march around here

I've waited a really long time to see a picture like this:

He still listens to books all the time but has never liked the act of physical reading. He saw someone reading this at play practice and asked if we could get it. I've never been so happy to buy a book.

At 17 weeks, I had to take an early glucose test because I had gestational diabetes with Ben. I really hate drinking that drink. Disgusting. I passed. Barely. My number was 133 and the limit is 140. Methinks it is a high possibility that I will fail the next one I have to take at 28 weeks.

We took Nathan in to the podiatrist. He really has trouble walking and running as a 9 year old should. The doctor told him he looked like an old man. The doctor thought it had to do with rapid growth and gave him orthotics. He also had a wart removed. Hopefully, we will see improvement soon. He is a really active kid and it would be great if he could move more easily.

The American Heritage Youth Chorus that Emma sings with had a joint concert with the American Heritage Philharmonic Orchestra. It was a really amazing performance. Obviously very well rehearsed. I love seeing youth using their talents like that. I wish I had been able to get a better/longer recording.

Baseball season has started. I was rather silly this year and signed up both Sawyer and Nathan. I thought that soccer and baseball seasons would not overlap that much. Wrong. Because soccer started late this year, they are completely concurrent. This means 4 baseball games and at least 3 soccer games each week. ACK! Sawyer played t-ball last year and is doing machine pitch this year. As with most athletic things, he is a natural. Nathan has never played baseball before but he seems to like it despite his low skill level. Dave has been catching and hitting with the boys a lot at lunch and in the evening. I think they especially love that.

Slade has passed Emma in height. Emma knew it was coming but she isn't very happy about it.

robin hood

Another successful Deerfield Elementary School play is in the books. This year it was Robin Hood. Slade and Nathan both participated. Slade was Much the Miller's son, one of Robin Hood's Merry Men. Nathan was on the bad side as one of Guy's Guys. Again, I helped with choreography and photography.

It is a wonderful thing for our kids to participate in these plays every year. We saw Slade go from a 4th grader with major stage fright to a 6th grader who had a speaking part. I'm so thankful for awesome people who share their talents and collaborate on such a fantastic show year after year.

a night on broadway

I am our stake's cultural arts director. As part of that calling, I am responsible for two activities a year. One is the Christmas Choirside that we do in December. The other activity varies in theme but usually happens in the spring. This year I proposed doing a stake Broadway revue.

I wrangled my good friend, Lisa, into being my assistant director. She was amazing and I could not have pulled this off without her. We began with a casting call in January. Stake members either came with a specific song that they wanted to perform or sang a church hymn/Primary song so they could be included in one of the three large ensembles. We had rehearsals on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in January and February.

The activity was on March 8. We did two shows and had a great turn out from the stake. I think we ended up with a great line up with a good mix of performers and Broadway shows. I was able to get a live band for several of the numbers with the help of the awesome and talented people in my ward.

Sawyer and Nathan were in the children's ensemble. They keep asking me when we are going to do it again. Emma felt forced into performing but I think had fun in the end. Dave loved the whole thing and spent lots of time singing his songs until all the kids knew them too.

More pictures here.
Videos of the shows here.

It was a crazy amount of work but I think it was a positive experience for all involved from performers to audience. I had never really been in the director position before. I thought it would be hard to watch and not feel sad that I wasn't performing myself. In reality though, it was awesome to sit back and feel great satisfaction at what I (with lots of help) was able to pull together.

our first basketball player

We've been a soccer family so far with just a couple of forays into t-ball on the side. Nathan is our first child to be interested in playing basketball. He started this month. Just like in soccer, he seems to have gotten stuck on a team with very little skill so they are losing a lot. He is still having fun though which is all that matters.

snaggle tooth

Nathan's looks have been evolving in an interesting fashion, don't you think?

bald

Nathan was at his cousin's house when he called to ask if he could buzz his hair. I replied that while I would rather he didn't but that he could if he really wanted to do it. Of course, I was thinking he would actually have a little hair left. When he got home, I was shocked to see a totally shaved head. Apparently, he got started on his own and cut his hair down so far that his aunt had to resort to a full-on shave.

Dave and I do groan a little about what he looks like with the shaved head and white tank tops he like to wear. Not exactly the persona we want for him. Oh well. At least its not permanent.

baptism word art

I had these printed up and displayed at Nathan's baptism. I thought they added a nice touch.

 

 I got the CTR printable from here and just recolored the black to blue.

I recreated this one that I saw on-line. Here is a link to the etsy shop where you can buy it.

Nathan's baptism pictures

seven

Nathan turned 7! Just like Slade's, his birthday fell on Sunday this year. We started the day with breakfast in bed and then presents.

He was most excited to receive two Beyblades with a stadium. Beyblades are like tops that you launch into the stadium where they "battle" each other.

After church, we decided to make cookies together to deliver. Nathan helped make them and chose who we would take them to. We gave them to his Primary teacher who is wonderful but hasn't been able to be there lately because of health issues. Then we took some to our neighbors across the street because their son Michael is Nathan and Slade's favorite friend.

We finished off the evening with Oreo ice cream cake. This was my first time trying an ice cream cake. I thought it turned out great so I will have to do it again.

Birthdays on Sunday are a bit tricky but I think Nathan seemed pleased with his day so we'll call it a success.