School Play!

Gavin was able to participate in the school play this year, Alice in Wonderland. I have really enjoyed going to all the rehearsals with him and getting to watch from the audience and helping out in little ways when needed. I have enjoyed watching how well behaved Gavin is when he is has been on stage and back stage. It was like watching a completely different kid, listening attentively to instructions, following directions, and working with his fellow caterpillar ensamble actors. A small glimpse of how I hear he is when he is away from me all day at school!

It was an awesome experience for him and he had a great time. He was the only one from his class and one of only a few kindergarteners that chose to participate, so it was really special for him to do performances for the school (one for the K-2nd graders and one for the 3rd-5th graders). His classmates had lots of nice things to say about him and how much they loved the play. Dane and I had fun backstage during the school performances helping to entertain, help the students get ready, helping to ensure everyone was where they needed to be, and keep the noise level quiet. I stayed to help out backstage for their Friday night performance as well, I gave Gavin the choice and he wanted me to stay, I take advantage of any time he actually wants me there because some day (all too soon I am sure) he won't want me to stick around! Saturday we all were able to watch the show. I had seen most of it from the audience at various points in rehearsal but it was so much more exciting getting to see everyone in costume and the amazing sets that were created.

After the Saturday performance, they had the whole group on stage for a group photo and then to show the kids the slide show that the director created from pictures of rehearsals and back stage creating sets and props. Part of their performance is singing a group song after the play is over and the audience getting to see all the behind the scenes hard work from everyone involved. The kids hadn't had a chance to see it yet because their back is to the screen when they sing at the end of all the performances, so it was really exciting for them to get to watch the slide show before getting to celebrate their hard work at their cast party.

Then we went to the cafeteria for pizza, cupcakes, and juice for their cast party. A wonderful end to a fun experience!

It was certainly a special experience because the amazing mom who has been in charge of this the last 5 years will not be around next year, her daughter is moving up to the middle school. I don't know if they have anyone else that would be willing and able to put in the time and effort needed, she truly was amazing with the kids (and with 60 plus elementary school children included that is no small feat) and clearly loved being involved and exposing these young kids to theater. It was a wonderful time for both Gavin and me!

Random Fun...

Assorted fun from the last two weeks...

Play rehearsal...

Just having fun...

Dane passed out from exhaustion...

Google created a panorama from a series of pictures I took... Apparently we have more than 1 Dane around here...

Working Together...

Often Gavin and Dane come up with games and stories to play and act out. I enjoy listening to the stories they come up with as they play so sweetly (because it often eventually ends up as we type of crazy, running through the house and/or wrestling match at some point with at least one, if not both of them hurt). This morning they set their bean bag chairs up, grabbed a few toys and were playing by the front door. After a while it turned into Gavin making a TV and remote out of paper, so they could relax and then take a nap as part of their pretend world. It was very cute and always a nice reminder that they do generally like each other despite the sibling bickering that can drive anyone to madness!

Goofball Dane!

Dane keeps us entertained and laughing. He has lots of crazy faces, stories, and jokes to tell. He loves to pose for pictures. Our goofball for sure!

Brotherly Love...

Dane needed a nap but didn't want to stop playing because he was enjoying Gavin being home from school for the second day, so Gavin said that he would go in and get Dane down for a nap. It was sweet to see them laying in bed together. Gavin told him a story and then just snuggled with him for a bit.

It was a sweet thought and nice attempt by Gavin. Dane didn't end up napping but did rest for a bit in his room and was in a better mood after. A good thing for sure.

Blizzard 2017!

Last year we had hardly any snow, even though we had a late in season (early spring) snow that killed lots of flowers and the flowers on lots of trees. This year we haven't had much more, the two snow days and few delays used were over very small amounts of snow because it was more the timing that made bus transportation dangerous more than the amount of precipitation. Now that is no longer the case. After basically every other big storm missing us the last two years we were right in the middle of the blizzard. It was fun to have snowed in, Gavin enjoyed having two days off. Even though the snow ended yesterday, two feet of snow was too much for them to manage to clean up enough to have school today. We enjoyed several trips out to play before the snow had actually accumulated to two feet. We had fun playing and helping Scott as he ran the snow blower. The kids were thrilled to come in and warm up with hot chocolate. It was fun, until the reality of how long it will take two feet of snow to melt (and that you don't want it to melt too quickly or everyone will end up with flooding issues, even those of us that don't usually have flooding issues) and how the end of winter was in sight and now who knows when it might warm up and everything might continue to grow. The trees were already budding, flowers starting to grow, and the grass was looking more green and less dull.

Hopefully, it won't take too long for spring to show up, since the first day of spring is next week, but who knows. Until then, it was fun to be snowed in and we are grateful that we didn't lose power. 

Morning Fun!

Gavin and Dane often spend the morning before Gavin goes to school playing, sometimes nicely, sometimes bickering. This morning they were playing somsweetly with am assortment of toys Dane had been collecting and storing in his room because they were special. I love when our days start this way!