Thursday, May 15, 2008

conceret and yard work

We all went to Max's end-of-the-year orchestra concert on Wednesday night. Eva called it a "conceret". I thought it was pretty interesting, Lucas and Eva less so. (It did run long, so it was a good thing we had her blankie and a lollipop to pacify her, especially since she was up past her bedtime.)


I took video of the orchestra playing, but it is too long for Blogger, and apparently I was too busy doing video and didn't get any stills of Max playing! Good grief. Max just started playing cello at the beginning of this school year and has made a lot of progress -- judging by the beginning orchestra's performance, I would say he's made more progress than the orchestra as a whole :). Listening to their pieces gave me a whole new appreciation for his teacher, as teaching beginners to play stringed instruments has got to be hard on the ears!

His teacher is retiring this year, and he had invited any past students to come and play one final song at the end of the concert. It was interesting in that many of them had not previously seen the music, so they rehearsed it in front of the audience! That final orchestra was so huge it took up almost the entire gym floor (which is why they couldn't have the concert in the auditorium).

Check it out! One of the girls had tied a ribbon to her cello -- it's almost as if we were kindred spirits.

Today I had a delicious stay at home day, and the weather was gorgeous, so I spent all morning doing yard work. Being the bugaphobe she is, Eva stayed inside watching Monsters, Inc. for awhile, then finally decided to join me outside.

How could anyone resist a delightful brand new box of sidewalk chalk?

She actually stayed outside for about an hour and a half, drawing, driving in her Little Tikes car (borrowed from Heidi), and helping me carry the weed piles to the garbage can. We saw butterflies, ants, spiders, and wood lice, and befriended them all!

After Scouts, the boys played with her on the tramp. It's not as fun for the boys when Eva is there, since they can't jump as high, but they are very good to indulge her.

This was her response when I called them all in to dinner.

Our big tree in the front yard is finally getting its leaves. It seems like spring has only just arrived here. Today was absolutely perfect, about 72 degrees with a breeze. But you know what? I just checked the weather forecast:

Friday -- 83
Saturday -- 88
Sunday -- 92
Monday -- 94

What the hell? I feel so gypped that apparently we're going straight to summer...

23 comments:

Liz said...

Wow what weather you are having. A few weeks ago we were having an unseasonably warm spring...almost up to 80. But, now we are back to spring showers and weather in the 50s and 60s. I think I am happy about that because I don't want to rush right into those awful hot and humid summers.

Eva sure is a cutey! I hope one of my kids will take up a stringed instrument. Lindsey takes piano right now, but wants to learn the harp. Hailey wants to do piano and then violin, so we'll see what happens. I think it is such a beautiful thing to be able to play an instrument really well.

Robyn said...

We knew this was going to happen! Hardly any spring then, boom, it's summer. Oh well, I guess at least we will know what season it is. I am sick of getting up and not knowing whether to wear capris or a winter coat!

I hate that I quit piano and flute when I was younger. So my kids have no chance- I am going to insist that they at least take piano so that they have some kind of music background. I think it's invaluable!

April said...

I love the picture of that pink ribbon tied to the cello...a story all by itself.

What a very lovely spring day you had. I'm glad you recorded it as it looks like it may be the only one you get. Drat.

Alison said...

Love the ribbon cello!!!

crystal said...

I feel bitter about the weather, too! From snow to sweltering. Ugh.

Have a fun Creative Friday with our MIA Jill...

...and I got a packet in the mail yesterday w/ lots of fun goodies! What a surprise! Thanks, thanks, thanks! :)

Anonymous said...

As I was reading those temps, I too was thinking, What the hell?

It is awesome Max is doing so well with the cello! I can't imagine teaching a room full of new students- wow.

I am loving the weather lately. We spent 2 hours outside this morning and the girls got sooo dirty but it was so satisfying!

rmt said...

Hooray for Max playing the cello-that is my favorite string insrument to listen to.
I'm bummed about the 90+ degree temperatures, too. I would be perfectly happy if it stayed in the 70s all year long.

Amy said...

I would LOVE to have my boys play a string instrument. I think the cello is fantastic, but can't only imagine the sounds that might come from it during that first year. I love what you said about his progress vs. the orchestra's as a whole. Too funny.

We're actually having some lovely weather here in AZ...I'll enjoy it while I can! Hope you have a great weekend.

Amy said...

p.s. I'm hoping you're having a Jill day today and will let us eavesdrop on what she's up to through your blog! :)

Amanda :-) said...

You must've felt soooo proud, watching Max play - and Eva did very well to sit through it. What a relief!

I LOVE the picture of the pavement chalks!

We've had a long spell of hot summer weather here - the type that makes the buckles on the seatbelts in the car too hot to touch. Now, however, as I type at night, I can hear the soft patter of some rain. Ah well. At least it's falling at night.

I hope you enjoy your temperatures this week!

Natasha said...

Conceret, how cute!

How wonderful that Max has taken an interest in the cello. Luci was begging to do violin last year but I felt like we had too much on our (i.e. my) plate already.

That girl with the pink ribbon must have some serious personality already!!

I was hoping for a Creative Friday post since we have all missed Jill so much this week. Hope you two had fun creating today.

Bond Girl 007 said...

oh goodness...today was sooo hot here...it was in the mid ninetys...after being soo cold and even rainy on monday! Gosh, how fun to go to a concert and see his acomplishements. The ribbon..ahhhhhhh and the chalk...wished they had that kind back then....lovely

jenny said...

Those colored chalk are really delightful for the eye. I guess the bummer part is when the kids start using them, and they get broken.

We were close to 100 last weekend and won't even hit 80 tomorrow. Those yellow flowers are very lovely!

Amie said...

Love the last line... I just got home (at 10:30pm and the house feels too warm.... dang).

Excellent pictures, as always. I love the one after you called everyone to dinner.

melanie said...

Same thing happened here today and while I was sweating and cleaning out our shed I was grumbling the same exact words! Too bad there is still more work tomorrow.

Love all your photos in this post. Especially Eva when you called them in for dinner. I really love how your boys play with her. It is so endearing!

charlotte said...

I remember going to/playing in orchestra concerts--that's great that Max is doing so well! And 'conceret' is just great.

Holly said...

We had possibly two-three days of spring. We have been in summer forEVAH.

That sidewalk chalk is unbelievably happy isn't it? I have always loved the potential found in a brand spankin' new box of crayons.

Denise said...

What the hell, is right! Today is pleasant here in Denver, but it's the first day where it's warm enough that I start to dread how hot it will soon be. DREAD. Did I say dread? I mean, REALLY really dread.

That photo of sidewalk chalk just makes me happy!

Regarding ribbon on stringed instruments, the trend when my girls were in orchestra was for the girls to wrap their bows in ribbon. The ribbon on the cello is much cuter.

Anonymous said...

Now I really wish I could come and see you guys. That is the kind of weather we are having and I don't want to go straight to summer. Good job Max with your mad cello skills.

Elizabeth said...

I love the picture of the fresh box of chalk.

Amy said...

Oh, those concerets don't get much better, either! That Eva is so cute!

I'm so glad for the weather, too. I love how when the weather gets better I actually want to do yard work. Too bad that doesn't last the entire summer and fall!

Barb said...

We never get spring here. Winter and Summer fight it out twice a year: in May summer wins, in October Winter wins.

Jill said...

I think it's cool that Max plays the cello. I'm sure the concerts are a labor of love though.

I love sidewalk chalk. I have to stop myself from buying new packs of it all the time.

I'm so not okay with how hot it is!

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