Time for Kayla’s last band concert at Big Hollow. This will be a fairly short post, just the videos. We have a piano recital in 2 days and a chorus concert in 5 days, so lots more video to come!

The theme of the whole concert was movie music. The 8th grade band started with the “Captain America March”.

The second piece was a version of “Eyes Open” from The Hunger Games. Some girls in the stands couldn’t wait to leave for a quick break, so they block my video near the end.

The final piece (Kayla’s favorite) was from The Lord of the Rings. You will hear some spots where 3 clarinets are carrying the melody. Kayla is one of those 3 (you can see her just under the hands of the conductor on the far left of the band, front row). Those same girls come back right at the beginning.

Hope you all enjoy!

Ashley has been pestering us for YEARS that she wanted a pet. Unfortunately, our work schedules just don’t allow us to properly care for a pet that needs attention, like a dog. Kayla and I are allergic to cats, and we don’t have the space (or desire) to care for things in the guinea pig, ferret, rabbit family. Ashley finally decided that a hamster would be perfect. Small, doesn’t need to be given loads of attention, easy enough to care for (like any other pet). We made her research it for weeks, getting to know the care needs, how to clean the cage, when to clean, what needs to be in the cage, how to know if it is sick, etc.. She created a full scale report!

For her birthday, she received a habitat, food, and ball. Kayla bought the travel case. We researched a place in Libertyville called Animal Education and Rescue. It is a humane society that rescues animals and places them in foster homes until they can be adopted. The adoption fee is a little higher than buying a hamster at a pet store, but that fee covers a full vet check-up and any vaccinations. Ashley saved her money for the adoption fee, and we applied. We had intended to adopt a different hamster. We were supposed to pick it up yesterday morning. That hamster escaped its cage Friday night and somehow got into the walls of the foster family’s home. We got a call this morning that it could take a long time to retrieve that hamster (if ever, which would not end well), but that a sister hamster could be adopted today. Nibbles is 11 weeks old, and hamsters usually live about 2-3 years. Her birthday is Feb. 2nd.  And so here we are!

Ashley also used her money to buy the “penthouse” suite you see installed there. Nibbles already likes that part of the habitat! Here she is inside the saucer dome.

Ashley has full responsibility for this critter (we will keep an eye on things of course) and she has to use her allowance money to pay for the upkeep and food and such. She planned it all out as part of her report.

Gizmo got to meet Nibbles when we stopped at Mom’s house. He went BONKERS! Mom has video…..

More to come for sure!