Riverton Arts Festival

Drama Queen, Bossy holding Baby Doll, and Prima Donna

Crafty

I've told you before that my kids love to dance. Every year in mid-June we are privileged to watch the Spring Recital. And that date is coming up this weekend. But a couple of weeks before that we get a preview of their show at the Riverton Arts Festival.

Crafty in White and Princess behind to the right

The director of our studio was from Riverton (a neighboring city), so she always chooses that venue for the kids to perform. In years past they have had all the time they wanted, but for the last couple of years the show has been limited to an hour. That means only the older groups are allowed to perform.

Prima Donna on the far left

I already mentioned that I spent a bunch of time on a Max costume for Crafty. Well here she is wearing it. Unfortunately, my gold paper didn't come in on time, so she did this first show without the crown. That was OK, except that with her first leap the hood fell back on her shoulders and then she looked like she was just wearing a white jumpsuit with claws. (That's one technical detail we will definitely fix for the recital!)

Prima Donna in the center and Crafty on the right

The stage is much smaller than the one they will use this weekend, so the bigger groups are all crowded together, but they make the best of it and they still do an awesome job! Can you pick out my girls in all these fun pics? Teach was complaining as she downloaded them that my sweetie took 409 pictures of this one-hour event.

Now that's one proud papa!

Princess second from right and Prima Donna third from right

Princess and Prima Donna holding up Crafty in the finale

Princess on pointe

Scripture Silliness

I think I've told you before that we gather the kids together every night and read scriptures and have prayer as a family before bed. Sometimes it's difficult to get them to settle down and pay attention (even if you have a church pew in your living room!).

So tonight they actually came together pretty quickly and Prima Donna started to read. For some reason, Princess had a bottle of fingernail polish and she decided to paint Baby Doll's toenails bright pink even though she had fallen asleep in my lap. It only took her about three or four verses to transform all those tiny toes, and then she set out to find her next victim.

The Dog Walker was lying on the pew, following along in his own copy, just hoping I would call on him to read. Princess gave me a look and I gave her the nod and she inched her way along the floor until she was sitting next to the Dog Walker's feet. Slowly and carefully she pulled out the brush and got to work.

I looked over at my sweetie and he had noticed the silliness. Both of us were grinning, trying not to attract attention, and above all not to laugh out loud. Soon the other kids caught wind of what was going on, so I quickly called on the Dog Walker to read just to keep him distracted.

By then everyone was silently giggling. I'm pretty sure by then the Dog Walker knew what was up, but he played along. When he finished the chapter, he sat up and gave his toes a horrified look. Then he pretty much screamed like a little girl (sorry Drama Queen, but he's quite the actor), and we were all finally able to let out the laughs we had been holding in.

Yeah...good times...

One of Those Weeks

You ever have one of those weeks? You know the ones...where you can't even seem to find time to catch your breath? I expect those weeks when something major is going on like Christmas or a wedding and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying graduation isn't a big deal, but other than just showing up, it only took one evening. I've just had one of those random weeks when it seems impossible except that now we are nearing the end of it and I actually survived!

Monday was filled with Crafty's very first Monster Concert, so I had to drop her off at 4:00 at one of the local high schools and then show up again at 7:00 for the concert itself. Elementary band programs in Utah are typically small, so once a year they combine all the kids from all the school and have a concert. This year there were about 188 kids. Crafty has only been playing her clarinet since September so you can imagine how it all went...

Tuesday night was the first round of baseball games with my sweetie coaching Curly's team, I was coaching Scout's team, and Gamer was coaching Bean Dip's team. Games lasted until 6:30 and then we had to run to get to Pack Meeting before 7:00. I had already acquired the parts and assembled 40 catapult kits, made phone calls and distributed fliers earlier in the day. Visited the church and set up tables and chairs. Yeah, we were ready. Oh and I also had three girls with dance class so we had to work that in. After everyone finally got home about 8:30, we ate crockpot pulled pork burritos that I had been cooking all day, settled the kids for the night and then Princess and I headed out for basketball. I dragged in about 11:00, did dishes, laundry, and sent the big kids to bed. Only then did I find a few minutes to write my post.

I'm not making excuses, really, I love my few minutes to write every day, but sometimes it's hard to work it in.

Wednesday morning I took Baby Doll to the doctor for her 18-month checkup. She's fine and growing like a weed! She wasn't too happy with the three shots in her chubby little thighs. That, along with the two teeth she has coming in made her a particularly ornery girl. But with her on my lap, I managed to pull together the fundraiser orders for my girls and enter them into the computer. Sport had baseball practice, Princess had dance, Prima Donna had a Dance Concert for her Dance Team at the middle school that I couldn't possibly miss. The Dog Walker had one of his photos in the art show at the high school so after the concert I dropped Prima Donna at the church for the last few minutes of her young women's group and drove straight to Bingham. I didn't miss the prizes, but he was bummed that he didn't win anyway.




