Spring Recital--The Classics

Big Sissy had her third piano recital a few weeks ago. This first was very casual--in a coffeehouse. That was a good way to start out, in my opinion. The second was a Christmas recital in a nursing home. That was fun because the residents loved seeing the kids and singing along. This third recital was very formal. Big Sissy's teacher wore a tuxedo, and the students got all dressed up and each played a classical piece. They performed at Steinway piano gallery, where they sell pianos worth more than our house. I'm sure the owner was a bit nervous as the students came in and tickled the keys to see what it was like to play such a nice piano.

I was so proud as Big Sissy flawlessly played Irish Washerwoman AND still sort of remembered to smile when she was done. I love listening to her use her gift. Unfortunately, there were so many students and so little space that we didn't get to invite the grandparents this time. So...this is for you. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujuh_XNP454

How to Host a Murder

We have been with our small group from church for over 6 years. They've seen us through a lot. In fact, we didn't even attend the church for about a year and they still let us come to the small group while Hubby thought he was going to pursue ordination with another denomination. I knew we had gotten comfortable with each other when, at the Christmas party, we played Quelf together. That game involves dressing up as crazy things, yelling out crazy things, and generally throwing all inhibitions out the window.

 

This weekend we played an old (we had to listen to a cassette tape for part of it) game called How to Host a Murder. We were transported to 1940, and the Nazis were invading France. We had one chance to escape by boarding a 5:00 train by invitation only. We got our character descriptions ahead of time, and we were to dress in character and stay in character throughout the game. I was a young, beautiful princess with a quick temper. I had a great time dressing up for the part (as I tend to do). I wore my headpiece, long gloves, drop pearl earrings, and choker from my wedding. I borrowed a fur coat from a friend, pearls from my grandma, and some more bling and a train case from my mother. Add some vintage red lipstick and an updo, and I was ready!

 

 

Our wonderful hostess, Susan, made the evening even more fun by serving French food. I offered to pick up French fries or make French toast for the evening, but she said she had it covered. We started with an appetizer of cheese crackers--including brie, my favorite. During the first round of the game, we each got a book with more details about our characters and information we needed to disclose by the end of the round. Other details we learned but we were not to share unless pressed (in the case it couldn't be avoided).

 

The characters included me, a double agent disguised as a mysterious business man, a duke, a reporter, a seamstress/author, a weapons dealer, a perfume heiress who loves to host fancy parties, an airplane pilot, and his young navigator son.

 

 

We had two more rounds while eating a dinner of beef bourguignon, mashed potatoes, and French bread. These rounds revealed more clues, sordid details about our private lives, and made us all look like potential criminals. The final round revealed the murderer:  dum dum dum dum.....*drum roll*....

 

Princess Idelle Chatter. Me! Shocking, isn't it? Here I am posing behind staircase spindles...I mean bars.

 

Even my husband, who does not enjoy theatrical events nearly as much as I do, had a great time. I'm going to be looking for an updated version so we can do this again sometime. It's fun to see a new side of people you think you already know. And don't worry...the body bag is hidden somewhere it will never be found.

Roller Skating Club

Big Sissy got roller skates for her birthday and has spent most free moments since November putting them on in the basement and skating around in a circle between our boxes and laundry down there. When she's feeling generous she lets her siblings put them on. Little Sissy and Little Buddy both got some for Christmas, so they have formed the roller skating club. Little Buddy's are inline skates: "the hard kind with skinny wheels." He is doing awesome though. Over Christmas break, Big Sissy choreographed a show for the parents and we were invited downstairs to watch. We had the sweetest strawberry milk in the universe and day-old popcorn for our treats. It was perfect.

 



 

Hippopotamus for Christmas

Big Sissy is very musically inclined. She cried today because she had to practice piano, and it broke my heart. I want so much for my children's passions to align with their gifts. I feel it's my job as a parent to help them figure out what those gifts are and steer them in the right direction. Part of the pain is discipline. I understand that all too well. Part of my gift is teaching, but I cry when I have to study to teach something--even though I love the end result. I know. It doesn't make sense. It's human nature to fight against the things that are hard, I suppose. Even still, Big Sissy has fallen in love with this song this Christmas (and has picked out the melody on the keyboard). She would probably never get in front of a group to sing this, but she did give me permission to post it for my friends and family. That's a big deal. With no further ado..."I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas."

You're Not Starving

It's so easy in America to take things for granted: our house that keeps us cool in the summer and warm in the winter, 2 cars so that no one is inconvenienced, clothes that not only fit but are stylish, food that is not only nutritious but also convient....the list goes on and on. That's why it makes me crazy when my kids complain about the meals that I make or say, "I'm STARVING." I always say something like, "If you ate something this week, you're not starving."

 

When my sister put something on her Christmas wish list from a group called "Feed Just One," I looked at the website to see what it was. You can go here for more information, but basically they are a group that feeds girls in Uganda by selling t-shirts. Each t-shirt sale provides 30 meals.

 

I saw this shirt and I really want it. But then I'm afraid I'm feeding into the American consumerism mentality by wanting the shirt. There seems to be a trend of buying things that profit others somehow (ie. TOMS shoes), but rarely are we willing to help someone without getting something in return.

