Adler's Orchestra Concert

Our sweet, funny girl Adler and her bff Izzy had their 5th Grade orchestra concert at the high school last night.  At the WIS (Winfield Intermediate School) they really encourage students to play in either the band or orchestra...so most do, cause at this age I think it sounds pretty exciting, new, and grown up to them.  We left it up to her and she easily decided to play the violin.  I think I have always encouraged her to play a string instrument so I don't think it was too difficult a decision (especially with her exposure to Blugrass!!!).  She played the violin all first semester.  She starting having some doubts about whether it was really for her.  So she talked to her teacher and they decided that if she would come in for extra practice 2-3 days a week she could try the BASS!!!  She did and she {lovesloves} it!!  She brought it home over spring break to practice and it is just MASSIVE! 

So last night we all went to her concert to see her hard work pay off!  The gym was packed with families and I could tell Adler was so happy to be a part of it all.

Adler and Izzy before the concert.

Crosby chillin' in the gym.  She told me she was ready to go home 5 minutes before the concert even started!  Awesome considering I had all four girls with just me (Heath was working and had to meet us up there a little late).

Sissies!!

Thank GOODNESS Mimi (and Poppy) was there.  I am sure I was a sight to see trying to keep a baby quiet with a bottle while trying to take pictures and video.  LUCKILY Mimi was with me to lend a hand!

Adler is right in the middle of this picture leaning against her bass (i need to add an arrow or circle or something around her-I worked on it in Microsoft Paint for a little while but my picture was so big i gave up!!  Help...Laura???)

In this one she is the third bass on the right, playing and having a ball!

Great Job Ads, we are proud of you!!!  And for your viewing pleasure, a tiny little video I took with my camera.  Sorry, it is pretty blurrrry...I am telling you I was holding Paisley in one arm trying to do this with my little camera so it's not too good!  :)

She is in the very back middle!!!

Miss Adler

If you are not a blogger you are probably not aware of the updates made for posting.  I am NOT completely sure they are making my blog life easier!!  I STILL can't find the spell check (and I need it WAY worse than the "strikethrough" feature!!!)  But this post isn't about tech stuff it is about ADLER!!! 

She is such a busy girl and she LIKES it that way.  This year she opted for indoor soccer rather than basketball.  She thinks she isn't very good at bball but I think she does just fine.  One thing is for sure though... she IS REALLY good at indoor soccer.  She works REALLY hard and it pays off.  She had one goal on their season opener 5-4 win.  The game went into sudden death overtime even--how exciting!!  I DO enjoy indoor soccer.  It is very action packed and climate controlled!!!

She played 2 quarters of goalie and really ROCKED it!!!  She has always been a great goalie.  Defense and footwork are her "things" and that also carries over to catching and 2nd base for the Ripits.

They have also begun practicing for their softball team, the RIPITS.  We just found out that they are playing tournaments every weekend in May, June, and July except one PLUS league in Derby which is 1-3 games per week!!!  This will truly test ALL of our dedication to softball!!  I think it is WAY to much for these little girls but we shall see how it all pans out.  They do love their team and this year they should really dominate as 2nd year 10 and under.  As far as academically she is doing really well and enjoying the WIS (Winfield Intermediate School).  The WIS is only about 5 blocks away so she walks home most days and is enjoying having a little more "grown up" freedom.  She goes to an after school program on Wednesdays at the Methodist Church called "TWEENS" and plays dodgeball after school on Fridays.  She has also switched from the violin to the double bass in orchestra so she has been staying after 30 minutes a day for extra practice.  We had her IEP yesterday with Mrs. Frazee her gifted teacher, Mrs. Madrigal her homeroom/math teacher, and the assistant principal.  It went really well.  They said she is doing great academically and gets along well with her teachers and classmates.  We talked about her plans for SAGE projects and she is planning on doing a video for the upcoming 4th graders about a tyipical day at the WIS.  I can't wait to see what she comes up with!  Maybe she can give me a few tips on video editing when she is finished!!

WIS Spelling Bee

Adler had her school spelling bee today. She was nervous but seemed to be holding it together great. I was probably more nervous for her. She is a GREAT speller but hasn't had any luck advancing to the City Spelling Bee in past years. At the WIS the whole school is given a spelling test and the 28 highest scores in the school advance to the spelling bee. Her first word... C-I-D-E-R!!! She asked for the definition--nodded and spelled the word correctly right away. She made it through the next round easily.... and the third round came. Her word was "violate". She stood up, said violate and spelled it V-I-A-L-A-T-E. *darn* She was out...getting Tenth place. Not bad but I am sure she was disappointed that she didn't make it to the City Bee. Oh well, I was VERY proud of her and I am sure I would have been out quickly... those words were HARD!!!

