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!!++

Mother's Day 2016

What a wonderful Mother's Day I had on Sunday with my crew!!  We began our day with Mass - our  girls sang (Melody song-led) and our older boys served.  Below is our first attempt at our My Sunday Best picture for this week.  Poor Ariel has terrible allergies and the slightest bit of sunlight makes her eyes watery and squinty.  Notice the big smiles on my two with transition lenses in their sunglasses - lol!  They can see perfectly, aren't bothered one bit by the sun and I'm sure aren't even squinting, but it makes for goofy outdoor pictures since it looks as if they have their shades on.

Then we got to drop Fone off for his last Alladin play and we watched it as a family.  My parents and one of my sisters and her crew came to watch it too.  Fone did a fantastic job and we are so proud of him and all the hard work he put into it.  (not to mention - a pat on the back to mommy and daddy dearest too who drove him to practices over the bridge 3-5 days a week!)

While Fone and the rest of the cast of Alladin went on "strike" (theater term for tearing down the set and picking things up), we went to a nearby park and let the kiddos play.  Then we all went out to eat as a family to celebrate.  Here's a second pic for My Sunday Best.  Notice, Fone is stripped to shorts and a t-shirt, because this is what he wore under his costume.  The rest of us were still in church clothes, so it still counts, eh?  Lil Yoda is getting so much fun to take pictures with!  He now says "cheese" and gives the cutest cheesiest smile!!

**linking up with My Sunday Best with Rosie and friends!! 

Click on the image below to join in on the fun!**

"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!

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!++