. VG .

Friday, December 27, 2013

Symphonette Christmas Concert

The very next night after Beaker's holiday concert we made the drive to GR to watch my Dad's last symphonette concert of the season. The complex was hosting their Christmas party so we stopped by there for a little bit and said hi to a few people and then took off. That day was really busy... there was a lot of errands that we ended up doing while Gaetan was in a meeting and then we had to quickly come home and get ready to go! It was a bit of a whirlwind day!

My gym has a play area for kids... which was one of the errands we ran during our crazy day!

Well, on the drive up the crazies fell asleep... so when we got there I took Norah inside and watched the concert. She did a GREAT job. However, Gaetan stayed in the car with the crazies and tried to wake them up but nothing... so they ended up missing the entire concert. They walked in while everybody was packing up... haha. So, we went to Grandma and Don's house afterwards for a little snack and play time. :)

I think that I'm joining symphonette again next semester. Mr. D said that it was cool if I missed a few rehearsals here and there, and honestly, it's not like I need the rehearsal time! I definitely love the people in it but I'm definitely not doing it for the musicality haha. It was good to watch them perform and see all the people in it again.

JVG

Beaker's holiday concert

I got the opportunity to get out of the house sans kids and watch Beaker do his thing! It's one thing to think that your friends are good at what they do, but to see them in action is something completely different. I know that he is a musical genius but that doesn't always mean that you can teach others how to appreciate music as well... but that is not the case here. He did such a great job... it was endearing. He has fourth, fifth and then high schoolers. The little kids were adorable! yes... they sounded like little kids starting on string instruments but they did a fabulous job and you could see how much he enjoyed working with them. It warmed this Momma's heart...

fourth graders performing twinkle twinkle little star

Explaining all the different techniques they are learning

Fifth graders... my little friend Kennedy is sitting in the back

Chamber high school orchestra

High school honors orchestra

Looking good!

all grown up... with a name sign and everything haha

Then, the high schoolers were fabulous! I didn't know if there was going to be a huge transition because of Mr. D leaving but the music didn't seem to suffer. I'm sure that they are still transitioning at school, but you wouldn't really know it by their performance.

Trish and I hanging out in her office before we headed out

With the man of the hour... and yes, he is rocking that bow tie!

HUGE snowflakes!

His charisma with the audience and his very clear love and passion for the music and students were very evident. I was glad that I got to witness his musical magic! Afterwards we went out for dinner and got to hang out which was nice. I carpooled with Tricia and David (her 'friend') and Kyle even came out for dinner too. The roads were absolutely terrible, but we made it nonetheless and had a great time.

The kids were getting their own music on at Barnes and Noble with Papa

JVG

Dinner party

We got invited over to Eric and Mary's house for a dinner party! :) They had just redone their house and we always talked about getting together, but life gets busy so we never did... but Bryan, and Tricia came too so it was a good ole time!

They have this little pug named Dori who did really well with the kids... Tristan and Lucy weren't wild about her at first but by the end of the night they didn't want to leave her alone! haha. We really just did have a nice time hanging out, eating, watching movies.... ya know. We did get to try this infused vodka that Mary's coworker made. We tried a strawberry, vanilla and cucumber one. Yes, cucumber... sound disgusting but it was so refreshing and you couldn't even tell it was alcohol... which could be a bad thing! It definitely jus smelled like a cucumber and was just light and fresh. Crazy.

Norah and Dori got along real well. They were funny to watch together

The kiddos and Trish

I'm glad that we got a chance to hang out and get out. A nice little pre-Christmas celebration with good friends. :)

JVG

Half goal complete

I have to say that I am pretty proud of myself! My goal for training this time around was to complete a half under 2 hours. Last time I ran a half we were pretty close but the course was really hilly and we weren't sure what to expect! Well, for my training I had to run a half (which I like because then I know I will be able to run the full thing for my race) and I thought that I should try to run it like a race. Honesty, while driving to the gym I couldn't stop yawning and was just telling myself I'd be pretty pleased if I finished it... and was curious to see how my knees were going to feel.. but once I got there I told myself I would just try it and if it didn't work, then next time.

The bruise from PT. Worth it though!

I knew that I had to average 9:09/mile to get just under 2 hours. Since the treadmill only lets you do 60 minutes at a time I figured if I could get 6.5 in then I would be right on pace. Well, it took me a little longer to warm up then I expected and only got 6.4 in for the first hour... but I was feeling good and I felt like I could make up the difference. My first half average was 9:22 and I think my last half was 8:40 something... so I had to definitely kick it in for the last half but I made it! I finished in 1:58.12 which I'm pretty proud of. My knees felt great and I didn't feel like I was going to die, which means I probably could've gone faster, but I have this innate fear of burning out of gas so I don't push myself to that point haha.

It was also a pleasant surprise when I weighed myself at the gym and I had lost 13 lbs since the last time I weighed in! :) I kind of have a sneaking suspicion that all the running and the weight loss may be related... haha

Unfortunately, now that I've completed my goal, I don't have the gusto to train like I had been before! haha. I am still very much looking forward to this race in January but the pressure is off to perform. :)

JVG

Knit tie

I decided that I should branch out and try something new besides a cowl... and with Christmas around the corner what a good time to start something! This way I can experiment and give them away. :) I started with a tie because it seemed like it would be fast and easy... and it was, after I figured out this guys pattern. He had numbered his stuff wrong, which made it extremely confusing but with the help with a Physics PhD we got it to work. :) I think it turned out very nicely and am planning on making another one for my father in law. Next... maybe a skinny tie and fingerless gloves and leg warmers! haha

JVG

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Goose's black eye

I have to say that I am pretty impressed that our kids haven't gotten more black eyes, broken bones, or more serious injuries with how crazy they are! And the thing that is most surprising to me is when it looks like it shouldn't hurt so much is when they get hurt the worst.

Poor Goose the other day was just being a silly pants. She was just doing her normal bouncing around... and then she was laying on the couch and just rolled off. Normally, not a problem. But, this time she happened to not catch herself all the way and bumped her eye on the bottom part of the coffee table. At first it didn't look like anything but then she was upset and kept telling me she hurt her head. When I looked at it initially it just looked like a little bump under her eye but the next morning it was a full blown black eye. :( She looks tough with it though haha. Our little tough Goosh...

Right after it happened

She is our little tough cheeser

The next morning... :(

She clearly was over it

JVG

Monday, December 16, 2013

61

My parents turned 61 this year. Its still crazy to me that they are getting so old! When I look at them I don't view them like that because they don't act like it. Shoot... my dad was outside sledding on his belly face first the other day. Their birthdays are three days apart (I think that's kinda cute) so we did a joint celebration. Since my sister is there we aren't there overnight that often, because it's a bit of a logistical thing to fit two whole families upstairs... but we made it work. It was nice. The kids got a chance to play with Grandma and Don while the cousins were at school and I got to hang out with my sister after the kids went to bed. :) We did normal pizza and beer and cake of course! My Dad loves cake! I made dirt for the cousins but forgot it, but we brought donuts, so I think all was forgiven. It was a nice time had by all, and I'm sure that Mom and Dad enjoyed spending their birthdays with their grandchildren.