Evelyn Orchestra

Here are the pictures of Evelyn's orchestra concert from my phone.  It was cold and rainy, but she was bright and smiley.  Grandma Wilcox was able to make it to this one.

She was so cute.  She saw me and knows that it's hard to get a picture of her behind everyone so she paused with me in view and waited for me.  It was perfect.

 

 

Orchestra

Sam was Mr House's first 9th grader class, Evelyn was his last one now that he's moving to High School.

Evelyn did so well!  Her little 18 person orchestra sounds so great.  Her music even fell off the stand, she calmly reached down put it back up and continued.  Very professional!

Evelyn was acknowledged as one of the out going 9th graders.  (On another note, she was recognized yesterday as a member of the honor roll.)

All three orchestras combined for a beginning number.

 

Music week

 

I've been practicing the organ for Easter Sunday.  Evelyn is going to be helping me with a more involved piece and both her and Sam wanted to come and learn how the organ works. I loved their enthusiasm.  And I hope they will get chances to use it.

I think it's so funny. The house always sounds like music building practice rooms.  Two songs and multiple instruments being played at once. 

Our wonderful nephew, Jordan, was Cogsworth in the school play.  I really wanted to see him in it, but I had a little more than a half hour to drive more than that away.... I knew I'd miss about half the play but still tried anyways.  We didn't make it til the end of the play because of a wreck and needing to stop and get gas.  We got to congratulate him, eat pizza and him and Seth played mario kart while I talked with the adults.  Still worth the drive.  The same night, we sent Seth with Grandma and Grandpa to sleep over at Sharon's house... Jer spent half the day helping set up (mostly making graham fingers in copious amounts) the reception for our niece, Mariah's, wedding. Ada spent the day working with her teams for their state FBLA competition that started today, Sam took a practice ACT test, and Evelyn just didn't want to do anything...   The next morning, Ada watched Jude and Josie at the temple while we went to the sealing.  Then she helped me take the wedding photos.  Sam did flash cards and Evelyn helped Ada a little. My parents took Seth to one of his best friend's birthday party. Ada left after the luncheon for a mandatory prep day for the competition.... Evelyn helped me take pictures at the wedding and we had a blast with the beautiful bride and groom.

Ada's official Sterling Scholar picture was up in the hall while I was there for the band concert.

Sam played a lot this time.... He played with the Symphonic Band, his Jazz band, the lower Jazz band and his flute choir.  He came home and just wanted to play computer games.  

I saw him chilling behind the curtain while the other bands were playing....

Evelyn has made a lot of progress this year!  She's loving playing the classical music that the new director has chosen.  Dad loves it too. Their orchestra is going to the State Festival tomorrow.  Both her and cousin Amelia's orchestras are ranked in the top 15 of the state.  Maybe they'll get to say hi.  They both play 2nd violin, so that's fun.

This week's doings

We got to go to a BYU orchestra concert where Sam's flute teacher was the first chair.  It was spectacular.

She's working so hard and it's definitely pushing her limits.

Seth's Scholar led Conference.  He's doing a great job with his education. He made a windmill the other day.

My sewing helper... she jumped every time the needle came up.  It was funny.

For Valentine's Day, Grandma Robertson gave us her annual handmade cards and my parents did a new twist on their annual Valentine's cookies.  We appreciated both!

Sam had a band field trip and forgot his wallet, so I ran over and bought him some food.  He was so sweet and let me stay to chat while he ate.

My cute husband sharing his trains with my daycare kids.  They sure like it.

Sam's teacher, Madison.

 

Orchestra

My Evelyn had her Christmas Orchestra concert too.  They did so well.  They played with the High schoolers.  Evelyn is so excited to work with the high school teachers next year.  I loved that this year she got to play Vivaldi's Winter.  It's so fun to see my children happy!  

Celebratory ice cream

 

Post trip catch up

 

Our last two weeks have been full swing.  We're getting caught up on school work from being gone so long, adjusting to a new choir director for my calling as choir pianist, welcoming a new Great-niece (congrats Aubrey!), celebrated Evelyn at her orchestra concert, celebrated Sam at his Jazz concert, enjoyed watching Seth try out jiu jitsu for the first time, hosted cousins for a magic tournament, celebrated Jack's birthday at Bricks n minifigs, took Ada for a campus tour to USU (it was fun and a nice campus), had dinner and made apple turkeys with Sharon and her kids, watched Sam in a flute trio in church, got good grade donuts with Seth, Seth earned the 1st place class spot in the spelling bee (he'll move on to the school wide one next) did the Priesthood preview with Seth, and went to a Happy Fitts concert with Ada and babysat for Emma a couple of times while she was packing to move (I'll miss their happy faces).

Evelyn's in the back... I was able to grab a couple shots of her peeking around from the back.  

Seth loves doing this.  It is a lot more like wrestling and less like karate, but he likes that.

Nellie invited us over to divvy up Avatar cards.

Magic game players

Birthday goers

We've been making apple turkeys since I can remember.  My grandma used to do this with us every Thanksgiving and now that our kids are all teenagers, they aren't really super excited about it... but we did it with the littles and it was fun.

Ada's thinking of 4-5 different colleges.  Wherever she ends up, she's going to be great!

Sam sure loves the Jazz band.  Our choir has started to sing more jazz type music and three of the boys are members of the jazz band.  They love geeking out over the timing and energy of the music.

Seth brings in our cats from their enclosure every morning.  It's cute.

Making faces while playing.

Peter made a robot and wanted me to take a picture.

Jer's cat nap.  I think they missed us while we were gone.

Nya, Anna and Sam.  They played beautifully.

Sweet Potato Kit kats.... yum

Evelyn is working on learning web-development.  She's doing a fine job and I think she'd like something like this as a job.

Ada made chocolate dipped "turkeys" out of strawberries and pretzels for her club social.

Vinn is so tolerant of Seth... 

Jer and I almost forgot about Seth's Priesthood preview.  Thank goodness I had a notification go off on my phone.  We made it, they explained what next year will look like for him and I'm so excited for all 4 of my kids to be able to share in being in the youth together for a few months.

a tiny apple pie Jer made for Anita Taylor

Ada and I at Happy Fits. It was so fun.  I did okay, but man were my legs tired after.  It was especially fun to watch Ada singing along with her favorite songs.  I loved especially that the main guy has a cello.

Evelyn's band buddies.... She says that she loves orchestra but all her friends are in band.