Book Fair

This week, during parent/teacher conferences at school, the Book Fair is going on.  Our librarian asked me to run it this evening during the grandparent event, and the kids and I had fun!

The kids each were allowed to choose $20 worth of books for payment for our work.  They LOVE books, and had no trouble finding some they wanted!

Popper Workshop

Sylvia had a wonderful musical opportunity today.  She was able to be part of half of the day's activities for the 7th Annual Popper Workshop of the ISU cello studio.  She attended Dr. Ransom's presentation about the history of the great cellists, which was very interesting.  (Sylvia asked me to sit in on it too--kinda cool for me to be back in a college music classroom.)  Dr. Ransom showed the students there who study with her how they can trace their own musical education all the way back to the beginning of the cello through the greatest cellists!

After the presentation, all the cellists who were part of the day gathered to rehearse 2 pieces by David Popper together.  These were cellists of all ages (elementary school beginners through professional adults).  I had never heard a cello choir before, and immediately got goosebumps from the sound of 24 cellos playing together!

Jeremy, Annah, and Caeden came back to listen to the concert.  9 solo Popper cello pieces were performed before the 2 cello choir pieces, and it was very cool to get to take that in.  (It was difficult for Caeden to sit still and silent through an hour of classical cello music, but he did a pretty good job.)

Here are the 2 beautiful pieces Dr. Ransom arranged for cello choir.  

(Personally, I love the second piece.)

L'Andalouse from Spanish Dances, Op. 54, No. 4

To the Memory of My Parents, Op. 64, No. 1

Sylvia was fairly nervous, being so new to cello, and said it was pretty hard music for her.  But, she also said today that she wants to do as much as she can with her cello, so she is enjoying the challenges, and thankful for every opportunity.

Caeden's 10th birthday party

A couple weeks ago, I sent these invitations to Caeden's birthday party.

Yesterday and today, I made lots of treats...

I used silicon trays to make Lego brick and mini figure grape and orange ice cubes to go in 7-up, vanilla, peanut butter, and chocolate candies, and strawberry, orange, and blue raspberry gummies.

 Caed's buddies, Kyle, Cale, Cameron, and Owen arrived this evening.  First order of business...pizza and snacks.

 Annah blew up lots of balloons for the party, and they got lots of use. 

Jeremy took the boys down to the community center to play a bit of football and run off some energy before it got too dark.  

 Caeden received some more cards and presents, like a Snark tuner for his guitar...

And a Lego Movie t-shirt. 

 Someone saw the Rockband drums and guitar sitting in the living room and asked if they could play. Jeremy got them set up to play the Beatles version.

Time for cake and ice cream!

Silly boys!  I really did give them utensils!  I guess it's just more fun this way... 

While the boys had been playing football, the girls and I put together a scavenger hunt through the house.  

The boys did a great job figuring out the clues!

I could have made it a lot tougher, but I think they had fun.

Some of our favorite Lego Movie characters showed up in the living room...

Even Wild Style was here.

Next we busted out the glow glasses.  Someone suggested making a rap video, and there was talk about starting with old-school rap.  Then someone decided to sag their pajama pants in preparation for the rap video...Then someone sagged them too far, and in order to correct that they all started hiking up their pants like "old grandpas."   

 Somewhere between 9:30 and 10pm, they settled in to watch the Lego Movie in their sleeping bags.

Jeremy was the hero of this party!!  He was the cool dad who hung out and played football and Rockband with the kids, kept them in line, made them laugh, and even slept in the recliner in the living room all night to make sure they actually quieted down and got some sleep.  I was SO grateful for his help!!

 I think they actually slept!  I heard them stirring just before 8am today.  After breakfast, they played more Rockband--this time the Lego version.  

 About 10am this morning, we headed outside and I took them all home.  What a fun group of boys.  Caeden loved his first sleepover and celebrating his birthday with his friends.

Famous Dave's with Friends

Kevin and Regina are back in town to close on their house tomorrow, and this time they brought their beautiful daughters--Eryn and Meagan!  We met at Famous Daves tonight for supper together and really enjoyed meeting these two sweetie girls.  We recently exchanged letters, so I think they felt like they knew us a little bit before officially meeting us.  

Of course we had to pose for a picture with the big pig before leaving.

We're excited for these friends to be so nearby in just a few weeks!!

Caeden's 10th Birthday

As of 8:05 this morning, Caeden is officially in the double digits!  He is pretty excited about that, yet at the same time, he is aware that it might make his mommy cry. My baby! 

He liked his birthday banner.

Sylvia made him a super cool and thoughtful LEGO fortune teller, which they played with during breakfast.  We had french toast with peanut butter and bananas for Caeden's birthday.

Apparently by the time you've reached 4th grade there is no longer much birthday celebration at school.  No class treats, no birthday hat/crown/button, no class birthday card.  Caeden said that in music class they did sing to him, but the class was being so obnoxious with their singing that Mr. R had to stop them.  :(

We were glad to celebrate Caeden as a family tonight.  He had a few presents to open after supper--which was sausage stew, his choice.  

 He was pretty excited about some new caps for the cap bomb Grandma L gave him this past summer.  I haven't seen them in the stores around here, but came across some at Egolf's IGA in 'Busco for $1 a sheet.

A few new long-sleeve shirts...

Annah made Caeden a very sweet card.

 She gave him some ammo for his Nerf gun--even knowing they will be used against her.  

LEGO Movie LEGOs!

Sylvia gave Caeden a dvd of a movie he loves.

More LEGO Movie LEGOs!

 And, his favorite gift--"Benny's Spacehip! Spaceship! SPACESHIP!" LEGO set.  Daddy went to the store multiple times to pick out the LEGO presents for Caeden.  I think he actually enjoyed it, and he definitely loves seeing Caeden's excitement about LEGOs.

We all got hugs.

 Then it was time for cake!  Caeden asked for strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and strawberry ice cream to go with it.  

 He seemed to be thinking hard about his wish.

 Just a little excited about all these LEGOS!!

 He opened the spaceship and built the first 3 packages of it before bed.

Happy birthday, Caeden.  We sure do love you.