Kate's Piano number

Hi all. Kate has started taking piano this year. She really enjoys it and actually practices her songs without being reminded most of the time. Today she volunteered to play some prelude music at her school's music performance. Here is a video of her song. She did great.

Spring Break

Here are some pictures of our wonderful trip last month. We had a great time and made so many memories with the children and Jason's parents. I have always wanted to take my kids on a big trip like this. I am so grateful that we had this opportunity. It was an experience we will always treasure...

Jason, Will and James

Jason with his Dad

Jason with Will

I love this picture, because if you look close, there is a plant just above Jasons head and it looks like he has crazy hair.

Me and my girls. Check out the concerned look on Bekah's face.

Me and Bek

Jason, Kerri and Bekah in Mexico

Kiley and Kate at the top of the main temple in Coba, Mexico

Kiley and Kate in Tulum, Mexico

Kiley kissing a Dolphin in Grand Cayman

Katie "dancing" with the dolphin

Will got a kiss too...

So did Bekah, but she did not know what to think of this. After he kissed her, she looked at him and started crying. So cute!

Learning to Crawl

Bekah is learning to crawl. It is so much fun to watch her try to get her body to go in the direction she wants to head. I think this whole learning to move process is so interesting to watch. Kids are so smart!

More Grease

My mom requested a few more pictures of the play. Here they are...

James' opening monologue. (Class Reunion)

Patty and T Birds - Aren't these sets amazing for a middle school play. I was so impressed.

"Grease Lightning" - Ironically enough, the guy who played Kenickie (Center guy in photo) got suspended from school two weeks before opening night, for punching a kid in the face. They were not going to let him participate in the play, but they ended up working it out somehow. He did a great job. All those real life experiences payed off, I guess...

Cha-Cha, Eugene, Mrs. Lynch, and Patty take a bow.

" We Go Together"

Danny turns Jock

Cast backstage.

Eugene and a couple of boys (I don't know what parts they played. They were helping with Vince Fontaine's band or something.)

Some of the cast with Mr. DeBoth, the Director

Another shot of the cast at the cast party...

Grease

James has been participating in the school musical of Grease. (School version - it's much cleaner than the original). He had such a great time and grew so much through this experience. I took a few pictures of him with the pink ladies and the T-birds. Most of the cast were 8th graders. He is quite a bit shorter than those kids. He played the part of Eugene (the nerd). He really hammed it up and had the audience laughing pretty good each time he came on stage. I could not believe what a natural he was on stage. No nerves, just excitement. Here are just a few pictures for you.

We are all looking forward to getting back to our normal life. I have been there everyday after school working on costumes and RSVP's for the cast party and helping out in other ways. I am so glad the play is finally over and we can get caught up on our laundry and cleaning. I have not cooked a meal for about 2 weeks, but we wouldn't trade the experience for anything. This play has been great for him and I enjoyed it too.

Life

Wow! What is going on?

I know I have not been blogging lately. There is a perfectly logical explanation. Here it is...

A daughter in high school, two boys in Jr. High, one kid in Elementary school, and a baby at home - has caused me to become temporarily insane. I feel like I've been knocked out for the last few months. We are living the best of all 4 stages of raising kids and they are all a full time job individually. I can't even type this with both hands because Bekah finally fell asleep and I don't dare try to put her in bed for fear of waking her. I am loving having a baby again but the playing field has changed so drastically. Seriously, what were we thinking?

Kate the Great

Niagra Falls

Time with Great Grandpa Lindsay

Pirate K8

Kate covering her face for a scary ride

Mischievious grin

With Grandpa Wallace on Huckleberry Hill

Redfish Lake

Tasty

Protective Big Brothers

Holding Frogzilla that we found in our window well.

Yes, he is real!

Posing at the hay bales

Kate made a new friend

Cuddling with Sis

A few days ago I went to pick up Kate from a birthday party. As I walked into the room, all the mothers started saying, "Here comes the artist!" I was confused and thought they must be talking about someone else. As I approached the group, the birthday girls mom said, "I did not know you are a professional artist." I said that I wasn't and that I am no good at drawing at all. She seemed confused and proceeded to tell me how Kate was drawing something and everyone was telling her how good it was. She told them all that her mom is a professional artist.

It seems that Kate was just trying to express to her friends that I was very good at drawing. I think it was so funny that she percieves me to be an artist because I can draw trees that look like Christmas trees and ... No... that's it... I can draw trees... I am actually a really bad artist. Like horrible! What a funny thing for her to dream up in that little head of hers.

Another funny thing she said the other day, first a little background information... Bekah and Kate's birthdays are on the same day of the month. In fact, their birthdays are each others half birthdays. The other day, Kate told me that she use to think it would be fun to have her 1/2 birthday be Bekah's birthday. But now she wishes it wasn't because now no one will wish her a Happy 1/2 Birthday, they will only be thinking of Bekah on Kate's 1/2 birthday. How dare Bekah steal her 1/2 birthday attention. I asked her if anyone had ever wished her a Happy 1/2 Birthday before Bekah was born. She couldn't think of a time when they did. She is such a nut. She sure keeps us laughing. She is a crazy, fun lovin perfectionist and we are so happy that she is part of our family.