Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Another Day, Another Concert

Tori performed with the Allegro Singers from Skyline High School.


Tori is in the front row- 2nd from the left.
The concert was fine, but I guess with Ty haven't been taught by Mrs. Peterson in WI, no high school choir has measured up. Other schools version of the "Hodags" or even Ken's Jr. try-out choir in WI doesn't even come close. It really is a whole different kind of advanced choir. They use mics and have essentially no moves. I really wish I had some videos of Ty performing with the Hodags. It would be nice to show a choir teacher to give them an idea of what a high school choir can do. These are talented kids here, I'm sure they could do it. Anyway, she sang. It was long but nice.

Tori: Teacher Appreciation and A Night at the Opera

For three years now, our Stake has done a "Teachers Appreciation Night". All of the Senior High School Students are asked to choose a teacher that has been either a favorite ( for a good reason) or has had a special impact on your life.
Then these teachers are invited to attend. They had it all nicely decorated and had plenty of yummy looking deserts.
The students each took turns bringing the teacher of their choice (if the teacher was able to attend, about 4 weren't able to) to the podium with them. They were given a framed certificate of appreciation and then the student explained why this teacher is special to them.
Maybe it was just me, but I found it interesting that the most touching and more heart felt tributes were delivered by a student who attends a small charter school and Tori, who has attended a private school. Don't get me wrong, the others were nice and you could tell that the teachers were touched, but there was a difference.
Tori's tribute was (and anyone who knows Tori will have already guessed) to Bro. DeGraff from Liahona Prep. Academy.
Tori doesn't want me to include, in this blog, what she said because it is, "too personal".
I would just add that I am most grateful for the wonderful teachers that my children have had in their lives. The ones that have really made the subjects come alive and MEAN something, stand out.
Tori was the beginning and the end to the evening. After the opening prayer, she sang Maria Carey's "Hero". She did an amazing job and afterwards, nearly everyone there made it a point to thank her and comment.
Then our Bishop asked her if she would be willing to sing at a wedding the next day. The day after that, at church, people who had gone to the wedding told me how impressed they were with her singing. Proud parent stuff!
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The next evening, Tori was able to attend a local opera with a family in our ward. It was fun getting all "decked out". She had a great time
and was blessed to have been asked to go.
This picture doesn't do her justice. She looked even better than this.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Cubby's Concert

Yesterday morning, on the way to school, Cubby said, "oh yeah, I have a concert tonight".
Hummmmm
"What time?", said I. "Ummmm, I don't know", is the reply.
Arg!
Wednesdays are always busy. Steve gets home from work, just in time to gather things together so I take him to the church for Webelos. Then the girls are supposed to be to the church for cotillion class at 6:45 and Noah, as the 11 year old Asst. Scout Master, at 7:00. So, Cubby then needs to be to the school at 6:30 for the concert that would start at 7:00.
One of the complications of having one vehicle in a busy family is I end up doing a lot of back and forth.
Anyway, everyone got where they needed to go, and Steve and I made it just in time for the concert to start. (I had been feeling feverish and blah the day before and had been feeling better, but about this time in the evening, I was getting it back. Ugh!)
As for the concert:
Sadly, the one viola was terribly out of tune and added an unfortunate dissonance to the 5 pieces that were played, but Cubby and her purple violin looked great. I can't say that I could pick her playing out of all the others, but the violins sounded great and she certainly looked proficient and pretty.

Look Out, Mama's Got A Camera

I'm very happy to say that I now have my nifty camera up and running!
The cool camera that Ty and Cami got me for Christmas is ready to shoot. It has always been taking great pictures, but I was having a problem getting them downloaded to my computer. Now that problem is solved, so the "Picture Queen" is back in business. I love it!!!!
If you see me coming, just smile. :)