It's Spring Break??

During the first night of spring break, we had a big snowstorm!

Jeremy had agreed to help Mr. Marchese's family move into their house today.  Annah went along to watch Cecilia. She took this as they drove into town on the snow and ice this morning.  It pretty much snowed all day long--very wet, slushy snow.

Here at home, most of my Saturday morning students still made it to lessons in this...

It looks more like Christmas Break outside than Spring Break!

The southeast part of our county got hit the worst, and Ford County (right next to us) got 8-10 inches!

The drive to church this morning was awful.  The roads were completely covered the entire way to town, and it wasn't much better once I got to town.

By the time church was out, the sun had begun to melt the snow. Jeremy went to the gym, and I took the kids to lunch at Fiesta Ranchera.  

During the girls' cello and violin lessons this afternoon, Caeden drew on his takeout box, I took a nap in the car, and Annah's violin teacher's husband and daughters built a snowman in their front yard.

After youth group, there was a little more Mario Kart.

It's Spring Break!

It's Spring Break!  We spent this evening at home, and Jeremy picked up Monical's!  (We just discovered they have a cheese-less pizza, and Sylvia tried it tonight and liked it!)

All 3 teen Lops played a little Mario Kart together tonight!

Wrestling Banquet

The guys and I attended the Ridgeview Wrestling banquet tonight.  

The girls had musical practice, and these little girls were missing them something awful! 

RHS wrestling coaches

 I really enjoyed seeing Jeremy speak about each of his wrestlers.

 Congratulations on a good season, guys!

Caeden delivered Coach Windle's card with a big hug.

 Coach Tay mentioned Caeden's crazy body bending...

Teammates and buddies

 It was a nice evening celebrating with our wrestling family!

Guys Day Out

Jeremy and Caeden had a guys' day out today.  They went to the new Original Pancake House in Normal for breakfast, went shoe shopping, and picked up some t-shirts for Caeden. Jeremy took Caeden to Blair House for the youth group ministry event there.  Steadfast sang several songs with the residents there, then they all enjoyed St. Patrick's Day snacks together while they visited.

(For some reason, I'm having trouble uploading anything in YouTube right now.  I don't know if this Google video can be viewed, but I'm leaving it here so I will remember which one it is when I can go back and figure out what's up with YouTube.)

Oh yes, Jeremy also picked up the last story pack for LEGO Dimensions for Caeden today, so when they got home he had to play it right away.

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A flannel a day

For my birthday in November, Jeremy and the kids bought me a great flannel shirt from American Eagle.  It's really soft with pretty colors, and at some point I joked that I loved it so much I wanted twelve more.  

So for Christmas, they bought me 5 more in different colors!  I decided to take a selfie in each one when I remembered, and I finally got one with the 6th color today.

January 5th - I really like this one...it is extra thick and soft

January 7

February 11 - At the end of a long day.  This shirt is my favorite rosy red.

February 28 - 

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March 14 - This is the birthday shirt. 

March 17 - Ridgeview blue!  When I looked at this selfie, I realized I forgot to put mascara on today.  I look as tired as I am.  Man, this time change has been kicking my butt ALL WEEK!!!  Ugh!!!

Those are my 6 flannels from my family that I have enjoyed wearing all winter!

Sara's shower

The girls and I helped throw a baby shower for their youth group friend, Sara, today, even though none of the 3 of us could attend.  (The girls had a vocal jazz field trip, and I was teaching.) 

We were so sad we couldn't go, but so glad we could help make the shower happen.

Last night, we met Jessica at church and got everything decorated and set up.

The centerpieces were on stacks of children's books, and each guest decorated a bookmark for Sara and baby Jace.

Even though we couldn't be there to celebrate with Sara, she did have a lot of friends who were there!

Giving Blood

We have a precious little girl in our community who is fighting a cancerous brain tumor.  Today the high school student council held a Red Cross blood drive in her honor, and I was honored to give.

HOIC Honors Music Festival

This evening, all 5 Lopshire enjoyed the Heart of Illinois Conference (HOIC) Honors Music Festival concert at the ISU CPA. ten singers and ten instrumentalists from Ridgeview HS were chosen to spend the day rehearsing with the choir and band.  

The choir performed first, and did very well.  It seems their performance gets better every year.

We sat in the balcony, just above stage right, which made it difficult to get good photos of the kids who were on stage right.  

James, singing the National Anthem 

Tyler and Ryan sang bass.

Haleigh and Cheyenne sang in the soprano section

Kelly, Kelsie, and Ryleigh sang alto

Cameron, the tenor

And Keegan was a front row baritone

The choir closed their performance with a very touching arrangement of You Will Be Found from the musical Dear Evan Hansen. 

After the choir's performance, all the HOIC choir and band directors quickly removed the risers and reset the stage for the band. 

Annah spent today as first chair clarinetist of the concert band!  She has participated in both the HOIC band and choir before (band her freshman year, choir sophomore year), but it was a really fun honor for her to get to play her beautiful new clarinet in the band today!

The band tunes to the concertmaster (Annah) just before their performance!

VIDEO: Tuning

Tate and Taylor played clarinet.

Mr. Marchese introduced the conductor.

Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Miller

Zach on tenor sax, and Chloe on flute

Jalen on trumpet

Katie on clarinet

VIDEO: 

Annah very much enjoyed LTC Miller.  He was very expressive and emotional.

Justin played timpani, triangle, bass drum, and snare drum.

Choir students, watching the band's performance

Annah had several little solos throughout the performance.

VIDEO:

VIDEO: Annah played solos in this piece.

Quite a good looking band!

Soloists and director being acknowledged after a piece

Mitch on baritone

VIDEO:

Adam on tuba

VIDEO:

What a fantastic performance!

What a wonderful concert!  We are so grateful for these experiences--both the kids' opportunities to perform, and our opportunities to enjoy the performances!