In January Mason asked if he could try out for the school chorus. I figured if he's into something like that on his own, I'm all for it. Then he came home one day a couple months ago and told me he didn't like chorus anymore and he didn't want to go. HIs reasoning? His teacher gave him a solo and he didn't want to sing it. 

So I guess there comes a time in every motherhood career where you have to make a choice... Teach them that giving up is a great option (thereby ruining their future) or force them to hate something they once loved (thereby ruining their future). I figured this was the time to choose the latter.

Turned out to be the right choice. With enough practice he was over his fear of messing up in front of his peers (and what I think might be a new girlfriend). So here it goes. Just disregard the fact that he's the only kid wearing a blue t-shirt (it wasn't at all because his mom briefly skimmed the chior performace paper and failed to notice the attire was white shirts and black pants).

This isn't nearly as good, because Mason isn't the star - but I figured I'd put a few more up for fun. Although my arm was too lazy to record the entire (almost hour an a half!) long performance, it should be noted that there is some amazing talent at this school. They had piano solos, violins, clarinets... one kid even sang adele while playing the piano. 

 

A couple weeks ago the first grade classes had their turn at performing. My favorite part was the banner that has now been repurposed twice since they made it for Mason's performance. No, maybe my favorite part was when all the first graders danced to the newest Enrique Iglesias song, I Like How It Feels - which I didn't even think to record because Milo told me they didn't really sing at all. The dancing was hilarious and awesome. So, sorry you missed out on the most entertaining part and will be instead subjected to children during their less entertianing moments.

 

 

And the after party with Milo and his class, where the most entertaining thing was when I ended up next to a set of parents who decided to kiss no less than seven times while they greeted each other and caught up on their mornings. Standing right next to me. In the first grade classroom.

 

My kids don't usually get to into fundraising at school. Probably because I don't usually get to into it. But there's something about the St. Jude's special I watched on tv once that's always going to stick with me. Maybe, probably, because I watched it with Erik and it was all about a little boy who had cancer.

So I gave a tiny little push and explained what the fundraiser was for. Both boys decided they wanted to sign up and raise money.

Then Milo added $45.61 of his own money.

I asked him if he was sure he wanted to give that much, since it's about half his itouch savings. He looked at me, then he asked, "Well, if I pay this money where is it going to?" I confirmed that it was for the kids that were sick and he just shrugged his shoulders and said yes, that's how much he wanted to give.

 

It's fairly normal for me to send out a) late Christmas cards, or b) no Christmas cards. I know it shouldn't matter, but I really like Christmas cards. I like sending them, I like receiving them, I'm not altogether sure why. I think I just like traditions in general, and I have fun trying to keep them (like that one time I threw a semi-tantrum because I had forgotten to buy a box of Lucky Charms for Mason and Milo for St. Patricks Day... What in the world would the green leprechaun footprints lead to?! And yes, I ended up at Wal-mart at 2:00 am). 

So this year, or rather last year, my busy unplanned schedule led me to choose option b, no Christmas cards. Then for a brief moment while I was visiting family and friends in Utah I had the great idea to make New Year's cards to send out. I made them, I printed them, I packed them up to bring back home. All I needed to do was buy envelopes for them. Then the first weekend back I had to work from home = no time to buy envelopes. Then the second weekend I fought my way through the Saturday madness at three stores, only to realize the envelope size I needed thought it was funny to hide from me. In frustration, and realizing it was now two full weeks after New Years, I figured my cunning crafty plan was a bust. 

And then I made them into Valentine's cards instead. Only this time, I decided to be smart, save my frustration, and show off my skills (and super cute kids, of course) to only my internet stalkers. 

So here it is, Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I skipped bagel Friday at work to check out Mason's fourth grade performance. The theme was to honor Martin Luther King Jr., and the teachers so wisely chose songs the parents could stand listening to over and over again as they practiced at home. I started recording the second song because I know how much the boys like to watch them later, but halfway through I realized that this is the first time the grandparents couldn't be here to watch. So I decided to commit myself into the world of YouTube so they could get a little peek of the singing. If you are not said grandparents, these will more than likely be boring to you... consider yourself fully warned.

the anticipation

the smile

the singing

the afterparty

 

Here are a few things we did in December. 

Checked out the Rockefeller Tree. The star on the top is amazing. The crowd around it is ridiculous. 

Opened Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.

Had the usual crepe breakfast, which Mason wrote about in his cleverly titled "Christmas Crepes" story.

Read new books to new animal friends.

Took a trip to Utah to visit family. Which included opening presents two more times (and a stocking scavenger hunt)!

And logged a few more frequent flyer miles.

Random #1: Mason is a future GoogleX employee. After taking a shower tonight Mason announced that he wants to invent two things. First, a wireless phone charger. Second, wireless headphones to connect to the iPhone (that can also tell you what song you're listening to). Yesterday he told me he didn't understand why they made Siri for the iPhone but haven't put the technology (A5 chip) into the iTouch yet. I don't even know what the A5 chip means, why does my 9-year old son?

Also, he sent this email to his grandmothers:

Random #2: Halloween has come and gone. And although I feel like it's been a while, I then remember my kids still have Halloween candy that they are begging me to eat each day.

I guess that means I still have more time to sneak a few bites of my own. Speaking of sneaky candy, this video is great. The end is the best.

We finally got a kitchen table! Which does mean that our old table had to be retired.

It also means that homework, computer work and any other family gathering time can be done somewhere besides my bed.

But don't worry. We haven't replaced all our treasured furniture yet. I still have a great nightstand next to my mattress (thank you Ikea for still being out of queen size slats).

As for our other furnituresque adventures, what started as houses for a single stuffed animal (using the cardboard that our futon came in) turned into something slightly bigger...

So yes, I've been keeping the kids busy. Other than building random things out of cardboard, they've been doing the school/homework thing. And there's a huge playground behind their school, so they either beg me to go there or the library almost every day after school. And someday soon (fingers crossed) Milo will stop asking why we "have to walk everywhere." 

I saw this poem on someone else's blog (who copied it from a headstone she found at the cemetery). I thought it was nice.

God saw that you were tired, and a cure was not to be
So he put His arms around you, and whispered, "Come to me"
With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away
Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best

I also had an email from a friend who shared a video he was making about how Erik's situation inspired him (and many others) to do something really great. I know Erik was meant to do more than just be here with me and the boys, and it makes me happy when I hear about how his life affected so many others for good.

A friend of mine (who in reality I have never met, but she has so many similarities to me she can't be anything but a friend) is doing the Light the Night Walk this year. This year she lost her husband to Leukemia, and has now found herself a single mom with boys (only she has three). 

Last year I did the Light the Night with the Rudy's, but this year I am miles away. But I decided I can still be just as helpful. 

The walk is to raise money for all blood cancers, and is sponsered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Amy is doing the walk this weekend, and her goal is almost there. Even if you just want to contribute something small, everything goes toward a good cause! 

You can find the link on her blog, or here's the direct link to the page: Light the Night. 

I know the funds don't go to Amy specifically, but from doing this last year, it's just nice to know people care to help. It's just a few clicks away...