The Choir Battle. And Lights At City Hall.

It's come to my attention that I'm probably not a very good mom.

And I should probably clarify that nobody actually told me that I'm not a good mom.  It's just something I've picked up on a lot recently.

Most recently this morning.

The story goes something like this:

Every year some odd number of my children decide they want to join the choir at the elementary school.  It's a big commitment since the practices are held early in the morning, before school, and with my work and school schedule, chances are pretty good that they're going to have to walk there in the early morning cold temps of November and December.

Honestly, I've been impressed with their willingness to get up and get it done.

As Cali is now our only child in elementary school, it fell upon the neighbor boy whom she walks to school with to also join choir so Cali wouldn't have to walk alone.

I'm pretty sure that neighbor boy made it to practice more often than Cali did.

Half way through Cali asks me, in her most pouty voice, "Do I have to take choir next year?"

To which I laughed, literally out loud, because, Chica, I didn't even make you take it this year, that was a choice you made all on your own.

She's not a morning person and the practices became something she dreaded simply because she didn't want to get out of bed early to go to them.  My schedule was more flexible this year than in previous years (yay online classes) so I started giving her rides most mornings and that seemed to help her attitude.

This year is also the first year that Cali is old enough to join the elementary orchestra.  She begged to take violin, and being as Casidee decided not to take violin this year, I told Cali she could use it.

I signed her up and paid the fees.

Practice is once a week, after school.

She hates it.

But frankly, it's paid for, and she's going to have to see the year out with it.

So most of my week has had a battle in it with getting that girl to choir and orchestra.  She certainly doesn't have to sign up for these things again, but she needs to fulfill her obligation and finish out this year, even if there wasn't a fee for choir and it was strictly on a volunteer basis.  And I explained that to her.  It's okay if she doesn't like it, but she can't bail when she's given her word to be there.  She can finish it out and then not sign up again.

Every year the choir sings at the lighting of the Christmas lights at our City Hall.  The kids sing, the lights across the property light up, and Santa, that jolly ol' elf himself, is there.

Cali never gave me the note with the information and time.

Luckily her orchestra teacher doesn't send notes.  She emails.  So I received the email stating when the orchestra kids needed to be at City Hall, and knowing that she also needed to be there for choir, because they've done so every other year, we raced to City Hall to get her there on time.

We made it just in time for her to join the choir performance.

Normally at concerts I take videos, but I never did that at the City Hall event because I knew the bigger concert was coming up, and I planned on taking video then.

After choir it was the orchestra's turn.

And she did well.  Even though I know she doesn't like doing it, I still had fun watching her show off her new skill.

As a reward we got in line for Santa Claus.  We checked him out from our place in line and I asked her, "Do you think he's the real one?"

She peered at him in contemplation.

"His beard looks real so I think he's the real one."

It only confirmed her thoughts when we overheard the people behind us having the same exact conversation, and coming to the same conclusion.

After Santa we checked out the lights, and went home.

 Two days later Cali had her orchestra concert where I was able to get my video of her playing the violin.  I'll post about that tomorrow.

This morning the alarm went off, and off, and off, and off... I finally went in to drag her out of bed.

"Come on, girl, you've got choir this morning."

"No I don't."

"What do you mean no you don't?"

Tayler interjects, "She forgot about the concert and didn't go."

This concert was the concert.  The whole reason for the choir and the practices.  It's done now, no more choir. I know good and well that Cali didn't forget about that concert.  I'm quite certain that she simply didn't give me the note that had the information on it, and just didn't go.

But there isn't much I can do with it at this point except sigh.

And tell her to put her violin on her backpack so she remembers it, because I paid way too much money for her to "forget" about orchestra.

I've determined that I'm not a good enough mom to be on top of this stuff, and I probably should be.

But then again, maybe I should give myself a break because what chance do I have against the nine year old who doesn't want to go to choir?

Casidee's Christmas Concerts

Playing a bit of catch up here with Casidee's Christmas concerts.

Somehow she ended up in choir as well as orchestra this year.  It's interesting since she didn't actually sign up for choir, but whatever.

Also, it's helpful that the orchestra teacher and the choir teacher are the same person.  So the concerts were all held on the same night, which I appreciated since having three nights of concerts the week before with Tayler and Cali.

It struck me how much better Casidee's orchestra is sounding since they started last year.  I'm really excited to have her grow in the talent.

A big thank you to Brynn who was willing to crawl up to the front and get the videos for me.

Concert Season is in Full Swing

With concert season being in full swing we had a busy week filled with music last week.