Chelo and Crosby had come with me to watch. The crowd had to be absolutely silent...well, Crosby got bored after about 10 minutes and it took everything I had to keep her quiet for the rest of the bee. Chelo (who had gotten 3rd last week at her school, advanced to the City Bee! *we didn't get any pics so I will update how she does with her own post of that bee*) was sitting next to the little neighbor kids who were making noises at her and she was trying to keep them quiet. Well, Mr. Hammer (the WIS principal) stopped the person spelling and said "Chelo Be Quiet!!" OMG! I am SURE she was mortified!!! She is a quiet kid by nature, pretty ironic that she would get busted for talking at a spelling bee!! I am sure it was a lesson learned!! So needless to say the WIS Spelling Bee was quite a RUCKUS between nerves, antsy 5yr olds, and chatty kids but we made it through just fine and as usual with no time to dwell on anything...cause it was off to piano lessons from there and we made it just in the nick of time!!!

WIS Open House

When I got off work yesterday I was EXHAUSTED so I went up to lay down for a few minutes and literally that is what I got in before Grammy was there to drop off Crosby. So while Grammy and I were talking Adler says "Oh yeah mom, tonight is Open House at school!" I am so missing elementary school where they send notes home for EVERYTHING!! Apparently once you reach 5th grade events are posted on the calendar and other than that you are relying on your child to remind you!! Good thing Adler has a great memory!! Even if I get my reminder 45 minutes before!! So at 5:55 off we rushed to the WIS so I could see how my girl spends her days. I had spin class at 5:20 and had to pick up the babysitter before that so we had only 15 minutes to spend at the school but since Heath had taken her to conferences, I hadn't seen her room yet (and I HAVE to be able to have that visual in my head!!)

Here are the girls with Adler's teacher Jennifer Madrigal. She said she is REALLY enjoying Adler and I know Adler loves her!! Great match! It is also neat because Jennifer is married to Teresa and Anna's brother David so we have known her for a long time.

This is Adler showing me her cubby and I am glad I was there to see it b/c she always tells me about keeping her things in her cubby and this was not at all what I had in mind!! Even though we had to rush, I am very glad we went. Adler says all of the teachers in her rotation are really nice and the classrooms are newer and super nice! While I was spinning (yep still hanging in there and feeling just fine!!!) Heath had taken the girls to soccer pictures so when I got home the house was quiet for about 20 minutes, so that was nice. I am just been DRAGGING lately and trying desperately to see that light at the end of the tunnel but the last weeks of pregnancy always seem like an eternity to me!!!!

WIS Instrument NIght Weeeeee!!!

Almost every kid at the WIS (Winfield Intermediate School) 5th and 6th grade center, plays in either the band or orchestra. Adler was soooo super excited to start orchestra. She has chosen the violin (which is great because we had a violin already!!!) and I think it will fit her perfectly. On the first day the teacher said that smart people are in orchestra and that just made her day!! I think she feels like this is something that is brand new for her but not scary at all, just right... She is growing up sooo darn fast, sometimes I just can't believe that she is 10 and sooo independent (then she picks a fight with her five year old sister and I remember...oh yeah, we still have some growing to do!!!) So, back to instrument night... this was a first for me so I didn't quite know what to expect and let me tell ya I WAYWAYWAY under estimated it!!! We walked into the WIS commons area (Heath and my old middle school cafeteria- oh the memories!!) and right into our first line of many we were soon to discover. We got checked in and headed to the orchestra table, spoke with the instructor about what all she would need, beside her instrument,

to get started. After that I was thinking...whew the girls are being super-good and that was a breeze. HA!! That was about the time we were directed to the un-airconditioned gym along with about 100 of our closest band and orchestra families!!! HOLY SOUSAPHONES BATMAN!! There were no signs and about 12 different lines so I had NO idea what to do. I asked the first person I saw that I knew and she directed me over to what she "thought" was the right table. I did end up in an orchestra company's line, but of the strings, book, and of the strings, book, and

shoulder rest we need they only had the strings. Not only that, the lady was quite obviously HATING her job by the time we got to her because she barely helped us and when I asked the difference between the foam and attachable shoulder rest she just gave me the stink eye and said "it is a matter of preference." Great sales pitch!!! I just stared at her wondering how we were supposed to have a preference when neither of us had ever played the violin?!?!! And that was right after another lady cut right in front of us in this 20 minute long line!! Who cuts in front of a little girl and a very pregnant woman?? WHO?? Thank heavens I had Chelo with me because while I was finding out I would have to go to another company's line to try to find the things we needed, she was playing in the other end of the gym with Crosby (Who at that point was DONE with instrument night!!) We got to the front of the other line and got the things we needed then had to go back to crabby lady and cancel our ticket because she wanted me to order shoulder rest and book from her of course! So you can imagine how excited she was to learn that we would only be needing the strings from her and that we would need to have our ticket cancelled and re-written!!! We finally got everything situated and got the heck outta Dodge City!!! FUN TIMES!!