Spring Break week

We had more snow over the weekend!  9 1/2 inches worth.  Crazy. 
 
 
 
 In fact, we had so much that

a)  Sarah was advised by the Lambs to stay with us rather than brave the long, winding driveway that would most certainly be snow-covered at her apartment
b) church meetings were cancelled throughout the stake.

 

 This is Sarah visiting with Kaylee.  She attends Truman State in Kirksville and is engaged to Jon in the YSA branch. When she comes down on weekends to visit, she sleeps at Sarah's apartment so she also stayed over with us.  We had our own little Sunday devotional – we watched “To This End Was I Born” and Jeffrey Holland’s talk from October general conference.  Then, we discussed Lesson #11 in the Sunday School study guide.  The rest of the day was spent doing family history.  

 

  Here is Steve sorting through the various tubs of artifacts we brought back with us from American Fork last summer after Iola’s funeral.  I caught the family scrapbooks up to date.  Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs played all day in the background.  The snow fell thickly and looked so beautiful.  We had ham, potatoes supreme, asparagus, fresh pineapple, and strawberry pie for dinner.  What a lovely Sabbath.

 

  This is how Sadie looked after one of her outside trips that day.  Hee Hee

The end of last week was District music festival at Mexico High School.  Thursday night was for the large ensemble performances.  I went feeling fairly confident about how Rock Bridge orchestra would do with the two numbers we had been working on since January.  And, I was nervous about the sight-reading portion because during our sight-reading practice sessions in class, it was clear that the kids were not the best at counting.  I was just sure that would be our downfall.  As we performed, I thought we sounded terrific.  And the piece we were given to sight-read was amazingly easy.  So, I was completely dumbfounded when I collected our scores and learned we got a 2 rating.  (1 being the best)  And, it wasn’t just one of the judges, it was all three who rated us a 2.  Mostly for intonation,  but also balance.  And, we got a 1- in sight-reading.  Of course ALL the Rock Bridge choirs and bands got 1’s.  All of them.  So, the orchestra continues in the poor step-child status!  And it was a blow to my ego.  However, when I listened again to our recording the next day, I admit they were right – we do have intonation problems.  You know how you can go so involved in something, when you care so much some someone that you cannot see the flaws?   I guess that was me with the orchestra.  I know how far they have come and so proud of that accomplishment that I couldn’t see their weak points.  And, how can three BAND judges know this with one little snapshot moment at Districts? 

Solos and small ensembles were held on Saturday so, once again, I was on a yellow school bus to Mexico for pretty much all day.  Half my students got 1’s and the other half got 2’s.  Is it terrible that I am relieved that the student I accompanied got a 2 because it means I won’t have to worry about playing the piano again for state? (it had some really hard parts that I just couldn’t master with my limited practice time)  Sorry, Molly. 

And in the middle of Districts on Friday night was the stake Easter cantata.  Sarah and I sang in the choir.  I played cello in a string quartet accompaniment for one of the numbers.  Sarah had a solo (which she aced) with another choir number.  Steve conducted.  I baked gluten-free sugar cookies for the refreshments.  Pretty heavily involved, I would say. 

I finished the audio book of Tale of Two Cities last week.  Wow, what a story.  I got pretty teary-eyed  at the end.  And, Steve and I watched Megamind Friday night after the cantata.  We loved it.  As much as Despicable Me. 

Finally, thanks to wonderful spring break this week,  I have the 2012 Lambson Life photo book 98% completed!  I just need some name confirmations and a spell-check and it will be uploaded and ordered.  What makes me really happy , even more than it being done, is that it didn’t take all this week to finish.  I just had my two lessons for tomorrow cancel so I have a whole morning to do something I want to do.  Nice.