Summer

the first week of summer is under way. I'm afraid the kids are bored already. We've tried to just relax this week and let them play with friends, etc. Max is playing baseball, so it's fun to go and watch his games. max is brave! He makes lots of runs on stealing bases. Sam ended up having to miss the last couple of his soccer games due to weather, etc. Too bad. He loved soccer, and was also really brave. He average three or four goals each game. Emily has also had a good soccer season. Her last game is on Friday. She scored a goal last week, and had some good defense as well.

This summer is going to be crazy. I have several weeks of workshops coming up to finish up my licensure points. Ginny is going to attend a morning preschool at the university so she has somewhere fun to go during my workshops and all the classes I have to teach. The boys have a camp one of the weeks that I will be in workshop. I think Emily is going to work for Trevor somewhat this summer. I have music classes. Music camp next week, and then a regular session starting in July. Unfortunately, I'll have to miss the last couple of weeks of music class for an orientation at thomas edison. And, of course, I'll have to help Trevor with chem flushes when I have the chance. We're starting 4H next week, so I can have the kids doing something fun throughout all of this chaos. It looks like we're going to have a pretty big 4h club. Several families are helping me out, which will make it more fun and social for my kids as well. Oh, and I am teaching at the Family Institute on Wednesday nights. It is turning out to be really a lovely experience. The Family Institute services children who have been abused or who have seen abuse. They come for counselling, group class, and music therapy. Music therapy is not something I've done much with in the past, but I'm really enjoying it. And the kids LOVE it! One little girl last night said, "I get to come here 6 more times! This is sooooo fun!"
I'm also preparing a duet recital with my friend Jo Hays, another flutist, sometime in July. We played a wedding last week with a cellist friend, and we are hoping to do more of those in the future. Our recital program should be pretty interesting. We have some things with piano, some with cello, and a nice mix of music from all the periods. This is fun for me. Our flute choir is also performing at the tabernacle in a couple of weeks.
So, amid all this chaos, I'm hoping that the kids will still be able to relax and have fun this summer. I should mostly be able to be home in the afternoons for having friends over, swimming, park outings, etc. I hope we can also take at least one family camping trip.

Whew! I feel better just getting that all off my chest!
Karen

New job!

Haven't had anything interesting to report in quite awhile. But today, I got a job offer to be the band director at Thomas Edison Charter School, which is the school my kids have been attending. I'm really excited about it. I have a meeting with the principal on Tuesday to hammer out the details of the contract.

Sam graduated from kindergarten today with a cute ceremony. The kids sang patriotic songs and recited poetry, and they gave out certificates and awards. Sam was given an award for the most improved boy. The best part for the kids was the cotton candy at the end.

Max finished the 4th grade with his best report card ever, and Emily coasted through the finish of 7th grade in style with plenty of A's on her report card as well.
I think we'll try to relax and have fun next week, and then I'm ready to start 4H and summer reading programs, etc. I'm taking some workshops and teaching this summer,too so it'll be pretty busy.