It is recital weekend...

Please help me be a better dance mom.

And remember all the hair ties.
And to make a good bun.

 And to turn the costume upside down on the hanger.
And to not forget extra tights.
Or the ballet slippers.
Or the flowers.

 

And to smile and enjoy and not stress or worry. And to make Gabi feel like she is the bestest and that she owns this. 

 

pray for me. the frantic mom who was never a dancer and has no idea what she is doing. the only mom who sneaks her child on stage without all that make up and who can still see her just fine from the audience. the one who better learn how to make a bun WITHOUT wispies because she is not three anymore and the other mothers stare... seriously pray.

 

"I don't know mom, something about ballet just relaxes me.  I just love it."  

 - Gabrielle 2012

"Some of the kids at school were making fun of dance, but I would like to see them do my class for an hour.  It is hard, just as hard as other sports! And I don't care, I love to dance." 

- Gabrielle beginning of school year 2011

Today...

  Today I love those big blue eyes.

The depth in which you feel.

The soul that is so old.

Today I rest in knowing you.

for all that you are.

 for all that is to come.

Today I am proud of you who are.

your giving heart.

your mindfulness. 

love, mom.

Table Make Over...

You know you have a good friend when you tell them you are planning to sand down a BLACK KITCHEN TABLE over the weekend and they show up at your door in scrubby clothes and some sandpaper... I mean seriously, that is super awesome... THANKS MEGHAN!!!

This was my other helper...  He seriously dug in and got a good chunk done!  I could not have gotten as far as I did without the two of them!

I mean, could this boy get any more handsome??

So with just the use of our hands and some gritty paper we managed to scrape mostly all of the hard core black lacquer off my old table!  I was looking for a bit of a cleaner, brighter, fresh(er) look!

Again with the pictures... I am not so good at putting down my sandpaper/paintbrush/DIY project tools for documentation... but here is the final result! 

I am thinking that better pictures will be taken when I no longer exist in a construction zone.  When the floors are in, the dust has settled (and been dusted), and life is simple once again...

But for now I am happy with a white table, even if it is sitting on my front porch!

For the love of theatre.

Oh the joy of school productions.  The stage, the props, the plastic chairs.  Nothing beats going with my Mister to watch one of our offspring preform in the theatre...

Some of my favorite moments are just biding our time...

I was feeling particularly ill for this one but I tried to act perky and excited to be out and not in my pj's, on the couch, with my favorite blanket, watching reruns of Parks and Rec.  game face....

Usually Noah is calm and collected for these school shows in a... I-am-shy-so-no-one-look-at-me-I-am-barely-willing-to-move-my-lips-to-the-music kind of way.  This year we saw a new side to calm and collected... he was anxiously excited and nervous, pacing the house for an hour before. It was hilariously annoying...

But he made efforts this year and actually learned that participation can equal fun.  He rocked it!!

He was the star of the show in the...that's-my-boy-the-star-of-this-show-and-no-one-else-compares-so-watch-out-everyone kind of way.  He is lucky I didn't make a poster and wave at him like a wild banshee, like last year...

Well done Noah.  Let's add actor to the list of things that make you great ;-)

Double Digits

Dear Noah,

Yesterday you turned ten years old.  Double digits.  A big deal.  We had a great day!

What stood out to me the most on your big day was the simple fact that not once, all day long, did you show one sign for anticipation of a gift.  This is not the first year this has happened and I assume not the last... each year it is a truly genuine display of your altruistic nature.  And then, way into the evening, when we did present you with a gift, you were uninterested due to the distraction of your father's toast to you...

Your tears of love and joy were in fact, a gift to us.

Now... you are not always selfless dear child.  Many days you can show a relentlessness like I have never seen.  Once you know of something you desire your intent to pursue it is exhausting.  Making me drive back into town because a fellow peer has acquired a quarter slot gem from the local supermarket fuels an annoyance in me that is so grand fire erupts...  HOWEVER, when truly put to the test you tend to come out on top.  You genuinely know what is right.  What is good.  What is important.  And that is not an easy thing to know OR to teach.  I am happy that you posses this inner compass.  I am proud of you in that.

Things I love about you at 10:

You have a great sense of humor kido.  I am not saying that I always get your humor or in the mood for it, but I am delighted that you have one.

Your studious nature.  You are always on top of your schoolwork, you always have interesting questions, your mind is alive and bright.

Your handsomeness.  I know you will roll your eyes at this one but it must be stated.

Your non competitive nature.  I LOVE this about you.

Your independence.  It is something to admire.  You are not aloof or untrustworthy.  I know you can walk your sister home from school and keep her safe at all costs.  When engaged in activity that isn't appropriate or safe you are able to walk away.  You are a silent leader.  This is a special attribute Noah, one that will allow you an amazing life...

Your heart.  Because it is honest.  Because you feel so deeply with it.

You are my first born, my only son, my biggest challenge, and the one who saved me.  You bring out the worst in me and inspire me to be better.  You teach me.  You know me.  You are everything and I love you unconditionally.

Happy Birthday Kido. 

Proud.

My mister has three siblings and the one thing they all undoubtedly have in common is MUSIC.

The man pictured above has a reputation, in my eyes, for seeing talent in someone and going above and beyond to foster it.  An honorable way to be if you ask me.  Just this Christmas the Witt boys went for an overdue visit to the neighborhood music store Monty's.  This was the place where they were  shuffled to and from in their younger years, developing their a love for a musical instrument or two or four or eight.

The sister of the house was a dancer of course, she was her very own instrument.

I am forever envious of those who hold musical talent.  You see, where I lacked the natural ear for musical grace I could have made up with determination and practice.  But my grandmother will tell you, I also lacked the stamina for even 20 minutes at the piano despite her loving encouragement.

So I married a musician and prayed for the gene to be passed to my children.  And wouldn't you know it, they got it.  It is a beautiful thing you see.

So was I surprised to see an acoustic guitar presented to a soon to be 10 year old boy?   By non other than Mr. and Mrs. go for your musical dreams grams and papa?  Not in the slightest. 

I was however...

Grateful.

but the story does not end there...

The other side loves music too by the way, I just happened to get jipped.  And Grandpa Jay was so excited about the guitar that he has chipped in for some lessons!  Hooray!  And we found the perfect place to begin a lifetime journey.  And lessons began today.

But we cancelled.

hoping that the hand heals by next Tuesday at 3:15 and no metal doors jam any more hands...

God I love the sky...

 ...especially when you have to look through the trees to see it.

Yesterday I was pacing around during the 3 0' clock hour not knowing what to do.  **There was plenty to choose from, believe me.  

My soon to be 10 year old says, "some times you just have to take a load off mom."

I paused...

So while Gabrielle played with two of her girlfriends in a locked room with too many American Girl Dolls, Noah played the Wii, and I got under a blanket and plugged into Hulu... for TWO HOURS!  

Yes Noah, thanks for the advice.  That was awesome.