April 21, 2013

 I have to say that this was Capriel's big week!  Thursday night she performed in her class opera, Cock-a-cock-a-baa baa.  Doesn't that sound like the perfect title for a kindergarten opera?  Capriel and her BFF Katelyn carried the show with their clear, loud voices playing the main part of the rooster.  Capriel has this light when she smiles that really draws you in.  I find it so energizing.  I was able to practice with the kids and accompany them on one of the performances.  It was really a treat to be able to spend more time with them.  She also painted the barn in the background.  Rhyse can now sing most of opera as well!  Talia is learning a new song La Folia that she just voraciously attacking.   She loves to learn new music and passionately and emotionally digs in. 

 Then Saturday we celebrated Capriel and all her work on the violin by having her Book 1 violin recital.  She looked beautiful (Breck did her most favorite hairdoo-the sock bun) and she looked beautiful.  Talia was the MC, and both she and Lan played a song.  Breck worked for weeks and was the accompaniest and did a great job.  It is no easy task to accompany Capriel!  It was such a treat for me to just sit back and watch.  We had a few friends from our neighborhood and her soccer team and then some of our older neighbors.  We are truly so blessed to be surrounded by such good people.  Even Grandma and Pa Harrison were able to make it.  We enjoyed some of Capriel's favorite treats-cheetos, homemade oreos, crackers and dip, strawberries, and grape punch.  I was so proud of Capriel and how hard she worked to prepare for this recital.  17 songs really is an awful lot of pieces to memorize and a long time to remain composed and focused. 

 Here's Rhyse posing in front of our new door-less wall that I also painted this week.  We are slowly working through our mini kitchen remodel.  I absolutely adore this color (Porter paints Foothills if you care to know).  I also decided upon a color for the kitchen by mixing four samples together to create my own custom color. 
 We have been having extremely cold weather lately and the kids have been braving it during their soccer games (Talia had 4 in a little over a week).  Capriel jumped back into soccer proving that she is still very fast and aggressive-scoring 3 goals! 

Landen also had a meet this week.  It was a 13 and under meet, so Breck wasn't able to participate.  Lani hit PR's in every event, knocking 3 seconds off his 50 butterfly.  We talked through whether he had his snack, goggles and cap, and realizing that he'd forgotten his towel while I was driving him to the meet, but about 10 minutes after dropping him off I get a call informing me that he also had forgotten his swimsuit!  Glad his legs are attached or they might have been left at home. 

When I asked everyone what else exciting happened this week, Lani chimed in that he was able to mow the lawn for the first time this season with our new-to-us lawnmower!  I also planted some broccoli and kale that was promptly eaten by the deer and chickens-grrr:(  I'm finally feeling better from my lengthy cold- I can't believe how nice it is not be sick.  I'm spending my spare minutes thinking about what to put in my new beds in the back yard and how to finish my little kitchen remodel.  I can't believe how few spare minutes there are in a week.