The Musical

Just an update...

As of now I have only been able to attend one rehersal. Coming home from Young Woman camp, I realized how hectic my week would be. The kids were glued to me, laundry caught up, story time started at the library, and not to mention I got sick. The first rehersal was eye opening. I have alot of singing to do as a "Bird Girl" in the Jungle of Nool. The funny thing about this is the other two girls who are with me are high school girls (the joy of community theater) and they come to my chest. I will probably look like the goofy vultures in Disney's Jungle Book, compared to these "Spring Chicks!"

I have survived Girls Camp 2008

I did it! I went to camp and survived! Despite missing Brian and the kids immensely, I had a fabulous five days. Our young woman in the Toledo Ohio Stake just Rock! Not only did I meet some great young woman, I was able to meet and become friends with some of the leaders from other wards. My favorite part of camp was we had all the girls read a section of the Book of Mormon including the leaders, we read the whole book in 30 minutes. I had to run back to the cabin to get my scriptures and there were groups of young woman sitting all around reading out loud. The words were like music, the spirit surrounded them. At the testimony meeting one girl got up and shared her testimony and made reference to this. She said "you could hear that words were being said, and you could kind of hear them, but what you could hear was the Truth floating all around."

Once a "Drama Fag, Always a Drama Fag!"

Alright, so the title may throw some of you off a little, let me explain. Picture it the 80's, a midwest small suburbarn town. The social status is divided into the following: Jocks and Popular crowd, Science Geeks, Burn outs, Band Fags, and then the Drama Fags. Drama Fags was a term made up by the beefcake, party til you puke Jocks/Pop crowd.
Why is this the title of my post? Well if you have not guessed it, I was a "Drama Fag." My friends and I were the free spirits, the artists, the singers, the punks/gothic (when gothic was first "underground." )For me being in the Drama club and choir was a way to express so much that was inside. To become a different person, expand my imagination, and honestly it just seemed natural to me. In school there were two things I want more then anything, to be a Mommy and be an professional actor.
We all know what road I chose, and it is a good one. However, being on stage again was always a little dream of mine. Tonight that "little dream" came true! A few months ago my friend Candie, one of "the Oldies" as we call ourselves, let me know about an opportunity to audition for a small community theater group. She said "Let's do it, who cares wouldn't be fun to be up there again?" I had to agree. So tonight we auditioned for "Seussical the Musical" and we both received parts. I am so excited, and I have a little apprehension, I mean can I really do it? Will I remember all the theater lingo? What exactly is stage left again? my left or their left? Or am I just sweating the small stuff? Is performing like riding a bike, you just never forget it?

Yoga and Zumba: Getting rid of my Boomba!

As if I do not have enough to do, I started a Yoga class on Tuesday/Thursday mornings, and a Zumba class on Wednesday mornings. My goal is to become the "Sex Goddess that truly lives inside!" That is my joke, however there is much truth! If someone would have showed me ten years ago what I would look like today, I would have just died. I have never been this large. I was always the friend that everyone hated, I could eat anything, not exercise, and stay at my 5'll size 10 self. (Sigh) However, I hit 27 had my first baby, and away I went! Now after two more children, alot of self pity, emotional eating, and the diagonsis of Insulin Resistance (which has contributed) I am at ROCK BOTTOM! Quoting the song by one of my favorite singers, Wynonna Judd, "When you hit rock bottom you got no where to go, but straight up..."
It just dawned on me, once this goes up as a post, I am SO accountable huh? Hmm...Well here it goes!

Lavinia's 4th Birthday

It is official I have a four year girl now. June 4th was the magic day. I cannot believe she is four.
We surprised her with a little party with some of her friends and family on Sunday. Devin took her outside while Brian and I decorated the dining room. I was not going to do a "party" just have cake and ice cream on her bday. However, on Saturday before her bday Lavinia informs us that she wants her "Island Princess Barbie cake, and bubble gum and her friends to come to her party. (Sigh what is a parent to do but give in) So off we went to the store. Brian and I were shopping and he started throwing little crowns, rings, and necklaces into the cart. He said "it is my only girl, I want it to be nice." He was more excited then she was I think. I was not so excited for a "party" due to the million things I have to do before leaving for camp for a week. But the it went off without a hitch and the girls had fun!

Ready, Set Go!

A few weeks ago, we took the kids to a local park to ride bikes. Avin finally got bike riding down to a science, I think he just needed to get his confidence up to really ride. Liam rode his Little People Firetruck, and Lavinia rode the tricycle. It was then we realized how much the little ones have grown. Liam needs the trike, and Lavinia needs new wheels. Brian and I decided right then and there that we were going to get her a bike for her bday.
When I was telling my Mom this story, she and my stepdad, said they would get the bike instead. We were not fussed about it, Lavinia had a long list of bday wishes! So, before Grammie and Papa Keith left for vacation, they came and gave Liv her early gift. We made her turn around and shut her eyes, while Grammie got it out of the car. Lavinia was so excited, and jumped up and down, shouting "a Princess bike, I got a Princess bike!" Her elation was worth watching and seeing my girl ride her "big girl bike" made our hearts swell. Liam is happy he now has full reign over the coveted tricycle now!

Memorial Day at the Zoo

In my opinion the Toledo Zoo is one of the nicest zoos in the nation. The only way to "Do the Zoo" with a family of wee ones, is to buy a zoo membership. This way you can go anytime you want, get in free, and stay the whole day or just stay an hour. What is really special about having this membership is that you can have a free trip to see the Lights Before Christmas. This is a really awesome way to get into the holiday spirit. We go as a family every year, it is tradition. There are over a million lights displayed all over the zoo. Absolutely breath taking!
This zoo trip Brian came as well as my sister Katlin, her soon to be hubby, Henry, and baby Sam. This was Sammie's first trip. It was a beautiful day and we stayed for about 3 hours. When we got home we all took a little afternoon snooze.