Life not-so-lately

I have (obviously) been terribly behind on blog posts - I keep not posting things on Instagram because I plan to make it a blog post instead, but those "posts" have accumulated...

So, in the name of efficiency, this is going to be one long post of "short posts" (a la a book of short stories).  This blog is very much a tool for posterity's sake, so while I do share it for those who are interested, I definitely don't expect anyone to be super invested or read it in its entirety, by any means.

As we put away our Christmas decorations on Epiphany, I reflected on the joy and magic and special-ness of this season with kiddos.  We took the week off school the week before Christmas (as well as a couple after) and immersed ourselves in the Christmas story.  After talking about all things Christmas in Sunday school, as well, Lydia requested we make a nativity, and Jacob was immediately on board.  I assisted with the structure, but the rest was all them.  They brought out all their stuffies to play various roles (note the Furby angel (thanks, Sonic)) and proceeded to truly adore their baby Jesus. 

What struck me most about this occurrence was how organic it was.  I played no part in initiating any of ideas; I simply granted a request to help with the heavy-lifting.  This was a role-play I certainly could have tried to orchestrate.  A reenactment I could have prescribed and directed.  By giving them space to play and imagine (even if that space was created due to me wanting to finish the breakfast dishes), however, they did it all on their own, and it was so precious.

I was feeling under the weather one day, so Jacob made and delivered a red-themed Lego creation with special flowers and love notes in the mailbox.  Lydia followed suit as best she could.  ♥

Work smarter, not harder.  Proud of this boy!

modeling their "skis"
(You gotta do what you gotta do for entertainment in the dead of winter...)

a snow "donut shop" complete with drive-thru window, thanks to Daddy

The first (and last, so far) time I've granted the "Can we nap together?" request.  They took forever to settle, Jacob was only pretending to sleep, and Lydia only did so for a sleep cycle.  Was sure a sweet idea, though.  (Lydia has since dropped naps, so we'll see if this ever happens again.)

The kids and I recently made our first trip all together to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  They did a great job practicing museum etiquette and were appropriately interested in several pieces and artifacts.  Mostly, however, Jacob wanted to see the huge "flowers" (a.k.a. shuttlecocks) that we always see outside on the lawn when driving by.  They asked for joint and individual pictures by each one...enjoy:

I grew up going to this museum on field trips and have vivid memories of the delicious smells and sounds of dining coming from the atrium. (We always took sack lunches to eat on the front steps.) So, I decided to fulfill a childhood dream and explore and partake in the museum restaurant (I packed lunches for the kids, not knowing what would be available for any of us. Was glad I did, as the PB&J kids meal option (which is what I packed for them) was $10.50...😬).  I felt so indulgent and irrationally fancy and excited about it - haha.  Totally worth it, though - delicious!

Photo courtesy of Jacob ♥

The steps we didn't eat on... 😉

That post ended up being less meaty than I originally thought - ha!  I guess the quantity of unfinished/unshared thoughts was more daunting than it needed to be.  All the same, thanks for reading and maintaining interest in our normal, everyday lives.  We have made it through winter and are so glad for all that spring will bring!

Gratefully,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

weeding the garden and picking volunteer cilantro in January

cocoa-dusted truffles

our homeschool co-op

Spring, so far

A friend recently asked me if I had given up social media for Lent.  Haha - woops!  No, I had not, but I can understand why she wondered.  Once spring arrived, we hit the ground running and didn't look back, I guess!  So, here are few updates and some of the pictures I didn't get around to sharing, previously:

Lydia is constantly surprising me not only with her requests to do things by herself, but also by the success she often has in these endeavors.  She asks to help me with the dishes, standing on her stool to hand them to me from the sink as I load the dishwasher.  Her several-word, descriptive sentences often use the word "like" or "buuuut," with a flip of her hand or bat of her eyes.  She has nearly mastered counting to ten, thanks to countless games of hide-and-seek, and points out every "L for Lydia!" she sees.  One of her favorite activities is to empty her Lego container and transfer all the pieces back into it with a spoon and/or a plastic mug.  She entered the garden this season as if no time had passed since last fall - ready and willing to pull every weed she saw.

She's joined her brother (very willingly) on the "fluffy" (a.k.a. steamer) bandwagon.  Our "downtown adventure" routine is to get them at a café in an old trolley (that the kids call a "street car") before riding the real street car).

A rare Sunday photo shoot was feasible when we all went to church together (rather than me going in a few hours earlier for rehearsal and first service).

Her request to make chocolate chip muffins was granted.

So proud to be using Great-Grandma Marceil's Foley fork. ♥

"Tan I do it by myself dis time?"

