Packing it all in...

We tend to be one busy family.  The kids both love their activities, and are often disappointed that we can't fit in more than we do.  But, yesterday was an example of why we don't try to do even one more thing.  Just for a point of reference the kids activities include:

Black Box community theater (rehearsal 2 nights a week - 4 shows a year)
Scouting -- both Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts
Soccer
Piano Lessons -- Erin
Church
After school church program -- Erin
School and school drama club

So yesterday was one of those days where everyone must have had their scheduling calendar highlighted as "let's plan this for today".

We are in the closing weekend of Annie with Black Box Players.  The whole family is involved in this and we are in 3 shows a weekend for 2 weekends.  Grandma and Grandpa W came down to visit for a late birthday celebration and to see Annie.  Friday night was a wonderful show but a late night.  Jeff fell asleep in the car on the ride home, but the excitement of hanging with Grandma and Grandpa was too much for Erin who didn't fall asleep before 11:30.

Saturday morning we awoke to rain and mist.  There was a soccer tournament scheduled for the morning and we wondered for a bit if it would be canceled, but the rain never really picked up and by 10:30 we were headed to the soccer fields.  In true tournament style our team rallied and played hard, winning our first 2 games!  That put us in the final of the tournament, scheduled to begin at 2:20.  Stage 2 of the day (piano recital) was slated to start at 3:40 about 50 minutes away.  The final began a few minutes early, and unfortunately our Gold Dragons were pretty spent and lost to a rested and well organized Red team.  Still, both Wallace Dragons played hard.  Jeff's goal saves in the first half were fantastic and Erin stepped into a defensive role (away from her usual wing position) in second half and created some havoc in the backfield.  By the end of the game both kids were completely spent and covered in mud from head to toe.

Taking a corner kick!

We quickly piled into the van and headed south to Erin's piano recital.  I'd thought ahead enough to pack her music and recital dress as well as a damp washcloth and towel so she could clean up in the car while we headed south.  We got to the recital right on time, and rushed downstairs to the bathroom to get changed and fix up her soccer hair.  (I did forget to pack other clothing for Tom, Jeff or I though so Jeff had to sit in his wet, muddy soccer clothes through the recital).  Erin played beautifully and confidently.  We were so proud of her at her first recital.

With her close friends after her recital!

Recital ended and we had just enough time to ask Siri for the location of the nearest restaurant to find a bite to eat.  Turned out to be a little Mexican joint with decent food and good service as well as good margaritas.   We wolfed down some food and rushed to call time for Annie.  As usual the 90 minutes before a show are hectic.  There are lots of people running around, little changes to be made, costumes to get into, pictures to take, etc...

Using her makeup kit to do her own stage makeup

My Apple seller.

Annie has been an awesome show, and Saturday night was no different.  The house was packed and the energy on stage was fabulous.  Afterwards we decided to head out for some pizza with some friends.  The poor kids were excited to go hang with friends, but crashed quickly.  It was after midnight when we left, and Erin was asleep




 in the car before we got 5 miles down the road.

It was a long, crazy and hectic day.  But I would trade a second of it for anything else.

Double Digits!

My beautiful,

10.  How is it already 10 years?  It feels like just yesterday I was snuggling my baby girl.  Looking at that dark brown hair and beautiful dark eyes.  And now you’re 10 years old.  I don’t think I’m ready for this.
 

You are a beautiful, sensitive, caring, loving young woman.   You asked me in the car the other night if someone can have too many friends.  As long as you treat them with respect and caring, you certainly can’t have too many friends.  And you treat everyone you meet with that respect.  So you have an abundance of friends. 

You make those friends with all your activities.  You are one busy lady.  Between school, Black Box, Girl Scouts, soccer and church you have ample opportunity to make new friends.  And you love all of your activities.  You are a great student and love school (although tests stress you out).  Your Black Box folks are more like family than friends.  In soccer you are growing stronger and more confident with each season - -last week you scored 2 goals!!  And in church you love to serve as acolyte or sing with us in the choir.

