Tickling the Ivories

Last Saturday, Spencer and Hailey got up early in the morning and dressed in their Sunday clothes to prepare for their piano adjudication.  It is a piano program through Arizona State University called Arizona Study Program, or ASP around our house.    Each child had to memorize four pieces and play them for a judge to critique them on their technique and knowledge of musical phrasing, dynamics, and rhythm.  I used to do these types of competitions as a kid and it brought back a FLOOD of memories for me!  My hands were sweaty and my heart started beating a little faster for them!

Here is Spencer with his headphones on, running through his pieces one last time before we left for ASU.  

They were playing so cute in the backseat.  I just love how these two get along!

Here we are in front of the Gammage Auditorium and their adjudication was in the Music Bld. just adjacent to the Gammage.

Since no parents are allowed in the room, we all took turns listening by the door to hear how the kids performed.  They both played really well.  I was so pleased!

(I just LOVE this picture of Hailey)

After their piano performance portion, they had to each take a theory test which is pretty difficult.  Spencer is a level 4 and Hailey is a level 1.  We just found out last week that they both passed their tests and received a special purple ribbon that states they both passed with "Superior Honors!"  Yeah Hailey and Spencer!!!!

Here is Hailey at her "Let's Play Music" recital.  She has been in this music program for three years and it culminated in a recital where she played her very own composition.  I tried to upload the video of her playing, but it was too long and wouldn't work.  

But the name of her piece was "The Magic Peacock" and she said in her introduction, "If you listen carefully, in the middle section, you can hear the peacock mixing the magic potions!"  It was really cute and she played it perfectly!

I am so grateful that my children are being exposed to music at such an early age.  I can't imagine my life without music.  Hopefully it will add beauty and happiness to their lives as it has mine!

Mother's Day Love

 Church starts bright and early at 8 a.m. and these kids were looking extra cute for Mother's Day yesterday.  I just had to snap a few pics before we walked out the door.

 My daddy gave me this hair comb and it looked so pretty in Hailey's hair.

 That morning, I told the kids that the one thing I really wanted for Mother's  Day was a picture of me and the kids.  Hailey understood that to mean a "drawing" so immediately after church, she came home and made this "picture of me and the kids" just for ME!  

 Me and my baby . . .

This is the photo I was hoping for.  I just LOVE my children and watching how they change from year to year is just mind-boggling.  I am the luckiest girl in the world to be the mother of these amazing children!  I love them more than anything in this entire world!!

Dancing with the Stars!

I have been waiting to publish this entry because I wanted to get some video of Spencer dancing off of my daughter's phone and I finally got it!  So, here goes . . .

Back in January, the principal of my kids elementary school asked me if I would teach ballroom dance to the 5th and 6th graders  and get them ready for a concert in March.  I had done the same thing for Kohler and Kelsey when they were at Quartz Hill Elementary but we started in October and had more time to learn the dances.  This was going to be a challenge---to teach over 100 kids the cha cha, waltz, and the swing with two sets of partners all within 9 weeks.  Yikes!   

Here I am with my microphone attached to my blouse during a lunchtime rehearsal with the kids to polish up before our concert.  It was so much fun watching Spencer each week.  I just love that kid!

During our dress rehearsal, we had a fog machine being used as a special effect and it set off the school smoke alarms.  We had to evacuate the building!  It was crazy!!

The kids were ok because it was sort of exciting for them but I was going nuts because we were wasting precious dress rehearsal time!

 March 7th - SHOWTIME!!!  The kids performed two assemblies and an evening show.  They were absolutely amazing!

 Here is Hailey with her friend Alyssa (the principal's granddaughter).  Alyssa did a special dance with her grandpa during the show. It was really cute!

 There is Spencer with the hot pink sash doing the cha cha!

 There is Spencer again with the hot pink sash and a different partner.

 Ahh . . .  the WALTZ

Here is a small clip of Spencer doing the waltz set to Taylor Swift's song "Crazier."  It made me cry almost every time watching Spencer dance to this song.  Look for him dancing in this video---he is wearing a pink flower and is easier to spot towards the end of the video clip.  I just loved the feeling of this dance.  It was so innocent and sweet watching these precious kids dance.

 In between dances, all of the audience would get up and participate in fun group dances like the cha-cha slide!

 Our principal, Mr. Hallock, wore a funny hat because he was the "Time Machine Master" (dances from "then and now") and he danced with the kids every time.  He was such a great sport!

 I choreographed dances that were set to music from the past and then from the present to show the kids that the same good ole' dance moves are still fun to dance today.

 After the kids performed their three dances, they invited the parents up to dance the "Gangnam Style" dance which is super popular with the kids these days.  Of course, Tom got up there and outshined ALL the parents with his crazy good dance moves! ha ha!

Here is the whole group!