Thursday was Teach's graduation and that ate up most of the day...

Did you ever see that movie called Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell? In one of the scenes there is a moment when she is so totally overwhelmed that she is beyond functioning. But Kurt Russell has no sympathy. He simply picks her up and throws her in the rain barrel. The crazy thing is that it works! She is able to move on with her tasks that need to be done.

Anybody got a rain barrel? I just may need to borrow one.

I Worry About This One

I've just gotta pour my heart out! I'm struggling with this one. She doesn't know if she wants to be a baby or a big girl. She hit 18 months last Saturday and in my humble opinion, she is way too old to be nursing ten times a day!  I generally wean my little ones at about 15 months, but since she may be my last, I have been a little more lenient. But I'm getting pretty tired of her trying to pull my shirt up in public. (Didn't think you'd want to see a picture of that...)

She's also decided that it's OK to climb out of the high chair. I'm not OK with that one either. I know, and it's all my fault, as my kids remind me daily. When she was about 6 months old, she had a blowout in the high chair. It was so bad that it got all over the seat belts and no matter what I did, I couldn't get them clean. Finally, I took my scissors and snipped them out. I've regretted that decision every day.

This past week she thinks it's OK to sit on the bench with the big kids, but she isn't quite tall enough and I worry about her slipping off. Maybe I'm just not ready for her to grow up yet. Anybody got a time machine?

One More Day

Visiting the Zoo

 

On Sunday night we were sitting around, playing cards and enjoying each others' company. The Gym Rat spent Easter with us and we never get to see enough of him. I started lamenting that our Spring Break was almost over. We only had Monday left when all the kids would be home and that's when my sweetie confessed that he had taken one more day off and we would all be together. So many great reasons to love this guy!

We kicked around a few ideas, including a visit to my MIL's house, but since she was busy, we finally decided to go to the zoo. Since we had a family pass, that was a cheap, fun activity for us. Some of the school districts had different days off for spring break, so we were assuming that it wouldn't be too crowded...boy were we wrong!

We had to park across the street in the overflow parking. It took us a few minutes in the ticket line and then again at the gate. People were everywhere. While I was in the ticket line, the older girls helped all the little ones with sunscreen. That was mostly a good thing except that Princess and Baby Doll both got some in their eyes. I hustled the two of them off to the restroom and we rinsed their eyes several times. It didn't help much.

We visited with the monkeys, the elephants and the rhinos. The tiger was outside sunning himself and so were the giraffes. All except for one. Did you know that a giraffe can be trained just like a dog? We happened to enter the building at just the right time to see a full-sized giraffe going through training exercises with a whistle and treats. It could step up on a board with either foot, back up and turn around. I'm not sure about rolling over and playing dead...we didn't stay that long...

The weather was perfect for animal watching and we enjoyed our day at the zoo. Then it was back to school and our regular crazy life. I'm so glad that every once in a while we can take a break and remember how much we love just spending time together. Here's to counting down the days until Memorial Day!

We weigh a TON!

Guest Blogger: I'm Getting So Big by Baby Doll

I turned 17 months old today so Mom thought it might be fun to show you some of the amazing things I'm big enough to do. I'm awesome on the skateboard!

Princess taught me how to play her clarinet today...I only broke the reed a little. Why would you put something in your mouth anyway that you don't plan to eat?

Crafty didn't want to do her job so I told her I would help with the vacuuming.

Scout unloaded the dishwashers but Mom needed a little help loading. Who needs a stool?

After all that work I needed a little time to relax so I decided to do a little table dancing in my jammies..

Look, Mom! No hands!

It's a good thing I never fall.

Mom says I'm driving her crazy.

I don't know why.

Do you?

Ground Hog Day

Yesterday was Ground Hog Day. We have had such beautiful weather here in Utah, I was just sure that winter must be over. Then I opened the door and I was greeted with this scene.

And I heard on the news that the Groundhog saw his shadow so I guess we get six more weeks of winter.

I had really intended to give you another Food for Thought today. Princess made some delicious Snickerdoodles for us and the Dog Walker swears he took pictures, but no one can find them. Dang. I guess that means we'll have to make more cookies...I hate it when that happens.

