Lots to Update: #2 Nutcracker

We survived another year of Nutcracker. Every year it gets a little more intense. As Banana progresses through the Company levels, she gets more and more "stage time". Translated that means more practice time, more rehearsal time, more everything, later nights, longer "notes and corrections", and more work for mom and dad. Last year, we were still "newbies" and got away with "not knowing how to do things". No such luck this year. Kearsdad and I are full-fledged dancer parents now, with jobs and everything. You may remember that Kearsdad was on tech crew last year. Well, this year he got to the technical rehearsal to learn that he was "in charge" of stage right! He wore the headset and everything. Fun times. I leaned that I like decorating, and that I don't like taking tickets. Don't ask, just trust me!


Banana did a beautiful job and had tons of fun. She is almost fully independent, changing costumes, doing makeup, and even getting her face paint taken care of. Yes, I said face paint. She changed from a mouse nose and whiskers to a doll's red circle cheeks more times than I can count. It is nice to know that she can take care of herself. And it was fun to watch her dance.

Kat was a great help. She was named, by one of Banana's friends, "the backstage-helper-girl". She did a little of everything...tying bows, zipping zippers, running errands, playing Nintendo DS, filling tea party cups of ice, selling raffle tickets...you name it. I was very proud of how she pitched in and had such a great attitude about the whole thing.

It was very good. It was a lot of fun. We were exhausted, and we are glad to be done for another year. Sweet dreams, Clara!

Here are Banana the Mouse and LouLou the best friend. LouLou and Aunt Junebug came to watch dress rehearsal and take pictures.

Mice and Soldiers...Banana is the tall mouse.

LouLou, Banana the Polichinelle, and Kat the backstage-helper-girl

Lots to Update: #1 Thanksgiving

It's been awhile...yes, I know. I've been a tad busy. Trying to catch up now.

We had a nice Thanksgiving. Lots of driving, although not as much as last year. We spent the first couple of days with Kearsdad's folks. Kearsdad got to go hunting with his dad and brother, something he hasn't done in about 20 years, and he really enjoyed himself. Sadly, he didn't shoot anything. The girls had fun playing with their two younger cousins (all the older ones were gone here and there).

Here they are playing games in Mema's dining room.




On Thanksgiving day, we drove to Macon to my brother's house. There we had a big ole family dinner. My mom and dad, my aunt and uncle, my sister-in-law's mom, step-dad and grandma, and all six kids. In spite of the potential for disaster, we had a really nice day. Really. Then we did something we have never done. We spent the night at my brother's house. All the kids slept downstairs (the boys in their room, the girls out in the playroom). The adults all slept upstairs (s-i-l's family and my aunt and uncle, as well as my dad had gone home). We enjoyed just hanging out with J and T, something we haven't done in years and years.

Thanksgiving day, we were treated to a play by all the kids. I can't tell you what it was about. I have no idea, but we all cheered and clapped anyway. Here they are taking a bow. Yes, one of the boys, W, wore his Batman costume for the play.

Actually, I never got a picture of both boys out of costume. But here is a really cute one of them all.

Growth Spurt

Anyone remember this picture? This was taken last January. January 5th to be exact. I posted all about it here. Banana wanted to go hunting with Daddy, and we had gone out and bought her some appropriate hunting fashion apparel. It was a fun day for them. A day she wanted to repeat.

We are leaving tomorrow for Georgia for Thanksgiving. (Note...we will not do this again next year. That will be another post.) Kearsdad is planning to go hunting with his dad on Wednesday. (Note 2...if he shoots something, getting it home may be interesting. That will also be another post.) Banana heard about this hunting expedition and, of course, wanted to go. I wasn't sure if this would work out, but I thought we might prepare just in case. I went to her closet and pulled out her hunting-wear/camo. I looked at it closely, and realized it looked much smaller than the new jeans I have been buying her recently. So I called her in to try everything on. She did. I collapsed in laughter. See those baggy pants in that picture up there. Miss Banana could hardly button them. And they are now capris. Yes, fashionable camo capris. At least 4 inches too short! For good measure, we had her stand next to Kearsdad to compare now to then. In the picture up there she comes to his shoulder. Now the top of her head hits at about nose level on him.

We begged her to let us take a picture. She refused. Seems that preteen embarrassment factor has kicked in. So you will have to use your imagination. And I will have to use my debit card soon and go buy the girl some new camos that fit!

Confession, Part 2

Well, I didn't go to the horse show. But not because it was cold (although that was taken into consideration). I was up most of Thursday night not feeling so well. Friday I kind of dragged around all day, and by Friday night I was pretty much wiped out. So Kearsdad generously told me he would take horse show duty. I did, however go to choir practice. At least I didn't have to be there until 9. I still had to stand around for 3 hours, but it was inside, on stage, singing, instead of outside holding horses.

