The Ocarina is a real instrument

Ok, so I have established that I am NOT musical. Guess what? This is the week of music for Ryan. Yesterday was orchestra hall, today was going to the high school for a band concert and tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for band.

Last year, the music teacher at Ryan's school started the students on the recorders. They started reading notes and playing catchy tunes.
Ry loves his recorder. Click here for a fun video of Ry's recorder talent.

Newsflash: Ryan also loves video games. Yes, the two subjects are related. Ryan really enjoys Zelda games. He has been working on the game Legend of Zelda: the Ocarina of Time. I guess the character Link plays an Ocarina that controls time and weather.
I thought they made up the instrument for the game. Guess what...it is a real instrument. Ryan ordered one from Amazon. He has been obsessed with it ever since the order was placed. We kept telling him that it was not coming until spring break. It came early.
He is constantly playing this thing. He has figured out a few of the songs that Link plays and he repeats them over and over again. Yesterday he played it outside so the people working on the neighbor's house could have some pretty music (isn't that thoughtful?). Today he took it to school. His teacher told me the class really enjoyed the Ocarina today. His music teacher (she is an amazing teacher) gave him a fingering chart for it and Emily told me that Ryan played it the whole way home on the bus. Lucky driver.

He just might have some music in him despite me : )

The Dreaded Field Trip

As you know, I grew up around here. I experienced a lot of what my kids are experiencing. The hope for a snow day (usually disappointed-curse those snow plows), the fun parks, malls, lakes etc. When it comes to field trips they are going on the same trips. There are the trips to the zoo, the Children's Theater, the Science Museum, Children's Museum and skiing. Today was Ry's trip to Orchestra Hall downtown.
I am about to let you all in on a little secret....I really do not enjoy Orchestra Hall. The music does not relax, entertain or inspire me at all. I remember dreading this field trip as a child. I remember staring at the hall counting the bumpy things, waiting for it to be over. I remember trying to picture what kind of cartoon they would put the different music to...anything to help me enjoy this trip as a child.

Yep, those are the bumpy things I stared at as a child.

When I showed up at the school this morning, I walked in with another chaperon-mom. She just kept going on and on about how excited she was about the trip. That she was excited about ANYTHING music. I just smiled and said I hoped it would be a good time. I was slightly ashamed at my attitude. I then distanced myself from the her. :)

I will say that the concert seemed to showcase the instruments more than I remembered. Lets face it, educators know how to teach/entertain children better now. Programs have improved. I enjoyed the musicians walking in as they played their parts. I enjoyed the big screen that helped the audience see the different instruments. I also think that they condensed the show. That all helps. But, tie a big bow around it and dip it in chocolate...it is still classical music (Maybe if they played Hooked on Classics or ABBA I would respond more positively).
Bottom line: I'm not a musical person. Are you guys ready to hear another shocker? Even a practice hymn at church can make me antsy and uncomfortable (that's a different post though).

Ryan asked me if I enjoyed the field trip. I can honestly say I enjoyed the trip because I was with my guy. He was happy I went and that is what is important, right? I would go again in a heart beat, but next time let's hit the Children's theater.

Early spring

*Lori...this post could be a preview of spring break. Can the girls still come over?

One of my favorite sights is melting snow in the early Spring. The streams running down the sides of the street make me happy. I love them!
This does not mean the snow is done falling...but it is a beginning. All this snow melt causes squishy ground. Another fun part of spring. It is MUDDY out there.

Here is exhibit #1. Under our swing set in the back yard.

Look it is flip flop weather AND snow boot weather. What a special state : )

Emily and her friends are always attracted to the mud. Maria and Emily were entertained by the mud for a few hours today.

Now I have a mud bakery on my picnic table.
These hands are not afraid of a little (or a lot) of dirt.
It's all good. Somehow they get clean. Amazingly, so will the tub as soon as Erik gets home.

A different kind of Spring..

Things are warming up around here. What better way to celebrate the beginning of Spring than to get outside and spring into the air on the trampoline? I love the trampoline and I love trampoline pictures. I love the smiles.

I love to tricks kids preform.

I love the energy of the trampoline.

I love the noise kids make on the trampoline.
I love that kids get to be silly on the trampoline.
Not sure I love this picture. Ry took it. Just be glad it isn't a video : )

All done...or moving on.

Thanks for the closure guys! Each comment was completely appreciated. You guys are right...love her...support her and help move on : ).

Girls and their dolls

Growing up I LOVED my Cabbage Patch kid. In fact, I can remember getting my first CP kid. He was a bald preemie and his name was Brett Elliot. I had all the CP accessories to help me care for my baby. In fact, most moms my age seem to have a Cabbage Patch kid memory and/or love.
For Em and her friends it is a love for American Girl dolls. Emily was lucky enough to inherit Molly and Kit from her cousin Lauren. She then acquired Samantha from our baby sitter. She has received a Bitty baby for Christmas and Bitty twins for her birthday. Basically she is set for dolls. She LOVES them. Life was good when they opened an American Girl store at the Mall of America.
Today was our neighbor Lauren's birthday. Her mother Kristin and I thought it would be fun to take the girls out of school and go to the AG store. It is such an amazing store.

The Bistro was fun. The dolls even got their own drink and dessert.

Molly got her hair done. The poor doll's braids were completely falling out

It was fun to dream about things to buy for our dolls and ourselves. Emily now wants to get her hair cut like Kit's hair and wear the outfit.

Look at these eyes...Kristin how do you stay strong with those puppy eyes? I would crack. At one point they had a friendly worker passing out oatmeal cookies. Here's a tip: if ever offered a cookie at the American Girl doll store say YES immediately. We spent about 3.5 hours there. It was a fun afternoon. I loved my time with Em and our neighbors.