Archive for September 2016

School has started and so are many of the activities and schedules are back to normal; classes before school, then abbey does taxes during school hours, then go to various places for music (sax, violin, and piano) practice. Then we have boy scouts, cub scouts, and girl scouts throughout the week while going to mutual and other various activities. So basically we're packed each and everyday except for Sunday. We block Sunday to rest and go to parks, etc...


This year Clayton went to audition for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra (MCYO) Preparatory String group. Clayton made it in 1st Violin session and sits on the left side of the conductor behind the concert master.  At first we didn't know what it means because during his regular music classes the advanced kids are in 2nd or 3rd violin in the back of the group but in real orchestras, the most experienced ones will play 1st Violin close to the conductor. His teacher is so proud of him, even though this is his first audition and he said he did not do so well in the audition. He managed to be picked in the 1st Violin session. He is excited to make it but also very nervous to learn book 3-4 pieces when he is only on Suzuki book 2. He asked he he should quit after the first rehearsal because the pieces were so hard with shifting, which he supposes to learn in book 3/4. Ms. Leslie encouraged him and so did we. We know he will work hard and make it happen.







 As of yesterday, 9/26/16, Brennan went to audition for the Honors Jazz Audition. He knows it will be hard to get in since he is competing with 8th and 9th graders. We think it will be a good experience for him. Only two alto saxophone will be picked out of 9. We don't' know the results yet but we're still proud of him. He did good on his piece and now he knows he has to work on his Jazz Sight reading which has TONS of accidentals.


Below are the photos from 4H meeting the boys went for Drone Discovery presentation. It was funny because the boys were tagging along because the leader in charge, Mrs. Dobos, specifically requested Da to attend so he can take photos of the activity and for the group.





















This is FF's girl scout activity. She really like GS!






It was a beautiful Saturday and we decided to bike in DC. It was great to take the family out biking around the National Mall and enjoying the sights.



















We even had a small picnic lunch sitting on the grass at the National Mall.









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Last week I took Clayton, Emilee, and Chris biking and to the stream so we played with the little animals we caught. Well this past weekend since SS was busy so I took CC and FF to the same place and had a fabulous time. It was the first time I took FF to the train track to flatten pennies, she was very happy. 

Wow, just looking back at the blog, I took the boys back in June 2013 to have this much fun.













































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With our new Young Men and Young Women leader in our branch, they've become very active getting the youth in activities. One of them so far has been inviting the youth (and families) to Apple picking at their favorite spot, Marker-Miller Farm out in Winchester VA. Its about a 1 1/2 hr drive but many youth and their parents showed up and had a great time!
























We picked so many apples it broke the axel off the wagon!


The apple cinnamon donuts and pressed apple cider are amazingly good! Brennan was generous to pay for the the apple cider.






After seeing his brother bought a cheeseburger, Clayton wanted one too!


FF in the meanwhile took advantage of their free 'cow ride'









After the activity, we also had Calvin and Tina's family over at our house for BBQ! The boys really wanted to hang out with Ivan and David to play video games while the adults chatted away the night.


The next day, Da's sister kids came over to play with the kids while Brennan was away at Boy Scout's overnight camping (see below)











And on Monday, Labor Day, we went to Black Hill to go biking and row boating.




Along the pathway of the biking trail, there's a small stream the kids stopped and played in the water for nearly an hour. Below, they found a whole eco system in the little water spot. It had at least 3 crawfish, two tiny car fish shelfish, and a few tadpoles. They were trying to catch it but didn't have much luck so I taught how to do it and was successful catching all the creatures securing them to the side. When we were done, we did let them all go.








And they all wanted to row boats..so we did!! While Abbey was busy working at home, my sister's family and the three of us rented two boats and had a blast!


























 Someone's tired at the end of the day....








Below is a video totally semi unrelated but posted anyways...



Meanwhile Brennan was at Boys Scout overnight camping. Since our branch has joined the Kentland's youth, Brennan and the rest of the boys have been really blessed to have such wonderful leadership and taking them out everywhere to do scouting stuff.





Not the most healthy dinners but oh well it's overnight camping.
















Brennan was afraid to jump off the ropes..maybe next year.

 





















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