This little boy, named Max, is a super awesome kid.  He has some challenges in life and will probably never be able to play sports like most boys.  But Max came after school and during lunch to work on his dance routines and I'm telling you---there wasn't a harder worker with a more positive attitude than little Max.  He gave me such a big hug at the end of the show and told me I was his "best dance teacher ever!"  He warmed my heart each week.  

The very next day, we threw the kids a pizza party and handed out dance medals as awards to all 100+ kids.  It got a little crazy but was super fun!

Melissa Perkins (below) and Janie Scholes were other moms who helped out and it was SO awesome having them there for all the rehearsals.  They are amazing women and I am so blessed to know them!

I am the luckiest mom in the world that I can do fun things like this with my sweet kids, especially while they are young.  This will be a great memory for me that will last a lifetime.  Who knows?  Maybe at Spencer's wedding reception he will save a waltz or a cha-cha for his mama?!

Yeah for Sky Miles!

A few weekends ago, Tom and I flew to Utah for several special events.  We had a couple of hours to kill in SLC before we picked up our niece from the airport so we ate at Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon then took a really fun drive.

 Yep, that's the "U" - from the University of Utah.  If we lived in this house, we'd be spray painting that thing BLUE every night!!!

 I told Tom this was the site of a boyfriend break-up for me in college.  It was very awkward back then, but such a beautiful view for me now!  ha ha

 The blossoms were out and it was warming up, despite the cloudy gray skies.

 Our niece, Alex, got engaged that very morning and as we picked her up from the airport, we heard the FULL story of how he proposed.  It was really cute!

 We got to Tom's mother's home and the Roundy's were there.  Amber and Colleen put together the most darling "bridal survival kit" for Alex.  (We all heard they were getting married weeks before but the actual engagement with the ring happened that day!)

 I was so thrilled to give Mary this quilt.  Several weeks ago, I was wondering what I could do to help my sweet mother in law who is struggling with some health problems right now.  Then, I had the idea to make a quilt for her with ALL of her children's names (and their spouses) and her grandchildren's names embroidered on it.  My sister, Melanie, is such a wonderful quilter and she has made a quilt like this one for all the new babies born into our family.  She is super talented and also very generous of her time and means--so I called her up and asked her if she would make this quilt for Mary.  She said, "I would LOVE to do that for Mary!  I have known her for over 20 years now and she is a part of our family.  I am happy to sew this for her!"  

So, I told her what colors would look nice in Mary's TV room and we chose tan, black, cranberry red, and white.  Melanie sent me the fabric squares and I got them embroidered with everyone's name.  In the black center square, it says, "Chamberlain Family."  I told Mary, that when she is getting treatment at the hospital, to bring this quilt and rub her hands over each and every name--because THOSE names are the people who LOVE her and are praying for her recovery.  Hopefully it will give her comfort and bring her happiness during this hard time.  

On Sunday, Tom was able to give his mother a blessing.  It was a beautiful blessing that brought peace and gave council to her.  She was encouraged to fight as hard as she can, to take advantage of every medical opportunity to help her feel better, and also to serve (not physically right now, but spiritually through her faith and her love of the Lord and to serve her family the best she can).  I recorded the blessing and typed it up for her so she can read it over and over.  What a tremendous honor it must be to have your son give you a blessing like that.  I was really proud of Tom.  

Another reason we came to Utah was to see our first "Great Nephew."  Kaden Thomas Roundy is the newest member of our family and he is such a little cutie!  We wanted to support Colleen and her family by coming to his baby blessing. (Kaden was born in time, so even his name is on the quilt!)

Chris MacArthur and his girlfriend, Wendy.  They were so much fun to talk to.

Mary wore a wig to church on Sunday.  While it was extremely uncomfortable for her, it looked beautiful on her.  I was super proud of her coming to the blessing, despite her not feeling her best.  She was such a great sport and didn't want to miss a thing!

 Of course, Colleen threw an incredible luncheon after the blessing and it was so much fun to see all of the family that came.

 This is a really great picture of the 5 Generations.  Those are pretty special moments that not everyone gets to have in their lifetime.

 Colby (the proud father), with his grandfather and baby Kaden.

I snapped a couple of pictures of Mary because she looked so pretty sitting by the plants.  She got a little embarrassed and started to laugh--but it made for some fun pictures!

 After the luncheon, I found this crazy old vacuum and helped clean the floors.  Man, I am so glad I don't have to wear that thing on my back at home.  (I feel for the poor janitor!)

 Here's some of the Chamberlain Family and the 4 Generations below.  I love this picture!

Here are the proud parents, Colby and Brooke. Brooke looked beautiful and loves being a mother.  Colby is totally in love with his little son and who wouldn't be?  How sweet is this little baby?  He was perfect--never squealed or cried during the blessing or at the luncheon.  

 Everyone got to hold him and he just slept like an angel.  (Colleen is in heaven holding him!)

Tom and I felt so blessed that we had enough sky miles to get up there and be a part of these family events.  Family means EVERYTHING to us and we feel so fortunate to have been born into the families we have.  

Life is Good . . .