Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza

On March 12, I took Ian and Gabe to an CAZAGO (central Arizona Chapter American Guile of Organists) to an event called Pedals, Pipes and Pizza. I received an email inviting me and any youth to the event (it was more geared towards the youth) and I happily signed myself and Gabe up. Elisa refused to come and and asked if I could bring Ian (Erik was on call, of course) and I was told it was perfectly fine if I did. I also invited a few of my older piano students.
The event was held at La Casa de Cristo in Scottsdale. It is a huge, elaborate Lutheran church that houses the state's largest (working) organ. We sat in the main chapel and I was excited to see that along with the gorgeous organ, there was also a 9' Steinway concert grand piano and a real harpsichord! We were treated to several short organ solos by a few organists. Then we were set free to try the organ (and other instruments) and to see the inside of the pipe room. I enjoyed trying out the harpsichord and seeing the pipe room, even though my student's leg fell through the ceiling...I don't' know how or why but I suppose she just stepped in the wrong place. It was a pretty neat room, we had to crawl up a ladder (Ian refused) to get into the room but it was worth it to see all the pipes. By the time I took my student and the boys to play the organ, it was time to eat pizza, but they got to try it out for a few minutes. I would have liked to try the organ but I wanted to make sure the kids all got their turns--this was an activity for the youth after all. For lunch we enjoyed a lunch of pizza, salad, crème puffs, and a soda bar. Someone needed to play the organ for an audition after lunch so unfortunately I didn't get a chance to even touch the organ. Humph. Oh well. I still had a good time and I think the kids did too.
Part of this activity was also receiving free organ lessons from a willing organist in the valley. It took awhile for me to set one up a lesson with a teacher that CAZAGO found for Gabe and I but I managed to set on up with a guy named Paul. As I write this post, it was only a few days ago (April 23) but over a month since the event. The teacher was an older guy that met us at the church. He started with Gabe first, by orienting him to the organ (which was mostly him asking Gabe questions about the organ) and letting Gabe play the organ a bit. Then he told me to come sit down on the organ and we went over some foot pedaling since that's my weak spot on the organ. He was slightly helpful but I don't think I want to take organ lessons from him, besides he's retired. I don't know how much Gabe got out of it. He ran away as soon as it was my turn. I'm hoping to train Gabe a little on the organ in the next few years, since its more than likely he'll be asked to play someday for sacrament since he plays the piano--that's the way it goes.

Some enjoyable organ performances

A view from my seat of the pipes.

My student in front of all the organ pipes

Ian at the harpsichord

The piano with the harpsichord in the background

The pipes in the pipe room. So. Many. Pipes!!

Ian trying the organ. I think the multiple keyboard were a little disorienting to him because he had trouble finding his noes!

One last picture of the boys and the organ pipes

No pictures of the organ lesson, though I should have sneaked one of Gabe on the organ!

Random March Happenings, Part I

Here are some fun things we did in the Month of March:

March 1

Starting the month of right with a picture of my cute Ian....

March 1

...and a picture of guinea girls! 

******************************************************

March 2

Ian playing Fur Elise. He's getting so good!

********************************************************

March 4

I took the kids out for some goodwill shopping, and Elisa found a bunch of Dork Diary Books for herself, which she may or may not read. Then we went to subway for dinner. I'll make sure to use coupons when we go there next, otherwise they're kinda pricey for just some sandwiches. I'm not sure why we went out, I guess Erik was working late and I needed to get out of the house.

***************************************************************

March 4

I wasn't really planning on going, but a ward friend said she'd give me a ride so I agreed to go to a multi-stake activity. I left the kids home to watch themselves. I don't worry as much now that Elisa has a phone. Usually, I don't bother with these types of activities and I was reminded why---It was just some get-to-know you games but I didn't really enjoy any of them very much. After the games we used the "Relatives around me" via the family search app, and I found a 2nd cousin (3 times removed I believe). I think my ward friend was more excited about it than I was. I met the lady (who was very nice), but now I don't even remember her name. Toward the end we had some desserts, I took a picture of the table to show Elisa. 

*****************************************************************

March 4

A sleeping beauty! 

*******************************************************

March 5

Ian had a birthday party to go to at his favorite place, Luv 2 Play! I dropped him off and took Elisa to get a drink at the Boba Tea House, and then drove over to pick up some girls that are in our ward to drive them and Elisa waaay out to Peoria for an ice-skating activity set up for the youth (young men/young women) in our ward. Elisa isn't technically one of the youth, but this activity wasn't technically a ward activity so I sent her anyway haha. She had fun. I didn't stick around too long because I wasn't sure when Ian's party was over and I didn't want to be late. I guess I could have stayed longer to watch Elisa skate, because I hung around for almost another hour waiting for Ian to finish playing. He had such a good time! Someone gave Elisa a ride home, I was glad not to have to drive way out there again!

******************************************************************

March 5

I wanted to take the kids to Cracker Barrel the night before instead of Subway, but Erik wanted all of us to go, so we all went the next evening instead. After dinner, the kids used their spending cards (except Elisa who can't find hers) to help themselves to some toys and candy in the store. Erik helped himself to some root beer.

***********************************************************

March 6

Ian learned to blow bubbles with his bubble yum bubble gum. Silly boy. He was poppin' those bubbles for some of church, until I made him spit his gum out.

************************************************************

March 5

Erik bought some brisket at Sam's club and wanted to invite some friends over to help us eat it. Erik invited his friend Dan and his family, and we also invited another family from the ward. I made potato salad, lemonade, and set out a veggie platter. The other families brought rolls and the dessert (apple pie). All in all a fun evening. There were 8 boys there and they had fun together too.

*************************************************************   

March 6

Silly Gabe. Does he not know that I can see every picture he takes?

*************************************************************

March 7

Gabe had a (seemingly random) band concert. Gabe has not been practicing his trumpet at all and I didn't even know about this band concert until a few days before. I think they played a bit better than the December concert, but other than that, I can't remember much else. 

**************************************************************

Yeesh. No.

Erase that, aka paint over.

Better--much--better, but I still didn't like it.

I made a banner for the mirror to mach.

Finally finished!

March 7-10

I had basically zero St. Patrick's Day décor, but I did have lots of paints and several canvases! I thought I'd try my hand at making a St. Patrick's Day painting. I spent more time changing it up than I did actually painting. And the part I spent the most amount of time painting I ended up painting over since it looked horrible. It is hard to paint neat lettering, I think. I ended up having a friend down the street make me the vinyl letters, and it was well worth the $5 I paid her. Although the paintings were vastly improved, I didn't like the clovers because they just weren't convincing. So I once again took the paintings down and put some better clovers on it along with a horseshoe and a couple more gold coins. Its not super perfect or amazing, but I like the final product alright. I also made a banner using the same type of clovers (I made them using fabric and lots of mod podge) and horseshoes. There. Now I have some St. Patrick's day décor, even though no one cares about St. Patrick's Day much.

********************************************************************