Kallie’s First Choir Performance

 

The long awaited day was finally here.  We had gone shopping and bought her an adorable new dress, tights, and shoes.  She told me, then told me again, she had to be at the high school by 6:05 SHARP!  So of course I’m sick and fall asleep, Ben has mutual that starts at 6:30 and still hasn’t made his cookies for, Zack was asleep, and Andrew was being an all around pill.  I toss on clothes, slap a little makeup on my face and brush my hair and get in the car….to hit major traffic.  I dropped her off in the front of the school, then took my time getting my stuff together and getting out of the car.  I thought she was good since I dropped her off at 6:06.  I walk in 6:15 and Kallie is in tears in the lobby.  She said the concert already started, she was going to get an F and life was just terrible.  I walk in and the choir is warming up on stage and getting their riser assignment.  I tell her to go on the stage and she absolutely refuses.  She is adamant she now can’t perform with her choir since she was late.  Super duper fun way to start her first choir performance.

 

We finally get her settled, talk with her teacher, life is okay, she can perform, all is good.

 

Sixth graders go for and they are fabulous!   They sing three amazing songs and Kallie is absolutely perfect.  Unfortunately the seat I chose had the microphone right smack in the middle of her face.  I was making the man next to me nervous enough to get these pictures…so three will have to do….and the videos

 

Isn’t she beautiful!

 

After 6th grade performed Christopher, Ben, and Zack left to take Ben to mutual.  They returned during intermission and Zack (proud as a peacock) marches these flowers in for Kallie.  He was so proud that he had picked them out.  It was adorable.  All in all her first choir performance was wonderful and now she wants to try out for show choir….or whatever England version of that is.

Teenager in the House!

This amazing kid made us parents 13 years ago today.  We are pretty lucky to have such a great kid to be our test kid   Ben is one amazing human and we love him so very much.  Ben has had pneumonia for 10 days now.  He is feeling better, but is not 100%.  His birthday plans were a little up in the air since we weren’t sure what he would be able to handle.  We took it slow and calm, but I still think he had a great day.  His morning started off with his favorite breakfast of bacon and french toast.  Then Christopher and Ben took off for Ben’s unknown adventure, while I stayed home with the other kids. 


While the boys were out seeing their pg-13 movie, Dr. Strange, we were getting everything ready at home.  After a movie, lunch at Panda Express, a Costco run, Ben was back and a little beat.  Zack helped me make his cake…I caught this picture of him while we was showing me his karate moves.  This kid kills me!

Andrew pretty much attacked Ben as soon as Ben got home.  Andrew had made him a clue as to where to find the gift he got him (that he had been hinting about all week by saying things like, “Voldemort’s nose will be here Saturday!”)  aka – Ben’s gift will be here Saturday.  Ben totally got it but played along anyway.  I’m not who was more excited, Andrew, Ben or Zack! When Ben opened it he attacked Andrew with a big bear hug.  It was so dang cute.



Then it was time for the kids' favorite part of their birthday, Grandma’s treasure hunt!  Ben’s theme this year was “Birthday Cash” and man he was thrilled.  As he said, he was “makin’ it rain cash”. One clue sent him to “where the dirty clothes are”.  I hid it in the Tide box and he couldn’t find it no matter how hard he looked.  Finally I told him to swap the laundry and start a new load.  Not only did he find his clue, I got my laundry going again.  Win/win!

After his treasure hunt it was time for our gifts.  Zack pretty much unwrapped his present to Ben, only after telling him what it was then handing it to him.  Zack was thrilled to have gotten him Pie Face and they had so much fun watching each other get whipped cream all over their faces.  Kallie got him 4 boxes of Swiss rolls.  This kid has a major obsession with Swiss rolls!



Chris and I got him a flying fishing rod that he was wanted for a while and an Itunes gift card…which he has also been begging for. As soon as he unwrapped the fishing pool he leaped over and gave his dad a huge hug.  I’m telling you, we won this lottery with this kid!


Then it was time for cake.  Kallie and I had made him a cake of all his favorite things.  White cake, chocolate cake, snickers, ice cream, and of course, SWISS ROLLS!  We put Swiss rolls all around it and on the top.  Then we stuffed 36 candles on that thing, because really, why not?

Lighting all those candles was quite the job, but we finally did it!


After a fun day, dinner, dessert, a few games on his new video game we are unwinding with four very tired kids watching Johnny English.  What a great day to be 13.

Carving Pumpkins

Being in Ohio for Halloween has made us really miss New Mexico and the incredible Halloween’s we had there with our friends.  I think this was the first time I really saw the kids sad about moving.  To cheer them up we decided to have a family over for chili and pumpkin carving.  We had a blast and it made us all a little happier….but still homesick.  Good news is, we got to know another New Mexico family who are here in Ohio for a short stay too.  Here’s some shots!