Music Stuff

 Last night was Araceli's cello play-in which she rehearsed for last Friday.  It's like an informal recital, with a big group playing arrangements of all the Suzuki pieces.  Here's a video of one of the songs, showcasing my poor video-taking skills as well as Araceli's ability to chew gum and play the cello at the same time.

 Quiz question:  Is this conductor (Paul Joines) American or European?  How can you tell?  Answer:  American.  He's wearing the universal conductor uniform; black shirt and blue or black pants.  The only way you can tell where he's from is by the shoes.  Americans wear white tennis shoes, whereas Europeans opt for fine Italian leather loafers. 

 Araceli drawing a picture for the cello teacher.

 Wrapping up a day that included almost passing out during the morning school choir performance in front of the whole school.  Ari said she felt dizzy and hot and sat down during the singing.  The principal and her teacher had to rescue her and take her to the office to call her mom.  Ari told me she wants to do choir again next year because "I want to see what it's like to sing in front of the school without just about collapsing."  That's something to shoot for, for sure!  :)

 After the cello play-in, celebrating Golda's achievement, getting a spot in the school's show choir, Rhapsody in Blue.  Congratulations, Golda!  While she's eating ice cream, she's going over some music from the audition.  Relax, Golda!  Rehearsals don't start until September!

 Freestone and Xanthe's violin and piano recital a few weeks ago.  They have the same teacher, which is great for recitals.  Freestone played Long, Long Ago and Xanthe played Little Playmates.  Xanthe goes through the same routine every time she plays in a recital.  She is fine up until 5 minutes before the recital.  Then she goes in to panic mode, turning white and clinging to me.  Right before it's her turn, she bursts into tears and sobs about not wanting to do it.  Then she gets up and plays and loves it.  Whatever works, right?

 Another Suzuki group recital. Nothing was memorable about this one except that Araceli took Ptolemy and got lost.  Fun, fun!  I can safely say that the whole music and dance thing is one of my favorite things about having kids.  Yesterday, I went from Freestone's violin lesson to take Golda to ballet to Ruby's group guitar to the cello thing, with practicing in between, and loved it.  Raising kids, there are so many good options, you just have to choose things you enjoy and go for it.  If we loved soccer, Scott and I would be on the sidelines for hours every Saturday.  We don't, and our kids will probably turn out just fine anyway.  I did go to a soccer game a few weeks ago, though.  My Uncle Jim and Aunt Da called to say that their nephew from Thailand was playing in a special game near our house.  It turns out the nephew, who is twelve, just came to live with Jim and Da and they're hoping he can stay through college.  Now, here is Uncle Jim, in his seventies, volunteering to raise a sixth child through to adulthood.  That's just Jim.  Their nephew, Frank, is really good at soccer, so they put him on a competition team.  Now they drive all over the state cheering at soccer games, in between their other kids' and grandkids' track meets, football, soccer and basketball games and chess tournaments.  I sometimes wonder how they do it, but I know it's because they love what they're doing.  Jim even told me at the game, as they left for Jessie's track meet, "We just love every minute of it.  Every time Frank scores a goal or Danny makes a basket or Jessie crossed that finish line, it's just all worth it."  I can't think of a better sound byte for parenthood, and not just in regards to sports.  (Sports are a metaphor for life, right, Scott?)  I joke with my kids when they don't want to go to a concert or they're too tired for ballet, "You don't want to go?  What??  This is the whole reason I HAD kids!  Now get in the car!"  It gets a smile, but it's a little bit true.  OK, a lot true.  And I'm loving every minute of it!

Why Royals Matter

Photo by Reuters

Some jaded souls will say that a royal wedding doesn't matter, that it is all meaningless fluff, and why don't we devote our attention to something important?  I say a royal wedding does matter.  This ancient pomp and circumstance is a light to the world, it really is.  As "down-to-earth" as William and Kate are, they are also a symbol of tradition, order, dignity, political structure, grace and respect to one's place in the world.  Those are heavy burdens for mere mortals, which makes their polished handling of events even more impressive.  Here are two people, backed by two families (one royal, one unaccustomed to the spotlight) who have the stately ability to carry off a beautiful wedding with nary a brash or tacky misstep, amidst a crazy media frenzy.  This is how a classy man and woman carry themselves, and I am glad to have their example for my kids.

