Class Dismissed

I almost can't believe the words I'm typing now, but Wonder Boy has finished 5th grade and is starting his summer vacation!

I'm not sure where the time has gone, really. It seems to me like it was just yesterday that we were scouting for supplies, picking up schedules and having the Boy practice opening a combination lock in preparation for his first school year with his own locker. And now we're filing away old school papers, picking out summer camps, and locating goggles and sunscreen for days at the pool.

Here's a quick look back at some of my favorite images from the school year:


I say it at almost every milestone, but again as we close out this year, it strikes me just how much Wonder Boy and grown and changed over the course of the school year. He has become so much more independent and confident. He is still a loving and playful kid, but he's matured enough that we talk about more than just video games and play dates.

But now is not the time for deep conversations, it's the start of summer! Now is the time for lazy days, swimming, and fun with friends. I am certain Wonder Boy's time off from school will be filled with all of these things and so much more.

A Joyful Noise

May 16 - 5th Grade Orchestra Spring Concert. As the day got closer, Wonder Boy got more and more excited. He'd been practicing for about 6 weeks for this date. And he couldn't WAIT for us to take our seats and see how far they had all come since the Winter Concert.


He need not have worried about us - we had been anticipating this day almost as much as he had been. The Winter Concert was such a great experience that we were both truly looking forward to this performance. And they did not disappoint. The music was much more complicated than the simple tunes they had prepared before the Winter break. But they brought it all together and put on one heck of a show! See for yourself!


Spring '13 Orchestra Concert

It never fails to move me - watching these young musicians pour themselves into their performance. You could see the pride on their faces when they took their final ovation. They worked hard and it paid off at that moment. I guess that's just another one of the many gifts that comes from learning to play together.

Two Month Review

Wonder Boy has been enjoying his piano lessons for about 2 months now (8 lessons). I am *thrilled* to say that he is still enjoying every minute of them.

Now when he asks us if he can go upstairs to play, we don't know whether or not he means play video games or play piano - he's at least as likely to do one as the other.

The house is simply ALIVE with music these days! Not only is the boy banging away at his electric keyboard, but he's also getting ready for the end of the school year orchestra concert. The music they are playing this spring is much more advanced than the simple tunes they had prepared for the winter concert. The viola lines are quite lovely and I am really looking forward to hearing the whole orchestra come together to play.

But this post is about PIANO. And I have to admit, as much as I love the viola, the piano is my current favorite. Wonder Boy is showing a true aptitude for the instrument. It only takes a couple of times through a particular piece and he'll have it committed to memory. He has several books of music, but most of the time he plays from memory or picks out a tune by ear. We are thankful that both of his piano instructors don't find this a problem. In fact, they have both encouraged him quite a bit and we can see his love for music growing with each passing day!

He's still working on the "Turkish March" or "Rondo Alla Turca" (which is last movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11). This is the piece he picked out before starting his lessons. And the difference between then and now just amazes me (hold on ... the new video is coming). Listening to his progress just AMAZES me. I hope it's not just the Proud Parent Syndrome. Both of his instructors have told us that he has a natural feel for the piano. And it certainly seems that way to me. But you can see for yourself in the video below. Please note that this is just an iPad video. I'll try to get a clip with the good camera for our next update in a few months.

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Turkish March - after 8 lessons

In addition to that piece, Wonder Boy is starting to branch out a bit more. On his last report card he brought home straight As, but to top that effort, he actually had two perfect 100 scores. And that required a special celebration (don't ya think?)! With the way he's been enjoying his piano lessons, it was not all that surprising when he asked for a new book of sheet music as his special reward for that effort. And it's been fun to watch him work through a few of the pieces.

We also had the opportunity to see the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra in April. It was a wonderful performance that we all enjoyed! We even had the fortune to be at a performance that featured a 17 year old cellist (a very talented young man). It really seemed to energize Wonder Boy. The following morning he greeted us with the program in hand. He had highlighted several pieces that he wanted loaded onto his iPod. And he even asked for the sheet music for the pieces as well.