Cali and Tayler kicked us off by singing at our City Hall (here) on Monday, Tayler had her Christmas orchestra concert on Tuesday, and on Wednesday Cali and Tayler had their official Christmas choir concert.  That's a lot of concerts for Tayler too, since she was in all of them.

Next week we have Casidee's orchestra and choir concerts, but luckily those will be on the same night.

This week we're excited because The Man is having a birthday.  We have plans to spoil him and celebrate him, and show him that we love him.

I love pinterest for the ideas!

And now... for some concert pictures and videos.

All I wanted was a smile.  Just one smile.

Turns out this is as good as I was going to get.

Sometimes, as a mom, you come to learn that cutting your losses, at times, can be better than trying to win, and you just walk away while shaking your head.

And I'm sorry for the sub par phone pictures.  

You know that child?  The child that does weird dance moves while singing?

That may have been my child during this concert.  And the girl in the blue and gray stripes next to my child?  Her mom probably was not enjoying my child's influence on her child very much.

Thanks to Casidee for being my photographer and videographer for the night.



Cali's favorite song:



Tayler's favorite choir song (she liked it because they sang part of it in German):



Tayler's favorite orchestra song:





I like to post the orchestra concert songs because I think it will be fun in a few years to compare how they sound as they practice and learn and play longer.

Today is my math final and then I'm free to enjoy the holiday season with my Circus.  The tree is up, the porch is lit up with lights (I may or may not have picked a cold snow storm to accomplish that in?  I don't know why, I think it was more or less: "let's just get this done already").

This year my aim is to keep it simple yet focused.  I think sometimes I lose the feel of what I'm doing in all the busy details. We have the list of things we need to finish buying but the kids want to help wrap, which I think will be fun, and take a lot of busy-ness off of me.  I skipped decorating the inside of the house on Halloween and ended up loving how simple it was so I think I'll do the same with Christmas.  Aside from the tree and stockings of course.

I'm looking forward to this month.

Thanksgiving. And the Jolly Old Elf Himself. As Well As Some Magic.

Thanksgiving came with a little bit of ceremony.  Mostly in the actual foods that were prepared and the setting up of tables, and finally the watching of "While You Were Sleeping" while the big stuff was in the oven and it wasn't quite time to start the little stuff yet.

That's a big part of Thanksgiving ceremony, "While You Were Sleeping."

Cali learned how to make a Dutch Apple Pie.  Cas learned what it was to make pumpkin pies with Grandpa Dick and why that's a treat.

Our house was full to the brink.

 I posted this picture of Casidee on my Instagram:

And then this happened:

The yelling didn't start until the playing cards came out.

Slapjack for the younger crowd and nertz for the older and slightly more violent crowd.

And we may have come out of the experience with a broken stair banister, but you can't have family holidays be all good, right?  If that's the worst then all is well.

And then it happened.

December is here and I hardly even had time to realize it.  It takes me by surprise every year.

We kicked December off last night with Cali and Tayler's choir singing at our City Hall for the lighting of the city's lights.

And a visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself.  Cali asked for Monster High dolls.  Tayler for earmuffs.  Blue ones.

And it struck me, with the growing of my Circus, how very little time I have left for Christmas to be full of magic.

It will be always be magical.

But it changes from magic and wonder to a more specific awareness of giving and love, which is not bad, it's really very good, but I realize how little time I have left with the added bonus of a child's magic and wonder at it all.

Though when it's all said and done I suppose it's the awareness of giving and love that creates the magic for children, and whether they realize it or not, that will always be there, so we'll lose nothing in the growing of our children, the reason for it all will just change.

And that, perhaps, might be even a little better.

To have the magic with a purpose instead.

Christmas Choir Concert

A reminder that if you haven't entered the double book give away you should go do it now here.

The Navi is in the shop.

Again.

And The Man says, "I sure wish we still had that extra car."

And I don't say anything out loud, but I'm thinking, don't talk to me about this.  (Read this post).

So this morning I left the house while it was still dark to take him to work so I can continue to use the monster truck.

Watch out itty bitty cars.

