didgeridoo

Today we met a man who plays the didgeridoo. I was able to try it out. I didn'ty-doo very well.

Here he is playing it for us.

The Start to our "Freedom" weekend

On Saturday, 3 July, we started out on an adventure. We went to the airport here in town and had a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Austin Morning Lions. We met some friends there. We had pancakes, sausage, spam (remember we live in Spamtown USA), juice, & milk. Then we were able to go out and see the airplanes.

This is our group at the "fly-in" breakfast.

After breakfast, the children had to prepare for a performance. Brett & a friend went to a movie, and I took the children to the dance studio to do a run through of their dances (they haven't dance these since the end of May). After the run through, we went to the bandshell for the performance.

Emily tapping.

You will come "to this conclusion." Emily is really a ham up on stage. She is a lot of fun to watch.

Emily being a carriage - she danced to "Love & Marriage."

Eli & his partner getting ready to start. He danced to "Let's Hear if for the Boy," and he had to be a "bad-boy."

money on the mind

I think this is called a K-kick.

begging

The End!

Claire's class (only about 1/4 of the dancers were there).

My pretty posing princess.

We're off to see the Wizard

We started off our freedom celebration by having a dance performance on Friday, July 2. The three younger children were in a dance production of "The Wizard of Oz." They had a two week dance camp, and then at the end of the camp, they had a performance. It was about thirty minutes long, and it was fun to watch.

Claire was a mini-munchkin.

Emily was a munchkin and one of the emerald city people.

Eli was the wizard.

The children all did a great job. It was a ton of fun to watch. It was also fun to have friends come and watch. After the performance, we had some friends come over (they will be moving out of state soon - so it was the last time to see them before they go). We grilled and had pork ribs for dinner, however, the highlight of our time together Friday evening was roasting (and eating) the giant marshmallows. First we did s'mores and then Brett & our friend stuffed candy in the giant marshmallows, roasted them, and ate them. (Just a note - these marshmallows are = to 4 large mallows).

Our friend's giant s'more, and the first candy roasted mallow.

Our friends eating the treasures.

Brett eating his candy mallow.

Me & my giant s'more.

This was a great start to a fabulous week end. Thanks friends for playing with us.

Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, Brett said that he didn't want us to go and get/buy him anything. The best gift he could have would be money in the bank. Well, that would not suffice for me. I needed to do something special for the father of my children. The children and I decided that we would make a seven course meal for him. We were already planning to have some friends over, so the preparations began.

The place settings

Course the First - Appetizer:

Bruschetta on Rye

Course the Second - Appetizer

Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce

Course the Third - Salad:

Fruit Skewers

Course the Fourth - Soup:

Cold Cucumber

Course the Fifth - Entree:

Baked Dill Salmon on Rice

Course the Sixth - Entree:

Cashew Steak

Course the Seventh - Dessert:

Individual Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping

Then after dinner we played some games. After our friends left, the children gave Brett a little massage.

Claire rubbing Brett's feet

Eli rubbing Brett's back.

It ended up being a really nice afternoon/evening, even though it started like this:

Spilled soup

Thanks Brett for being a wonderful father. We all love and appreciate you.

Caleb helped with the preparation, however, he was only able to partake of 5 courses because he had to leave early to go to scout camp. (We fed him before everyone else because we knew he would miss the whole dinner.)

Running and Funning

Last night we were able to go to a track meet that the Kiwanis puts on. They do two of these a summer, and my children enjoy going and participating.

They get to do the long jump and a softball throw. There are also races - 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 meter run, and then a 4x100 meter relay. It is a lot of fun. We have been there during nearly 100 degree temperatures, in wrap up in blanket weather, in rainstorms, and last night it was perfect - mid seventies with a slight "tail wind."

Emily in action

Claire jumping

Claire running (this is the only race she ran). She was there for the social aspect of it - to eat the treats and play with her friends.

Emily serious about running (I think she got first).

Eli running

Emily and her relay team.

It was a great evening to be outside. It is priceless to see the little 3 and 4 year-old children running, especially when it comes to the 200 meter. It was just fun to be with friends and have the children socialize and achieve.

p.s. thanks to Renee for the pictures.

Shades of Grey

Caleb was able to compose a piece at his music camp. It is here. His is titled Shades of Grey. He was recorded playing it.

(the picture is from his holiday concert)

Missing My Boy

On Sunday was the start of an adventure.

Caleb reading the information about camp.

We signed Caleb up for a music camp. At this camp Caleb has the opportunity to play his cello and sing in a choir. He is very excited about it.

He finished packing, we went to church, and then we hit the road.

We drove for about two hours to get to the college where he will be for the week. We saw plenty of fields.

We got there and registered him and then we went to get him checked into his room.

We got him unpacked, made his bed, and then we headed back over to the music hall for his audition.

Caleb outside his dorm room.

My little man on campus.

We left his dorm, went to the car to get his cello, drove back over to the music hall, and got ready for his audition.

Caleb a little nervous as he waits for his audition.

Brett standing outside the audition door.

Brett listening to his audition.

Caleb in his "home" for the next week.

Caleb and his roommate.

Sad mom leaving her son.

After the audition, we had him walk back to the dorms so that he would get a sense of the campus and the paths he would need to follow. When we got back to the dorm, his roommate was there (he had a much earlier audition, so his parents had left and he was there by himself) and we left Caleb with his roommate.

I am excited for Caleb to have this experience, however, I do miss my boy.

The Birds had a Party at My House

I woke up one morning and sat down to rest.

I looked out the window and saw quite the mess.

The more that I looked, the more mess I saw.

I continued to look and I was in awe.

The table was spotted, the deck was gotten, too.

I could not believe all of the bird poo.

I seriously though that there wouldn't be more.

Until I went out front through my very own door.

I was shocked when I spotted all of this waste.

I hurried down carefully, I'm afraid in my haste

Down the driveway I walked to go get the mail.

I stubbed my toe, thought I broke it and also my nail.

So, this sad story I tell, not for pity or sorrow.

I just hope that the birds party at your house tomorrow!