In the end, his viola skills were not quite up to replicating what he had heard the night before, but it didn't take long at all before he was picking out the melodies on his piano.

As I have mentioned, I truly love having music such a prominent feature in the house. But even more than that ... I love seeing the love of music growing in the Boy. I have a sneaking suspicion that music will continue to play a prominent role in his life for many years to come. And that truly warms my heart.

Spring Roundup

Quite uncharacteristically, I have not yet had a blog post about soccer this spring. It's not that I haven't thought about it. And it's not that we haven't been playing (you KNOW we've been playing). I don't know. I can't quite explain it.

But the wait is over (as is most of the season, I'm afraid)!

The truth is, we've all been enjoying soccer since mid-February and having quite a good time at it!

Though the whole family spends quality time on the pitch, the greatest joy is in watching Wonder Boy and his team.


And it's been quite a season for the Boy! We've seen quite a few changes in his play again this year, the next evolution you might say. He is still most comfortable (& most effective) in the midfield. In fact, I'd say he's becoming quite the field general in that respect. He sees the field quite well and always seems to know where his teammates are going to be (not just where they are at the moment he gets the ball). I sit in awe of his passing skills. He is beginning to develop a nice soft touch. This is something that doesn't come naturally to everyone (myself included, I have to admit). And so to see it in Wonder Boy is quite exciting, let me tell ya.

Another area in which we have seen real change this season is in Wonder Boy's effort on the field. Don't get me wrong, he has always played with a lot of heart and energy. But he just didn't seem to play with a sense of urgency. And he was always perfectly happy to just be the guy who passed to someone else.

There is nothing wrong with that kind of attitude and it set him up to be a really solid midfield player. But what has changed this season is his desire. Yes, I think that is it.

Now he really WANTS the ball. I think he is confident in his ability to not only handle the ball but to get it to where it needs to be. Sometimes that is an unexpected pass to the teammate streaking down the field with him. And other times it is the cut back that freezes the defender and allows him to get his own shot off.

Confidence. Yes. That's it. Confidence! THAT is another big difference I have seen in the Boy this season. He is beginning to feel truly confident in himself with the ball. And that is having a positive effect on his own play as well as that of his team.

It's exciting to watch, let me tell ya!

Here's a brief snip from a recent game. Just remember what I've said before ... we are fans first! And as such, we often miss some of the best action on the field while we are cheering our hearts out. I hope you'll enjoy the show regardless.

Game 4 Highlights

A Walk in the Woods

What is it about getting out into the woods that makes everything seem .. quieter ... more relaxed ... just plain better?

I don't have the answer, but I'm glad to live the results regardless.

Today we got the opportunity to make the short drive to an area state park. This park has long been one of my favorite places to visit. I spent many a summer day (& night) at this park growing up. Wonder Dad and I often found ourselves here when we were dating (& newly married) as well. This place is permanently counted as one of my "happy places" for certain.

And today we got to share it with Wonder Boy.

He's been here before, but it's been a number of years. I think he was 4 the last time we came. And he wasn't exactly thrilled to be here that day. But none of that mattered today.

Today we hit the trails as a family and all was right with the world.


This is the best time of year for anything "outside." It's not too hot, it's not too cold. That doesn't happen too often in Texas. Most of the year, if you want to enjoy this kind of activity, you have to get up really early to beat the heat. But in early spring like this, the weather is unbeatable! And even though we usually have a full itinerary on the weekends, I think we're going to have to work in a few more outings like this one.

I always enjoy being outside. Especially in a place so pretty. We got to see quite a few sights - we found a Luna Moth that looked like it had been run over by a mountain bike. It was so pretty. It broke our hearts to see it injured like that. But to find a silver lining - she probably would never have let us get so close if she hadn't been hurt. We saw this one old, fallen tree trunk that looked like it had been dipped in Clorox. It resembled a great ivory wand and it took my breath away. We saw (but got no photographic evidence of) a great brown jack rabbit. We pondered whether or not he was related to the Easter Bunny (this IS Easter weekend after all), but Wonder Boy dismissed us for the silly folks that we are as he hopped away from us. The Dogwood trees were in bloom and they left a beautiful carpet of white petals at their base.

