Colburn School Recital

Isabelle was accepted into the vocal program at Colburn School in Los Angeles. This is a big deal for her, because Colburn is hard to get into and is very prestigous. She had her first recital, and did a great job. Her teacher didn't realize she had been put into a judged recital, you usually don't do judged recitals until you are older, but she did a great job and was moved up in the program. Isabelle is the youngest child in the vocal program in the first place, so she was so excited to have done well. The other children played piano, violin, and viola during this recital...10 and 11 year olds playing 5 minute Chopin pieces. It was a great evening. Izzie has accepted in the Colburn School Young People's Choir last month. This will be one of the hardest things for her to leave when we head out in July, she really enjoys it. But we have already found a great choir near our new hometown, so she's excited.

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland a couple of Mondays ago, on a holiday that everyone had and it was RAINING! The kids had a blast. Armed with umbrellas, galoshes, and plastic covered strollers, we braved the elements....the lines were non existent. Oliver got Buzz and Woody toys that he hasn't let go of since, unless he has to trade Woody out for Lightning McQueen.

The next week and a half was full of rain, rain, and more rain...to the point of evacuations in our area. So, the kids were happy to go back to Disneyland in the sunshine. I feel like I have braved the week of "winter" in California, and it is spring :)

So, we headed back to Disneyland, taking full advantage of our passes. I hadn't taken pictures of the kids at Disney in a while, so I packed the camera. We have been to Disneyland well over 10 times since we moved here. But, I have to say, the timing this trip was quite incredible. We walked in to California Adventure and the girls got pulled up to dance with "High School Musical" parade...

...then we just walked up to stitch for a pic..

...then Mickey...I was surprised there was no line...because Mickey always has a line......and Goofy didn't have a line either...

Izzie , Ollie and I went on and Allie and Dad went to Tower of Terror. While we waited, we saw a thing with some of the animators for Disney. They called Izzie up on stage, and afterward, the animator came up and gave Izzie a signed picture of Mickey that he had drawn. Oliver walked right up to Woody for pictures....


We saw Woody again, a few minutes after the show...

...then it was off to the Playhouse Disney show. This was a great "down time" show. Although, Oliver didn't stop dancing the whole time.
Oliver even got to take pics with Lightning McQueen (although he wouldn't look at the camera, because he was too busy laying all over him and checking the tires and trying to get in). Allie had an easier time posing. Oliver went back in line (which was 2 people) six times as we waited for Ben & the girls. He rode the Buzz Lightyear ride 5 times. But I couldn't get a picture because he wouldn't look at me, as he was intently listening to Buzz talk to him.



After watching the girls on bumper cars, Ben will be teaching them how to drive.
...and we saw Woody AGAIN!
...Minnie was there on the way out...
...and the chipmunks too...
...and pluto...
Every character we saw had no line, so we got quite a few pics, because why not, if you just walk up. And every big ride and no line. It was quite the day of timing. It was as if Disneyland knew we were moving. We have a week at Disneyland planned the week after school ends, and then we are off....

I have felt such an urgency to complete my "Stuff to do in California before we move" list, two years have gone by way too fast.