Summer Reading!

Since I'm so far behind with catching up, I'll share all the things I'm going to post about library Summer Reading programs in one post instead of splitting them up like I do most years.

We again participated in Summer Reading programs at Orem Library and Provo Library.

Jeremy again created balloon sculptures for Orem Public Library's Summer Reading Program, "All Together Now."

Jet had fun saying Hi to the characters Jeremy made. 

While he was building, Jeremy and Lucky found some of Jet's toys lying around and decided to have a little fun. 

It was Lucky's idea to color coordinate.

 

I took a few kids to the kickoff event. They had activities and different booths to go to with free stuff and prizes. Jason Fun did another magic show.

Provo City Library had a kickoff event this year. I took all my kids to that one. The ballroom was full of games and activities to get into the swing of Summer fun.

We did a few Provo Story Trails, although after a while there were some repeats of past years so it kind of fizzled out because we were so busy with other things. 

"How the Beaver Got His Tail" at Lions Park.

"The Toothpick Warriors" at Paul Ream Wilderness Area. This is where we traditionally play "Three Bill Goats Gruff," but not this year. The river was sooooo high.

The kids and I went hiking to the Alpine Poppy Fields again. It was closed last year so we couldn't go but we got to see them again this year. And got to check things off for Summer Reading activities.

We also spent plenty of time doing activities at both libraries.

We did some take home activities from the Orem Library.

The last day of June was busy with activities we were able to count toward Summer Reading. 

I took some of the kids to the Museum of Art at BYU to do a library activity there. They had a display of quilted art. Amazing. If you look from far enough away you wouldn't be able to tell the pieces were sewn, but looking up close, you can.

 

Then we went to a Provo Story Trail. "The Goat Faced Girl" at Spring Creek Park.

 

That evening, Nichole and I went to watch Derek Banks in concert again. It was so nice to hear him playing the piano. He did an encore of Clair de Lune which is one of my favorite pieces. It always makes me think of my grandma because she used to play it on the piano.

 

When we got home from the concert, Jeremy and I headed to the tail end of a wedding reception. We had to get the bride and groom their present later because while Nichole and I were at the piano concert, my three year old got a hold of the present we were going to take and ripped the wrapping paper off of it and lost a part that went with it. Sigh. We got it to them eventually, though.

After the reception, Jeremy and I were able to do some service. We had jumper cables so we were able to jump the bride and groom's car. Sigh. We wish them a long and happy marriage (with less car trouble).

 

O.K. I changed my mind. I'm going to make this into two posts since it's long enough just talking about June Summer Reading activities. Sound good? Sounds good to me. Tell you more later.

Supporting a Friend

Remember this kid? International award winning pianist, Derek Banks. Not such a kid anymore. I first started talking about him on my blog back in 2014 when he was a young man and playing the piano in front of the balloon Starry Night. I last mentioned going to see him play in 2019 while he was getting ready for an International Competition in Japan. Guess what. He got third place in that competition. Woohoo.

Now he's studying music at the Manhattan School of Music but was home for the Summer and put on a concert recently. I went to show support and represent our family as Jeremy had a show that night and wasn't able to go. He would have if he could.

Derek is doing amazing things and it is so nice to be able to see where his talent (and hard work) is taking him. Keep up the good work.

Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day 2014

November 24 is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day.
To celebrate, we went to see Derek Banks perform at the Orem Library.  I've mentioned Derek before on this blog.  He's the kid who wrote and memorized his own arrangement of "Starry Starry Night" in about 4 hours.  That's a unique talent. 
This was the first time I've been able to go to one of Derek's performances like this.  I've heard him play at church and at baptisms and I listened to him play "Starry Starry Night" several times the day we were filming (and I've seen some videos of him playing), but not like this.

Usually I'm taking care of kids at home during Derek's performances, so Jeremy's gone to a few, but this was my first chance.  We took the kids down early to the library.  They were lighting the Christmas trees outside the City Center area and were having a program and such.  It was cold so we only stayed out there for a little while, and drove by the lit trees on the way home.  The kids did enjoy standing by the fire, though.

In the library, the kids ran around and looked at books for a little while.  During Derek's performance, Jeremy stood and held Lucky and each of the remaining kids eventually migrated to the section of the library where Jeremy was.  No offense to Derek and the classical music he was playing but our kids could only sit still for so long. 
But I got to sit and listen to the whole performance.  Thanks, Jeremy, for watching the kids (he was still able to listen) so I could watch.  It was great.
Way to go, Derek.  You are very talented.

Starry Starry Night

Meet Derek Banks.  He is a 15-year old concert pianist who recently returned from a concert tour with his teacher and other talented students in New Zealand. 

Before he left, he took some time to visit "Starry Night" made out of balloons at the Orem Library.  He spent about 3-4 hours writing and memorizing his own arrangement of Don McLean's "Vincent," also known as "Starry Starry Night."  Pretty impressive, right? 
Jeremy took some footage of Derek playing "Starry Starry Night" in front of "Starry Night" and made a youtube video of it.  Take a look at it on Derek's youtube channel.  Jeremy will later make a more balloon focused video for his own channel.

Also, watch this video of Derek playing another classical piece for a competition at a piano store.  The video with the most views will win an upright piano.  Derek's mom is in need of a piano that she can give piano lessons on.

And see my kids in their usual positions when we spend time in a library.  If there are books somewhere where we are, they will find them.