Jayden has been taking piano lessons for just over a year now and has really taken to it. He was pretty nervous performing in his first piano recital, but did very well. The piano has come naturally to him, even though he says otherwise.
Cameron has been taking piano lessons for about 5 months now and is quite proud of his accomplishments. He was NOT nervous at all for the recital and was actually looking forward to it. He played his pieces perfectly, and was so cute doing it.
My performance, on the other hand, was a train wreck - honestly. You hear people criticize their performance either looking for affirmation that it really was good, or just because they are modest. It was honestly a train wreck. If you are one of those people who are compelled to look at a car accident and can't look away, then go ahead, watch my video. My ego has been stripped down far enough. Having a few more people share in my humiliation can't do any more damage. I took piano as a kid, but have only plinked around for the last 25 years - developing some pretty bad habits, apparently. I only recently started taking lessons again - like a month or so ago. This recital stressed me out more than I thought it would and I practiced a TON - despite my poor performance. I really wish I could redo that minute and a half of my life, but I guess I just have to move on.
The following videos will most likely bore the heck out of ya', so don't bother watching them. I only posted them for a few people who requested them - you know who you are.
Cameron has been taking piano lessons for about 5 months now and is quite proud of his accomplishments. He was NOT nervous at all for the recital and was actually looking forward to it. He played his pieces perfectly, and was so cute doing it.
Dallin tried something a bit more complicated this year. It's a howling wolf, in case you can't tell (yes, it was one of those traced patterns). 
Can you tell which is Leon and which is the Jack-o-Lantern?
Cameron designed and cut his own pumpkin this year - he was so proud and I think it's super cute.
Landon also wanted one of the traced patterns, so guess who got to carve his pumpkin - yup - me.
Jayden went the traditional route, too, and designed and carved his own. I think I'm partial to the kid-made pumpkins rather than the fancy patterned ones (don't tell Dallin).
Since Halloween was on Sunday, we had a couple of days for celebrating. We started Friday off with the Kindergarten party - good times. Landon's teacher is such a good sport to dress up like that - I like her. (Oh, and the Egyptian princess next to Landon has a crush on him - it's cute.)
After the Kindergarten party it was time for the much-anticipated school costume parade.
Later that afternoon it was another class party - 5th grade. The 5th graders planned their own games and activities, so it's their own fault that this doughnut game ended with a lot of sticky hair - gross!
Saturday there was a neighborhood party (no pics of that) and trick-or-treating in the evening. Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays, but trick-or-treating makes up for it. I love walking around the neighborhood, running into other parents, and seeing the pure joy on kids' faces as they collect their loot. Jayden wanted to be "Willy Wonka" this year, which wasn't all that easy to come by, but we did pretty well. (The kids at school thought he was the "Mad Hatter", though. Hmm.)
Cameron knew far enough in advance that he wanted to be a "Storm Trooper" and I was able to watch for a good deal on his costume - much better than trying to make one. Landon's "Darth Vader" wasn't too hard to pull off, though. As I thought about it, we had 3 Star Wars characters and Willy Wonka - almost a theme but not quite.
Of course, Halloween wouldn't be what it is without all of the candy. I'd say they got a fair amount - gotta love it.
