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Percussion Practice

Posted on October 21, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

In third grade, kids at NHL’s school are allowed to sign up to play an instrument. When the band options came home, NHL immediately declared that he wanted to try the drums. Of course, I asked people what they thought about different instruments. I grew up taking piano lessons since we inherited the piano from my Nana and Papa. TechyDad took violin and my brother took clarinet for a short time.

NHL was the first person to sign up for percussion, so he was guaranteed a chance to try this instrument group. So far he loves it. We still need to work out a practice schedule at home, but we get it in as much as we can.

NHL is taking practice time very seriously. He loves to explain to us about the different notes, rests, and other items. Now if only we could figure out the best way to haul in his precious cargo. As I noted in another post, his percussion set is quite large and bulky.

Percussion Set Goes Home

So my question to you this week is inspired by NHL’s new music lessons:

What instrument did you learn to play as a child or adult? If you never took lessons, what would you love to try one day?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #174

Categories:
Aloha Friday fun looking back Music photos school TechyDad

Personalized Princess Time at Disney

Posted on October 17, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up, people would always ask my parents why we would go time after time to Walt Disney World. I never really understood why people would ask these questions. The reason: it was a place where our entire family could enjoy our time together. We were able to leave the real world behind, be carefree, and see/experience something new no matter how familiar we were with the parks.

As an adult, I get it. I now understand the magic of a Disney vacation on a different level. Before we go, I have everything planned. We have our entertainment built in, our resort has many options to offer, and even meals are booked and with the meal plan only tips need to be paid. By the time we arrive in Orlando, we have paid for everything except some souvenirs and ready to enjoy our time there.

Back in March, when we were planning some dining reservations I told TechyDad that I had a request. In all of my visits to Walt Disney World, I had never eaten with the princesses. Yes, this mother of two boys wanted to see Belle, Ariel, Arora, and other important ladies in Disney history. TechyDad was not entirely sure that it was the best thing to do with two boys, but I insisted. NHL and JSL were young enough to appreciate the experience without complaints about mostly girls in their princess gear being there.

We were able to snag some lunch reservations to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot. We had a magical experience. We had our photo taken with Belle before we were seated. Then, each of the princesses came around to meet and greet every table. What impressed me the most was how the characters interacted with the boys. Check out how Ariel noticed something in the autograph book and talked about pirates.

A magical moment that we captured and can show back to the boys when they are older. Of course, we can also show JSL the goofy smile that he was sporting most of the trip when it was time for photos.

While we were waiting for our dessert, I pulled out the video camera and asked NHL what he thought of the experience. I figured it would be interesting to see what a seven year old boy, with no sisters, had to say about dining with Disney Princesses. This is what he had to say in the very distracted environment.

I do believe that we made the right choice going to this restaurant on our March vacation. I know it was a magical memory that will live with us for many years to come.

If you have any magical Disney moments to share, I would love to hear them. As always, if you have any questions about Disney – just ask away.

Categories:
decisions Disney food glorious food fun interesting jsl looking back milestone nhl photos TechyDad travel vacation video yummy

Knack For Knitting

Posted on October 16, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Knitting has been something that I have been doing on and off since I was in elementary school. Back as a child, I would sit on the front porch during the summer and fall months and knit with my best friend. In high school, it was something to do that would ease my stress. Fast forward to life as an adult, wife, and mother of two. I like to knit at the end of the day to help with stress levels.

Going out to the store to pick up some yarn for stress knitting is fun, especially when I can do it on my own. Selecting colors that will eventually become something is rewarding.

There is just something soothing about hearing the clickity-clacking of the knitting needles as the yarn flies through them to create stitches. Taking the yarn from hanks of nothing but color to making them into something concrete is rewarding itself.

Seeing the fun colors all knit up just brings a smile to my face. Somehow the stresses just go right into the knitting needles and come out into something bright and cheerful.

Now I just need to find the perfect new yarn for a new project. A very special someone in my family is expecting a baby in February and I want to make the new little girl in our life something. So far my quest for good baby blanket making yarn has not been successful. If you have any suggestions, I would love to know.

