Dress rehearsal, of sorts!

Last night the bands at KOHS performed their pre-UIL concert for parents and families. This was basically a dress rehearsal for their actual UIL performance -- Wind Ensemble on April 12.

It was hard to find Austen, but I finally managed to zoom in and find him among all the clarinetists! He's in the center of this photo:


And here are videos of the three pieces of music they played --

John Philip Sousa's "Hail to the Spirit of Liberty"


Percy Aldridge Grainger's "Molly on the Shore"


Edward Elgar's "Variations on an Original Theme" in six parts; this is about 17 minutes long.

Fun Run at Kira's school

Kira's school held their Boosterathon Fun Run this morning. The 4th and 5th graders ran between 10:30 and 11:30 am. Below are a few of the photos I took.

She's rounding the bend!

Still full of energy about 20 minutes into the run.

This is how they kept track of each child's completed laps.

Hot and red-cheeked, but happy!

This video shows the announcer getting the kids to warm up before their Fun Run began!

Miscellaneous

Here are a few photos of my back yard, as it recovers from winter. I caved in and had some new azalea plants put in, and they're starting to bloom already! I'm amazed.

Austen asked Rachel to the prom. He had covered her car with Post-It notes ... see them? What a funny guy!!

On "Dancing the Decades Day" at school on March 12, Kira went as a '70s go-go girl!!

These are my attempts to get photos of the supermoon last weekend -- not very successful!

Physics boat races!

A video of the grand crossing!


And here are links to videos of other teams ~

Some sink, others make it!

Pirates!!

Capsizing!

Girls' flat-bottomed boat =)

Too many for one boat!!

Plastic and very buoyant - big crew, too!

Spring ... again!

All the same kinds of things are happening, of course, as last year. ~~> NEW LEAVES

It's all wondrous to me, after living in the desert for well over 30 years, to watch this happen each year. I took the first photo below just after my gardener cut the agapanthus almost down to the ground. All its leaves had turned to mush during all the freezes we had this winter.

Feb 26, 2011 - just cut back

Today - new growth is good and healthy!

All the day lilies (the little plants under the trees) had disappeared during the freezes.

They've started their regrowth, too.

On my walk ...

... this is how I know winter is over!!

Haircut day for Simone!

Simone has a new haircut. Very svelte! And what a charming smile!!

In the salon ...

... and back home again!

Little beauty!

Anne's trees ... again!

The trees in the Linehans' front yard have been there for 5 1/2 years now.

Beautiful!

The new leaves on this one were all red last week; this week they're already turning pale green. It won't be long before the whole tree has all its new, dark green leaves.

And the pine trees are showing their new growth, too!