The Tennessee Border Band

Well folks, it was time to go out and see Belle's guitar teacher do his thing.  While my Aunt Swede and Uncle Cliff were in town, we went to Courtney's Restaurant and watched Lester Ray Sears and the Tennessee Border Band perform.  I wish I had video taped more, since the song right after this one was SO good--Belle was amazed, because Mr. Sears even broke a string on his guitar during the song, and just kept playing! 

I wish this wasn't so blurry...but you get the idea.

Now for some video:

Reunion, Part 2

More memories. Good times. Crazy kids.

A Happy Reunion

Yesterday, the long anticipated event happened. Lydia and Audrey came to visit on furlough.

How does one capture impatient pacing in a snapshot?  Oh, the anticipation!

I made them stop.  They were making me dizzy.

This is a totally posed shot--"Wave hello!"  I love Belle's squishy-squinty-I-need-sunglasses face.

And because a watched pot never boils, the van carrying friends--both old and new--pulled up when Moo was in the bathroom.  When she came out, Lyd was there ready to give her a squeeze.  I wish this photo came with an audio track. It would pierce many a grown-up's ear drums though.  *SQUEAL*

Once my ears stopped ringing, I thought I could grab a bit of the post-hug happiness on video.  At the very end of the video clip, you'll see Belle hug Audrey for the 14th time. Okay, maybe an exaggeration...but still.  I wish I had a couple of people with video and still cameras.  I just wanted to capture every moment, and yet be part of the moment as well--which, as Amy and I later discussed, is sometimes a difficult balance to strike.

Now, off to the swim club for the Grant/Nickels/Jacober crew.

The younger set spent some time by the stairs initially.

While the older set stuck together. Literally.

All three of these good looking kiddos will be in the 7th grade in he fall.  I've told Moo that she comes from a long line of hobbits.  Embrace the smallness, little one...

I interrupted a serious game of "Torpedo!" to get this shot.

The first of MANY synchronized cannonball attempts.  Oh, look!  On the far right of the screen you'll see me in my bikini.  :)

Ready, set...

Go!

 

The kids wanted me to capture this epic splash on video.

Rejoicing in Music City

This past March, the girls auditioned for the Nashville Children's Choir, and were accepted on the spot.  The director of the program said that although she could assure them a place in NCC, she could not tell them until early June as to whether they would make the Prepatory, Concert or Touring Choir.  She said that there were formal auditions in May, and she felt it would be incorrect to promise anything before all auditions had been held.  Well, last week, I heard from the director of the Nashville Children's Choir that the girls had made the Touring Choir.  This was their aim, and a very well-suited position (if I do say so myself).  Oh, the drama that would have happened if only one of them had made the Touring Choir, while the other made the Concert Choir! 
There was only quiet rejoicing in the Grant home between my husband and myself, as we decided to keep the news from the girls until the official acceptance letters reached us via snail mail.  The letters came today.  Exactly 15 minutes ago, actually.  Because I now have the luxury of super-duper-high-speed-almost-like-it's-magic-Oh-how-did-I-live-before-comcast internet, I can videotape and share this footage to interested friends and family without breaking a cyber sweat.  Here goes:

Embracing the Culture

We've been in the Nashville area for a full 5 days now, and I don't yet have a TN driver's license, TN license plates, a local bank account, or even a library card.  But it is Music City, and so what you can be sure of is that both the girls are lined up with instrument instructors.  Moo's first lesson with her new instructor will start the first week in July, but Belle's first guitar lesson was just yesterday.  We are trying out a local musician named Lester Ray Sears, and although the setting was different from what I had envisioned, it was a really pleasant experience and Belle enjoyed every moment.  He can teach any and all sorts of guitar styles, so we will just see what Belle settles into.  For now, she has said she wants to learn bluegrass (I know!).  This is where I say - for the umpteenth time - that we are embracing the culture. :)


This is a video about her first guitar lesson that Belle wanted to share with her Mimi and Bucky: