Spring Fair - A Self Portrait

 We went to the Washington Spring Fair a few weeks ago. Emma had drawn a picture that was chosen from  her class to be hung with other artwork from the school district. It was a lovely self-portrait. Proud of this little girl.

 Loved the lego wall. I want one in our house.

 I like the spring fair because have so many activities for younger kids to enjoy.

Like making potato people. I think it was their favorite activity.

All the girlies with their potato people.

Tired Flowers

Garrett's Flower Bed

Garrett picked me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. After 1/2 an hour they began to wilt at which point I told Garrett I thought my flowers might be getting a bit tired.

He then told me he would put them in a flower bed. I thought he was going to try to plant them. 

But no 4 year-old mind knew just the thing for tired flowers. He made a lovely flower 'bed' so my flowers could take a little rest.

I didn't have the heart to tell him rest wasn't going to fix it. 

Children's Museum

 Over some break, mid-winter? spring?, I'm not really sure when it was to tell you the truth, I took the kids to the children's museum. I look back at the pictures and think, 'oh how fun'. But then I think a little harder and remember that we left with 2 out of 4 crying.

 Garrett would have been happy to play with the water the whole time.

 How much did I want to watercolor on canvas? 

Ooooo, and the drawing table too. 

Turning Two and Chick Fluff

Grant turned two last month. Please note in the picture above Grant's hair. That is how his hair almost always looks. Its like chick fluff, soft and fine and allll over. Consequently we call him Fuzzy.  

Little Grant is so much fun. He loves his dad, airplanes, cars, boats, and motorcycles. He also really likes...old guys. Not sure how else to put it but he likes men. He makes himself right at home with any grandpa types. He likes to cuddle, although its kind of like cuddling with a meat tenderizer. He adores his brother and sisters.

 Jeremy made the above airplane for him. The propeller has already gotten broken, fixed, and replaced.

Grant and Grandpa Richard, whose birthday is two days after Grant, sharing their airplane birthday cake.

The Hills Are Alive

...with the Sound of Music.


Ok, I officially had two people get after me for not posting. Obviously my public demands that I post. (Mom and Dana) :)


Its been a busy three months here.


This post is about January.


January was consumed by music at our house. First of all I was participating in NATS for the second year. NATS is a vocal competition but really I think the vocal teachers compete with each other to see how many of their students place:)


I did both the classical and musical theater categories this year, preparing three songs in each.


I had a bit of a glitch wherein I ended up with an accompanist that I never rehearsed with for the classical category. I mean I literally met the man two minutes before I walked in with the judges. I told him what changes I was doing and he told me he'd follow me for tempo. Little stressful.


However, it went beautifully as did musical theater with my original pianist. I took first in the classical category and second in musical theater. More importantly, I felt good about how I sang for the judges. I had been working on one of the songs for a year and it was important to me that I sing it for the judges as I'd practiced.


(I had to sing at the awards concert thinger later the same night too. It didn't go as well but frankly by that time I'd been up since 4 am. I'm just glad noise was still coming out of my mouth.)


Now in the same week as NATS were auditions for a multi-stake production of The Sound of Music. Uh, so S of M is my favorite movie - EVER. Granted the stage production is a bit different but still its my fav. Both Madilyn and Emma wanted to audition and worked on their songs for a couple of months. I'm not sure who I was more nervous for them or me. Ok I know the answer - them.


They were both very nervous but I was so proud of them. They did wonderful. It was a joy to ride home from our auditions with both of them singing their songs and feeling pleased with themselves for having done their best.


Three or four very looooong weeks later we heard back. Madilyn was cast as Brigitta, Emma as Marta, and I as Baroness Elsa Shraeder (For the record, the Baroness sings two songs in the stage production.). There was some jumping up and down and screaming at our house.


That was January. Exciting, stressful January.