AnneOnParenting

The New Graduate!

Mother’s Day started off a little rough yesterday.  DH thought it would be fun to wake up at 5:30 AM and listen to the roosters crow.  Me, not so much.  I crawled back in bed and slept in until around 9:00 AM.  Lulu and DH conspired on my gift - tickets for the family to see Star Trek.  I love Star Trek.  Not so fond of Star Wars, but Star Trek has always held my interest.  This movie was no different.  In fact, I hope they make another.

Then we headed for pizza [take out, of course] and on to home to eat.  Frankie headed over to Wal-mart to pick up a few missing pieces for my gift.  She is very crafty and resourceful.  About an hour later she came downstairs with a collage of memories.  Some were from many, many years ago.  Others were more recent.  I was [am] truly touched.  The best gifts come from the heart and my family never disappoints!

Boy, has it really been over a month since I posted here?  Amazing how time flies.  March was a busy month in our household.  Lulu turned 16 in March.  My little girl is growing up so fast.  She will be eligible for her driver’s license in June.  Then I will need to make a decision on which vehicle she will get to use.  Benny is officially a teenager.  He turned 13 in late March.  Three teenagers under one roof!  DH also celebrated a birthday in March.  And yes, we have three cakes between the 12th and the 21st every year.  All are ice cream and none last very long in our house.

Frankie has gotten accepted into every college she applied; she was worried she would not be accepted into any.  JMU is her first choice, but she did not get accepted into their music program.  Disappointing, yes, but there is always next year.  She did get accepted into Radford’s music program and their honor’s program.  She is leaning this way.  She auditions for Radford this coming Monday.  I know, how did she get into the music program without auditioning?  I asked the same thing.  They looked at her music experience.  Frankie has been in marching band 4 years, IDL 2 years, Jazz band 1 year, made the high school All-District band 1 year (7th chair concert), and takes private lessons - flute 2 years, piano 2 years.  

Next week Lulu and I will be going to Washington D.C. with the History Club.  This is exciting.  We will get to take a tour of the White House and one day will be spent at Six Flags.  Not sure which is more exciting.  We do love a good roller coaster!  Then there is Easter and I may do our famous egg hunt.  Our house sits on 3 acres and it makes for a fun hunt.   We shall see.  Money is tight and we like to put money in the eggs.  I may do it anyway.

Now I will leave you with the IDLers practicing on the bus without their instruments.  Enjoy!

Today the weather-people finally got it right.  That is right, snow!  They called for it; we got it.  Lots of it.  To me it looked to be about a foot, not that I really can tell.  I do know we broke out the sleds and down the hill we went.  Ivy dog jumped, slid, ran, and plowed through the layers of fluffy, white snow and loved every minute.

No school for the kiddos tomorrow either.  Temperature is getting low again tonight meaning the roads will ice.  Here in the mountains that is of utmost concern.  Me?  I love not having a traditional job.  Being able to stay home and “play” with the kids during these times is precious.  Frankie keeps reminding me she will be 18 in a few short months.  Soon it will be college and moving on with her life.  Lulu is not far behind.  She turns 16 in just ten days.  Really?  Ten days?  Wow!  Time snuck up on me.

Another day of fun in the snow tomorrow and then we break out the shorts for 70º weather come Saturday.  You read that correctly, 70º.  Crazy.

Frankie and Lulu did not have school Friday.  Well, school was in session and they did go there, but then they took a road trip to attend two days of all-district band.  Friday was spent learning music and learning to play with other teens from area schools who were honored with making the cut for this grand opportunity.

Let’s take this back a step.  In December the girls attended try-outs for the all-district band in our area.  Neither of the girls have made all-districts since middle school.  This was Frankie’s last year and she was ready.  This year the kids had to leave their cell phones on the bus or they would be automatically disqualified.  And, the group left before the results were in.  That was okay, the band director stayed.  He called Frankie later that day with the good news.  There are two levels of band playing, concert and symphonic.  Symphonic is the best, but concert is okay by us.  Frankie had made 3rd chair flute in concert band and Lulu made 12th chair clarinet in concert band.  They would be playing together this time around.

Frankie made 7th chair symphonic on flute in 8th grade.  Lulu made 1st chair symphonic on bass clarinet in 7th grade and 3rd chair symphonic on clarinet in 8th grade.  Lulu was not going to try out in 7th grade and on Frankie’s suggestion she tried out on the bass clarinet, less competition.  This is what gave Lulu the confidence to join the high school marching band in 8th grade.  Yes, in our county 8th graders can join high school extracurricular activities if there is a need.  

This past Saturday was the concert.  The girls rehearsed Friday and a good part of Saturday before the concert.  It was wonderful!  I swear if you closed your eyes and listened you would have thought it was a professional orchestra.  I bought the cd and will post a snippet as long as I can without copyright or other infringement.  I do not think this will be an issue.  They played five pieces and it was the most enjoyable concert of theirs I have attended to date.