The Family I Love: February 2008

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Drawing - By Alison Rich

Drawing can be fun,

it really makes me happy.

But the pictures I drew when I was small,

are really, very nappy.

But we all start out just the same.

It's really plain to see,

that every single one of us

all started out just like me.

Everyone can draw

it's hidden inside of you.

Only if you let it out,

you can draw like me, too.

The piano is bringing sweet music to my ears once more

We have finally started Alison back up with piano lessons. I am so excited to hear music being played again in my home. She picks up on it pretty quick and enjoys playing, except for the moments that she doesn't:).

We are so excited to get Emma started with lessons too. After her first lesson she was very disappointed to hear that she only gets to go once a week. I think I am really going to love this new teacher. I drop both girls off at the same time and the teacher has three stations. One station is a 20 min piano lesson, the next station is at the computer using interatctive software for music theory, ear training, and composition. The last station is 20 mins with either piano practice, composer reports, listening station, technique practice, or other quizzes/assignments. My girls are busy the whole hour they are there, but they are doing many different things. All kids don't learn the same way and this teacher seems to understand that. She has two pianos. She sits at one with a student and then there is another one off to the side with head phones for an individual student to use. I think I am going to love this system and I know my girls do. Alison says her favorite time is at the computer.

Friday, February 1, 2008

Holy Cow!

I saw our previous house the other day when picking up my kids from school and I couldn't believe my eyes. A portion of the house was sitting five feet off of the ground.

If you look really hard under the house, you will see the bathtub (the dark shadow on the right) still sitting on the foundation. Wow! -Sometimes when I click twice on the photo it inlarges, try it and see if it works-

Emma

Emma, who is 10, loves music and feels it inside. I LOVE to listen to her sing. When she knows a song well she can belt it out strong. She is not one that needs a microphone:) Her daddy loves to spend time with her singing. Often times he plays his guitar while she makes up songs. When Emma isn't singing, she is playing outside, or with friends. She wishes she could go camping more often and last night she informed me that she wished she lived in a place that had tons of lizards, animals, snakes, bugs, etc... I think she needs to go to the rainforest.

Sadie

Sadie, who is 7, is the jokester of the family. She is happiest if her joke actually makes someone laugh:) She has started a funky jazz dance class and seems to really enjoy it. It is fun to watch her work so hard at doing the splits. She loves anything girlie...make-up, dress-up, sparkly, etc... She prefers not to do any chores or housework:), but is getting better at it. She is known to pull everything out while playing and not be too interested when it's time to clean up. Mommy usually says, "Well, I'll do it, but I get to do what I want with it." That usually means I will throw it in the trash:) It's amazing how quick she moves once I volunteer!

Jayden

Jayden, who will be 5 in July, will start kindergarten real soon. He wasn't excited to do so, but is now accepting the idea that he won't be with mommy forever. Jayden loves to ride his bike, scooter, jump on the trampoline, and play with his friends. He loves to spot race cars and hear their engines rev. For some reason he can spot a mustang a mile away. He also loves to pretend that his bike is a motorcycle and he makes revving noises while he rides. He loves his sisters and enjoys playing with them too. He is very loving and tells me many time a day, "Mommy, I love you!"