Brave

I had my first official day of work today.  Though I've gone into work since last week every day except Tuesday when I had piano students all day long.  The room is coming together and the meetings today were really fun!  Loved learning new music and seeing my friends.

Jeremy took today off so that we didn't have to spend money putting the girls in daycare with Julia.  When they found out he was staying home, they groaned.  As if he's not fun or something!?  I mean seriously!  So Jer and I talked last night and we decided that he should do some fun things with them.  We'd gone back and forth about Riley seeing the movie Brave as we had heard reviews from several of my friends that it was scary and that some kids cried or had to leave.  But we also heard that it was awesome.  So I suggested that he take the girls to the movie and then have ice cream in the afternoon.

We didn't tell them what they were doing today, but told them we had a surprise for them.  They were super super excited about seeing the movie and told me a little bit about it when I saw them on my lunch break.  Came home to save money as none of my friends were eating out either.

At our meeting this morning, we learned the District Honor Choir music and were given the perimeters of how it will go this year.  Depending on the number of fifth grade classes in my school, I am given the amount of students that I can choose to be a part of the choir.  The choir is composed of students from every elementary school in LISD.  It is only fifth grade students.  They've been chosen to perform at the TMEA (Texas Music Educator Association) meeting in San Antonio.  In fact, they performed last year and I was able to attend the weekend down there to watch my students.  Was awesome!

The clinician is a teacher from Houston who directs other choirs down there.  I am able to send only two fifth grade students.  They have to audition and then we will meet four weeks beginning in January after school to review the music with the other students from the schools in The Colony section.  On March 16, there will be three rehearsals beginning at 9am with the clinician and then the honor choir will perform at 3pm that same day.

I'd love for Madi to audition if you have any interest in her doing it.  The issue may be that she'll be in the Philippines if you take her over there.  And obviously if you choose to do that, that is perfectly fine!  I'll need to know for sure what your plans are once you're here and if things are set in stone around the middle of December when they will audition. The cost of the Honor Choir is $20.

Just FYI:  Madi's passport expires February 20, 2013 (next year).  Just making sure to let you know ahead of time as that will need to be taken care of as well, but you've got time for that once you're here.  I always remember things better if I write them down!

No pressure on the Honor Choir.  Just letting you know a little more about it.  Madi wants to do all sorts of things (gymnastics/swimming/flute/viola) and I told her tonight that you will be working hard to providing basic needs first (house/apartment, clothes, food, etc...) and that she may have to be patient on the other things.  That a lot more will be known once you guys are in a place of your own and you'll better know what she'll be able to do.  That you'll be working towards that once you're here.