Piano Evaluation

Ethan had another piano evaluation on Saturday and he did a GREAT JOB!!

He has been working on the song for a couple of months and was ready. I took him to Dixie State to the Eccles Building where the evaluation would be held. He took a few minutes to warm up and get the butterflies out. Then they called his name and he took his music and went in the room.

I could hear him play from the hallway and he did great!! He didn't make any mistakes. When he came out he was really happy with how well he had performed his song. The man in charge of the evaluations went into the room to find out Ethan's score. When he came out Ethan was anxious to hear how he had been judged. He got a Superior Minus. The top is Superior so he was a bit disappointed but still very happy with his score.

Ethan said that next year he is going to practice a bit more and work on dynamics better so he can get a Superior rating. Those with Superior ratings got to play in a recital/competition last night and that's his goal.

Great job buddy!!!

Ethan's Boogie

Ethan has another piano evaluation this Saturday so he has been working really hard on his song (really, he knows there is no way I could stand to hear the same song played for 30 minutes so if he practices the same song over and over he thinks I will only have him practice part of the time....wrong!).

I wanted to video tape it if we don't get it at his recital next week we will still have record of it. He realized what I was doing pretty quickly and, after a few takes, we got the one he wants me to post. He is such a ham!!!

The Parade

Courtney's dance group was in the Lion's Rodeo Kids Parade again this year. Ethan didn't want to go alone so we took Brennon with us. We dropped Courtney and Bryan off and they went to the beginning of the parade to find Courtney's dance group. Bryan stayed with her until they loaded everyone into the truck (the older girls rode their bikes) then he came and found us.

Ethan and Brennon had a blast catching/grabbing candy and waving at everyone. They had tons of comments about every entry that went by. Last Thursday, Ethan had gone with Brennon and his mom to the Lion's Rodeo and they had a blast. So a lot of what they were talking about was the rodeo.

When Courtney was finished Bryan went to get her and then she got to catch candy with the boys. The parade seemed to last forever but it was fun for the kids.

Soccer Game!

Courtney had her first soccer game of the season on Saturday. We drove out to the Little Valley Field, which is so far away, so she could play. It wasn't too hot of an afternoon.

Bryan warmed them up and got them ready to play. They did a pretty good job and made some goals. They need to learn to space out and not steal the ball from their own player, but that will come with more time and practice.

First Grade Dad Rodeo

You know your dad loves you when he shows up at your elementary school, gets on his hands and knees, and acts like a bucking bronco for your first grade Dad Rodeo.

Courtney was pretty excited about the rodeo and so she and Bryan had to practice the night before so he would be "trained." It was hilarious! Bryan hadn't known when it was Ethan's 1st grade Dad Rodeo what he was getting into but this time he did and he still went!

Courtney got to learn how to rope and then ran barrels with the horse she made. It was a lot of fun for her. And Bryan was such a good sport!!

Saying Goodbye

Bryan had to say goodbye to his Toyota Corolla today. It's been a great car but it's time had come. The A/C, trunk and the driver's side door lock all didn't work; it had a huge dent in the front passenger's side where Bryan was hit one day; it didn't have any hubcaps; and the paint was fading. It's wasn't much to look at but it ran and had personality.

Bryan bought this car when he first came home off his mission. Last month my aunt and uncle left for a mission to New Zealand and asked if we would take care of one of their cars for them while they are gone. We asked Bryan's brother if he wanted to use Bryan's car, but he had another option (lucky for him!). We decided that Bryan would use the Honda (my uncle's car) and we would donate Bryan's car to charity. We would save money for a new car and then buy one when my aunt and uncle get home from their mission and need their car back.

After a few days with the Honda, it was too hard to give up the Toyota so we decided that Bryan would rotate using both cars. The idea was to keep the Toyota for Ethan to drive eventually (7 years down the road). But then the starter on the Toyota died and it was going to be more money than it was worth to get it fixed.

I called the Make-a-Wish foundation and they picked it up today from Bryan's work. Bryan said he isn't sad but I am a little. It was a good car while it lasted.

Flag Football Season

Last night was Ethan's first flag football game of the season. He has games every Tuesday and Thursday for the next 5 weeks. His number is 3. Thanks to some fancy shoes and cool arch support insoles, his feet didn't hurt at all and he could run really well. He did jam his thumb during a play so that may have taken his mind off his heels, if they did hurt.

They didn't win but Ethan said he had a lot of fun. It started to sprinkle rain near the end but they finished the game just fine.