Our newest addition...

No - it's not the baby. It's a fancy dwarf hamster named 'Rhino'.







(Yes, I know. Brig needs a haircut.)

Congratulations, Justine!! (AGAIN) and Happy Birthday, Brig!!

Last night was the final choir concert of the year. It was a lot of fun. I even got to accompany the full choir for their final song. Justine got the 'Most Valuable Female Underclassman' choir award for her choir. Way to go!! Eric and a couple of his friends did the 'Soggy Bottom Boys' song 'I am a Man of Constant Sorrows'. It was absolutely hilarious and, of course, I forgot to take the video camera!! We will try to track down someone who taped it.

In other news, we now have 3 teenagers in the house. It was Brig's birthday yesterday. We celebrated on Monday. I will get some pictures uploaded soon. He got a hamster and it is very cute. I think he was surprised! He's enjoying having the other kids a bit jealous of him for a change!! I can't believe how fast he's growing up.

Oh - they did not show 'Hotel Rwanda' in his social studies class. What a relief!!

Congratulations, Justine!!

We went to the Thespian awards night for drama the other night. Justine got initiated into the high school's Thespian troupe. She also got an award for 'best techie' for the play 'Our Town'. She signed up to work backstage (it was her first play) and ended up being the back stage director!! The first freshman in memory to do that job!! Way to go, Justine!! She was awesome walking around backstage with her head set on. She's a natural!

In other news, Brig brought home a permission slip for Social Studies to watch a movie. What movie would they be showing to 12 and 13 year olds?? "Hotel Rwanda"???!!! I think not! We looked up a movie synopsis online and Brig didn't read 1/3 of it when he said he didn't want to watch that movie (I think the word 'breast' was enough for him) - even if he did want to watch it, I wouldn't have given permission!! It is a graphically violent film that also contains nudity and foul language. There has to be a better way to teach the horror and depravity of genocide/holocaust without 3 class periods of disturbing, graphic violence. Anyway - I went to the school in person and spoke to the principal. He was unaware of the planned movie showing - apparently the teacher is a rookie and hadn't quite followed procedure for approving a PG-13 movie, so hopefully that little activity won't be happening. They were supposed to start the movie today, so I will find out for sure when Brig gets home. It's a crazy world...

The piano burning

A quick story before I tell about the piano. Yesterday, Reagan was watching TV and a weight watchers commercial came on and they were talking to a lady who had lost 70 pounds and they were showing before and after pictures. Reagan looked at me and said, 'Mom, that's what you need!'. Hmmm - I told her I wouldn't be able to lose the stomach until AFTER the baby comes!! *Sigh*

The final drama night of the school year was a great success! Congratulations Eric, Justine and all the drama students!

Last night we hosted the final drama cast party of the year. We had an old piano that has been sitting around for years that we were going to take to the dump, but the guys decided to try burning it instead. I think it was a hit for the cast party bonfire. Tracy was surprised that the fire started so easily - but that wood has been drying out and curing for over 100 years! I was surprised at how long it burned - well over 3 hours. Also - it was a very hot fire. We moved the chairs and tables back several times!

We did have some concerned parents wondering if we were burning a piano that might still have some value. Put your minds at ease! This piano's only value was kindling - I would never burn a perfectly good piano!! It did make for some interesting photos. Here are several stages of the burn:

Grass Head Guy

Reagan's kindergarten class did 'Grass Head Guys' for their science fair projects. Here is Reagan with hers:

Prom

It's amazing how fast my children are growing up! Check out Eric and his prom date, Mackenzie.



And here's one with me in so you can see how pregnant I'm looking!:

Grease Pictures are finally here!!

Special thanks to Devynn at DB Images for all the great pictures!!!