ROCK STOCK

Evan has been playing drums since he was in 1st grade. He was in private lessons and participated in the drum brigade. He loved playing so much, he performed solo at the SG talent show (and then again at chapel...but that's another story)!

He was getting a little more serious about his hobby so John and I looked for somewhere that offered him a little bit more. We have some musician friends who teach at School of Rock. I looked into it a little more after I was sure Evan was serious. This was one of those "monthly" commitments that I, nor my pocketbook, took lightly.

SOR offers a free lesson and assessment where they place the student in a group. Thinking, as most parents do, he was a little bit better than he was, I was sure they would be just blown away with his skills.
Looking back they might have been impressed...but probably not blown away. lol

We signed him up for Rock 101. He gets a 45-minute private lesson and an hour and a half band rehearsal once a week. He's playing 2 hours and 15 minutes each and every week with professionals! The band rehearsal is what makes this program so unique. At SOR they only teach skills via songs. Evan is playing songs he hears on the radio. He is playing classics that will never get old. He's learning about the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, Green Day.

 

And did I mention he is improving 10 fold? OMGosh. How he plays now versus three short months ago is amazing. And he wants to practice. He goes into his room, sets up his iPad and amp and will play for an hour or more.

Rockstock was his first music festival. He only played 2 songs in 10 hours worth of music, but he lit up on that stage. I know that is where he feels the most comfortable.

Rockstock was an all day festival, and we would have stayed all day had it not been 900 degrees. The 3.5 hours we were there were filled with fun! Plus Evan has the BEST cheering section.

Like I said...it was hot. Mempops took advantage that the lunch food truck was going to be an hour and a half late. Luckily, we got the first ones at $3 before supply and demand upped their prices. I might have been caught double fisting....

 

Evan, I am so proud of you. Pursuing your passion takes a lot of work. You are dedicated and talented. Keep that passion alive and we'll support you no matter what...well at least until you can buy your own apartment. 

Big Hero Lukey

Again, I can't stop with the movie puns. Luke is BIG HERO SIX and it kinda hurts my feelings. He's getting so big and I can't stop this fast moving train.

The morning of your birthday, you were so excited, you forgot your SHOES!! We went to Dunkin Donuts to get the birthday treat for your class. While in line, Evan says, "Uh mom...Luke doesn't have on any shoes.." After about 5 deep breaths, I looked back and I start laughing. Thankfully, we were way early, and I had time to go home and get some shoes.

**True confession time....that same exact day, I forgot my computer at home. #appletree **

Luke has been my fighter, and although he has landed some blows with his hands, that's not the kind of fighter I mean. Since 15 months it seems as though he has had to work just a little bit harder at most things. It all started with him being resistant to speaking, which led to some sensory issues, which led us to people asking me 'well, what's wrong with him'...

But Luke, you let us know just what to do. We just had to let you be you.  Because what God has planned is bigger than ANYTHING we can imagine.

You now talk non-stop. You are such a deep thinker and when you choose to let us in that great big mind of your...it's a treat. Just in the last 24 hours you enlightened us with these observations:
1. We were in Costco and Christmas stuff was out. You said, "I have no idea why they have Christmas stuff out. It's OCTOBER! #mychild

2. When the air conditioner came on in the car you said, "Oh my GOSH, mommy!! I can eat this air! Swallow it right up and it tastes like nothing."

...now that I think about it - that might not have been your deepest thinking moment...

3. Last night on the ride home, you randomly said, "Mommy, did your dad know us?" We got into a long discussion about the timeline of his death and their birth. But to think...that was what your little brain had been thinking about after an ice cream treat.

You had a BIG birthday party with tons of friends. You have been dreaming of a laser tag birthday since Evan's party in April.

After Laser Tag you spent all your time in the arcade portion of Golf and Games. I think you could have lasted a couple more hours!

 
 

With your birthday package, you got a free trip on the Ropes Course. This was not your cup of tea, so you generously gave this to your brother. He JUMPED at the chance.

And of course, no birthday is complete without some Uncle Fred Cookies!! Evan even said, "mom, I don't mean this to be mean, but Uncle Fred might be the best cookie maker in our family." Challenged accepted Uncle Fred!

Luke - I hope you know are loved by so many. You have grown into such an amazing little boy. I hope these next six years are just as enjoyable and the six after that and the six after that and the six after that....