Two Good to Be True

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Piano Update

"Mommy, I don't need this job anymore."

--Ryan on playing the piano

So the boys have been in semi-private piano/keyboarding lessons for the past month or so. It's just the two of them and me, so that helps a lot. It adds one more thing to our nightly routine (which is already hectic!) but this is such a good thing for them. Studies show how beneficial learning to read and play music is for kids. Not to mention the discipline involved in learning to play an instrument. The boys have to practice each and every day, and they don't always like it, but it's good for them. I learned to play violin in 4th grade and the clarinet in middle school. I hate to toot my own horn (see what I did? Ha!) but I was a pretty good clarinetist. I regret not continuing to play, but I've been learning the piano along with the boys, so I'm rekindling my love of music through them. Ryan is the one who really wanted the lessons, but Evan is a natural at it. He has a really good ear and he catches on quickly. But then, he's over it and he doesn't like the repetition involved. Ryan is pretty good too. He works a little harder but he gets it. He is really good at staying focused and not getting distracted, and once he has it, he has it. We are working on Merrily We Roll Along and Ode to Joy. We have two weeks to learn them both...wish us luck!

Catching Up

I find myself playing catch up once again! I haven't been on my own blog in ages, but that's because things are super busy 'round these parts. Here's what the Peas have been up to:

Hallelujah Night 2104 - I didn't get a chance to take many pictures because I was working with the Mama Crew making sure the kiddos ages 3-6 had a fun night. We did crafts, went through a maze, picked pumpkins, and of course there was trunk-or-treating!

First Evan, then Ryan got sick with a virus and both boys spent two days home from school to rest up and feel better. Here they are drinking their special "tea" mama made for them. It's really just raw honey and lemon slices that I keep in a mason jar in the fridge.

We are the proud parents of TWO boys who were the Caught Being Good winners at school. Ryan won first and Ev was happy for him, but he was sad too. He kept saying, "But Mommy I'm a good boy at school too!" I told him to just keep being a good boy and his teacher would notice soon and he would win too. Sure enough, a few weeks later he was caught being good too! Both boys chose a free dress down pass so they could wear their fun clothes to school. I didn't take a pic of Ryan with his pass, yet but I will soon!