Shakespeare Week and a Karate Tournament

This week we had two big things that we were looking forward to.  Shakespeare Week and the Karate Tournament.

Every year AHS has Shakespeare Week.  Everyone in the school may wear a period costume.  For the little girls the Disney Princess Dresses work pretty well.  Rubie wore a Belle dress, her Rapunzel dress (which really works, Belle not so much), and another princess dress I bought from the dance studio last year.  Eric wore his knight costume from last year and we got a new one that was just a pull over vest that he could put different shirts under.  He liked that one the best.  I don't know what all of the grades do, but for the younger grades, they had a Shakespeare Feast one day during the week. Each day they also got to see one Act of the play the older kids are performing.  This year it was A Mid Summer Night's Dream.  I loved to see how much the kids got into it.  They really loved the characters and understood some of the funny things that were happening.  Rubie wants to see a movie version of it now.  Such a great way to get the kids interested in Shakespeare.  I hope one year we get to go to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City.

Saturday morning we went to the South Towne Expo Center to participate in the BLK interschool tournament.  We were told to be there about 8:30 because they usually have the young kids go first, but when we got there they had some of the black belt competition going on.  We had to wait around for an hour.  With little kids, especially Samuel, that is a long time.  By the time Eric and Rubie were actually competing Sam was done with being there.  Rubie competed against 5 other kids.  She performed her Form well.  I made her practice to different neighbors throughout the week to get over her acting so shy.  It paid off.  She received a 2nd place medal for her form.  She also did flag sparing.  She received a participation medal also. Eric competed against 7 other kids.  He competed in his form, self-defense, and flag sparing.  I only saw his flag sparing.  Scott said he did well though.  But he only received a participation medal.  He was really disappointed at not placing in any of the other events.  There were a couple girls in his group that really did get 3 or 4 medals.  I felt so bad for him.  He works hard, but he could work harder and be more focused.  Those girls seemed pretty intense about it.  It's good for the kids to participate and see how serious some of the other kids take the competition.  I'd like to see Eric and Rubie put in more practice at home and find out from their teachers what they could do better.

Eric was also looking forward to the two birthday parties he attended.  Sam Smith from his class right after the tournament and right after that he and Rubie went to cousin Cougar's birthday party.  We are headed over to Dan and Brandee's in a bit to celebrate Eli and Cougar's birthdays.

Friday Rubie went to school in the morning.  Queen Elizabeth comes to visit the students and the final act of the play is just performed in the morning.  I loved the schedule that day.  I got a taste of what it could have been like all year, but oh well.  I picked her and Adam up from school, took Adam home and then we went shopping.  We went to the mall to the Children's Place.  I really enjoyed shopping with her.  She is adorable and can wear anything.  I love her style and the outfits she puts together.  One is so cute with a fedora hat, a one piece sun suit, and jelly shoes.  I hope we can have more shopping trips together.

Tomorrow Scott begins his job with @Task.  I know he is super excited.  Friday while I was out riding my bike he called me to tell me he already received a promotion.  The company seems to be growing and re-organizing, they made his position into a Director already and gave him 1,000 shares.  Pretty exciting.  I'm so proud of him and hope that he can do such a great job for this company and that this will take his career where he wants it to go.

We are also looking forward to the end of the week.  We are taking a little family trip to Capital Reef and surrounding area this Memorial Day weekend.  Scott has set a goal to make memories as a family so we actually have some trips and day activities planned throughout the summer.