Concert for the Grandparents

With Covid a lot of concerts for the kids haven't been able to happen. Alexander hasn't been able to have his preschool Christmas concert both years of preschool. Eliza hasn't been able to do her dance performance both years, instead it has been done on video. Daniel hasn't been able to do band performances besides his one at the end of band camp just before lockdown. Eliza and Alexander have been learning the piano but have nowhere to show it. Eliza has been doing it for a year. During lockdown Alexander. started to get upset that he didn't have an instrument that he needed to practice. I suggested that he could start to learn piano as well and he was super keen so there was another instrument being played in the house. So with this in mind, and to help motivate the kids to keep practicing for a purpose I messaged the grandparents to see if they were happy to have a concert night over zoom and they were more than keen. The kids were so excited!

Daniel chose a few songs on bass and a few on piano to play. He liked that his songs doubled up on both instruments.

Eliza made up a dance to a Veggietales song, Larry's High Silky Hat, which was loved dancing for everyone (it was very cute). She also did a few piano songs and also danced her Lasagne dance that she had learnt at dance over the year.

Alexander did a few of his songs on the piano and also made up a dance to Rainbow, by Hillsong. I loved that he was singing all the song as he danced to it.

We FaceTimed Nana J, Nana and Poppy and the kids were so very excited! 

We then started with Eliza's made up dance. She is such a character!

Next up was Daniel's bass. He did a couple of songs that he had learnt for band over zoom with Trent his teacher.

Next up was Alexander on the piano. He spoke so clearly when he introduced each song. It was rally sweet. And he played the songs pretty well too. I love the pride on his face.

Eliza was next playing the piano. She played a couple of pieces that she had learnt with me and also a couple that she had taught herself. 

Daniel then wanted to do some piano of songs like Amazing Grace, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle. He has enjoyed doubling up on songs on the bass and piano.

Alexander then performed his Rainbow song for us. I loved his simple actions and his big grin through it.

And then we finished the concert with Eliza's dance performance to Lasagne. I especially loved her hip swivel in the song.

Such a wonderful night for all. Everyone enjoyed the performances, the kids were so proud of themselves (as was I) and the grandparents loved being included. Well done kiddies. Hopefully next year their concerts will be in person.

Getting Lost - Stay At Home Edition

For my birthday Aunty Jen gave me a card game called 'Getting Lost'. The idea is that you have it in the car and when you go on an adventure, the cards choose your destination. Love the idea! Only problem is that we have been in lockdown since getting it. I saw online that you could get a stuck at home getting lost card game that you print off at home. James and I decided that we would get it for our family during this lockdown time. It was a lot of fun!

We set a 2hour time limit for our activities. The first card told us to go outside and pick flowers from the garden to make a table arrangement. It was lots of fun getting different flowers and trying to arrange them. James even came up with the idea of making a vase out of recycled materials for the arrangement to sit in. The kids loved having a turn at cutting the flowers.

 

Next up we needed to make a welcome sign for our house. The kids got their creative juices flowing using paint to make a bright sign. We didn't end up putting it out the front of the house once the paint dried but the kids had a great time making the sign. Any excuse to use paint!

The next task was a to get a certain book off the shelf (it was like the 3rd book from the left side or something like that). It was the book 'What's for lunch?' I was the narrator and Daddy and the kids had to act out the book. Oh my work, I laughed so much! When James gets into character and embraces the silliness of a task it just becomes that much more fun! We had kids as koalas in James the tree, frogs and flies, ice cream licking, etc. Just lots of fun and many giggles. May these pictures show he joy!

Frilled Neck Lizard

Then the next card was to dress up and enjoy having a tea party. We didn't go all out like the high tea but we did enjoy some fruit and treats and getting dressed up in fun clothes. I was glad that I couldstill fit into my high school formal dress (turns out that high school Debbie was larger than wedding Debbie).

We then had to call the grandparents to say hi. We did a FaceTime with Nana and Poppy and had a lovely catch up chat. Then we tried to call Nana J but she was out. (We did end up calling her that night to say hi).

The last card that we did in the timeframe was to make something tasty. The kids were given the choice and they came up with a lemon meringue pie. James and Daniel were on lemon curd duty while Alexander, Eliza and I needed to make the crumb base and the meringue to go on top. My favourite part of it was watching their joy when checking if the egg whites had been beaten enough because they could hold it over each other's heads. Fortunately they were beaten enough! The lemon meringue pie was enjoyed for dessert and it was very tasty! Good call guys.

We can't wait to go for an adventure when things open up and enjoy the full Getting Lost game!!