And you want to do more.  You started piano lessons, and some of my favorite times of day are when I get to listen to you practice.  You hear music in such an amazing way and make that flow from your voice and fingers it seems with ease.  You want to try out for travel soccer, you do plays at school as well as Black Box, and you go on runs with mommy (and on a regular basis beat her in whatever race we are running together).  You have a passion in you for just about everything you attempt.  And that passion is beautiful. 

You are growing up so quickly.  You want your hair long, and like to do it on your own.  You asked for your very own makeup kit for Christmas.  You would rather go on a sleepover with a friend than hang for a movie night with mom and dad.  You paint your nails and listen to pop music on your iPod.  You are no longer my baby girl. 

Just don’t grow up too fast.  Don’t forget how much I love you.  Don’t lose your passion for life (even though it can sometimes get in the way when things don’t go quite exactly as planned).  And remember, you are beautiful inside and out.

Things You Do on Your 8th Birthday

Sitting with his presents

We had a great family day on Sunday for Jeffrey's Birthday.  On Saturday, Tom took him and a friend to a local indoor water park.  This is a pretty awesome place with several large slides, a lazy river, a climbing structure, and even a "surfing" station.  Erin and I would normally go along, but we'd have to donate a kidney each to get us all in for the afternoon (that type of fun don't come cheap) so we spent Saturday finishing the birthday preparations.

We woke to one Jeff home with his friend still here, and Erin at a sleepover.  Jeff ordered a "meat" breakfast so we had bacon, sausage and eggs.  My arteries are just now starting to open back up. We switched kids back at church, and then after church came home to prepare for the gift giving.

Here it is in photo -- the rest of Jeffrey's day.

Good Morning Birthday Boy!

Morning Legos from Aunt Robyn and Uncle Jeff!

Woah, Presents!

Help From Dad with New REAL Bow

Bow and Arrows!!

Sweet!  New Bike from Grandma & Grandpa and Mom & Dad

This Looks So Cool!!

Mom made cupcakes

Sundae for dessert at Red Robin!

Finishing the night taking care of "Sandy" at Annie rehearsal!!

And finally, here is the updated slideshow with new music.  I promise, this one is more interesting -- same pictures but more fun with music.

My Baby Boy is 8!!

Happy Birthday baby boy.  Oh, how you’re growing up.  Much too fast.  So much faster than mommy wants you to.

There is so much about you to love.  The silly things you do.  That fact that you will walk around for days with a homemade hat on your head, or with red footie pajamas wrapped around your head calling them your Thneed.  And you are so confident in yourself that no one even gives you a second look – as if you have red pajamas wrapped around your head.

You are still so caring and sympathetic for your friends.  You want them to have good days and to be happy.  It makes you sad when your friends are down.   You spend recess sitting on a bench with a friend who needs to talk.  You make little notes and presents for your sister when she has had a long day. 

Your creativity is endless.  There are Lego vehicles all over the house.  A Lego guys with mix-matched outfits but are perfect if your eyes.  Your Star Wars guys have elaborate battles with distinct rules.  And even with your electronics you love games that let you build things.

There are so many new things that you have tried this year.  In the fall you decided you wanted to be goalie in soccer.  You were nervous at first, but have developed into a wonderful and confident goalie.  You asked to sing a solo in C’ville Idol and smiled all the way through “Rainbow Connection.”  You love grown up strategy board games.

 In March you auditioned for the high school’s production of Peter Pan, and spent the next 6 weeks making best friends with high school students.  You didn’t need mommy to wait through rehearsal for you and told daddy he could just “leave now, “ because your friends were there.  And you had the time of your life. 

But there are still days when you are my baby boy.  When we snuggle together watching survivor.  When you sneak into bed in the middle of the night.  When I see you in the hall at school and you run up and give me a hug, refusing to let me go.  You dress your teddy bear in your old baby clothes.  And you still give the sweetest “best kisses” ever.

Don’t grow up too fast ok buddy? 

My apologies to those who look forward to the annual birthday slideshow.  I have prepared one for Jeffrey, but all social media is removing the music from it (copyright issues, first time I've had things removed because of it).  I'm sharing the silent version from YouTube and hope that next week I'll find a solution to the problem.