 

Anyway...I still love this shirt. I think it would save me a lot of words. And feed 30 people. Everyone wins, right??? 

 

B Cubed

I used to have dreams of what being a stay-at-home mom was supposed to look like: running and playing in the yard with fashionable, perfectly groomed children, meeting friends for coffee, waiting at the door for my husband to come home at 5:00 so we could eat a romantic meal while the children quietly played beside us...

Finally my dream came true. Sort of. When my 1st baby was born we were adjusting to a new baby in the house, a new schedule, a reduced income, reduced sleep, increased laundry and dishes and pumping and dishes and pumping and more dishes. When we emerged from the shock and my 2nd baby was born, we didn't have a home (we had just left my parents' home and moved into an apartment). I had a baby and a toddler in a little apartment. My husband travelled every week, leaving me home with no yard to play in, no washer and dryer, and few connections with people. When we finally bought our house I was determined to get out and meet people. I went to the mall play area with the kids just so I could chat with other moms. I signed Big Sissy up for tumbling at the Y. I went to the library story hour like it was against my religion to miss it.

At one of those library story hours, I met Beth. It turns out she has a master's degree in library science. Since I also met her at the library, I just call her Library Beth to differentiate her from other friends named Beth. She really likes it when I call her that (not really). At first I thought she was trying to sell me something. She kind of was, but she was also just friendly. She told me about a group called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). When I asked her what people did there, she said we take turns bringing a hot breakfast every time (Go on, I'm listening...), we drink coffee and chat (now I'm really interested), we listen to speakers talk about parenting topics (the nerd in me is about to shout hallelujah now), and we do crafts. Screech. Halt. You mean the kids do crafts, right? It's hard for me to hear the word "crafts" without picturing blue and mauve country bunnies and crocheted toilet paper covers so I almost laughed right out loud and ran the other way. But the coffee and chatting and hot breakfast won, so I went.

I will admit the first year I had to bite my tongue about the crafts, but then my friend Emilee took over and the crafts got really fun. Then Pinterest was born and they got even better. I've actually finished a few things AND I've even made a few things to give as gifts. Impressive, at least for me, right? Today we made one of my most favorite things ever. I am apparently a craft rebel because I didn't do what I was supposed to do, but look what I made!

 

I was supposed to do this cute thing where I covered the Scrabble tile with scrapbook paper and a monogram and modge podged it all up. It would have been so cute and if I had more tiles I would still do that. But when I noticed that the "B" had a 3 on it...and I love Scrabble...and I have 3 kids...and I love the simplicity of it just like this...I just left it. It's like a little representation of my life. I sort of love it. Who knew I could like crafts? Or even say the word without cringing?

Great to be Eight!

We've been anticipating this day for...well, at least since Big Sissy's 7th birthday. When you're young you always want to be the next one up. That stops somewhere around 29. This year Big Sissy still likes her American Girls so we decided to have a "Peace Out" party in honor of Julie. Last month we did 2 weeks of skate lessons (because I had a Groupon, of course), and now she is enamored with roller skating. How perfect would it be to combine a "peace out" party with a skating party? We thought so! Now Nana (my mom) would swear to you that her love language is acts of service, but I might argue that it could be "gifts" because she always thinks of the best gifts. First she took Big Sissy to get Julie some skates, then a surprise package came in the mail. This was Big Sissy's face when she realized what it was...

 

 

Her very own skates!!!!

 

Add caption

We let her skate for a few minutes in the basement before bed, and she put them on again the next morning as soon as she was ready for school. It is amazing how much better she got just in that short amount of time before her party!

 

The next big surprise was when we took her to the mall to get her ears pierced! She had been begging since her 7th birthday, and the past few months she has worn stickers on her ears every single day. There was no doubt that that's what she reeeeeeaaaaaaallllly wanted.

 

 

Little Sissy spent her own money to get the birthday girl some new earrings and makeup.

 

Not to be left out, Little Buddy found and washed a special set of rocks and acorns in her honor.

 

Because 8 is kind of a big deal, she got to have her first sleepover with a friend. Note to self, it's probably not a good idea to do that when you have a cold AND you have to get up early for a party the next day. By 10:30 I was ready for everyone to be asleep!

 

We get kind of into these theme parties. Hubby is always a good sport about the getup I make him ask him to wear.

 

Nana and Papa got festive for the occasion too. She even whipped up some bell bottoms!

 

My super talented friend Emilee made the cute peace out cake and tie dyed cupcakes. I am very sad to learn that she is retiring from the "cakes for Christy" business now that she has a real job.

 

Peacing out with all my siblings. What a fun day to have everyone there!

 

The skating gang. Big Sissy and I tie dyed t-shirts for all the guests (under 10) instead of filling up treat bags with random plastic things. I think they were a hit, and I feel quite a sense of accomplishment about doing something crafty that looks cute!

 

It's not even 9:00 and every little person in my house is soundly asleep. It was a fun and tiring weekend for all. Big Sissy before bed said, "I have some money. I have my own skates. I have my ears pierced. For this moment I have everything I've ever wanted plus some extra." I love seeing her thankful heart. We truly are blessed!