After Grandpa read stories to Curly and Baby Doll, he went to the store with the Drama Queen to grab some milk and he couldn't resist the pleading of Curly and they brought home Tootsie Rolls and donut holes. That prompted some amazing creativity from Crafty. Besides the obvious, she also used Kix cereal and little pieces of banana and cookie decorations. I told her she is going to have to teach us all how to make such cute edibles. At least we won't be bored (or hungry) during our six more weeks of winter. 

***The Dog Walker figured Baby Doll needed some different teeth if she planned to eat Crafty's people...

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Every year (usually a bit closer to New Year's Eve) my sweetie and I spend an hour or two evaluating the year and what our new year might bring. Since I started on this Charles Dickens thing, I decided it might be fun to speculate on where my life and the lives of my loved ones might be next year at this time...so here are my thoughts on Christmas 2012 or Christmas Yet to Come. Keep in mind that this is all guessing (and wishing) and not necessarily backed up with any amount of certainty. I'll let you figure out which ones are wishes and which are inevitable.

Bossy and Gamer and their little brood...

Gamer will re-enroll in school and finish the last few classes he needs to complete his Associates Degree. Bossy will keep working for DCFS and maybe (hopefully!) get pregnant. Bean Dip will continue to improve in school and become an excellent student. Taco will win in several Reflections categories and become the star of the soccer field. Burrito will start Kindergarten and learn to read. He will NOT become the soccer star because he doesn't really seem to like soccer that much...maybe basketball.

Gym Rat...

He will finish his degree and get married! 'Nuff said.

Drama Queen...

She will graduate with her degree in Secondary Ed and find a nice guy to practice the scenes from Romeo and Juliet. No wedding bells, but maybe some kind of a ring???

Teach...

She will graduate with her degree in Elementary Ed, get an amazing job at her favorite elementary school where she will meet a cute single male teacher, get married within six weeks, buy a house and and work hard to fill it with cute little baby Teaches.

Dog Walker...

He will graduate from high school and become an amazing scout leader until it's time to go on a mission for our church. With his strong testimony he will be an amazing missionary!

Princess...

She will bring down the house with her performance in Sleeping Beauty, convincing dance studios everywhere that she could single-handedly revive their weakening programs...but she will stay at C&C because she loves the people there and after all, they made her what she is today. (lol) She will also start high school, earn her drivers license, turn 16 and start dating. Maybe there is even a first kiss for her somewhere in 2012. We are going to have to invest in a big stick!

Prima Donna...

With her six Reflections wins, she will advance our first entry to the National competition but just to keep her from getting too big-headed, she will only take second place.

Crafty...
She will finally be old enough to join the Young Women's group at our church. Pointe shoes have got to be part of her 2012 as will another amazing run at being the Girl Scout Cookie Queen. Who knows? She might even start looking at boys!

Sport...
After basketball, maybe baseball will be part of 2012. Defnitely a little more football, some cursive, and multiplication tables. He already likes girls, so I'm not too worried about that.

Scout...

She might become the very best reader in her class! With five entries moving on in Reflections she could easily be declared the PTA Queen or maybe the king...she much prefers cute little skirts to pants.

Curly...

A first kiss might be in his 2012 too...all the girls around here, old and young, just LOVE his curly blond hair. In the fall he will start preschool (he's already signed up!) and he can start swimming lessons and learn to ride a two-wheeler. Maybe he can teach the Drama Queen. That's one of the few skills she hasn't mastered.

Baby Doll...

Talking, running, jumping on the tramp...there are so many things for a one-year-old to learn! I can't wait to see what the new year brings for her. Hopefully not the stomach issues she has had this week...she ate Princess's little clay nativity (all non-toxic) but the diarrhea has been awful. Like they say, this too shall pass.

My Sweetie...

He will be happy and healthy and content with his job. He will be silly and attentive and paint my toenails once a month. He will also take me out to dinner and listen while I yack his ear off because women need to say about 5000 words each and every day. Hey, maybe that's why I like blogging...

Me...

I will try to update my blog at least every other day because if I keep up with every day I may just run out of stories to tell. Maybe I will sell a little Tupperware, maybe not... I guess a new baby could be part of our new year (NO, this isn't an announcement), but if the Lord is willing, we would be happy to have one more, although next month I'll be 47 so my biological clock must be ticking although since I'm so old, I can't really hear it. I will try for the ten thousandth time to be more organized, lose weight, and be more patient.  You would think after almost 30 years of setting the same New Year's goals that I might be able to accomplish ONE of them! And maybe I will even learn to troubleshoot my own computer since I've been off the network all day and I'm typing this on the laptop because my computer doesn't want to play nice.

What are your plans for 2012?