimba - feels and sounds like we live in Jamaica!
Ms. Asya, our beloved piano teacher, was diagnosed with cancer in February. She is on my mind and in my heart constantly. For years, she has been an integral and dear part of our everyday lives. We hope and pray for her health and recovery. We need her!
There are things Lydia enjoys about having the other children in school during the day. She made a fancy boat out of Eliza's shoe, for example, for all her Duplo people.
And she claimed Brigham's baseball helmet for her own dress-up collection.
February brought Valentine's Day! The kids made cards for their classmates and gave out bubbles. They turned out really cute. Clayton was too cool this year for these. But he did spend hours making several clever pop-up Valentine's cards to give out at the retirement home with the rest of the Student Council. He's such a great kid!
Nate sent flowers which the girls and I seriously melted over. They came with a heart-shaped key chain with the inscription, "You are the key to my heart."
I sure love my Valentine! Nate, who is usually at a lawyer's conference over Valentine's day, broke his foot and had to cancel his trip. Which meant I got him all to myself this year!
The girls went nuts making Valentine's cards and crafts. Everywhere I turned their was some new note or card taped to the wall, hanging on the fridge, or stuffed in an envelope on my bed. These girls are so sweet!
Bags of candy and cards came home from school and the kids had a real feast.
Happy Valentine's Day!
The biggest event in February was the HMTA piano competition for Brigham. This is an intense and rigorous contest. All the contestants in each age group play two required pieces. This year Brigham played Sonatina in A minor by Biehl and Hunting Song by Schumann. Hundreds of hours of practicing went into these pieces. He learned all the notes in a day. But it's the technique, choreography, phrasing, and musical expression that takes all the practice. . . and makes all the difference.
Here he is in the warm-up room. It was so nerve racking!
Brig was one of 9 finalists out of 180 in his age division. Here is a video clip of his performance in the final round. It wasn't a perfect performance but it was very well done. I love watching him play. He stands out with his orange hair, blue eyes, and freckles. But his expressive playing stands out as well.
He took 3rd place, which not only gives him name recognition among music teachers in Houston, but also landed him a trophy.
I love this shot of him shaking hands with one of the judges.
Here's the program - even his name sticks out among the crowd!
Congratulations, Brigham. That is a well-earned and worked for trophy. . . one you deserve to be proud of.
Our family got hit hard with the flu the same day of Brigham's competition. Here's what our house looked like for days. A war zone. Nobody was spared. Even I couldn't get out of bed for an entire day. Nate missed work. The kids missed school. Eliza and Lydia watched every episode of Peppa Pig ever recorded.
On Sunday Clayton stayed home from church with sick Eliza so that Nate and I could fulfill our duties and callings there. He is such a good kid. He studied the Sunday School lesson that he missed and shared it with Eliza. She particularly loved the video he showed her from the church website on his phone. He read scriptures, sang hymns, took care of throw-upping Eliza, and did his best to have church at home. The next day he was sick. And then all the rest of us got it.
By then Eliza was feeling better and took on the role of nurse to all of us. She brought us Gatorade and wrote sweet notes to cheer us up. "Mom I'm sore that you or sec. Lov Eliza." She also wrote Nate a cute note thanking him for the blessing he gave her when she was sick. "Dad, I hop your plan wrkt. Thak you for geveng me a blezeng. Lov Eliza." The flu wiped out an entire week in February but thankfully we all recovered and jumped right back into the swing of things.
February ended with a shout out to Texas! We celebrated "Go Texan Day" where once a year folks and school children all over don their cowboy duds in honor of opening day of the Houston Rodeo. The kids know the Texas State Song by heart, which goes, "Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State. Texas, our Texas! So wonderful, so great! Boldest and grandest, withstanding every test. O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest." (and that really is blessed spelled "blest") I love Texas!
As you can see, here in Texas, we grow our own pride!
1 comment:
What a full February! And GO BRIGHAM! He is so talented. What an amazing accomplishment, and I love how much he stands out with his light hair, skin and blue eyes.
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