She didn't have to choose between pink frosting or sprinkles this time - there was one that had both!

Jacob continues to take us on a parenting roller coaster - a recent quote, "This has been the worst day ever, except for the fun parts."  If we're sticking with the theme park analogy, however, he provides lots of cotton candy along the way.  He is kind and thoughtful, and often sends guests out the door with something of his own (usually a piece of candy from his stash).  He is thrilled that Lydia is more and more able to play with him and even has her own ideas, sometimes.  There are the usual sibling spats, of course, but over all, he loves her so, so much and is such a cheerleader for her.  School is not always his favorite thing, but he's excelling in many subjects and on track in others, even though this technically wasn't even going to be an "official" kindergarten year.  When I tested him at the beginning of this semester, he was reading at a Level J (second grade), and he's breezing through his kindergarten math book.  While handwriting still isn't his strong suit, he has worked through all upper and lower case letters much more willingly than I anticipated (we just started the handwriting curriculum this semester).  He was asking about the garden even before it was time to plant and has been a willing and enthusiastic helper, which is so refreshing and endearing to me.

He calls me his "sweetheart," these days. ♥

This was the first sentence he's written.  The prompt was "write any sentence you want."
☺

He's putting some hand-me-down cleats and shin guards to good use thanks to a few weeks of "Bitty Soccer" through a local Parks & Rec.  It's a non-competitive program for preschoolers, and it's been really fun!  At the end of the first week's practice, he came off the field saying, "This is the best day of my life!" (despite the cold, very windy conditions).

This is how he ended what started as a seed-gathering hike with our weekly homeschool group.  All but one of the twelve kiddos ended up in the creek (with permission).
I grew up attending a once-a-week gifted class that took fairly regular "field trips" to walk to a nearby creek bed to look for fossils, creatures, etc., but mostly play in the mud and water. I don't know that it was necessarily an approved field trip and the time and certainly wouldn't be today, I'm guessing.  I don't have many strong childhood memories, but these were definitely core one.  So, as much as the mess and potential for all sorts of things to happen makes me cringe (working on this - ha), I'm very thankful for these opportunities and the moms and kiddos who make them possible and extra-special.

Jacob finished his first year in the Awana Sparks program and was so thrilled by the awards ceremony.  He was just as proud of himself for finishing his book as we were of him for doing so.

He finished memorizing and reciting all his verses well ahead of the curve, which allowed him to move into some extra credit work, earning him even more "bucks" to spend at the Awana store.  This was obviously very exciting.  ;)

I was talking with a friend recently about the sweet/nearly-perfect/endearing/wonderful moments of parenthood (particularly moments between siblings), and that while I think it sounds sort-of lofty and fantastical at times, sometimes the best word I can used to describe these moments is "magical."  So, here are some magical moments between siblings:

L was not as excited as J to be in "the big Chiefs chair."

He's been waiting so long for her to go down tandem slides with him.

He insisted this was a "swing built for two."

Jacob sometimes does "movie time rest time" for the rest time he has during Lydia's nap time.  On this day, he asked if we could do a "movie time lunch time," so Lydia would get to watch, too.  This was an easy "yes" for me, and they were so excited about it!  (For those wondering, they/Jacob chose Robin Hood.)

She was so excited to get to "go to Awana," and he was so glad to have her there.

Not pictured: many instances when they are sitting in the big chair together and Jacob is reading to Lydia.  (Sometimes Lydia "reads" to him, too!)

Our weeks often include playdates - some planned in advance and some spontaneous.  We're so thankful for friends, young and old!  During a recent visit, one of these friends drew an unprompted portrait of herself with Jacob, her sister, and Lydia (including meticulous details from everyone's outfits and accessories), so of course, we recreated it in real life!

This parenting journey is so many things, but above all, it is beautiful.  Though not every moment is easy and some days are harder than others, I am continually thankful that this is my job.  I am also so thankful to have such a wonderful partner in it - he is such a great dad and often knows what this mama needs before she does.  

As always, thanks for reading,

Kensy

Favorites of the day:

This tiny vase regularly being filled with tiny-hand-picked flowers.

I have a souped-up smoothie for breakfast, most mornings.  So, I fully enjoy opportunities to have brunch.  (That's an already-half-eaten pineapple Danish - yum!)

