Oh My! Two to school!

Gabby's first day back to classes was actually yesterday, so she got pictures taken two mornings in a row.

The gang. Evie is not actually headed off to school, but she insisted on dressing up and getting her backpack ready, as well.

My big kindergartener!

Yes, he picked Sponge Bob.

3rd grader and excited to show her brother the ropes at school.

Evie and I walked Gabby and Ian in to their class (yes, they are both in the same morning class--it is a 3 hour art class for grades K-4) but wasn't really needed, as Gabby showed Ian around the room and where to put his backpack and where to sit. I did manage to get a hug from them both, but they were brief and it was clear I was not needed (a good thing!).

I did tear up a bit in the car, and called Jeff to let him know what a sap I was (as if he needed more evidence!) and then Evie and I headed home. She asked immediately when Gabby and Ian were coming home, and then if she could watch Wall-E. I said, "How about we play a game? I will play Pretty, Pretty Princess with you!" her response? --"No, thanks, I will play that with Gabby." *sigh* I'd better finish up here and get back to Wall-E...I'm feeling the need to be needed --if only as a movie watching partner right now.

First Day of Homeschooling x 2

because you can never have enough bling...

Well, I made it through my first day of homeschooling two kiddos! Ian began his kindergarten studies with gusto, determined to be reading by the end of the week (he gets his patience from me) and Gabby completed all of her first day of 3rd grade assignments with a smile on her face! (and that is quite an accomplishment--there is a big jump from 2nd to 3rd grade...!) Evie got bored with workbook pages in about 3 minutes, so she watched a video for the first hour of our schooling and then we waited until she went down for her nap this afternoon to finish up the rest of the schoolwork for the other two.



This was an unexpectedly quick start to our school year (we had been planning on next Tuesday, the 8th) because of an opportunity our family has to go to Walt Disney World the end of next month! yay! ~ we are so excited to get to go, but I didn't want to start off the school year already a week behind---and there is NO WAY I am taking school work to WDW! :p



I am sighing with relief *sigh* and trying to stay focused on one day at a time right now.



Tomorrow begins the busiest/craziest month our family has ever purposely planned. (and, of course, it will get busier and crazier when the unexpected happens ~ please pray that I am flexible and will meet the inevitable changes gracefully!)



I will attempt to keep up with posts ~ but if I don't see you all again until October, well, know that I am still here...just may not be able to fit blogging into the equation. ;)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I'm not saying how many candles were on the cake...but it was a milestone birthday :) So glad we were able to celebrate it with you, Mom!

~ I love you and wish you a blessed year ~

northern oregon coast

The County Fair is here!

making their own fun on a not-so-fast ride :)

getting to ride 'all by myself'!' ~such a big girl!

All smiles as Gabby finds her painting ~ she is our resident artist, and first time fair entrant!

Ian, also entering for the first time, was surprised to find a "Best of Class" ribbon decorating his entry!

Farm animals, fried food, exhibits, carnival rides, and 3 exhausted children. It was a wonderful day :)

Happy 4th of July!

Monday Memories...musical theater

Me, singing in a show in college. it was an original that our class (Children's Theater, maybe?) wrote to perform at local elementary schools called 'Growing Ups and Downs'.

(sorry about the quality of the photo ~ scanned.)

I love Musicals. Just last week, a friend and I went to see the Broadway touring show of RENT. (I'm going to have to go with Seth Rudetsky on this one and say that it was 'amawwww-zing!') Saw WICKED this past spring, Phantom last summer, Avenue Q and Spam-a-Lot the spring before... as well as a few amateur productions locally, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music, and of course, the very famous Once Upon a Palace Purple...oh wait, I didn't exactly SEE that one...I was in it.

which really brings me to the point of this Monday Memory post. I do so love seeing them. it is the performing in them that I have never been too keen on. not that I don't LOVE them...I do! and not that I wouldn't love to do more--I would! it's the confidence in the singing I lack.

so, I'm going to do something that I should have done long ago. I'm going to take singing lessons. YIKES!! this is a very new decision, and one I am quite excited about ~ but also feeling very vulnerable about it. crazy, huh? I love the stage, love performing...so it only makes sense that I should sharpen this part of my craft...that's one of my favorite things about acting : you can never be 'done' learning how to improve your performance. there is always something more ~ because it is life that you are representing...and, goodness knows, that never stops changing.

and this... well this is my friend, Dana, who went to see RENT with me. she does musicals, too. and I put this here because I love her. :)