The Oregon Symphony with Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Chris Thine and Zakir Hussein

The City of Portland Community Music Center gifted Gabriel and Isaaiah with tickets to this fabulous concert of the Oregon Symphony...they had great seats, in the third row of the director's circle. Mark and I have waited in the lobby before so that the kids could go to an event...so we were prepared to do that again. We realized though that we wouldn't be allowed in the lobby, so we window shopped, got some Starbucks...and went back at intermission to make sure that the kids didn't come out side.

The kids were having a great time! and really enjoying the show. Isaaiah was amazed that her violin teacher was in the first violins and Isaaiah thought her music looked very difficult. Both kids were impressed with Chris Thile on Mandolin, and Edgar Myer on Bass, Bela Fleck on banjo and Zukir Hussein on drums with a special name (I don't know what it is..)

Mark and I were fine outside, the weather was great, and we had a great conversation with a well traveled usher. Eventually some people that we knew came out and gave us their tickets...as the four greatest musicians in their field were going to play/jam after the Orchestra went home...so Mark and I got to go in and hear that...it is nice to hear fabulous folk musicians so well recognized and cherished by Portland.

The kids had had a huge day, Isaaiah coming home from the 32 girl sleep over the night before, getting dressed and performing at the Cider Squeeze (pictures and video are still to come), then eating dinner and going to this fabulous concert. After this huge day the kids were still animated and excited about the music.

We arrived home at 11:30 and Mark and I worked together to clean the house, for the FOX 12 NEWS crew that was arriving at 9:00 in the morning the next morning....but that is another post.

Alberta Street ....Last Thursday!

This was an extra fun Alberta Street Fair, because the kid's friend Jalon came along with us...and my cousin Ryan drove up from Salem to join in the fun.

There was something for everyone, bike jousting, dancing, fire dancing...tap dancing saxaphonists, dancing stilt people, African drumming and dancing, Native American drumming, new electric car technology, a beautiful moon, ice cream cones, hula hoop dancing, great paintings...a picture with Obama...many people having a great time in crazy costumes

Village Home Slumber Party

Here is a picture of Isaaiah and some of the 32 girls that attended the annual Village Home Slumber Party...there were 5 chaperone Mom's...Isaaiah knew two of the girls and made many many more friends...made crafts, watched a movie...and stayed up late.

OMSI Chemistry Lab!!!

Wow! I guess this class was offered last year too...and I feel so lucky that we get to take it this year...all because we could afford fast internet (fast internet lead to being able to participate in All Prep Academy, which lead to $500 tuition vouchers for each child to take class offered by Village Home) Yeah Village Home (its a homeschooling coop which operates like a mini university for kids.

Friday, Isaaiah is taking International Dance, and a PE class..Both Kids are taking a Math for fun class and Gabriel is excited to take a Drawing Class and Survivor Class.

Here is a video that the computer made showing bits of the Chemistry Lab class...
All of the experiments were great, at the end the teacher demonstrated some experiments using color indicators and another experiment burning sugar with oxygen acceleration molecules...(as if the sugar had unlimited oxygen to burn)...then she burned cookies, M&M's, and corn starch....the sugar burning videos are a minute long on Facebook (ahem....Beth....ahem Shelly....)...anyone else want to join me on Facebook..(I know the controversy, but I like it so far for keeping in touch daily with friends)

Isaaiah's lesson with Clarisse this week

Isaaiah and Clarisse also work on scales with increasing speed, Intermediate Positions (shifting), Double Stops, bowholds, sight reading (duets)...G minor 2nd movement...shown here...and G minor 3rd Mov...and the next book 5 piece called Country Dance. Isaaiah says that it is more difficult than the Bach double...

This video was supposed to be full length...like 4 minutes with loads of pictures, but it just wouldn't upload right....so I guess I just go with it as it is...

Clarrise is such a gentle and friendly teacher...Isaaiah really likes her as a person and as a teacher...








In other news....school is starting and my schedule is packed...AAuugh...what have I done? Orchestra is starting next week with Cindy Petty fabulous director. TKD and fencing are starting...new classes at Village are starting (drawing, international dance, math, science and chemistry lab and sports)...did I forget anything...Oh the new online charter is starting this week and next. I am hoping that our "academic" time investment is going to remain at around 3 hours a day....I might have signed up for to much, but we'll see. Already Gabriel is building a model of a cell, and Isaaiah is trying to wrap her mind around photosynthesis. Us humans tend to get to big a sense of our amazingness....I just think that we should take a moment and realize that ....we can't photosynthesize. Plants can live with out us (volcanos make CO2) but we can't live without plants. Gabriel has constructed the cell membrane part of the cell and my head is swirling with the amazing depth in which I can elaborate on just the cell membrane...Na+K+ ion pumps anyone? I could keep the kid busy on just the cell membrane for a month.

Today we went to Jalon's football game...great weather and I got to sit next to Jalon's mom Yolanda and chat and learn about the game. Jalon's team won..and Jalon got the quarterback on a play. Lots of fun to watch...Gabriel even said that he thought it looked like fun....Isaaiah wants to try flag football. Yolanda says that The Boys and Girls Club offers it....I don't think anything else is going to fit in our schedule...but at least the kids are inspired.

Grandma and Grandpa's House and the Oregon State Fair!

It's lucky that the kids play fiddle and that Lew Holt and the Old Time Fiddler's were at the State Fair on Tuesday. We love playing fiddle with them....and we needed the free entrance to the fair. So we came down the night before and stayed with Grandpa John and Grandma Shelly and Ryan...and we got to meet their sweet dogs...Sunshine and Angel....who were very loving and respectful to the kids.

I made a slideshow, with video shorts of some of the pictures...




I have to post this video seperately, it is Fred and Isaaiah singing Kansas City Kitty. The kids are a little rusty on this tune...and Fred knows more lyrics than Isaaiah, but it was still very cute...The Old Time Fiddlers are so friendly that the kids feel safe to try new things even on stage.... I eventually want to help Isaaiah learn all of the words...and have her and Fred share a microphone on a real stage....Can you imagine it?


Kansas City Kitty video


Here is a video of Les Tucker singing, Les is a dynamo...he plays guitar and fiddle...and he is able to figure out the key and the chords to a tune that he hasn't heard before on about one hearing....He came out into the audience and invited ladies to dance with him...while the others played on....and when he started singing this tune, I had to record it ...and I'm glad I did....

Les Tucker