Homeschool Fine Arts Showcase

This was our first year to really dive into homeschool and be involved.  We have worked hard with our children on their lessons and are ever so proud of them.  I helped organize a Fine Arts Showcase for the area group and it was a huge success.  What a great group of children!!

It was supposed to be last weekend but a great snow caused us to postpone to this weekend.  We had it last night at 7 and I was so pleased at the aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and friends that came out to offer support to the children and parents. Mike and I worked HARD with our kids and they practiced equally as hard so that they were comfortable with their pieces.

Natalee participated in the group ballet performance at the end of the showcase and did a ballet solo dance for her pieces.  For both, we used the instructional DVD A Fantasy Garden I & II by Rosemary Boross.  We purchased this off the recommendation of another homeschool mom and have LOVED it.  We've only explored part I of the DVD...I'm saving part II for another season!  Natalee met with a group of other homeschool little girls 2x monthly and worked through pieces of the DVD with a mom & big sister leading the instruction.  The group performed 3 pieces and Natalee performed her solo, titled The Sun.

 {Big smile at mom when she completed her solo dance!  What a BRAVE girl!}

We are grateful to older cousin, Emma, who has taken ballet for many years and graciously loaned Natalee a "real" ballerina costume to dance in.  What a treat that was!!

Xavier sang the "12 Sons of Jacob."  We made him sing it one time loudly and then he got to pick up his guitar and sing it again, per his choice.  Excellent motivation!!  He loved the microphone - although he seemed a little bashful, we could have a little performer on our hands.

A couple of weeks ago Xavier and I had an absolute stand still about this performance.  He's really not very bashful, and one evening when I asked him to practice (just in front of me) he all out refused.  This was a heart issue, not about the song/performance.  I stood firm and we worked through it (for over an hour) and since then his obedience towards mom and his overall demeanor has been so much better!  Overall, this was a matter of me letting too many little things slide and a great reminder to me to be diligent and not "too tired or too weary" to handle things as they come.  In the back of my head I did wonder if he would comply and do his song or attempt to stand up to me in front of the public eye and refuse (it IS hard to make a child speak when he refuses).  I was very pleased to see all our hard work paid off and he did his piece with no resistance and even pride in himself for his accomplishment! 

{Mom wipes brow - WHEW!}

After all the performances we went downstairs for snacks and to see the art displays.  What an overall fun time this was for our first little activity as real homeschoolers.

My children (and Mike & I) were blessed to have 2 grandmas, 2 grandpas, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 cousins, and a great aunt & uncle in attendance to support their efforts. 

Natalee got flowers, just like a real ballerina does and Xavier got GUM from Nannie (and gummy bear treats for both) and Grandma Num & Papa surprised them with new puzzles (these framed puzzles are new FAVORITES at our house!).  

I can't express enough thanks to the fellow homeschoolers who participated with us and to the family who came to support us as we really get our feet wet in this new life adventure!!