ISSMA

On March 13 the Eastwood bands and choirs went to Zionsiville Middle School for the Indiana State School Music Association - it wasn't a competition, but they performed and got some feedback from some college professors. She gave us that - "i can't believe you're STILL taking my picture" look. I did take a lot, but will only post one here and a short video. They sound really good! It's hard to believe most of these kids have only been playing for a year and a half.

science olympiad!

Patrick and a team from Eastwood competed against a bunch of other schools in the Science Olympiad. The team did well, but didn't make it to state. They then got a chance to try to get to state as 'wildcards' - they traveled to Lafayette and Patrick got the bronze medal in Ornithology and others got medals as well, but unfortunately they still didn't make the cut. Good job Patrick!

Only 13 weeks, but already picture perfect!

Arriving sometime around the first week of September, Bambino Briggs Buchanan! We're very excited and now just waiting to find out if this little bean is a boy or a girl!

Academic Pursuits

Patrick took part in Eastwood Middle School's Academic Pursuits Team - they competed in February in a competition with a bunch of other schools and they made it all the way to the finals! Sadly, they lost in that final round, but they did a great job and here's Patrick showing off his 2nd place medal (and with his sister's support - even though she doesn't look all that enthusiastic in this picture she was really proud of him!)

the sledding hill

sledding at ft. ben

well, things have warmed up around here to all of 20 or 21 degrees so the kids wanted to go sledding. everybody bundled up and we headed to the sledding hill at ft. ben! it was awesome though i have to say a little scary. kids crashing into other kids. adults crashing into kids. they really go down that hill fast! at least maggie and patrick only crashed into each other!

maggie learns to ice skate!!!!

today was the ice skating out for the Indianapolis Children's Choir. the bad news is, i got things mixed up on my calendar and i had the end time as the start time and so she missed the party. the good news is that we stuck around and got to skate quite a bit before it go too crowded. maggie hadn't ever skated before and while at first there was a lot of holding on to the wall for dear life and falling, she persevered and did a great job! she worked hard (and i'm guessing her bum will be bruised), but she had a great time and is looking forward to going again soon!

enjoying a little stop at Starbucks over the holiday break

maggie's most recent television appearance!

check her out on fox59's morning show from december 16, 2009 here - http://www.fox59.com/wxin-indianapolis-childrens-choir-121509,0,6401977.story

greg and mr. mustard have some bonding time...

greg always thinks mr. mustard likes me best, but i think he's moving up in the rankings. (though of course, mr. mustard ALWAYS love the maggo and paddo!)

Star Award

Because I said I would for my sister and my mother...here's a picture of me receiving my award for Association Professional of the Year...yeah!

Patrick's First Band Concert!!

His first percussion performance at Eastwood Middle School! Patrick was awesome - he played the bells, he played the drums, he even played a tamborine!

Halloween!

Some Halloween fun with a corpse bride and Freddy Krueger - that's all Patrick wanted to be, but at least he hasn't seen the movie...he was very happy with his scary costume and Maggie was a hit at a Halloween party she went to the night before winning scariest costume. We also decorated the house with some homemade paper mache' spiders we made (highly overrated project and quite time consuming - next time we'll buy some decorations!)

Bel Canto

Here's Maggie before her first performance with the ICC choir Bel Canto (or at least the first one where she's wearing her fancy new uniform). We are so proud of Maggie and she LOVES it! She has so much fun learning the new music and going to rehearsals.

Maggie is 13 today!

We can't believe it! A teenager lives in our house now! She is great. Fun sleepover party with friends and her Daddo made her favorite dinner of ribs and baked potatoes and I made the molten chocolate cake she loves. And of course, there were presents from friends and from us. Here she is showing off her new Uggs (which she is thinking about wearing to the Taylor Swift concert Thursday which was her big present.) She got electronics from her Mom (camera and new ipod Nano), not to mention the checks and cash that came from relatives from afar. All and all, a tremendous birthday and Maggie loved and appreciated it all. It felt a little bit much, but hey, she only becomes a teenager once!

Maggie and Patrick just hanging out...

Ada Comes to Town!

We were SO lucky to have Ada Beth Briggs Beard (accompanied by her fabulous Mama my sister) come visit us in Indy. She got to meet her cousins, hang out with friends and start learning to play piano. She was absolutely PERFECT the whole time. A completely sweet baby and we were so happy to see her!!

First Day of School!

it was the first day of school at Eastwood Middle School and Patrick's first day of middle school. both kids had a great day and have friends in their classes. first they rested, then they got their studious looks on and told us everything about the day.

Patrick's First Gig

Patrick was in percussion camp this summer as he prepares for band in the 6th grade. He had a great time and sounded awesome!

More Fairhope fun...

Fairhope, AL Vacation

We had the most wonderful time in Fairhope and couldn't ask for better hosts than Eleanora and Dave. Thanks for a great vacation! We enjoyed every minute of it!

A present for Mr. Mustard!

Maggie and Patrick's Grandma (Martha) made our Mr. Mustard a wonderful new little mat that he likes a lot. Usually it stays on the guest bed (where Mr. Mustard prefers to sleep and this helps keep the pillows from getting covered with cat hair - the little mouse mat gets covered in cat hair!) He wasn't completely sure about it at first, but he's getting used to it. I don't know if you've noticed, but we're sort of obsessed with our little cat...isn't he SO cute?!!