Wordless Wednesday: Another Show Went On

Arthur and Merlin play

Fone and Melody were casted parts in the spring play at the local children's theater.  They had two months of practices and for the last month, their practices picked up to 4-5 nights a week.  It's pretty intense and a lot of work.  Not to mention a lot of driving to and from by dearest mom and dad.  With my kidney stones popping up in the middle of all this, it made it a little harder too.  But thankfully with Neil's parents helping with rides and another sweet mom whose daughter was also in the play, things went very smooth.  And the two weekends of plays were SO enjoyable.  Fone is so dramatic and had a pretty big part and did amazing!  And Melody is just adorable up on stage - she gives her all and enjoys every minute of it.  It's so much fun as a mom to see your kids up on stage and knowing what to do and say with such ease. Such a proud momma!!!

++Thank you, God, for the blessing of theater, fine arts, and the confidence it provides our kids!!++

7 Quick Takes - Newness All Around

As we walk through life, the only true constant is change.  But I'd like to add to that - and God!  He is always there for us.  Always knocking on the doors of our hearts.  Always waiting.  Always loving.  And, if we are striving daily to love Him....to please Him... to grow closer to Him..., then we need to be open to change and the newness of our daily routine and lives.  A change of heart.  A change of life.  A change of pace.  Whatever it may be, He is constantly molding and shaping us into the persons we are meant to be.  Change is going to and should happen.  We might as well accept it.  

Many new things have happened this week and last week and here's a peek at what God has been doing in our lives - the newness that He has created and allowed for us....

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#1

We are now in Ordinary Time in our faith.  Green, it is!!  Green is for growing, right?  But how can anything grown when it's January?  And cold?  And snowy?  Everything is dead outside, but we can let things become dead inside of us.  We must continue with Piety, Study, Action and lean on the Sacraments to get us through daily and continue with the spiritual growth.  

#2

My sweet kids have begged to use a pottery wheel or take an art class where they could.  One of my daughters even wanted to buy one of the little chintzy kits sold at Hobby Lobby.  You know, the like kits that they do once and then are stashed away and forever forgotten about?  Yeah, you know you KNOW!  ;)  Anyways, this momma said "yes" to this experience, because a sweet friends let me know that a local museum (that we already belong to!) has drop in classes multiple times each week where the pottery wheel is available.  Win!!!  I offered to take anyone buy little Yoda, since he's a little too little to work the wheel and play with clay.  He'd only want to eat the clay.  No thanks, sweet baby!  Melody, Ariel, Max, Pookey, and Rose all said "yes" to going.  (I think Fone and Mario thought they wouldn't like it, but I might be able to convince them to go next time!).  What an awesome experience it was!!  Can't wait to take these kiddos back!!

#3

Already blogged on this one, but had to share that this was the first of I'm sure many witnessing experiences for our Fone.  So proud of him for saying "yes" for making it his.  He did a great job sharing on this topic and using his gifts/talents in making it new and fun and enjoyable for all!!  So, if you haven't seen what he did, go NOW and take a look for yourself.  

#4

I'll let this picture of newness speak for itself...   Be sure to let me know what you think. This cutie (and all my cuties are the biggest fan of the blog here!)  

#5

Newness in this little guy's medical history.  Yoda now has a new piece of hardware in his body, although you can't tell by the picture.  He had TUBES surgery this week from reoccuring ear infections (7 last year!).  I'm sure he's bound to start feeling better and be an even happier baby.  

#6

Newness in school!!  February Funk and the dryness and deadness of this time of year can get everyone down, including my kids.  So, I added a couple new fun things to our school routine...

*Prodigy (math games app - the kids have really been loving it!!)

*new Draw Write Now journal books for the kids who didn't have them

*a kit for some Geography studies

*some cute dot coloring books and markers for Miss Rose

#7

And, last, but not least of all, I'm part of a fun and exciting new adventure...  I'm one of the blogging momma's at Cuppa Catholic!!  Go, now, and join me (and some other great moms and friends) for some fun chattin' about family, life and our faith!!  

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Please click the image below to head on over to This Ain't The Lyceum for more 7 Quick Takes....

"The Show Must Go On"

 

Yesterday we woke up to almost 10 inches of snow on the ground.  It was the first snowfall of the season, so it hit all of us in the area REAL fast.  I had to get out and size boots for all these young ones.  Put away all our ball caps and bonnets and replace them with scarves, snow hats, gloves, and snow pants. And, of course, they can't wait to get outside to play and help clear the drive.  So thankful, my big boys actually do an amazing job of clearing the drive!!  The others just "help".  ;)

And, how inconvenient that it came on the day when we all had to be up, dressed, fed, and out the door to be over at our local children's theatre by 9:30am, which at that time, it was still snowing and the roads were in terrible shape.  I was really really really hoping that it would be delayed or rescheduled.  But it wasn't. With 260 kids performing that day, it was nearly impossible to reschedule the day.  So, as the saying goes - "The Show Must Go On"!  And, it was going to!  We had to get our little actors and and actresses to their performances.  Not wanting to chance being out in Big Red with the shape the roads were in and were only going to get worse, I sadly stayed home with the kids who were NOT in the morning showcase performance.  And, Neil braved the roads with our performers in tow.  Thank God Neil was able to record the performance, so at least I got see my Mama Sheep (Ariel) and Monkey (Max) perform.

