Annie

Her dead mouse from the scene where she dangles

it in front of Miss Hannigan

Miss Hannigan "Whatcha got there?"

Kate "A dead mouse. You wanna see it?"

Izzy made many new friends....they had lots

of fun backstage playing games like "Honey if you love

me won't you please, please smile?"

The other "Kate"...they had a great time together

learning their part. They both wanted freckles

on the last night.

Group 1 Orphans with Miss Hannigan.....July, Duffy,

Pepper, Tessie, Kate, Molly, and Annie

All the orphans with Miss Hannigan. They were all amazing!

Annie and Kate after their last performance

Izzy had lots of people who came to support her.

Here she is with just a few of her "adoring fans"!

What an amazing experience this was for Isabel! I am so glad that

she got to be part of it. It was many hours of rehearsal and lots

of driving but it was worth it. She had such a great time....

never once did she complain.

swim lessons

The only reason Izzy is smiling so big here because swim lessons

are OVER!! She is an emotional roller coaster during the

two weeks that she takes lessons. One minute she is excited and happy,

while the next she is crying the night before about how she can't do it.

It is probably the most stressful two weeks of her whole year. Not sure

why because she does really enjoy swimming normally.

Crazy. For the record, I am glad they are over too....I can't ride

this roller coaster for very long. Good news is that she

did improve and can now swim in the deep without her life jacket.  

Almost 8

 This was a rare moment.... Isabel was home, she was clean, AND  her

hair was combed!.... so I decided to get some pictures.

 She has been a busy (and tired) girl lately! This summer she has been

showing and riding horse, taking swim lessons & piano

lessons, not to mention playing the part of the orphan, Kate, in the musical, Annie.

Izzy will be turning 8 soon and I am struggling. I just want to freeze her in time.

Sometimes I feel like time is slipping through my fingers!

This author's recent blog post captured some of what I have

 been experiencing. Her words really resonated with me.

 See the link below if you want to read.

Her book is amazing too.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/07/what-you-need-when-you-embark-on-motherhood/

Horse showin'

Izzy & Patsy make a cute pair :)

Izzy's piano recital

This was Izzy's first piano recital. It was very cool....her teacher makes

a musical cafe for all the kids and their families. So we ate great

snacks during all their performances, my kind of recital. Izzy did

a great job. She played two songs, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Canon in D".

(I don't know why she is standing with her feet turned in...interesting.)

Ethan's 4H project

Ethan chose woodworking as one of his 4H projects this year. We had

a bird feeder that was needing some updating so he built a new one.

He did a great job!

Wildlife Refuge

We decided to take a Saturday in April to go explore a nearby wildlife refuge.

We saw a variety of birds and also a few snakes ( I could have done without those).

Hunter is doing a bird project for 4H this year so this helped him to record some more

species in his observation book. It was a beautiful, relaxing time.

I am a "Wilderness Explorer" (sorry all I could think of was Russell in

the movie, Up, when I saw Hunter during our hikes)

Looking for the Bald Eagles

One of many beautiful birds

Near the Eagles Nesting site...this was as far as we were allowed to go

(I have been slacking with this blog...hope to catch up soon. I am posting

April happenings and it is now June!)

Hunter's report

Hunter did his report at CoOp on Tecumseh. He wrote 6 pages! He did an awesome job.

His activity was letting the class use "war paint" on their faces because

Tecumseh was known as a great warrior.

Here he is with his information board. He even represented the "Battle of Thames"

 where Tecumseh was killed with his Playmobil indians and soldiers.

Aren't you just lovin' the outfit? This is what all the pictures of Tecumseh looked like that we could find.

Thanks to Aunt Sue for her awesome sewing skills on the jacket! For the record Hunter did not

want to wear the black wig....I made him......Hey, it made the outfit!

Ethan's Report

Ethan did a report on Jack Nicklaus for his CoOp class. He had

to write a 4-6 page paper and read it in front of his class. He

also had to create this display board and dress like his person.

Don't you just love those pants?

He (with Hunter's help) also designed this putt putt golf hole

 for everyone in the class to try. It was a big hit.

Ethan did a great job. He is so relaxed talking in front of people....he did not

get that from me...that is for sure!

Tea Party!

Izzy and me

Izzy's tea cup

Izzy and her sweet friend

Yummy food...cucumber sandwiches, fish crackers, jello, cupcakes,

and gummy bears

Such cute tea pots!

Of course I loved the dessert tray

Sweet girls

We had some fun with hats...loving this one on Izzy

Thinking of wearing this to church on Easter...what do you think?

 I love having a little girl!

What a special day.....we had a wonderful tea party

with these girls. They are all so beautiful and sweet....

well behaved too :)

Guitar!

The boys have been taking guitar lessons and love it.

They were very excited to put their birthday money

together to buy a new electric guitar and amp. We also

got them tickets to a Lincoln Brewster concert this spring.

So excited.....Rock on!