Our "New" 100 Year Old Piano

After the kids started piano lessons and actually liked it we decided that we needed to upgrade from our hand-me down yamaha keyboard to an actual piano. At lessons, after having practiced on the keyboard, the kids had a hard time playing the keys as they are much heavier on an actual piano and the keyboard is so much smaller than a piano . They couldn't practice playing loud or soft not to mention that the keyboard sat where my sewing machine is supposed to go! It was time for a piano. We started the craigslist search. It seems that lots of people are getting rid of their pianos but it also seems like people think that their pianos are also worth a small fortune!! So, when we found this free one we jumped on it. We brought the piano guy out to the house so he could make sure that it wasn't a piece of junk and he said that it's perfect for a 5 and 6 year old. We called up all the guys we know and they gratefully moved this heavy beast into it's location where it will sit for the next 50 years! The kids and me and my sewing machine are happy to have this piano in our house.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!!

This year we stayed home for Thanksgiving. We were going to go to Fargo for the day, but with the passing of my auntie Barb, my mom just wasn't feeling up to it. We hosted my parents and my brother and his family. It was a mellow day. We all ate too much, but I'm eating leftovers as I type, so obviously I'm a glutton for punishment.  The kids hung out all day and did a lot of art. I just had to share.

Halloween

It was a crazy Halloween weekend. First we had Sadie's Birthday and piano recital on Friday, Sadie's party on Saturday, a family Halloween party that evening, a kid Halloween party on Sunday, class parties on Monday and trick-or-treating. Can you believe I even had the time to get food poisoning and spent 36 hours straight in bed? (Dennis had to take the kids to one of their parties, but I managed to make it to the school parties and trick-or-treating). Here are a few of the highlights.

Miss A's Kindergarten Class

Eli told me he wanted to be a bat for Halloween, not Batman, a bat. So, I got all excited about making a costume. Luckily, I didn't get very far before he said that he just wanted to be a power ranger, the same one he was last year. I happily agreed.

TLC Pre-school Class

The only photo I got of Eli and Sadie together.

 

 What was Sadie? Well, she's a Chipette, of course. You know, the girl version of the Chipmunks. This was actually my mistake. Sadie told me she wanted to be a chipmunk, and I immediately thought of Brittany the Chipette, because they have watched the Chipmunk movie a gazillion times. Well, it turns out that she wanted to be the furry, big-cheeked forest kind of chipmunk, instead of the furry, big-cheeked rocker kind of Chipmunk. But, as soon as she saw the pink coat and plaid tie she happily agreed. Phew, I lucked out of making a furry Chipmunk costume.
The weather that night was perfect for trick-or-treating. We walked around with pals Abby and Ryan. The kids happily ran from house to house and they didn't even have to wear their coats! They got a ton of candy, but they both claimed that they loved the haunted house the best. The haunted house is built by middle schoolers in their garage. It was quite good and scary, but not-too-scary for the little guys. They even wanted to go again by themselves.

Sadie's Birthday Party

On Saturday, October 29 Sadie had her birthday party at the local gymnastics place. She invited all of her closest friends and they jumped and bounced and twirled and ran their little hearts out. They had such a blast and it was by far the easiest party I've ever done. We would all happily agree to do it again. (But, we'll wait until next year!)

 Eli and Ryan playing.

 Leanna jumping into the pit with Luis.

 Clara.

 Most of the kids having a blast attacking Dennis.

 The cake.

 The wish.

The Presents

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone knows Sadie very well. She got a gazillion craft project presents. We have steadily been working our way through all of them.

I don't know why I always forget to take a whole group photo. But, I did. Again.