Getting my colors done - for FREE!
This is something I'd been curious about, but wasn't planning to ever pay to do for myself.  Then, a dear friend alerted me to the House of Colour's need for models for training in KC, and you'd better believe I jumped right on that!  I got a spot, asked another dear friend to watch the kids, and was able to take advantage of this awesome deal!  (Since it was free, I didn't walk away with pictures or some of the other typical offerings, but luckily, my consultant posted this before and after to her Instagram!  For those unfamiliar (as I was a couple days ago), you're assigned one of four seasons on their color wheel, based on your natural skin undertones and what colors best compliment and highlight your features.  I'm a winter, which was both surprising and not, and is great news, because it means I'm "allowed" to continue to wear black leggings and silver hoops as staple items!  Phew!  ;)

Opus 76 - art inspired by art

There are probably 6,372 other things I should be doing, now, but I really wanted to get this out while it's (somewhat) fresh.

First, some context (without meaning to sound braggy):

I am a musician.  I took piano lessons from ages five to eighteen.  I started playing the trumpet in the fifth grade and began lessons a few years later.  My degree is in instrumental music education, and trumpet was my main instrument.  I was part of jazz ensemble, symphonic band, brass ensemble, orchestra, pep band, and various weddings and church gigs over the course of my jr. high, high school, and college career (all of the above in college).  I've taught private piano and trumpet lessons since I was in junior high (out of my home, then at a private studio, and now, out of my home, again).  I've toured both domestically and internationally with performing groups.  I have and do accompany soloists.  I currently play trumpet in a community band and keyboard for our church praise team. 

All that said, I have never really been the type of musician who has a great, true appreciation for music.  As I read that back, it seems like an extreme statement.  It's not as it may seem, but I don't know any other way to say it, at this point.  I'll try to explain, though...hear me out:  I've always been so involved in music that I've had a hard time making/finding time to enjoy it outside of my own performances.  Of course, I have taken advantage of opportunities to attend various special concerts and have always supported musician friends by attending their performances, but to truly seek out and strive to take in as much live music as possible has always seemed out of my reach, mostly due to my schedule and the other things I wanted to spend time doing.  During my post-college time in Lincoln, I was able to attend several amazing performances through the non-profit management office I worked for (still one of the most unique work experiences I've had...or heard of - haha.  I wrote a post about it early on in my time there...and added lots of duties to the list in the years following.), but I usually had some sort of duty at these events, so wasn't able to focus 100% on the music, necessarily.  I often have music playing as I go about my day, but it has often been required listening to prepare for my own performance, something I've listened to several times, or simply something I'm not consciously listening to.  I have and do come across new music when people share it, but haven't always sought it out on my own.

Additionally, my brain doesn't work in a way that easily remembers/comprehends/connects performers, composers, bands to their specific sounds, songs, and pieces of music.  Same goes for movie quotes.  I often recognize melodies (or lines, if we're still talking about movie quotes), but I'm only just beginning to have enough history with some of them to recall the name of the piece, recognize the style of the performer/band, or be able to name the composer (or movie/character/scene). 

Of course, as a music major, I spent hours and hours in classes (and lessons) where I was asked to do just this.  I memorized birth and death dates.  I attached names to melodies.  I learned traits associated with different musical periods.  I was able to do all this in small batches, but it was mostly for the sake of the grade, and not as much for the sake of my own musical appreciation/knowledge.  To this day, I'm embarrassed to not be able to really "talk shop" with other musicians (esp. trumpet players), because I can't always speak to my favorite player, group, piece in a particular genre, etc. (Sorry, Dean...)  I can't always hear a song and say, "Oh, that sounds like so-and-so," whether or not it's a cover.  Unless I've seen a musical several times, I don't always remember what songs go with which (unless it's Wicked, in which case I can probably sing the entire soundtrack from memory...and that's just because I've listened to it so, so many times.).  This isn't to say I'm never able to draw these connections, recognize a composer/performing group, or remember the name of a particular song.  I am obviously able to do so on some level, just not the level I would like or think I should be able to.

I've found I'm much better able to recall/comprehend music if I have something personal to attach to it, and even more-so if it's a deep emotional attachment.  I'll always remember the first time I actually cried (rather than just tearing up) during worship ("Here I Am to Worship" at CIY).  I haven't yet forgotten the exact musical moments when I was moved to tears while performing a couple band pieces in college (near the end of the fifth movement, "Hobbits," of the Lord of the Rings Symphony and the climax of our NMEA perfornamce of "O Magnum Mysterium").  I was too emotional to participate in the a capella verse of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" at our wedding.  It was so beautiful and meaningful to hear all our friends and loved ones' voices blending together in harmony and worship.  There's a Christian lullaby CD we were given before Jacob was born that was on repeat during many late-night feedings early in his life.  Those songs will always take me back to those sweet, emotional moments.  I could probably list more examples here, but those give you an idea.  Again - I'm not sure why my brain doesn't better retain this sort of information, but it is what it is.