I also didn't completely get out of "horse holding duty". I spent the afternoon out at the B's farm alternately holding onto a big horse and helping hold up a bridal gown. JB is getting married in just a few weeks. Yesterday she had her bridal photos made at home, some of them with her "baby", her show horse Tootie. It was interesting, to say the least. Tootie wasn't exactly excited to have her photo made. She didn't like her "bridal wear"-a new show saddle and bit and bridle. Didn't like them at all. She didn't like the fact that J looked "funny" all dressed up in that big white fluffy thing and white whispy thing that kept blowing around her face. She didn't like all the people standing around her, especially the strange one with the weird contraption that kept flashing. She didn't want to point her ears forward or hold her head up. However, in spite of all that, J ended up with what are going to be some of the most unusual and beautiful bridal photos ever. I have a couple of samples on my phone, but I can't post them. J's fiance, (also J) might cheat and look. Can't have that! So you will just have to wait till the wedding.

A Not-So-Motherly Confession...

Kat has her last horse show of the season on Saturday. Have you looked at the weather forecast for Saturday? It is supposed to be COLD. The last thing in the world I want to do is get up at dark-thirty in the morning and dress in layers and drive for an hour and stand in the dirt with a bunch of horses for three hours in the COLD. I....don't....want....to.

Not to mention, we have a bazillion other things to do. We will be missing a "mandatory" choir rehearsal. Music guy is probably going to be pretty peeved with us. And Banana has dance on Saturday. All day of course. She is now dancing something like 29 hours on Saturdays from now until Nutcrapper...I mean Nutcracker. Ooops, did I say that? Yeah, I did.

This is one of those times when I just really don't want to do the motherly thing. I want to be one of those moms who sends her kid off with a wave and a smile and a "Have fun!" while I go off and do my own grand thing without a care in the world. Trouble is....I really DON'T want to do that. I really don't want to be one of those moms. I could have made that choice thousands of times over the last 13 years. I never have. And I won't this time. I'll go. I'll be freezing cold. I'll be a little stressed over all the other stuff I should be doing. But I'll be there, taking pictures like crazy and cheering her on. And I'll love it....well, most of it.

But for now....I think I'll whine a little more. Thanks for listening.

for the record....I used the word bazillion in this post and the little spell checker thing didn't even notice. It tells me that didn't and ooops are not words, but it accepts bazillion. I just thought that was interesting.

also, in case you didn't notice...I used a lot of hyperbole in this post. I mean tons and tons.

On a Lighter Note...a Fun Song...And a Reminder that God is Bigger!

Sung to the tune of "God is Bigger than the Boogie Man", as sung by Junior Asparagus:

God is bigger than the Democrats.
He's bigger than Obama or even Hillary
Oh God is bigger than the Democrats.
And he's watching out for you and me.

So are you frightened? No not really.
Are you worried? Not a bit!
I know whatever's gonna happen, that God can handle it!
I'm sorry Oprah scared you when you saw her on tv.
Why, that's okay, cause now I know that God is watching out for me!!

Oh God is bigger than the Democrats!
He's bigger than Obama or even Hillary
Oh God is bigger than the Democrats
And he's watching out for you and me!!

Thanks to JMatt for reminding me of this last night and making me smile. You were my hero of the day! I love you! -Aunt Kearsmom

Election Year Blahs!

I have to say it. I will be so glad when tomorrow (Election Day) is over. I am so tired of it. I am a political junkie, and usually I am all hyped up about the elections. Usually I have bumper stickers and buttons and signs. Usually I care. This year, I have to confess, I just want it to be over.

I fully recognize what is at stake tomorrow. I completely understand the seriousness. The problem is that while I am adamantly opposed to one of tickets, I am just not very hyped over the other. I like Sarah Palin, and I really think she would do a pretty good job. But seriously, how much influence does a vice president really have? Seriously? Has anyone even seen Dick Cheney in the last six months?? And as for McCain...I am just not overly excited. I'm really disappointed in this year's choices. And I'm just tired of it.

Don't get me wrong. I will definitely be voting tomorrow. No matter what. I believe that I have an obligation. Too many men and women have fought and died for that right for me to shirk my duty. And I will vote for what I believe in. Maybe a little of it will be a vote against what I don't believe in. But I still can't shake the feeling that I am just voting for the lesser of two evils.

One thing I know. God is sovereign. I am blessed to know that no matter who is running this country, He is running the universe. My future belongs to him, and no one can change that.