Here's how my day has gone so far:

5:30-annoying and loud alarm yanks me from sleep (I'm never good with this part)
5:33-it registers in my brain that if I actually want a shower before I take The Man to work, I better get up
6:20-The Man is commenting on the fact that he's never seen me shower so quickly before.  I'm showered, dressed, and my hair is dry.  The Man also tells me he has errands to run before work.  My plan for the day has just been compounded.
7:04-still haven't gotten The Man to work yet.  I'm standing in the nail warehouse and trying to call home to wake kids up.  After two calls and having the fax answer (grrrr! Who turned that on?) Cas finally calls me back.  Wake up your sisters please, start getting ready.  I'll be home soon.
7:47-I've dropped The Man off and am on my way home when I get a phone call from Tayler, in tears.  No one woke her up and they need to leave soon.  My response is to stop wasting time crying to me on the phone and hustle to get ready.
8:05-I walk in the door.  Tayler is on track for leaving.  Cali is in the tub.  The kids need to leave in ten minutes, as do I in order to get Cas to her orthodontist apptointment and I don't have my hair done or my make up on.  I spent the next few minutes rushing Cali through the process of getting out of the tub and getting dressed.  I yank a brush through her hair as she puts on her shoes.  If I leave her to do any of this on her own, she'll drag her feet and I'll get stressed out phone calls from Brynn telling me that Cali is still standing in her room in a towel and it's time to leave. Now Cali is dressed, with shoes on, and her hair is brushed.  She has 10 minutes to eat breakfast.
8:39-somehow Casidee and I miraculously make it to her orthodontist appointment with a minute to spare, though I haven't yet done my hair or make up.  At least my hair is blow-dried.  The beautiful mother sitting with her daughter next to me makes me scowl at myself.
9:03-Cas and I make it home.  I ask her to throw dinner in the crockpot (hand her the recipe) and run upstairs to finally finish getting ready for the day.
9:25-I take Cas to school and head to work.
9:42-I make it to work and turn my computer on.  I shuffle papers around the office.
10:11-I get a text from The Man.  Sean's sick.  Can you go get him?  My boss (who is awesome) laughs.  I put in a whole half hour at work today.  By the time it would take me to go home and check Sean and out, and turn around and go back to work, it would be time for me to leave and get Tayler for her dentist appointment.  So after only a half hour of work, my boss agrees that I'm done for the day.

It's now 11:15 and I think in can finally find a second to actually eat something.

Which I better do because this afternoon won't be any better.  Tayler has a dentist appointment, Brynn has a doctor's appointment, and I still need to pick The Man up from work.

But at least dinner is in the crockpot.

Last night I went to the choir concert for Brynn, Sean, and Tayler.

.Cali was my videographer.

 I'd send her down the main aisle to sit on the floor in front and video the three on the song they said was their favorite.

Sean's:
(He's on the front row.  The lighting was terrible and left the front row in a shadow)
(You can hear Cali's addition *ding dong* she can't wait to be in choir next year and it took all she had not to sing along while doing the videos)



Brynn's:
(in contrast to Sean being in shadow, Brynn had so much light on her she's all whited out)
(she's on the top row)



Tayler's:



I loved it.  These kids worked so hard getting up early and going to practice.

Whose kid is that anyway?

(He takes after his dad)

Will someone else please tell Brynn that a t-shirt doesn't count as dressing up?

I'm just the mom after all.

You did a great job guys.

I'm super proud of the effort and commitment that you put into this.

Santa at City Hall

The lighting of the lights at our little City Hall is a grand event indeed.

Choirs sing, Santa visits, there are poinsettias everywhere, and Christmas trees and a little snow village complete with a moving train.

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of these kids and the effort they put into being in choir.  The choir practices before school two mornings a week so these kids are getting up early to get ready, get their chores done, and walk in the cold to school.

They're always so excited about choir when it comes around every year.

Last night was just a sneak peak of what they've been working on.  We'll get their full musical repertoire next week when they have their official concert.

And then there's always the dreaded Santa visit.

Dreaded because Santa has already secured his gifts for the kids and he's just hoping that what they ask for is what he has "made" for them.

Luckily Santa was in sync with the kids this year and wasn't too far off with what they were asking for.

I love Christmas and the magic and joy that it brings to the center of our lives.

Christmas with kids can be the most magical and joyful time of all.  It never ceases to amaze me how big their hearts are.

I welcome this holiday season.

Christmas Choir

Casidee and Tayler joined the Christmas choir at school this year.  Second year for Cas, first for Tay.  This year their choir was invited to sing at our City Hall.  There's a staggering 122 kids in their choir, the biggest they've ever had in the choir before, and the biggest choir that our City Hall has ever hosted.  We were packed in tight. In front of City Hall:

Tay on the front row with the light blue shirt:

And Cas in the very back on her tip toes so she can see over the massive group that's squashed on the tiny stage, you can see her head:



Last night was the official concert.  They had some pretty fun props, and of course an Elementary school choir is just funny to watch period.  They make great faces.

Don't tell West, but I'm secretly hoping that they get into the musicals and plays in Jr. High and High school. :)