Skip to main content

The Surprise!

About a year and half ago Al received a keyboard for Christmas.

I think at the time Brent and I figured it would gather dust, and even though Al said she wanted one... well kids say they want many things.

After a few months, Al started asking for piano lessons, and so she started piano lessons.

Again, Brent and I figured it would just be a matter of time before she lost interest. In September, Al started with the first book, by the end of October she had moved into her second book, and in April, she moved into her third book.

Much to Brent’s and my amazement, Al practiced. She practiced daily without being asked. When it was time for her first recital, she chose a hard song. A hard song! Our Al chose a hard song! A song that I felt was way above her abilities.

It is hard to describe the transformation Al has went through this year. Piano is only one of the areas that she has impressed Brent and I. Her grades in school have improved dramatically and her motivation to do her best is off the charts.

Al’s first recital has come and gone. Somewhere on my flip camera, among the other end of the school year events, is a recording.

 I think she did amazing! I told you the song was hard. Also, I have a mama’s ear so everything she does is amazing! She does not feel the same. However, a large part of the mistakes she made were because Al practiced her recital piece on a keyboard and performed on baby grand piano.

I’m told there is a huge difference. Brent and I have talked about buying a piano, but with braces hanging over our heads we just didn’t know how we could afford a piano.

When we found out that there was not going to be braces we decided to go look at pianos.

It just so happens that the day we went to look for a piano is also the day that our local university was having a piano sale. We went to the university where we found a piano in our price range.

It is not a new piano but it is a pretty piano with a pretty sound. The fun started when we found out that they could deliver the piano the same day.

The boys were with us when we bought the piano so they knew it was going to be delivered that day. Brent went to pick S. up from school and let her know what was going on. Everyone, except for Al, knew it was coming.

I would like to tell you that when Al found out about the piano she was overcome. That is just not how Al rolls. She is much more low key than that. We did however get a “cool, and a thumbs up.” Which is about as close as Al gets to a freak out.

Well that and she has played nearly every day.

Here is our new piano or as A. likes to call it his braces. 

P5236987

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Our Christmas Letter

Each year I send out a Christmas letter and the one thing that frustrates me more then anything about the letter is that I can not include all the pictures I would like. That and Brent's rule that the letter has to fit on one side of one paper. I have gotten pretty clever with font size and margins to keep this rule. All you that have read this blog know that I am a sucker for pictures. So this year along with mailing out the letters I am going to post the letter with pictures. YAY ! So fun having your own blog to torture people anyway you want. Our Christmas cards were sent out on Monday so here in all it's digital glory is the letter again, this time with pictures. (Beginning of Letter) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope that this letter finds you happy, healthy and enjoying the holiday season. If you are like us, it has been a little bit of a difficult year dealing with increasing prices and a budget that isn't quite stretching to meet every thing you want it to...

Biking 45 Miles!

Tomorrow or Today depending on which day you read this post I will be riding my bike 45 miles. Registering for the ride has made this journey to ride my bike 100 miles very real.  Since tomorrow will probably be one of my last rides indoors I have decided to Twit about it. I'm not quite sure how my body is going to react to 45 miles and almost 3 hours on a bike. I'm pretty sure my head is going to be yelling bad words at me, at best. I'm sure there is going to be a lot of, this is crazy, what are you doing to yourself.  By Twitting about it I am going to feel a whole lot more accountable to get the ride done. Especially, if I feel there is any chance that people are logging on to see where I'm at and how it is going. If your feeling inclined I should be on the bike by 1pm Mountain time Friday the 27th. Check it out and make sure I survive! 

"Laughing All the Way"

Most of the year Brent lives a pretty quiet existence. He goes about his own business with out the world taking much notice, to what he is up to and what he is doing. However, when the snow starts falling, the neighbors start laughing. Brent has become the neighborhood novelty. The funny guy on the corner. The, "Can you believe that Brent was outside, in the snow, shoveling, while in his sandals." Yes you read that correctly. While I refuse to buy boots, because I don't live where it gets cold and snows, and one needs boots. Brent simply does not wear said boots. Unless, he is going to work and HAS to. To the neighbors this is Brent. A few have tried to explain to him the core differences between living in California and Utah. Like, say, wearing actual shoes while shoveling. Oh, and hey, a coat! Brent's California brain has not excepted these facts. In fact, he claims that his sandals have better traction. "Big Sigh," it is nice to know your husband ...