March Minutes

I remember hearing this saying a few years ago and the truth of it continues to resonate with me.

"The days are long but the months are short."

I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have each day to be home with our children. I'm grateful I am here to have devotional and family prayer in the morning, to kiss and hug them goodbye as they leave for school in the morning, to spend the days with the littles before they are old enough to head off to school, and to be home when they walk in the door to see the excitement, sadness, hurt, happiness, success showing on their face.  This way I can know what to ask them and how to help them feel the love I have for them as well as the love their Heavenly Parents have for them.  It doesn't mean all days are happy days and it doesn't mean all days are bliss...far from that, in fact, but there is nothing I would rather be doing.  After all, as we teach our children, anything worth doing will be hard!

This guy continues the tradition of our boys...so far all 4 of the older boys are color blind and wear glasses!
Gideon is the youngest to start wearing glasses though.

Future Percussionist?

Mostly Concertos Piano Recital

It was amazing to listen to Thomas perform his Grieg Concerto with his teacher, Mrs. Bachus, accompanying him.  He has improved so much in the 8 months he has been studying with her.  We are excited to see his continual progress.  When I see him sit at a piano now I am in awe.  I remember when he was so little that his hands didn't reach an octave and he was dwarfed by the piano.  Not the case anymore! :)  When did he grow up!

Disney Trip

Every four years the Marching Band makes a trek to Orlando for a Disney World trip.  This was the year for Thomas' trip!  He has been preparing and awaiting this trip for over a year.  Joel and I were chosen to chaperone the trip as well and, thanks to the willingness of my mom to come stay with the rest of our crew, we were able to accompany 240 high school band students. 

The bus rides were on charter buses, however, it is not a comfortable drive! 23 hours on a bus is a long time! After driving all night the first stop was Typhoon Lagoon.  It was super hot outside so the water was a welcome relief to the kids.  They were able to spend about 6 hours at that park and then we loaded them back onto a bus and we headed to the hotel to quickly unload their luggage and instruments and quickly change clothes.  Then it was off to Universal Studios for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.  Following dinner we saw the Blue Men Group concert.  Thomas LOVED this!  Then we were back on buses to the hotel.  After checking all the kids were in the right rooms we finally got to bed around 2:00 in the morning.

Thomas and Mr. Newman, one of the Band Directors.  They
often end up dressing the same and this day was not exception!

The next morning we were up by 6:00 and reminding kids to bring their marching uniforms, instruments, marching shoes, park entrance pass, etc as we headed off to The Magic Kingdom for the day.  Joel and I were able to spend the day together at the park.  We had a 2 hour shift to be at the assigned "emergency location" in case the students needed anything.  Other than that we could just wander and do what we wanted.  Since there weren't many rides I could go on, we just enjoyed being together and seeing some of the shows and some of the milder rides.  Later that evening we herded all the kids backstage and then prepared to watch them march down Main Street in the Parade of Lights Parade.  It was truly magical to see these students represent Stow with such pride and dignity.  They were amazing.  Thomas said it was incredible to see the Disney castle ahead as they marched toward it.  He was awed by the thousands of complete strangers that cheered them on as they marched down Main Street.

After a ferry ride back to the buses and a short panic that we had lost quite a few kids, all were accounted for and we headed back to the hotel for the nightly check in at the rooms, last minute reminders, and bed around 2:00 am again.

The following morning came early again as the alarm went off at 6:00 am.  We had a quick breakfast and headed to Epcot.  The day was spent between Epcot and a Musician's Workshop led by a Disney Professional Musician.  During the workshop the band was given music to sight read and practice a couple times before being recorded.  They were even recorded playing the soundtrack to a Disney movie and then the music was paired with the movie.  Thomas said this was the best part of the entire trip.  Students, parents, and directors commented that his face was aglow the entire 3 hour workshop. They said it looked as though he was in heaven.

That evening we actually got back to the hotel early-about 10:30 pm.  But it took a long time to take care of the students' needs and get them all checked in to their rooms.  We were in bed around 1:00 am that evening.  

The next morning we packed up and checked all the students out of their rooms and loaded the buses.  Then we headed to Animal Kingdom.  We had breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe and then had a few hours in the park.  Then we headed to Hollywood Studios for the remainder of the day.  We left following Fantasmic and the Star Wars Fireworks show.  All 240 kids were accounted for and we began the 20 hour trek back home around 11 pm that night!

The last day at Hollywood Studios...we were just ready to go home and sleep! ;)

It was a whirlwind trip.  I loved every minute of it but I was exhausted!  It was fun to see Thomas' excitement and hear all the fun experiences he had.  Joel and I enjoyed time together as well that we don't get very often.  During the trip the directors were asking us how many more Disney trips our family has with the band.  We know at least 4 more, if all the kids decide to participate in band!  That means we could chaperone 4 more trips!

Spring's March

March for Spring brought the return of Concert Season.  She had a band concert, orchestra, concert, and choir concert.  She loves music and she is balancing all 3 commitments with seemingly great ease; although, we know it takes a lot of effort, practice, and balance.  She continues to improve in all of her musical pursuits.  I also love the friendships she is fostering in these courses and that she enjoys the social interactions at concerts with her friends.

She continues to be such a great big sister as well.  Jacob loves to follow her around and is beginning to pamper her.  One evening she was putting lotion on her legs and he sat down by her and began to help.  It was super cute.  He is also known to "brush" her hair!  Sara and Gideon won't let her leave for school without giving them a hug and kiss followed by shouts of, "I'll miss you, Spring!"  They are so happy when she returns home in the afternoon.

Between music, school, roller blading, playing basketball, school, homework, church activities, and babysitting Spring keeps herself very busy!  

Sam's Successes

March was a successful and fun month for Sam.  His hard work paid off at the Annual 4th Grade Rubik's cube tournament.  He solved the Rubik's cube 14 times in 20 minutes earning him 3rd place, and tying the previous school record.  1st place solved it 21 times and 2nd place solved it 16 times.  I am impressed he can even solve it.  I have never accomplished that, let alone solving it 14 times in 20 minutes!

Sam also was able to compete in the Tri-Fires District Pinewood Derby Race for the 3rd time in his Cub Scout career.  He earned 3rd place for his "Steelers" car this year.  He loves the pinewood derby. It's hard to believe that this was his final pinewood derby race as a cub scout.  As a family we have many years ahead of pinewood derbies!

 This was a blackmail picture.  He kept taking Sara's phone and not giving it back to her when she asked.  He thought it was so funny.  So, we took a picture and told him we were going to email it to his teacher so she could share it with his class the next day at school.  He quickly changed his mind and decided it would be in his best interest to give the phone back to his little sister!

Grandma's Visit

Grandma Powell came to visit us for a couple weeks!  It was absolutely wonderful and it always goes by way too quickly!  She came a week before Joel and I left to chaperone the Band Trip to Florida with Thomas.  She was amazing to stay home with the crew for the week we were in Florida.  The kids loved having her here, as did I!  In fact, the last few days before we left for Florida Josh would come home from school, see me, and say, "Ugh...you're still here, Mom!  I thought you were already going to be gone!"

The kids made great memories with Grandma.  They made homemade spud nuts for dinner, went to a movie, play tricks on each other, played games, alerted the neighborhood whenever Grandma was about to pull out of the garage, and lots of other fun times.  I was a major slacker and took very little pictures, though!  I'm so grateful my mom was willing to come and make it possible for Joel and I to chaperone the trip.  It was an amazing feeling knowing our children were taken care of and having a great time.  I didn't have to worry about anything while we were gone.  Love you and miss you, Mom!