You know what truly doesn't matter?  Disney princesses, Hollywood starlets in rehab, teen idols doing half-naked photo shoots, sports icons lying under oath, pop stars' personal lives exposed for the tragic shams that they are.  The real deal is the British royal family, in spite of all their human foibles.  So dream of being a princess, daughters.  Just dream of being one who doesn't necessarily crave the spotlight, but is poised and modest when she's in it.  Be a princess who can live life with restraint and carry the day with dignity when duty calls.  And be prepared intellectually and spiritually to rise the the occasion, no matter what your calling in life.  You know why you're princesses, girls, and it has nothing to do with pink sparkly baubles.

Araceli Shines

 Bribery - Scott was kidding!

 Araceli and Mrs. Anderson.  Ari liked her so much, she took her a little note and gift to say thanks for teaching the choir.  What a dedicated teacher!

 Scott and Bill, still trying to convince Freestone that he's having fun.  He was ecstatic when he got to leave early with me to take the girls to dance.  I've never seen him so cheerful.  I guess he won't be singing in the choir next year.  Or ever.

 Araceli in 1955.  What is the deal with the antique look here?

Tonight was Araceli's school choir concert.  She has been going to school at 7:45 a.m. twice a week for awhile to participate in choir, and it has been a lot of fun.  Songs get stuck in Ari's head, so I've been hearing the repertoire non-stop for weeks.  For the big concert, we forced Freestone into the car at the last minute amid tears and wailing.  When we got to the school, Scott tried to lighten the mood by offering Freestone sixty-five dollars to go inside for the concert.  He didn't even want the money - not that Scott would have really given it to him.  At least all the tears washed off most of the dirt that was caked on Freestone's face.

The choir was great.  Araceli was a cute little angel up there, singing her heart out. She kept smiling at me and trying to get Ptolemy's attention.  Ari had a little cold and didn't feel too great, but took a nap after school, gulped some ibuprofen and got herself to the concert.  She is a strong girl.  She is such a capable person, I sometimes forget how hard she works to get her practicing and homework done, help around the house, babysit Ptolemy and be prepared for her dance classes and cello lessons.  And she still thinks to write cute notes for everyone, all the time.   Thanks, Araceli.  "Love you the most!"

If You Can Skip

"Xanthe, we have to go home and do your reading."

"Mom, I have to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"My music teacher said that if you can skip, you can read.  And I can skip."

"Hmm.  Unfortunately, that's not true."

"Oh.  Well, that teacher is weird."

Xanthe is getting so funny.  At piano, I realized that she doesn't know the difference between before and after.  That's something I thought kids were able to kindof pick up on without too much explanation, but that was before I had Xanthe.  After piano today, I know I have to work with Xanthe on that concept.

Another thing I thought would come naturally to Xanthe is using the eye that can actually see when she's looking for something.  When she couldn't find her shoes and I was able to find them quickly, she said, "But remember?  My eye?"  I jokingly told her to use the eye that can see when she looks for things.  She answered, "OH!  I was using THIS eye," pointing to the one that can't see well.  Good excuse, Xanthe!

This morning was Xanthe's long-awaited field trip.  Ari took her over to the school in the morning to ride the bus to some museum.  Usually she goes to school in the afternoon, so it was pretty exciting.  Ten minutes later, I got a call from the school.  Apparently, the teacher didn't have Xanthe's permission slip and didn't think she was going.  It's probably crushed in the bottom of her backpack.  Whatever.  So the teacher wanted to know if Xanthe had my permission to go.  Gee, no, she doesn't.  I wondered where she was!  She must have gotten herself ready against my wishes, sneaked out of the house and walked to the school at the exact right time to catch the bus, even though she can't tell time and thinks Vendreday is a day of the week.  (That's Franglais.)  Did I mention before and after are still a challenge? 

Of course she has my permission to go, dingbat.  It's free babysitting, isn't it?

Can you tell I'm hitting the end-of-school wall?  I'm already boycotting all requests for toilet paper rolls and glue sticks.  I admit, I'm the one with the problem.  The teachers are great.  I'm willing to bet they're even more ready for summer than I am!

Ruby's Guitar Recital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1GxStSnN4

This is what I missed last Friday.  Ruby's guitar recital.  I love Ruby's recitals because guitar is my favorite, there is always a big spread of good food after, it is at Peter Prier's recital hall next to my old school, I like the other families and it's fun to hear Ruby play.

This time, though, Scott got the guitar gig and I took Ari to a "cello play-in" rehearsal in Ogden.  Boo.  Even though I missed the guitar experience, it was relaxing to sit in a beautiful Presbyterian church listening to a cello orchestra and reading for an hour and a half.  Cello is the only instrument that can make up an ensemble without any other instruments.  It has all the ranges, and the sound is gorgeous.  Seeing Ari playing in the group, marking her music and sticking the pencil behind her ear, turning the pages, watching the conductor...sigh...I'm sure I'm one of the few moms out there whose heart is warmed by nerdiness.

