Showing posts with label piano lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano lessons. Show all posts

Monday, February 6, 2017

Second Week of May 2016 - Dave Matthews Band!

Well, it finally happened.  I got a ticket in Texas.  We've lived here for almost 7 years so I consider that a good streak.  I was taking Maxwell to school one morning and was in the school zone just outside of our neighborhood.  It's an EXTREMELY long school zone because it goes past the high school, then the middle school, and the street that the elementary school is on.  Anyway, I never speed in the school zone. I'm super good about it and even though other drivers start speeding up, I don't.  Except, this one time, there was a car upside down on the high school grass (part of a don't drink/drive demonstration for the school, I guess).  I totally turned to look and my foot, just instinctively, pushed on the gas to speed up and when I looked back and realized I was speeding it was too late.  It was literally one second later but there were two motorcycle cops in the next driveway catching speeders.  UGH!!!!!  I was so bummed because really, I am super careful and never speed!

So the motorcycle cop pulls me over and because Maxwell's in the car it's not like I can cry to get it out of it or anything else.  I just kept thinking to myself that this was Maxwell's first real experience with a police man and I didn't want him to be scared or worried or anything else that could make it a negative experience.  So, I just kept a positive attitude and dealt with it.  At the end I asked if I and my son could get out of the car so that he could see the cop's motorcycle.  He said that would be fine and was nice to Maxwell while we looked at his bike.  (I was secretly hoping that after he saw how cute my son was and how great of a mom I was that he would cut me a break and tear up the ticket, but no such luck.)

At least in Texas, I can do a defensive driving course and it won't go on my record.  So bummed!

I took my lunch and ate with Maxwell at school.  He was excited to have me there.  (I didn't end up getting to eat it because I brought a salad from Chick-Fil-A and their chicken is fried in peanut oil and since it's a peanut free school they wouldn't let me open up the salad and eat it.  I just had to roll my eyes.  I'm an adult.  I can keep the other kids from touching my food.)

My little gentlemen bringing me a chair.

Maxwell got to read a book to his class - it was really fun to watch.

Playing at the park

Woo hoo - it's a little yellow flower on my zucchini plant!!  I am so excited for something to grow in my garden!

Playing at another park on another day.  We are certainly in the goofy smile phase.

Maxwell had his last Kiddy Keys group piano class with Ms. Leah.  He has enjoyed his lessons and learned a little.  I feel like it's been extremely slow paced and that nothing he's learned has really been internalized so I don't think we will do group lessons again but I'm glad we tried it.

This group of 4 cousins are so fun together.  It makes me so happy!

I had a rare relaxing evening.  Essential oil scented relaxing lotion, great music on Pandora, and reading the book for a new thing we are doing with the neighborhood girls - a book club!  I haven't read a book in years (it's embarrassing to say that because I read so much before I had kids!).

The Emoji Elf left another little emoji for Maxwell in the mailbox.  He was really excited.

Video - Emmalyn is such a sweetheart but then she turns naught so quickly.  Watch her be so sweet and then immediately transition into "butthead".

Emmalyn and her Kindermusik class with Ms. Carolyn

Max had to make an animal mask for Kindermusik.  He chose a turtle.  Unfortunately, I could only find pictures of a ninja turtle.  Of course, that was fine with him.  :)

Maxwell and some of the kids in his class.

The new tree is doing great!

Maxwell was running errands with dad and fell asleep in the car.  Rarely happens nowadays.

It's that time again!  Dave Matthews Band Concert time!  We went this year with our neighbors again.

We left with plenty of time to enjoy dinner this time.  It's always fun spending time with Chris and Mary Ann.

Better seats than last time but still doesn't really matter to me because all I see are heads.


The weather was great!  Not super hot and a nice breeze.  It was perfect.



Love the Dave Matthews Band!  And it was a great concert with some fantastic songs.

Here's the set list:
 


So tiny she can hide under the ottoman.

Since Maxwell loved singing the songs from The Sound of Music at school, I figured he might like the movie.  It was a little over his head but he liked some parts of it (until we turned it off at the point they escape the country).

