District Piano Contest

Kayla had District Piano Contest today.  I think we were all a little nervous this year.  The contest is held at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. 

 We got there early so I let the kids run around outside while we waited for Andy to get there from work.  Caroline's friend, Brigi, was with us for the day.  They were able to entertain each other.

Andy finally arrived and we went to check Kayla in.  That was at 3:30.  We were told that there were 2 people in front of her.  The girls tried their best to wait patiently.

 Finally, at 4:00, we asked how much longer it would be.  The lady thought we were waiting on our critique.  She had marked down on her little paper that she had already sent Kayla back to play.  It was a little frustrating, but she finally got to play.  She goes into a room with a judge and plays her piece.  She then comes out of the room so the judge can write up the critique.  She was almost in tears at this point because she had messed up.  When she got her score back she was so relieved that she got a 1+.  That is the highest score you can get.  Here she is with her teacher.

Kayla with her 1+ medal

It would not be a celebration without a trip to Cherry Berry.  Yummy!  Great job, Kayla!

She is now qualified to go to State contest in May.  That is in Oklahoma City.  We usually try to make a fun little weekend of it with a stay in a hotel, and a trip to the Science Museum.  Things are a little complicated this year.  Dance contest is that same weekend in Tulsa.  Our Broadway show tickets are also that weekend.  We have a few things to figure out to make it all work.

Spring Break Trip to Texas

On March 16th we headed to Texas for a long weekend.  It was the start of our Spring Break, and it was also when we were celebrating Caleb's birthday.  Friday night we went to Medieval Times.  The girls and I had never been there before.  It was really fun!

When you arrive you are given a crown that matches the color of one of the knights that will be in the show.  We were on the green team  - if that is what you would call it.  Caroline did not want to put it on.  She was already wearing a tiara.  The guy that was passing them out told her that if he had to wear tights, she had to wear the crown.

My sweet girls - they were so excited to be there

The girls with Nanny

Aunt Jenny with Brenner

 Kayla, Carter, and Caleb

A happy girl - her Papa got her a princess toy

Once the performance started, Caroline got really nervous.  She was not a huge fan of the trumpets.  This was just when they were giving a few instructions and trying to divide the groups up to get into the arena.  I was not sure how she was going to feel about the show when it actually started.  Here she is with Papa while the trumpet players were doing their thing.

Papa and Nanny got all of the kids a green flag.  They were able to wave them to cheer on the green knight.

Caroline was fascinated throughout the entire show.  All of the kids really got into it.  (I don't know how to fix the red eye)

The knight comes out and throws out a few carnations into the crowd.  Kayla ended up with one of them.  I don't think I have ever seen her smile so big.

Carter also caught one.  He was so sweet to immediately give the flower to Caroline.

There was constant entertainment during the meal.  Caroline is still talking about how she had to eat with her fingers.  They loved every minute of it!

Saturday morning was Caleb's birthday party at Main Event.  The kids had a great time playing laser tag and video games. 

The rest of the weekend was full of great cousin playtime for the kids and some fun shopping for the moms.

Neighborhood Excitement

I normally would have been home on Friday afternoon, but Kayla needed me to bring a movie to school for her class.  Instead of coming home I went on to Sapulpa.  I needed to go by my dad's house, and then I stopped at my mom's house to pick up some boxes.  Yes, I still have boxes that I have not unpacked.  I honestly forget that they are at her house.  Anyway...

It was about 2:30 and I was getting close to my house.  I approached an intersection and there were police EVERYWHERE.  There was also a police helicopter circling the field.  I drove about a block before I had a highway patrolman stop my car.  He was carrying a huge gun.  He asked me where I was headed.  When I told him where I lived he suggested that I might find somewhere else to go.  There was an armed fugitive in the area.  He said that he would not tell me not to go home, but if I did I needed to stay inside with the doors locked.  I turned the corner and was stopped by another officer.  He told me they last saw the guy running across the wooded park area of our neighborhood.  He said it would be better if I went to visit someone instead of going home.  I drove on to the school to wait to pick up the girls.

I have never actually seen a police perimeter before.  I could not get over how many officers were there.  Five different police departments plus the highway patrol were working on this manhunt.  There were cops every few feet, and most of them had their weapons in their hands.

After I picked the girls up they announced on the radio that the manhunt was over.  They said it ended at 143rd and Harvard when the suspect shot himself in the head.  That is our neighborhood!  When we came home we did see an ambulance and a news van by our neighborhood pool.  The guy broke into a house by the pool.  The minute the police dogs were sent into the house there was a gunshot.  He shot himself in the head upstairs in this house.  He was life flighted to the hospital where he later died.  It is just so crazy that all of this happened so close to home.  I am glad I was not here!

Kayla said they were on lock down for about 45 minutes.  She was a little nervous because she did not know what was going on, but they kept telling them it was not a drill.  I think it was hard for them to be quiet and still for that long!

Saturday things were getting cleaned up at the house where it happened.  There were a couple of these trucks there and quite a few people going in and out in their haz-mat suits.

It was an eventful time!