One Busy Saturday

Adam playing games before Derek's piano recital

The Little Maestro

It seemed like everything piled up on our calendar for Saturday, May 19.

Adam had a 9:00 baseball game on Saturday morning, so we had to get moving early. Derek played with a friend, Jameson, from his class who was there because he has a little brother on Adam's team. Helen and I helped out in the dugout.

We went home for a couple hours before Derek's baseball game and tried to get organized for Derek's piano recital, which was to take place after his game. We tried to find some decent clothes for the boys to wear. It's times like these when our lack of attention to wardrobe bites us. I hate the idea of spending money on things that we never\rarely use and since we rarely ever dress up, nice clothes is one of the things that falls into that category; which is fine until one of those rare times happens - like a piano recital. We did manage to find some decent khakis and collared shirts for the boys and Adam even had some decent dress shoes. Derek made due with some dress sandals.

We rushed off to Derek's baseball game and then rushed back home to get changed for the recital. Helen, at least, got a shower. I was too busy herding the boys and had to settle for an extra application of deodorant.

We rushed to make the recital on time because we had requested that Derek go first so that we could make it to the boy's end of the season baseball awards ceremony. We made it on time only to find out that the previous recital was running long. Nini and Nana and Poppy met us and waited around with us - for over half an hour. Derek mingled with some friends from his class and Adam played a game with everyone where he tried to run by them without someone grabbing him.

There were 50 kids to perform so we were glad Derek was going first and that we wouldn't have to stay for the entire recital. It's always nice to hear the kids play, but 50 is asking a little much. Derek made his way to the piano while everyone got settled. He sat there like a football kicker waiting to make the game winning kick. After his teacher introduced him, he launched into his song, "Turkey in the Straw" (listen to a version here) and played it flawlessly. He likes the song and loved to play it while practicing his other assignments, but he would usually just whip through it as fast as he could. We kept telling him to slow down and practice it like he was going to play it at the recital. I don't think I ever heard a practice run as good as the one he laid down when the pressure was on. He played it with great timing and inflection. We all congratulated him on a terrific job.

We hustled out of the recital and said our goodbyes to Nana and Poppy. Nini followed us to the baseball awards ceremony. The boys changed into their baseball jerseys, but kept their dress pants and shoes on. It was a nice ceremony with music and a slide show of pictures from the season, trophies, and ice cream. There was a piano in the hall and Derek ran through a very quick "Turkey in the Straw".

We said our goodbyes to Nini and then we ordered pizza for dinner. I made the original pickup, but then we all went back together again after the pizza place gave us the wrong pizza the first time. We ate pizza and watched "Night at the Museum" and really enjoyed it.

With all our activities we had to pass up the opening day pool party at our swim\tennis club and also missed out on chipping in with the swim\tennis club on their "Adopt-A-Road" cleanup.