Love those cuddles

Vdeo -Remember how I talked about how she can turn nasty?  Well, isn't 2 years old too early to be saying that she hates me??

And then she can be absolutely adorable.  The curl on the front of her head had grown longer but it's still curly!


Emmalyn is finally to the point that she doesn't ask for binky every time she is going to sleep.  Her naps are shorter than normal without it though.

I love hearing her talk!  She's getting sentences and understands so much and responds when I don't expect her to.  Although, "I don't want to" is now a part of her language and sometimes she will say no to her nap.

Maxwell still says "Cucancumber" instead of cucumber and "Deemember" instead of remember and I love it.  I will be sad when the days comes that he says those words correctly.  
We've been working with him a little on multi-digit addition (doing the carryover) a little with him but he's now working on it at school. 

He asked if Oma died from eating too much candy. (We talk about how eating too much candy isn't healthy.)  It's always unexpected when he brings up her death because he doesn't do it often.  I was stunned for a moment and then told him that she didn't die from that.  I didn't take the conversation beyond that. There are moments that it still seems unreal that I have kids that will never know my mom.  She would have loved them so much and been the amazing grandparent that they totally deserve. 

 ,Max likes to help me cook and every night asks what's for dessert - most of the time it's fruit or nothing.

Max loves trivia things.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Last week of April 2016

Dora and Diego are ready to go with their backpacks.  ;)


Somehow these accessories made it into the car in addition to the backpack.  She is rockin her high heels and shades.

We took the kids to the Heard Museum for the first time.  It is gorgeous and I love all the trails!

Playing in the little wooden village





Maxwell got to hold the map and give us directions.  He really enjoyed that. It was fun!  Hopefully we will go again soon.

Emmalyn cuddled up with Aunt Britt

Watching daddy's phone

I randomly came across this picture of my dad and Marriann.  I love it!

Time for new sleeping pics...

Her little foot peeking out of her sleep sack.


Maxwell was excited to bring a book to preschool that he wanted to read to his class.
We have decided to keep Maxwell in school for part of the summer.  It won't be quite every other week but close to it.  I think this will help him keep learning, which he enjoys, plus give him a chance to see his friends at school.  And he will still get a chance to get some "off" time with Brittany and her boys but then she doesn't have 4 kids to take care of for a full 3 months.

I've had Maxwell in group piano lessons.  It's really slow paced but he seems to be learning a little about reading music and a little about the piano.  Once this semester is done, I'm not going to have him continue because I don't feel like it's worth it.  I snuck in to watch a little of class...

Maxwell with his class at swimming lessons.  See how he's at least a head shorter than the other three kids in class?  I'm proud of his skills and that he's able to hang with these bigger kids.

Maxwell has been begging to go see a musical.  He'd really like to go see "Wicked" but I think he's too young for that one.  I bought him tickets to go see a musical put on by the local children's theater group.  When I told him what I had bought him, he was so excited and jumping up and down!

Ready for a day on the town with her glasses, hat, and gloves

This is my fancy, permanent name badge for an organization I belong to called NEW (Network of Executive Women).  It's been 5 years so I got this great pin.  I've enjoyed being a part of the group and enjoy it more each year.

Have I mentioned how fun it is to dress a girl?  Shoes that match a swimming suit?  Yes!

She scraped her foot when swimming and sweet talked Ms. Mary Ann into getting her a bandaid.

I got out all the 2t clothes I have for Emmalyn so I could separate out the winter from the summer stuff.  Here's everything I've got for her - it covered and entire full size bed.  OH MY!!!

Kindermusik fun!  I love getting to spend an hour with her each week doing this.

Look at those curls


The day arrived, time for the musical!!  It was just Maxwell and I out on a momma/son date.

Reading the program

He was incredibly focused

I let him get some snacks during intermission



We stopped and got an ice cream cone and some food before we went home

picnic in the trunk

It was a fun afternoon and Maxwell was wiped out on the way home.


I took a picture because for the first time ever, we finished an entire workbook!!  I feel like we just keep adding more to our house but never fully completing what we have.