Julia's First Piano Recital

Well, Julia, you've been taking lessons via Facetime with Miss Amy for more than a year (thanks, Covid!)

And with masks on you finally got to meet her in person as well as your duet partner (Frankie from school!) in person for a few dress rehearsals.

The big day finally arrived, and you dressed the part in a pink cardigan, white dress, and your 'orphan boots.'

And you played "Heart and Souls" with Frankie!

And then, your solo piece, "Fur Elise."

You may have been nervous, but it didn't show! You rocked it!

We were so proud of you!

We built some drums! Daddy and Julia

Julia, when you set your mind on something, it gets done! So one Saturday, you came up with an idea!

 "Let's build some drums!"

And you and I put our heads together and creativity on high alert...we used LOTS of boxes and tape and some beads and coins and a shampoo bottle and rubber band and ...holy smokes... we built some drums!

Your brother even joined in for the painting!








The end result was a HIT (get it?) for everyone!



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I love being creative with you and this is certainly a cymbol of our love and creativity!

Coronavirus School of Rock! (Nobody said it was easy)

Piano Brain and Piano Man

You two kiddos have loved playing the keyboards at our house and the piano at Mimi and Pops' house for a long time. You love the different whacky keyboard noises, built in tunes, and the drum buttons. 

You both have shown a lot of interest in figuring out some songs as well. Julia, you even figured out "Ode to Joy" and pretty much taught it to yourself!

So, we were super excited- and you both were ALSO super excited- to actually start taking piano LESSONS this year!

Your teacher is named "Tyler" and she is "so cool!" She wants you guys to start by learning what you want to learn.

So, Aidan, in your first lesson you wanted to learn "Deck the Halls" (which follows, because you have ALWAYS loved Christmas music). You came home so excited to play it over and over again! In your next lesson, you asked to learn to play the "Snoopy Song"- so Tyler taught you to play "Linus and Lucy." You've been working really hard on playing your tunes with one hand (including a now classic "finger printing thumb roll") and committing them to memory! Tyler loves working with you and said that your enthusiasm and excitement at hearing the song you want to hear come out of your hands and the piano is joyful to watch!

Plus, as a reward after your lesson, you got to smash around on the drum synthesizers!

Julia, in your first lesson you told her you had learned "Ode to Joy" and you wanted to learn more- so you and she are working very hard on it. You are quickly getting the hang of playing with one had. You ALSO told her that you had written your own song- a short little ditty using the black keys. You had it nailed down tight and Tyler noted how good of a pattern it is, with a clock-work tempo. She asked you to play your song up top on the keys while she noodled around the bottom keys to play some notes that went along with it. You lost a little confidence, but with some prompting, quickly regained it.

Then Tyler asked YOU to noodle around in the bottom keys with your left hand while you played your song with your right hand. And. You. Were. DOING IT!

Tyler asked me if you'd ever had lessons before. You hadn't. She replied, "well, this girl's got piano brain!"

So, to Piano Man and Piano Brain, I say BRAVO and keep up the good work! I have so much fun practicing piano with you, and with you guys teaching ME piano too!

Life in Exile- Part 2 - Fun with Yaya and Baba

While this was going on at home...

...THIS was going on at Yaya and Baba's:

That's right...we were having a ball on the second leg of our life in exile.

There was a lot of music and learning and reading going on!

Julia, one day I decided to use Yaya's xylophone to teach you a song. You were way excited, and wanted to learn more and more!

Aidan, you got the reading bug in a BIG way...something clicked with you and you wanted to start reading more and more, and reading bigger and better books. You exclaimed "Dad, I'm a reader now!"

We spent my birthday playing, playgrounding, and Sweettooth Hoteling... and velvet tacoing...

We sang songs, we playgrounded more, we comic booked, we hung out with Yaya and Baba...

Lots of art and notes were made and received too...including these love notes to you, Julia!

These puppets by you Aidan...

And this request from a homesick you, Julia. (note: you did ultimately support me and Mommy going on a date)

Julia, you worked night and day on that frog, and Aidan you worked hard to master the art of the jetplane. 

We did a puzzle, danced about, and had some chess challenges:

All in all, we had a lovely time with your lovely Yaya and Baba...

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up our belongings, our chess set, wash up and head home...

While it was lovely to return to our own home, we'll never forget the fun we had living in exile.