Piano Festival

Kate got to do her second piano festival over the weekend.  Its a great event here in the valley that 150 students participate in.  They perform 3 different songs, accompany, do a duet, sight read, do technique, take a test, and compose a piece of music.  It's a little stressful, but a great experience.  Kate learned some good lessons this year.  She's been so sick of her songs because she's had them for a while.  However, the week before the festival she didn't have them memorized.  So she started essentially cramming for the test.  She was literally memorizing the day of the performance.  Somehow she pulled through and got them both memorized.  As we walked out she said, "Maybe next year I'll memorize my songs right away."  Yes Kate, that would be great.  She ended up getting superior ratings in all 9 categories.  Good job Kate!  She's excited to play new songs and I'm just as excited to hear her play new songs.  Maybe next year Sage will do the festival too!...

Cutie Kate at the festival

A random picture of Sage enjoying the outdoors

Colorado or Bust!!

We went on our first ever ski vacation last week and it was a definite success!  Our season passes to Park City also work at a few ski resorts in Colorado.  We figured out we could use points for the hotel and ski for free, too good of a deal to pass up that's for sure.

We've never been on a ski vacation before and I was a little nervous.  The kids like to ski, but I was worried three days in a row would be too much for them (and let's not lie, that's a lot for me as well).  However, we all rose to the occasion and loved it.  I kept chocolate protein bars in my pockets to refuel Sage with on the lifts.  As long as she had those she was good to go.

We were able to ski at Beaver Creek and Vail.  Both places we loved and were super nice.  Every day of skiing was followed by swimming.  It really doesn't get better.  We all made it down some black runs.  The kids are better than me on those, especially if there are moguls involved.  Sage will out-ski all of us in a couple of years I think.

A couple of stories:  We were skiing down a black run and a guy slid by on his back all the way down.  I skied up to him and asked him if he was ok.  Then Sage skied up and said, "you made it all the way down, maybe next time you'll make it on your snowboard."  Poor guy.  Schooled by a 6 year old.  Then Sage decided she loved racing.  When she was racing, watch out.  There was no stopping her.  I was racing her once and had to go in front of her on a steep section.  I stopped and waited for her at the bottom and as she zoomed by she said, "Mom, don't you know you never ever stop when you're racing!"  Good to know.

Anyway, we really had a great time.  Everyone voted that this should be an annual tradition.  In fact, Jake, Zack, and Kate said it was their favorite vacation ever.  Sage said it was second only to Disneyland.  I say I would still take the beach over the snow.

Hanging out in the hotel lobby with hot chocolate.

Sage has taken to doing some crazy poses for pictures

Notice Yoda in the background.

Cutest skiers ever

Pretty good looking himself;)