Catch Up
I am playing catch up on things that I have needed to post about but haven't. Reilly wanted to see all her Christmas piano recital glory posted on the blog and I have been negligent. So here it is...
When I was a kid I took piano lessons from Mrs. Winkler (Naomi's mom). I loved taking them and loved playing the piano. But just as I felt I was hitting my stride we moved to Kansas City and I stopped taking lessons and never resumed. I still like playing the piano and do so regularly but I the way I play is my "own" style. I'm fantastic with my right hand, with my left hand I simultaneously play a few chords, ALWAYS with the pedal and with GREAT enthusiasm. Some day I will take piano lessons again and learn to play properly but for now it works for FHE and my own amusement. Valyn...NO I did not accomplish my 2007 New Year's Resolution of learning to play a few hymn well...It's back on the list for 2008. (sigh).
But now that Reilly has been taking piano lessons for a few years...and doing great I might add... and she has become a tad critical of my piano playing skills. "MOM!! You CAN'T play with the pedal all the time!! Are you even looking to see HOW the music is to be played?" (groan grumble) etc. So she is slowly taking over some of the FHE songs and she basically ran the Christmas Caroling program on Christmas Eve. I am being usurped. What can you do? I'll tell you what I do. When I want to annoy her...which truly is GREAT FUN...I continue to play my own way. I "get" now the sadistic glee that my parents had in annoying me. Tyler and I can amuse ourselves for hours that way much to the disgust of our children. Ahh...passive agression has saved their lives numerous times. ; )
But I am really proud of Reilly and thought she did a fantastic job at her Christmas Piano Recital. My friend Jodi is her amazing piano teacher and Reilly LOVES her!!
But I do like to get my two cents in while she practices. I like to have her do things "Mrs. Winkler Style" much to her dismay. I make her memorize all her recital pieces...I make her practice enunciating "My name is Reilly and I am GOING TO (no "gonna's" around here) play____. When Reilly tries to write down on all her music the letters under the notes I go behind her and erase them (Mrs. Winkler didn't allow that) but I did make her a little cheat sheet to keep by her if she needs to "refer" to it (which Mrs. Winkler did for me... a cute red laminated one...I still have it somewhere). I like to say quite frequently "Mrs. Winkler used to ____ or Mrs. Winkler never let us___ " only to have had Reilly remind me that Mrs. Winkler is NOT her piano teacher. True. But the influence of Mrs. Winkler continues. I'm sure one day Reilly will be telling her own strong-willed daughter "Jodi never let us get away with that!!" and we will come full circle.
Then on Sunday my baby became a SUNBEAM!! She was so excited and GLAD to be out of Nursery which caused her to howl every single Sunday. She LOVES Primary and had a great time. These photos are curtesty of Jayni. Both Elly and Ailey wore brown dresses which they were thrilled about it. Cute Adam is in their class too.
Ok...a few things down and NUMEROUS book reviews to go!! Kirk and Jayme...look how much use the girls have gotten out of those cute brown flowergirl dresses!! They love them.
10 comments:
Way to Reilly! Kris, how do you get Reilly to wear a dress that has a matching Ailey size one? If Olivia catches wind that they even MAKE a dress that looks similar to hers in an Ava size, she'll have nothing to do with it. It's really messing with my family photo ideas, and she won't wear anything cute because now that Ava is a ginormous, they make most things in both sizes. Suggestions?
I have no suggestions. Reilly AT FIRST was thrilled with the idea of wearing the same dress as Ailey...but not anymore. Reilly will wear the same dress but not on the same day. Good luck.
I loved piano recitals and the dressing up and performing. I think it's a great thing to do for kids and it looks like Jodie is doing a great job for all your kids!
Your family really is growing up. I can't believe little Ailey is a sunbeam. I remember you sitting out in the church parking lot with an IV when you were pregnant with her. Not that long ago.
Hi Kristin!! That is so funny that you talked about how much the girls used the dresses, Kirk and I were just saying the same thing when we scrolled down and read that :) they both look so pretty in them.. Tell every one Hi for me...
Jayme.
I had to laugh at the whole "passive aggressive" portion of the post. I can relate a little too well with that whole thing.
I remember the "I am going to play . . ." enunciation lessons very well. My kids get the reminders on that one, too. Now that I'm a Mom, I have a new-found respect for the hours and hours my Mom spent with us practicing (and listening to us complaining about practicing)our instruments. The woman really is a saint . . .
Reilly is such an accomplished young lady! Ditto on the darling dresses!!
Well, well, well! Naomi sent me a late night e-mail with your link. Nothing like a late-night chuckle to brighten the next day! I have to thank you, also, for making my December with your kind comments on Naomi's blog! Talk about Christmas cheer - ing up.
I am very impressed with your beautiful children. And Reilly is such a beautiful little girl. I am proud of her for learning to play the piano. I can't think of anything that will give her so much joy over her whole lifetime. Sometimes I sit down in the dark and play some of my favorite pieces from memory. I hope to meet her someday, but hope she won't hate me for all those quotes her mother threw out!!! I am still teaching. Rather, I am teaching again. I warned all the parents of my students that I am so way past my prime, but they seem happy with the dregs I have to offer. Iralee's three and two of their friends are my clientele.
I'm glad I didn't have to deal with the "same dress problem". Did you see Olivia's Halloween outfit? Naomi and Iralee had dresses alike on that one, and it provided one of my favorite pictures, snapped on the patio outside our Springdell home. Other "heart" pictures are two little girls giving a big whirl before plopping to their knees for family prayer, surrounded by their miles of ruffles in a circle about them. Precious days. So happy that your family was a part of all that, and especially happy that you folks and the Yocums have such precious continuing ties. Our love and best wishes to you always. Mom Winkler
Love the brown dresses. They were beyond cute.
Mrs. Winker!! What a fun surprise to hear from you!! I love and miss you. :)
I first of all love the piano teacher name.....Mrs. Winkler. I never knew piano teachers could stick through a couple of generations like that.....it makes me feel like I have a little more significance in students' lives (especially the stinker ones). You seem to be MIss America mom for Reilly and her pracitice sessions. Way to Go!
You are so funny. Your story telling skills are top notch - I can actually hear your voice when I read your blog :)
Is Reilly's dress brown??? That is my favorite color! She looks so pretty (and grown up).
I'm with you in wanting to take adult piano lessons. Sometime in the next 1-3 years I promise to take it up. I hope I can find a teacher who will take me and my kids.
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