Performances, Races, and Tournaments

Eric and Rubie have been preparing for some performances, races, and tournaments.  This last week we had a number of those take place.  It seems that they all needed to happen before Thanksgiving Break.

Rubie's choir performance and Eric's Pinewood Derby happened to be on the same Tuesday evening.  Sam and Scott went to the Pinewood Derby with Eric.  Scott texted me updates throughout the night.  Eric's car did very well.  Everyone in the ward knowing Kevin Wallace and what he has done with McKade last year was expecting a Wallace total blowout again.  But Eric's car came right along and beat McKade's car a couple times and the report was that if they went a few more heat's Eric's car would have won as McKade car was slowing down and Eric's was picking up speed.  Scott really did a great job helping Eric build a great car.  Eric took a very close 2nd place.  He was super happy about that.

Rubie's choir performance was lovely.  It was held at the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork.  AHS has 3 choir's that performed.  Rubie is in the Junior Choir, there is also the Children's Choir, and the Concert Choir.  Each choir performed a couple numbers on their own and then did some combined with one or both of the others.  County Commissioner, Bill Lee, who also has students at the school (who we know because their youngest was in Rubie's classes, and they live in our stake) spoke.  It was a nice evening.

Then the next two days, the 2nd grade had their devotional performances at AHS.  Samuel and I went to see the Thursday afternoon one and Scott went on Friday morning.  Rubie was a Waldensian.  The 2nd grade devotional is about the restoration starting with the Bible, Puritan's, etc.  Rubie was so cute and said her part very well.  I love to see that she really tries to sing and knows the songs.

Saturday morning Eric and Rubie had a karate tournament.  Their divisions, especially Eric's are becoming more competitive.  More of the kids are in the black belt and leadership programs.  Rubie got a 2nd place medal.   Eric got a participation medal and was not happy about that.  It is kind of a sham just to get a dinky participation medal.  However, he did super well on his forms and power karate / kick boxing.  I was really proud of him and thought he did really well.  He is interested in the black belt training.  We are thinking about it.  It requires more in time and money.  So it is a bigger commitment.  I will do it if that is what he really wants.  I just don't want to make it so that he has to choose karate over too many other opportunities.

Jessica came into town on Monday evening.  Eric and Rubie have the whole week off of school.  Tuesday I took the kids up to City Creek.  We met mom and Jessica there in the food court for lunch.  We were really happy to see Jessica and glad she is here for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Today we are going to mom and dad's for dinner and to spend the afternoon.  Mom and dad have done a lot of renovating in their house.  They are finally having the study shelves built in.  There is new flooring and paint.  Last year they got new windows.  I'm excited to see what they have done.  Mom said she got some new furniture too.  I'm sure it looks beautiful.  But she wants us to keep the kids from touching the walls.  Great, we are all going to be worried about the kids messing up new paint and nicking the walls.