TMEA

What a GREAT week/weekend we've had!  I love love love this week of the year.  TMEA, officially known as the Texas Music Educators Association - unofficially known as music teachers' pre-spring break, has its annual convention this week in San Antonio every year.  It's such a great time to get away from the every-day norm, catch up with teacher friends across the state (from Tech, Alabama, Kodaly, Orff, my old district, etc . . .), and get some refreshing new ideas for my classroom.  It's a nice boost of energy and excitement that always makes me itch to get back to my students and teach them all of these new things!  :)

This year I didn't/couldn't go to as much as I have in the past.  TMEA + 27 weeks preggo = one tired and sore momma!  I actually skipped out on the 8:00 sessions for the first time in the six years I've been coming to TMEA.  I know I'm supposed to be taking care of myself and baby and I know that realistically there's no way I could have gone to those without skipping out on the later sessions from pure exhaustion, but I still feel just a teensy bit guilty.

We got really lucky this year and were able to stay Wed night and Thurs night at the Grand Hyatt right there at the convention center!  I think the only time I've had a nicer hotel room was when we were on our honeymoon.  I loved it!  And it made things so much easier since I didn't have to walk and walk and walk to get back to a hotel at the end of the day (though there is still a TON of walking involved in the convention center and around the Riverwalk getting to restaurants).

Last night we had our unofficial Alabama reunion - ROLL TIDE - and then came out to Brandon's dad's house to stay with them.  I'm missing a few sessions this morning but it's for a great reason.  I'm about to take the advice of my doctor a spend the morning getting a prenatal massage!  Hooray!!  I'm so excited about it and so so thankful that Brandon's stepmom, Eloise, suggested it since we're spending the day with them here in San Antonio before we head back home.  I really need it after all the walking and toting stuff around downtown SA the last few days.  I.  Can't.  Wait!

I'm so thankful for my pre-spring break vacation!

A-MAZ-ING!

This week Brandon and I were blessed to get to hear some absolutely amazing music made by some of the kindest and most awesome people around!  Let me just say, I love the Swingle Singers!  Talk about some phenomenal music!  They are, I believe, the original a cappella vocal jazz group (the original group even predates The King's Singers by a few years), and are most certainly the best at what they do!  What is really great, though, is to know what genuine, humble, and down-to-earth people they are.  We were fortunate enough to spend a little time with them while we were in San Antonio for TMEA this last week.  If you ever have the chance to see them perform - TAKE IT!  Drive however far you need to drive, pay whatever you can for a ticket, and go see them!!  Trust me, you'll love it!

(BTW - Alabama friends, they will be at UAB on March 4!  Don't miss it!)

Here is a live performance of their Flight of the Bumblebee (yes, the one you hear on Glee!).

Good music is always that much sweeter when you know it's coming from the heart.  Here are the girls of the Swingle Singers singing Amazing Grace.  This may now be my favorite recording of this hymn.

This week's TMEA has certainly been the best to-date for me.  From the great music, to meeting these new friends, spending some much needed time catching up with old friends, and of course, getting some great new ideas and materials for my classroom, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend these last four days.  It's been a true blessing!