Concert Time.

Porter had a band concert last week. It was an area concert so all the school bands from around were there. All elementary 5th grade band students, the 2 middle school bands (which Porter was a part) and the high school band. It was a good show. Porter's band did really well. He also had a small solo in one song. He never mentioned it before so after the concert I asked him why he didn't tell me that he had a solo. He said he didn't know. And he explained it wasn't so much of a solo, just the other trumpeters couldn't play the part, so he had to do it alone. He never practices trumpet. The music was all new to me. But I guess his piano practice helps him out.? Anyway, I was a bit sad after the concert. It made me realize how much I don't know about him. During the other performances I could see him laughing and talking with his friends and I just felt so much love for him. I wish he would talk to me more. It isn't that he is quiet necessarily, cause when he wants he talks plenty. Just doesn't tell me stuff. I shouldn't compare, but Chloe tells me stuff all the time. When anything happens she comes home and can't wait to spill whatever is on her mind. Anyway, he isn't like that. I love him anyway. He is such a great kid.

Doesn't he look so handsome in his suit?

At the end of the concert, the high school drum line played. They were quite good! Ren was very jazzed about them. As we were walking to the car, he said when he is bigger he wants to play drums. (I thought it was funny that he knew he had to be bigger.) He then said 'Mom, like this' and proceeded to show me how he would do it by beating his hands on his legs like drumsticks. It was very cute. I used to want to play the drums too. But I played the flute. I liked that a lot too.
I was in the band in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. I also took private lessons from my band teacher. I was first chair. ;) I liked band a lot. I sat by one of my best girlfriends, Trisha Downs. I also sang in choir in junior high. So, I never took any of those 'required' health classes cause I got an excuse or something so I could do both music classes. Those were fun years. Very fun. :)

The Happiest Place on Earth!

After many years away, we took the kids to Disneyland. Many thanks to Disney's Give a Day - Get a Day program. (We made blankets for the Linus foundation.) We used our day credit towards year passes. So, this year, you'll see many photos of this special place, I'm sure. We are very excited! We had such a fun day. It was even more fun knowing we didn't have to cram everything we possibly could into a single day.


Since our family is a variety of ages/heights, we had to divide and conquer sometimes. So, I took Ren and MJ up Tarzan's treehouse, while Rusty took the older kids on Indiana Jones. I don't think Ren has ever seen Tarzan. We gotta pull that one out of the 'archives'.




Our Marsh cousins have passes and came for part of the day to hang out and ride a few rides. I took Alex and Ren on Dumbo. Ren was pretty clueless, but it was obvious that Alex had ridden many times, as he knew just what to do with the handle thing to go up and down.


Another case of divide and conquer, Nat and I took the smaller kids on the train, while Rusty, Porter and Chloe headed over to California Adventure to go on Tower of Terror. *MJ has been talking about going on that ride for a month now, but first, she is too small, and second, she chickened out. And I am so glad!


Here we are waiting to go on the Toy Story ride. It was hilarious listening to the kids compare their scores after the ride was over. MJ was so excited that she got 4600 points. Ava got a lot more than her...I can't remember the number. I didn't tell MJ that Ren got 4900 points. She may have been disappointed. :)

Fast forward one week. Fridays are like free days around here. No one has too do much of anything once school lets out! No piano practice, no homework, no cleaning. (Assuming your room is already clean, if not, it has to be done or no friends.) So, Chloe begged me to take her and her friends to Disneyland. (Lots of them of have passes.) I didn't really want to go, cause it was cold. But, she pretty much guilted me into it. I am so glad! We had such a good time. It ended up to be just Chloe, her friend Sarah and me. So, I asked Ellie to come so I'd have a partner on the rides. We ran around like little girls all night. We went on as many rides as we could! I am so glad we have that fun memory.

We went on the Tea Cups and It's a Small World. We even waited way too long (about 30 minutes for Alice in Wonderland. I've never actually been on that one, the lines are always long for it. Why? Couldn't tell you, pretty mediocre ride if you ask me. :)

All the girls had to pose at these silly little things. What are they constructions workers? I'm just not sure?

The girls couldn't resist this cute Arial's Carousel. We 'surfed' on the backs of fish and other water wildlife.



This was just as we are were about to leave. I think this is a candy shop along Main Street. As you can see, I was a little overboard and wore by puffy coat. I really did not want to be cold! In fact, I got a little too warm from running around so much.

OK, this shot was California Screamin' and was taken by there cameras and I took a photo of that photo. So, quality, not soo hot. But, you get the idea. Chloe and I are sceaming our heads off. Sarah has been on this ride many times and actually poses for the camera as we squeal around a corner at 50 miles an hour! (I don't know how fast. It felt super fast!) And Ellie is trying to shut out the ride by closing her eyes and thinking happy thoughts. You can see me holding her hand there...That is my new favorite ride! Sooo Fun!

What can I say about Splash Mountain...always a hit. We saved this ride for last since we knew we'd get wet. It turned out to be a good plan since no one but us (nearly) was still at the park at 11:30 at night. We went on it 3 times in a row, taking turns who would sit in front. In this photo Chloe is up front bracing herself, Ellie has finally loosened up behind her, Sarah tried to save her hair from getting wet in her hood and I was screaming with my arms in the air. Again, so fun!!!