Music Instrument Museum

On Friday Grant and I went to the Music Instrument Museum. I had heard about it from someone I met at a wedding reception recently. The museum was EXTREMELY educational. Although I was enlightened by seeing so many different instruments, I felt like I had an amazing geography lesson too.The museum is laid out by continent. The first continent we visited was Africa. This picture shows that the Africans make instruments out of just about anything they can find. The instruments were very roughly made. As we visited each country of Africa, a video would play that would show people using the instruments or how the instruments were made.Brent's parents served their mission in Lesotho, so I had to get a picture of the instruments from there. If you are able to zoom in to the gun on the wall, you will see some crazy design work. Grant is modeling the headphones we wore throughout the museum. The device hanging around his neck picked up the video signals of whatever booth you were standing in front of and then you could hear the music play in the video. Very high tech.

These instruments are X-Rated. Do not let your kiddos zoom in ;) The top of the instrument is where the head is and the bottom of the instrument are the feet. You can fill in the rest.

I thought Toni would get a kick out of this large instrument. It is a large rattle made entirely from goat hooves. Toni, do you remember having to trim goat hooves? Now I know what people in the Middle East do with the goat hooves after trimming their goats.

These horns from Tibet are super long. I thought if Grant stood near them you could get a better perspective of just how long they are.

Interesting design work on this drum.

This instrument has gourds hanging from the bottom of it. Joe, did you ever see one of these while you were in Guatemala?

Yes, this drum is HUGE!

After you go through all of the exhibits, there is an "experience" room where you get to PLAY a variety of instruments.

We were even allowed to hit the gong. It is so cool to put your hand on it and feel the vibrations after you hit it.

I'm not sure what country this instrument is from but they look like copper pots that the lids can't come off of. Fun to play.

This is the CRAZIEST instrument of them all. Listen to Grant playing it.

You've heard of the television station called Nickelodeon, well, this is an actual Nickelodeon.

Chopping Down the Ash Tree :(

In the back corner of our backyard, stood a large, 30 foot tall, Ash tree. I think its a pretty tree; however, Brent claims the root system of this tree are destroying other parts of the yard and are in the way of the shed he is going to build. We all want Brent to build the shed so that someday we could park in the garage. Here is the tree before the demolition began.

Grant was excited to help chop down the tree when he found out he was able to climb the massive scaffolding and cut the high branches. It was also exciting to watch Brent use the manly chainsaw.

After just two hours, this is what I found in my backyard. The tree was all over the yard and a large trunk was left.

Grant helped chop off small branches and separate wood that we would save for firewood.

Then the trailer was loaded and they made two trips to the dump.

The large trunk is gone. Here is the stump that is left along with the massive root system that stretches toward where the new shed will be. Tonight Brent is working on chopping the stump lower and burning it out. Maybe in a few months we will have a shed. :)

Playing at Corona del Sol

Grant plays for the Pueblo Middle School band. On October 7th, his school band was invited to play with the Corona del Sol High School band. Aprende Middle School's band, where I teach, was also invited to participate. Before the program started, I went on stage to take Grant's picture. He was a little surprised I was there. I know some of the Corona del Sol band students because they were my former math students, plus, I knew many of the Aprende band students because they are my current math students. So I didn't think anything of it to go on stage while they were setting up for rehearsal. First the Pueblo band played several songs. Grant was near the front with his bass clarinet. Then a few Corona band students played a song. Next the Aprende band took the stage and they played several songs. Then the entire Corona band filled the stage and played some great music. They had a fun variety. Lastly, the Pueblo, Aprende and Corona band took the stage to play a combined number. Grant enjoyed playing with the high school students. He also liked talking to some of my students.

My Hero!

Last night Brent, Grant and I sat down in the family room to watch Ironman 2. We started the movie a little after 8:30 pm. Grant and I had seen the movie before and were enjoying watching it again. Brent had not seen the movie and spent most of his time trying to figure out what was going on and what everything meant.

About three quarters of the way through the movie, Stan, our large cat, started meowing loudly. As we looked over to him in the darkness, we noticed Max running toward Stan and a large RAT running up our staircase!!!!

Whenever Stan catches something outside, like a bird or a mouse, he always brings it inside to Brent. He mostly catches small doves. As soon as Stan sees Brent, he drops his catch and waits for a reward from Brent. Brent is usually able to rescue the distressed creature and free it. Sometimes it is too late and it quickly dies.

Well last night, the RAT was definitely alive! Stan was excited about his catch. From head to tail the rat was about 12 inches long. It was GIGANTIC! I imagine he found it in our very own backyard! I was terrified that we were going to have a large rat running around the upstairs of our home!!!! Gross!!! Just think of all the germs and rat fecal matter and eventually, it being caught by one of the other cats and destroyed!!!

