This weekend is the annual Northern Arizona University Jazz and Madrigal Festival, which means an overnight trip to Flagstaff with 25 high school students. The three hour bus ride up to Flag is always marked with a goody bag filled with snacks and mini games to keep the kids occupied. We learned long ago that even though teenagers want to be treated like adults, they're really overgrown kindergartners at heart. So some Chinese finger puzzles, crayons, and small decks of cards in assorted shapes please them for hours. This tradition began with Jeff's first trip with a Skyline choir. I made cookies for all the kids (of course, there were only about 12 back then), and handed them out as they boarded the bus. The next year, Jeff's mom made scarfs and hats in our school colors. The bags have progressed over the years - with the growth of the choir and the fundraising account - to become something the kids look forward to with anticipation and childish glee.
Once here, we watched a couple of groups perform at the venue the kids have tomorrow morning. Jeff and I always slice and dice what the adjudicator is looking for and talking about to make sure our kids take home a top rating. After lunch at the student union's food court, Jeff held a rehearsal and took the kids to watch the second judge they have tomorrow while Jade and I headed off for some one-on-one time. Our hotel, on the edge of the NAU campus, is fairly close to downtown, so we hoofed it. Of course, we made obligatory stops at a book store, a CD store, and a music store, where a small group of older teens tried to recruit Jade into their band after listening to him play a myriad of guitars. (He also had some fun with an electric ukulele painted like a pineapple.) They seemed genuinely disappointed when Jade said we didn't live here.
Several hours later we found ourselves back at the hotel for dinner with the rest of the group. (By the way, The Drury Inn is a fabulous place to stay. All the rooms sport a separate living room and mini kitchen, plus the lobby has free coffee, tea, and sodas all day in addition to a hot breakfast and dinner bar. Tonight the hot bar offered hot dogs with vegetarian chili, baked potatoes, and an assortment of chips and raw veggies. We will definitely stay here again next year and any time we trek north for vacation.) Following this respite, Jeff took the kids to the host concert while Jade and I took another walk toward a movie theater, which was 1.3 miles away. Though the weather was chilly (in the high 30's when we left and down to the 20's when we headed back), the walk really wasn't bad. It took us about 25 minutes each way, and only our ears were cold.
Finally, Jade and I made our way upstairs to find that Jeff had just finished room checks and was taping the doors which signified everyone in for the night. Though we are definitely ready for bed, today went a long way toward restoring the peace between us.
Once here, we watched a couple of groups perform at the venue the kids have tomorrow morning. Jeff and I always slice and dice what the adjudicator is looking for and talking about to make sure our kids take home a top rating. After lunch at the student union's food court, Jeff held a rehearsal and took the kids to watch the second judge they have tomorrow while Jade and I headed off for some one-on-one time. Our hotel, on the edge of the NAU campus, is fairly close to downtown, so we hoofed it. Of course, we made obligatory stops at a book store, a CD store, and a music store, where a small group of older teens tried to recruit Jade into their band after listening to him play a myriad of guitars. (He also had some fun with an electric ukulele painted like a pineapple.) They seemed genuinely disappointed when Jade said we didn't live here.
Several hours later we found ourselves back at the hotel for dinner with the rest of the group. (By the way, The Drury Inn is a fabulous place to stay. All the rooms sport a separate living room and mini kitchen, plus the lobby has free coffee, tea, and sodas all day in addition to a hot breakfast and dinner bar. Tonight the hot bar offered hot dogs with vegetarian chili, baked potatoes, and an assortment of chips and raw veggies. We will definitely stay here again next year and any time we trek north for vacation.) Following this respite, Jeff took the kids to the host concert while Jade and I took another walk toward a movie theater, which was 1.3 miles away. Though the weather was chilly (in the high 30's when we left and down to the 20's when we headed back), the walk really wasn't bad. It took us about 25 minutes each way, and only our ears were cold.
Finally, Jade and I made our way upstairs to find that Jeff had just finished room checks and was taping the doors which signified everyone in for the night. Though we are definitely ready for bed, today went a long way toward restoring the peace between us.
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