Then that evening, the snow had ceased, roads were so much better, so we all made it to the performance of our two oldest boys.  Mario was the host, and Fone was the last contestant.  And, the rest of the boys are homeschooling friends of theirs.

This theater thing and interest is still so foreign to me.  Even with Hansel and Gretel performance in October and all the showcase performances that these young ones have taken part in, I'm still in awe at how our kids love to be up on stage and have the confidence to memorize all those lines and act.  So so thankful though!!!  It's such a great experience for them!

Funny Boys Dynamite

Our Funny Boys, Fone and Mario, have taken a break from their video-making, but just came out with a super funny, beyond hilarious, take on Napoleon Dynamite.  Click on the image below to take you to their YouTube channel to view their newest latest greatest hit....

Well done, boys!!  

Wordless Wednesday (Monster Piano fun)

7 QT's - Instagram recap of our week

Joining in with This Ain't The Lyceum for 7 Quick Takes Friday via an Instagram re-cap style....

---#1---

A week ago, we had a nice rain and I decided that I would be nice enough and let the kids go outside in the rain to run around in, splash in, and get all wet.  Not everyone took me up on this offer.  But 5 of the 8 young'uns did!!  What's one more load of laundry, eh?  

---#2---

This little guy has now been crawling for just over two weeks now and can get everywhere he wants.  Including the laundry basket!!!  Isn't he the cutest laundry helper ever??  

---#3---

Sams trip stocking up on groceries for the week - only hubby, these two little cuties and myself...

---#4---

Pope Francis arrived in the US on Tuesday, and like I mentioned, we had to celebrate his visit from afar.  Flat Francis has been hanging out with us and has come along to some activities with us this week.  Poor sweet Flat Francis hasn't made it to all of our events and was left at home or out in the van.  It's been fun though, for sure!!  We've especially enjoyed watching EWTN all week.  And, I can't wait to read this post with link-ups from many of the ladies from CWBN (Catholic Women's Blogging Network).  

---#5---

Who needs a toy drum, starring our little guy, Yoda??....

---#6---

Both Melody and Mario have been cast to star in Hansel and Gretel, that our local junior theatre will be performing next month.  So, we've been trucking here at least three times a week for play practices, not to mention the other two acting classes our kids are in!  Thank goodness the grounds are beautiful and there is so much room for our kids, not in practice/class, to run and play.  

---#7---

Tired momma with baby who doesn't sleep very well..... yeah, that's me.  In this picture, I had just got nursing lil Yoda and got him to sleep.  He sleeps only after being rocked, nursed, or traveling in the van.  Never falls asleep on his own in his crib.  No schedule whatsoever.  He'll be one in a couple of weeks.  Still doesn't sleep through the night.  Wakes/nurses at least twice.  I'm okay and love him to pieces, but man, am I tired.  I've never had a baby with sleep patterns like this.  And, I just can't lay him down and let him cry it out.  That's just not me.  Funny with him being my 8th, things are just so different.  Silly guy!  

***Please join in on the fun and stop and take a look at all the other Quick Takes by clicking the image below***

Our Young Stars

The last couple nights were the summer showcase performances that our 5 oldest took part in.  All summer long, Fone, Mario, Melody, Ariel, and Max took theater classes once a week and at the end of the summer session, they always have a final performance.  Up on stage.  Acting in front of everyone.  With memorized lines.  Enough to make me want to run and hide!!  But, man, am I a proud momma!!!! They all did it!  And, they did a superb job!!!  I am in such awe at how God can do such amazing things by fostering a little creativity in your kids.

"Fairy Tale Feud"

Fone as Prince Uncharming

"The Emperor's New Hair"

Mario as a Townfolk

Melody as the Hairdresser

"Care and Feeding of a Dragon"

Ariel as the Dragon

Max as a Knight

Silly  Rose was asking about Showtime Pal (the theater's clown) the whole time.  Showtime Pal gives announcements before and after the showcase and also in between performances.  So, instead of looking out for her brothers and sisters, who were performing in the plays, Rose was more interested in Showtime.  Afterward, you can go get your picture taken with Showtime.  Of course, she was too shy, but we still snapped a couple pictures with other siblings.  Silly goose!!

++Thank you, God, for the theater and acting opportunities for kids in our area.  Thank you for the courage and confidence you gave my kids to perform and do their very best.  Their smiles, their energy, their love, their love come straight from You!++