Tumbleweeds

Austin and Allison got to be in another play this summer, this time called Tumbleweeds. Tumbleweeds is a western comedy based on an old comic strip. There were about 50 kids, ages 4-18 in the play. They practiced several hours a day for several weeks. The night of the performance I wasn't sure how well they were going to do because they hadn't actually made it through the whole play without stopping yet. But they did so well they gave me goosebumps. I loved it and am so proud of them.

Austin was the Indian Chief and had about 20 lines. Austin is my super-smart boy but gets really nervous speaking in front of people. He is a perfectionist though, and doesn't allow himself to fail so will usually perform well, regardless. That is one reason I really want him to be involved in the singing, dancing, acting group because I want him to be more comfortable in front of people. By showtime, he had practiced and performed so much that he said he hardly got nervous at all and did so awesome. I am so proud of him.

Allison was a little Indian with the rest of the 5 year olds. They didn't have any speaking parts but she danced in three muscial numbers and the audience loved them and thought they were all too cute! And they were!

Asher just hanging out during rehearsals. Chris and I were involved in making props, scenery, costumes and choreographing so the kids did a lot of "hanging out."

In the comic strip, the Indian chief has a "bodyguard" named Bucolic Buffalo. Chris played that part so he got to be Austin's bodyguard. Austin loved it. Chris didn't. :) But he loves his wife and son so will make himself feel like a fool for us.

Allison singing in the last musical number of the show.

This is the final musical number.

Austin, Dad and Allison after the final scene of the last night's performance.

Fourth of July Weekend...a little late.

The kids performed twice during the Fourth of July weekend with their singing/dancing group. They performed at the American Heritage Festival and during the parade. They loved being in the parade and they ended up on the front of the newspaper too!

Later that night...we had a BBQ with the family, rode the family train, watched our own fireworks and then watched the city fireworks which are let off just down the street from our house. :)

Abigail is so timid about everything. She always wants to hold the sparklers but they also scare her. She tries to be so brave.

The cool thing about getting together with a large group of people is that they all bring their fireworks and so to get through them all you have to light several at once.

This was a very LARGE firework. It lit up the whole sky and the kid's faces looked like this....

Mom and Asher

Weekend at Aunt Stacy's

My kids would live in the pool if I let them (at least Austin and Allison would). Once it hits spring they start counting down the days until we visit Aunt Stacy's next because they can have several whole days of swimming.

This was Asher's first time swimming. He didn't hate it but he didn't love it either. He pretty much has this stoic expression on his face the whole time.

Abigail loves the new bathing suit her Uncle Ed picked out for her. She said "I likes having big muscles." Chris said she looks like a purple ninja turtle. :)
Austin and Allison have no fear. They jump, dive, fall, flop, splash and smile the whole time.

Dega-sitting.

My sister, Gail and her husband, went out of town for a week and asked if we would babysit her chinchilla while she was gone. I was happy to say yes because my kids would love a pet but have very mean and selfish parents who would never say yes to something permanent. But we would be happy to do it for a week and give it back. :)

So here is Dega. I am sad we didn't get more pictures. My kids loved watching him run in his ball and feeding him his dessert every night of a single raisin. However they did not want to clean up around his cage everyday.

Look at that cute profile!

Here we are giving Dega a bath. That kids thought it was so funny watching him shake in his dry bath. Yes, it may look like he is getting dirtier but he is, in fact, bathing.

Water Play!

Summer is great! The kids can finally get out of the house and play, play, play! I love how creative they get with anything they do (inside or out). No matter how stressful life seems to get, they always seem to have so much energy and happiness in them. I guess that is one of the many reasons we are supposed to "be like a little child," right? And that is why we have them, to teach us to be better people. I love the little lessons that my children teach me every day about myself. As much as I don't want to sometimes admit my weaknesses, I see them in them and want to quickly change myself so they will change themselves. Wow, this post quickly changed from just plain old pictures to some deep life reflection. But sometimes, I can't help but look at these sweet pictures and their smiling faces and be reminded of how great life is and how much better I want to be. My children make me want to be a better person. Hopefully they make you feel the same way.

Just chillin'. I love how much my kids love each other and are best friends even after they have just yelled at each other. They truly are a great example of forgiveness.


I love this picture of Abigail, even thought I cut off her eyes. She tends to be my more serious adult-like child so when I see her really having fun and smiling it makes me happy.

Allison on the other hand is pure joy. She is constantly a ball of energy and happiness. She finds joy in everything she does and is so imaginative.

Wrapped up like little bugs, drying off. I love capturing moments like this when they aren't looking and posing for the camera but showing just how naturally creative they can be.

It started to get really windy, so here is Allison making a "flag."