As the rat was running up the stairs, it climbed up the banister. He perched himself safely on top of one of the poles. In the dark, Brent snuck up behind the rat and grabbed it by the tail. Yes, he was touching the rat with his bare hands! SUPER GROSS!!! The rat wiggled and squirmed as Brent carried it upside-down down the staircase. I yelled for Grant to open the front door so Brent could throw the rat outside.

Thankfully, Brent had a firm grip on the rat tail and was able to get him to the front yard without dropping him in the house! He said the rat was in bad shape and probably wouldn't live that long. Brent is my HERO!!!! Brent is the bravest man I know!!!! If he hadn't been there when Stan brought in his prize, we would be living with a disgusting rat in our house.

Life never gets dull around here! :)

(p.s. Brent did wash his hands after he removed the rat from the house.)

Mitchell's Room

When Mitchell, Grant and I moved into Brent's house two years ago, both boys had the opportunity to paint their rooms to make it their own. Mitchell decided not to paint it until now... Mitchell started taking off light switch covers, outlet covers and cleared out his entire room Saturday morning.

The room is empty and WHITE! Can you imagine that this room has the original paint on the walls from 1994 when the house was built?

Mitchell and I worked on taping off the room and getting it painted. It took us a few hours to get the job done. Even though Mitchell had a head cold all day, he still worked hard at getting his project complete. I was surprised that he wanted the walls to be tan.

When he moved his furniture back in, he rearranged everything. He has a nice set up.

Yes, that is a desk in the corner. No, that doesn't mean Mitchell studies. Actually, we picked up this desk last weekend to be the future place of a Mitchell computer. Brent is working on putting one together for him. Grant is soooooo jealous of that! Great job on the room Mitchell!

Mitchell's 17th Birthday

Saturday, August 28th was Mitchell's 17th birthday. We decided to go all out for his birthday this year by throwing a TRIPLE Birthday Party. So along with celebrating Mitchell's birthday, we celebrated Uncle Bob's birthday and cousin Andrew's birthday. Bob and Mitchell both have birthday's on August 28th and Andrew's birthday is August 29th. It was quite a PARTY! So grown up but still wishing he was 18.

The men sat around and talked about men stuff as well as filled hundreds of water balloons.

Stephen established the rules for the water balloon fight.

The water balloon fight was intense!

Mitchell and Jack make some good throws.

Justin and Bradly charged toward the opposing team before they launched their balloons.

Along with the water balloon fight, Sarah and Stephen rented this gigantic bouncy thing that also had a water slide. This was a hit with ALL the kids! The kids went up and down the slide for hours!

Here comes Joseph!

Bradly goes down the slide face first.

Justin races down the slide on his belly.

Okay, there was one kiddo who didn't like the water slide. Poor Robby isn't into fast wet slides. He cried the whole way down.

Even birthday boy Mitchell slid down the slide. This time he grabbed Grant and drug him down too.

When the 15 minute rain storm came, we went inside and opened presents. Mitchell had an entourage surrounding him as he opened every gift and card.

So much fun to read all of the love notes from adoring family members.

Pinata Time!!! Birthday boy Andrew was the first kiddo up to attack the Sponge Bob pinata.

Mitchell was next to take a swing at it. Birthday Bob also tried to demolish the pinata but with no success. So everyone else at the party took a turn.

Bearett had a good swing, but no candy.

Justin gave it all he had to get Sponge Bob to bust, but no candy.

A blindfolded Joshua was next to try to bust open the pinata. No candy again.

Bradly loves baseball and has a dangerous swing. But even he couldn't break open the pinata.

Grant was next, but no candy.

Jack gave it a try too....but no candy.

Eventually, the pinata's secret trap door was opened and the candy came flooding out.

Mitchell = 17, Bob = 28, and Andrew = 5

Time to blow out the candles.

Mitchell loves strawberry cake. Yummy. Another fun birthday party that will go down in history!

A New School Year

Today was the first day of school for the 2010-2011 school year. Amazingly, we all got out of bed on time! Mitchell is a senior at Corona del Sol. Had to be at school at 6:45 to catch a bus to his class at EVIT. He spends half of his day taking a precision machining class there and then comes back to Corona to finish up his other senior credits. Mark your calendar now, graduation is May 26th!

Grant started Pueblo Middle School as an 8th grader. Next year he will be in high school. How is it possible for my baby to be in high school??? Yikes! Grant will be playing the bass clarinet again in the school band. He will also be applying to play at a concert in California this spring. Hopefully, we will see lots of improvement in his clarinet skills this year.

I'm teaching 8th grade again at Aprende Middle School. I had to move classrooms and am adjusting to the new room arrangement. I have about 120 students this year. and they seem to be a nice group of kids. I'm sure it will be a great school year; however, there are only 179 days to go to the end of the school year! But who's counting!