But despite all of the eye candy to keep us occupied, it was the time with my guys that truly made the day for me. There is something really special about being in a place where you can run and laugh and tease and chat and not worry about anything other than the events of that one moment. I loved watching Wonder Boy run up and down the trail. I soaked up his lessons in seed dispersal (they've been studying just such things in science class as of late). And I held hands with Wonder Dad and watched our Boy having so much fun with us.

*sigh*

It's been a good day. One I intend to carry with my for quite some time. And I can hardly wait to do it again!

It's a Texas Thing

It's spring in Texas, folks! And while it is a very short season in these parts, we look forward to it with great anticipation.

It's one of the few times of the year when we need neither the air conditioner nor the heater. And while picking a wardrobe for a day that starts out frigid and ends sweaty and sticky isn't the easiest thing in the world, it's more than worth the hassle to be able to open the windows and let the cool breezes freshen up the house.

But perhaps my absolute FAVORITE sign of spring is the sight of the blue bonnets that start popping up along the roadside as soon as the first warm days start to mark the calendar.

I just love blue bonnets. Maybe that goes back to the brain washing that starts in grade school around these parts (it IS the state flower, after all). Or perhaps it's just those regal deep blue hues that draw me in. I honestly don't know and to be frank, I'm kind of ambivalent about my motives on this one. ;+)

Since I such a fan of this roadside wonder, Wonder Boy has had to endure at least a short photo shoot surrounded by blue bonnets each spring for as long as I can remember. It's not his favorite thing to do, but he's a good son and he puts up with it for my sake.


As you can see, it's well worth the effort (imho)! This little patch is actually fairly close to our home so it wasn't hard to make it over there after school one afternoon (there are crowds to fight on the weekends). This year we had a friend with us. She's about to graduate high school and wanted to make sure she had some photos in the blue bonnets to mark her final year before college. Wonder Boy kept her laughing and in turn, didn't protest too loudly when it was his turn in front of my lens.

Color me one proud Texas momma right now.

Piano Man

Not long after his orchestra's Winter Concert, Wonder Boy was fiddling around with an electric keyboard Santa delivered a few Christmases back. He came to me a bit exasperated saying that he thought he could play a little if only he knew which notes were which on the keyboard.

I may not know much about playing the piano, but thankfully I did know the answer to that! I was able to show him how to find center C and he was off and running from that point on (he didn't need me to go any further than that).

He quickly discovered that everything he could play on his viola, he could play on the piano. But that wasn't enough for him.

His little keyboard was one of those "learning" keyboards. It came programmed with a number of songs and the keys would light up to show you which one to press. Wonder Boy jumped in and tried it with a few songs (all the while following along with the printed music that also came with the set up). Then he ditched the lights and just started working things out - mostly by ear as not all of the songs came with printed music.

Not long after the first of the year, Wonder Boy expressed an interest in lessons. It took us a while to find the right teacher with the right opening in her schedule, but eventually we lined all of that up. Wonder Boy has only had 2 lessons so far, but he seems completely in love with it. And just like with his viola, we do not have to pressure him to practice. Daily he works it into his schedule.

Honestly I don't think he sees it as work. It's fun. It's play time.

Our hope through all of this is that his love of music will continue to grow. So far he's right on track with that!

I will admit that I love having so much music in the house. Not a day goes by without a performance of some type. And most days, we get to hear him play on both his viola and his piano. And we couldn't be happier about it!

The following video was taken a few weeks ago, before even his first lesson. I can't wait for a few months to pass so I can post a progress video. I can hear a difference in his play already, after just 2 weeks. I can only imagine how much we'll be able to tell in a few months!

Messing aBout on the Piano