Now, to bring it to the original subject of this post:

A few months ago, Bryant heard a local musician interviewed on a local radio station to promote his string quartet's free concerts.  My husband, as usual, knows me better than I know myself and acted on the opportunity to hear live music on the cheap, because he thought I'd enjoy it.  So, he told me about the group, and we planned to attend a concert.

If I'm being honest, I wouldn't say I'm really "into" string music (no offense intended, at all...just hasn't always been my thing.  Maybe it's because I'm a brass player...?).  This concert, however, was so refreshing and enjoyable, and apparently, necessary for me.  For one thing, the respite of sitting still for an hour was a treat.  Being able to simply listen to other people perform was also just so nice.  I think part of the reason I enjoyed the listening aspect so much was a control thing; someone else was in control of that situation - worrying about having enough programs, directing people to the restrooms, setting out the reception treats, etc.  For me, being able to sit back and listen to other people perform music (that I had no preconceived notions about - it was Haydn and Beethoven, but I did not recognize the particular pieces/movements to know exactly what they would/should sound like) was very calming and refreshing.  If I'm being poetic about it, I was able to be still and let the music wash over me.  I was able to focus on the musical lines and motives, and at some point while doing so, I realized my mind wasn't wandering.  For my brain to not have 53 tabs open at once is such a rare occurrence.  Yes, as a musician, I was listening critically (though I don't know that I heard (or picked up on) any mistakes) and analytically, but it was surprising and wonderful to truly be able to have a singular focus for several moments.  It was so peaceful, and not just because they were playing classical music.  My mind needed the break as much as my body did.

I've heard (esp. recently) that art inspires art.  I listen to a couple authors' podcasts, and they often talk about how much they do or don't read in order to be inspired.  They also discuss seeking out other mediums to fill their creative souls.  I couldn't help but think about how the quartet performance (art) was inspiring me, both in the moment and afterward.  During the performance, I was able to appreciate the immense skill and talent it took to perform those pieces at the level they did.  I was inspired by their passion for the music (enough to perform it free of charge) and the words they shared about why they do what they do.  Afterward, I was able to reflect to the point of wanting to get it all out "on paper" and am so glad to have a (small) platform to do so (which I don't often think of as a form of art, but I believe it is).  I have also been inspired to strive to play more of the (piano) music in my collection.  I've inherited and been given so, so much music - of all genres and from all time periods.  This inspiration to take time to play more was affirmed by Jacob wanting to bring his musical instruments (a jingle bell stick and harmonica, in this instance) downstairs when he heard me practicing.  We rarely have a silent home, but it's often podcasts or that week's worship set filling our ears.  There's nothing wrong with either of those, but I feel I need to do a better job of exposing him to a variety of music, both live and recorded.

On another note (pun not originally intended), we made a date night out of the concert and happened to drive by the original KC Joe's on our way to the place we'd planned to dine that evening.  Like a bear to honey (I was going to use the "moth to the flame" analogy, but it didn't feel right in this context...you get the idea), we turned around and took advantage of the time we had to stand in line (though it was short on a Tuesday night) and the fact that they weren't sold out of burnt ends (speaking of art...).  It wasn't the fancy night out we'd originally planned, but it was just as (perhaps even more) delicious.  There were also homemade treats after the concert, so we were glad we hadn't stopped for dessert, beforehand.

The concert took place in a beautiful church sanctuary, which of course, just added to the appeal and wonder of it all.

The quartet we heard is called Opus 76.  You should definitely check out their Facebook page and website.  They're doing some really amazing things for the KC community.  If you're in the area, be sure to attend a concert - whether or not you're "into" string music. ;)  Their musicianship and talent is truly inspiring, and their mission and purpose is admirable and worth supporting.  We didn't get to stick around after the concert to visit with them, so please consider this my public display of admiration and appreciation.  ☺

I feel like I bore a piece of my soul that hasn't been brought to light, before.  Thank you for being gracious and kind readers and allowing me to feel safe in doing so.  I don't know that I adequately explained the points I was trying to make here, but I know it was a lot of words, already, so thanks for bearing with me.  ♥    

Inspired-ly,

Kensy

P.S. I edited this post in a trendy coffee shop in downtown KC on my 10(?)-yr.-old-17-inch-screen-Toshiba laptop.  It didn't fit on one of the bar-top ledges they had set up for people like me who've come to work there.  I don't think I've ever felt so old so unexpectedly...

Favorites of the day:

flip-flop season (you saw that one coming)

Kouign Amann (a planned indulgence) and this beautiful pineapple twist (a surprise treat)

an unexpected family photo at a recent alumni event

TBH - we just went for the free food...and for the perfect opportunity for J to wear the shirt the university sent us when he was born. ☺

☺