The Hazard Chronicles

We are right in the middle of the last week of school. With finals, and final performances, and tryouts for next year's things, and preparation for summer things, it's all been quite the push. We're almost there though. Here are some photos:

Final performance in concert band for Ev. This year she was the section leader for percussion, and probably will be next year as well. She also auditioned to be in a different band next year that travels a little more and she got in. She is considering jazz band as well, I think. But so far she does concert band, wind ensemble, drumline, and Retrospect (garage band), as well as private drum lessons. It's a lot, and she does it well. Also, the guy in the back looks like a creeper, but he is apparently a very nice kid.

Lindsey had signed up for a trial run of elementary school choir. They meet early in the morning before school starts and it requires a bit of commitment. I hadn't heard them sing until last week, and I was honestly very impressed. Those who know me know that I don't say that unless I mean it. But seriously, they sounded really good!

Lindsey also signed up to be in the school talent show. She chose some music and choreographed an Irish dance for herself. It was really fun to watch! Sometimes, our kids do things and it's like, yeah they are in this thing or that thing or whatever, but then when I see the results I am actually quite floored. I guess that consistent practice and hard work really do pay off.

These last two are from a night out we had as a family to see the play "Legally Blonde." We had an outdoor dinner beforehand at a beautiful restaurant in Sandpoint, and then had a blast watching the show. The kids already knew all the songs, and though it was a late night, energy levels were high until the very end.

Also, I have to mention that even though we got home around 11:30, Jackson woke up at 5:00 the next morning because he had committed to help a friend work on the nearby golf course. I was really proud of him for doing that.

Just a random picture from a church potluck- known to our kids as "all-you-can-eat-dessert." Make note of the huge plate of sweets, and the single bite out of the hamburger on his plate. I'd let you guess which plate was clean at the end, but I think his smile already gives away the answer.

Wow- there is a lot of Lindsey in this post. This is from a Shakespeare performance she did with her Challenge team (it's like a gifted and talented thing). They had worked up little skits based on scenes from Hamlet. L was actually in two of them since she was also filling in for someone else.

Maren has been rocking the choir thing. Lately she has been in private voice lessons, which she begged us for and looks forward to every week. For the end-of-school-concert she auditioned for a solo part and got it, and then auditioned for the select choir next year and got in to that too! She's does well, and I have watched her confidence level rise through the roof with all of this. Later in the month she'll be part of a concert-in-the-park thing where she'll sing a few solos from musical theater.

Here's Addy at her end-of-year concert. This is what happens when you text a kid to put their head up and smile so you can get a picture. I don't know how I feel about her responding to text messages in the middle of a concert, but I guess it worked. Saxophone has been a big thing for Addy. She already has some small scholarships from it and she is excited to be in some of the high school bands next year.