Each instrument has its own form of geekdom.  Cello players are sortof the academic nerds, the nerds who turn out to be pretty cool when you get to know them.  Violinists are the most narcissistic and supremely confident, because they always get the melody.  (Sarah, Maria, you'll have to tell me what harp people are like!)  Flutists are the annoying perfectionists.  Violists, of course, are just plain weird.  That's why the play the viola.  All bass players have a dark side.  (Same with tuba.)  Trumpet: cocky.  French horn: quirky.  Pianists can be either really grounded or completely neurotic.  (And people who think about these things are really lame!)  But guitar people are just cool.  Classical guitar is a small and insular world where everyone truly is a music lover to the nth degree.  All the repertoire is painfully beautiful, and the people who play it have artistic souls.  For such a solitary instrument, guitarists are more community oriented than you would think.  It's a fun world.  I hope I'm in the audience next time, Ruby!  Great job!

Crash and Burn

This was Xanthe at about 5:00 Sunday night.  Easter finally got the best of her.  This morning, Ruby is in bed with a migraine and a pillow over her eyes.  Araceli came down with a cold and shivered her way to bed early last night.  Freestone had something worse, but not too contagious: a practicing meltdown.  After a screaming time-out, he managed to have a happy practice time.  Then, standing at the door in his parka and backpack, he started whimpering that he didn't feel good.  Ooooooh, well now the meltdown makes sense.  I unpacked him and tucked him back into bed with a couple of mutts to keep him company. 

This is what happens when you get high on sugar and party like it's 1999.

Easter Sunday

 Looks like the Easter bunny was here!

 Waiting on the stairs

 Yes!  The Easter bunny came!

 "I cannot believe this candy!  Why don't we do this EVERY day?  What is going ON here?!?"

 Araceli spent a lot of time preparing the kids' table, complete with nametags for all the King kids.  The table was beautiful!

 Grown-up table with Michelle's chocolate eggs.

 We love Bill!  Coco is in Paris with some friends.  We missed you, Coco!

 New Easter dress

 The baby of Michelle's relish tray Easter bunny from yesterday.  The Kings were so happy to have an addition to the family who is an artisan pastry chef.  I've never seen my dad eat more than a nibble of sweets, but he sure did today!

Thanks for the Easter lilly, Tricia!  We missed the Bazail clan, too.  We love you!

Happy Easter to all our friends and family near and far.

Easter Saturday

 At Grannie Annie's

After the Easter egg hunt, most of the Dopps went directly to Grannie Annie's for a big breakfast.  I'm notorious for hating breakfast restaurants, but I did make an appearance in between driving Ari's ballet carpool and dropping off Ruby, then Golda, at play practice.  The real food event was later at Grandma and Grandpa's, so I was really just holding out for the good stuff!

Grandpa grilled hamburgers and chicken and Grandma prepared a big, delicious meal.  Michelle's Easter bunny relish tray was a big, adorable hit, and her chocolate eggs were probably the reason I forgot to take pictures.  I was in a sugar coma on the couch for most of the afternoon, and it was great.  Scott and I managed to pull ourselves away for a fun evening with some friends.  This is a little group that tries to get together at Christmastime, so we're a little behind the 8 ball this year, but it was a fun "Christmas" party.  Golda, Ruby, Ari and Lexie went to a dance performance at the high school and Michelle took the littles home and dyed Easter eggs with them.  Thanks, Michelle!  She said Ptolemy only put up the tiniest fight when he went to bed.  I think we all wore ourselves out with fun, but it was a great day. 

Easter Love

 Hiding 2,000 eggs.

 Only the most macho baby boys can pull off pink.

 Scott and his favorite kids.  I'M JUST KIDDING!!

 See how dapper he is?  Oooh la la!

 Izzy

 The megaphone is my favorite part of the Easter egg hunt.  I wish I had one in real life.  There would be unlimited applications for its use.

 Big and little sissies

 Comparing loot

 Sisters

 Grandma!

 Michelle giving Bill and Trajan tips on how to scatter your own Easter eggs in front of your toddler so he won't have to compete with the big kids.

 Josh, Camille and Jake

 Liby

 One of Mike's favorite story telling hand gestures.

 It must have been a funny story!

 Little Charlotte

 Chris "working out" with Isaac and Hazel

 Cade in admiration of big, cool cousin Jakey

Eliza, Tate and Xanthe, the Chinese delegation.

Thanks to everyone who contributed eggs, helped hide them, and came to find them!  Love ya!