Pssst . . .other knitting posts of mine can be found here.

Categories:
arts and crafts family knitting looking back me moments photos shopping

Sukkot Celebrations

Posted on October 13, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As I write this, we will be getting ready to celebrate Sukkot. Sukkot begins Wednesday night at sundown and continues to Friday night at sundown. Yes, there are more holidays in the fall than just Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is a very busy time of year and can leave your head spinning.

Growing up, I remember some of the Jewish celebrations at nursery school and beyond. As an adult, I recall my aunt and uncle building a sukkah in their yard and going to their house for a party with other family and friends. This photo was taken in their sukkah in the fall of 2001.

Sukkah decorations post Sept 11, 2001

Now, I watch as my boys learn about the different holidays at home, in school. and Hebrew School. We create our own memories and continue with traditions that have been passed along from generation to generation.

JSL’s class has been working very hard to create decorations for their school. Check out the fantastic Sukkot display that they made with all of the other classes:

The little guy even agreed to jump into a photo to point to the item that he made within the display.

JSL was able to select from several different items to decorate. He listened to the list the other day and immediately wanted to make a shofar. This is a closer view of his masterpiece.

Wishing everyone who celebrates a festive Sukkot. May you enjoy spending time with family and friends in your sukkah and being one with nature.

Categories:
family holidays jsl looking back school

Video Cameras 1980’s Style to Now

Posted on October 10, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I am a child of the 80’s, although I was born in the 70’s. I remember the birth of cassette tapes – although I still recall using the 8 track player that my father had to listen to the Muppets Show soundtrack.

My aunt and uncle had a VCR before we did. I would go over there and spend hours watching a tape they made especially for me of Barry Manillow in concert. You see, I would blush because he was singing just for me. We eventually got our own VCR (it was huge and heavy) and life definitely changed in our house. Thank goodness I grew out of my Barry Manillow video thing, and matured into his cassettes and ditched him for Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul Simon, and even the voiced behind Milli-Vanilli when CDs came onto the scene.

We eventually got our first family video camera. This bad boy was huge and I remember my father lugging it to school for my elementary school lip sync show. Not sure if my mother ever used it or not. I do not think so since it had to be balanced on the shoulder and weighed so much. Oh, did I mention there was also a separate bag that held the machine that was recording the video? This dinosaur should have been in a museum. This is a photo of my father with that camera (I think). You can see the cords running from the camera to the bag on his other shoulder.

Fast forward to March 2011 when TechyDad and I decided to buy our own video camera. We had been given a hand-me-down from my aunt and uncle, but digital cameras were not the norm. We were going to Disney World and wanted to be able to have something to capture those memories that we had missed over the years, or were on the video option on our point and shoot cameras. Oh and I was already looking at vlogging and video review options for my blog. We asked around and decided against the Flip and went with the Kodak.

I am in love with this little camera. She has gone with us to Disney Social Media Moms Celebration where I captured one of my first videos of Susan Egan and Georgia Stitt performing. We also caught the boys running up to Tigger and Pooh, meeting with the Princesses, opening their first Vinylmations, and more magical moments.

My handy dandy camera has also been tossed into my purse for blogging adventures, conferences, and school functions. Since she is so easy to use, I also have learned to love using her for recording fun messages on my blog and of course to review items. Another perk, she is small and light enough for the kids to use – should we want to let them take a try at making a video down the road.

Thanks to my recent experience at SheStreams, I plan on using her a lot more. Hmmm…. perhaps I should name her. So I am asking all of you for some assistance. What should I call my amazing little camera? She has many more adventures ahead and we have so many things to accomplish now that my goals have been reset and revamped. So please let me know your thoughts and please keep it rated PG. I refuse to talk like a hockey player about a cute little camera.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my three current giveaways (1) Real Steel prize pack, (2) Star Wars Cereal and $25 gift card pack, and (3) Three copies of the book The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes.