The Other Hills Are Alive Too

Once SoM was over we headed to the hills ourselves.Our first two free Saturdays were spent hiking. We are so blessed to live close to beautiful scenery. The first weekend we went to Naches Peak, where we hiked to the top of a ridge. The kids were so excited that they hiked to the top of a mountain.

All the kids made that face in the pictures. Too bright I guess.

Second weekend was Grand Park at Mt. Rainier. 

Grant kept complaining that his legs were tired. Hmmm....

Grand Park was amazing. We hiked 4 miles up to a high meadow that opens up to Mt. Rainier and 4 miles back down. It was gorgeous but a tough hike for the kids. 

We did see a bear here. I have to say I love seeing animals while hiking but the bear was a bit close for comfort. Close enough that we had to make sure to make noise for quite a while. The Lonely Goatherd came in handy.

Wonderful family time!

The Hills Are Alive...

Yes indeed our run of The Sound of Music is now over. It's always a happy sad time at the end of a show. Happy that we have our Saturdays back since we've rehearsed almost every one for the last 4 months, but sad because no more Sound of Music.

Jeremy asked me what my favorite song to sing was...The Sound of Music, why? Because it was easy and I didn't worry about the kids singing when they were supposed to and I was literally on top of the orchestra so it was nearly impossible for me to miss my entrance. Plus I've known the words by heart since I was 10. No brainer.

I love these kids (ok our Liesl wasn't exactly a kid but I loved her too), especially my little Marta and Brigitta.

Favorite song to sing with the kids - Do Re Mi

Least favortie - Lonely Goatherd. I thought this song was going to do me in by the end. Vocally it was the hardest but nothing I couldn't handle...if I was standing still. This one required so much movement and energy that keeping my breath was difficult.

Ok I put this up because it was my favorite costume. It's an authentic German...whatever its called. Some one in the cast had a neighbor give it to them.

I was always sad that I didn't get to see them sing this every night. I was off stage changing.

 This scene between Madilyn and I was one of the hardest and it was my own fault. I practiced this scene with Madilyn well before I had the part of Maria. The lines are kind of corny so I would always try to make her laugh when she practiced. Well then my part got changed and I had to do this serious scene with her. Guess what? I had a terrible time not giggling. I couldn't look her in the face the whole scene. I stared at her forehead. She was much more composed than me.

My sassy Brigitta.

And sweet Marta.

I loved this scene because both Mothers' Abbess were amazing and I loved listening to them sing.

Concert scene. Story on my little Emma. 3 of our 5 performances were evening performances that started at 7. By the time we got to this scene it was 9:30. Emma was always so tired by the end that she would stand kind of dazed and rub her eyes. Occasionally she would look at all the rest of us singing and remember she was supposed to sing. Poor little thing.

Being Maria was a bucket list thing for me and doing it with my two girls made it that much more special. 

Turning 5 last month

I can't believe he's 5. No way. 

Garrett had a bug party with his cousin and his aunt made a cute cake but I forgot my camera the night of the party. Woops. Bad mom award. 

I took pictures of him the next day with his bug catchin' gear. Here's the sad thing. Once the bugs get caught...they don't escape alive because the kids want to keep them as pets. Bugs just don't survive kid love. 

This is his bug sucker.Its like a vacuum for bugs.

The container for the bugs after they've been sucked. 

Just checkin' for more bugs.