Kid banquets 'n' stuff

the cute chick on the harp was at our table (I mean, she's not at our table in this picture but...). That's Maggie. Her family (Mom and two brothers, surrounding her with all their musical magnificence) played the special music at the Phos/Ontos Broken Hearts banquet. (they also played at the Kaleo banquet but I wasn't there). Talk about sheer talent! And can I tell you, I wish I could play the harp? an amazing instrument...a talented harpist!

This is the table that David, Levi and I served....what a nice group of young people!

Melanie, Sarah, and Annie, as they prepare to leave for the Kaleo Broken Hearts Banquet. Tammy, Bobby and Caroline served a table at this event...Lovely young ladies.

These events actually took place on the weekend before Valentine's Day and yes, I'm way behind.

Sooooo, how are ya?

After a little taste of spring last week, I'm feeling just DONE with winter. it was sooooooo nice around here last week. Birds were tweeting, ice melted, sun was SHINING! it was simply magnificent.

This week, we are back to winter. which is only right, considering it's only FEBRUARY 22nd. seriously?

I hope to get my pix from our trip to the Indiana Repertory Theatre last week to see the Diary of Anne Frank. THAT was amazing. We were four rows from the stage and boy, it was like being in the Secret Annex. When the Nazis raided at the end, whew! it was almost too much...TK and I were sniffling and sobbing. David even shed a few tears...wow.

I'm exhausted tonight...so I'm going to sign out but hope that this finds you well and healthy...enjoying Winter's last attempt to keep hold of us. Until next time...

six square

David and other people are working on a six square version of his HTFS flooring over at the Bandy's residence...Many people have donated lots of time to seeing this thru.

That is where my husband and sons are at today...Will's last day as a 15 year old. sniff.

But man, isn't it a glorious autumn day? 62 degrees, sunny, leaves blowing in the wind, Pumpkin spice Americano to sip on....(after weigh in of course)...

Tonight, David is hosting an open house for his investors. He is legally supposed to do this...kinda tell people where the work/patent/$ is at....and we still wait on other news.

The good part of said open house is the fried chicken from Byrd's Cafeteria and other fine food. It is sure to be an informative and belly-filling time.

Hope your weekend is spent enjoying some outdoor time and wonderful worship.

Happy 14th Birthday, Alexandra!

A huge shout out to our niece, Alexandra, pictured above hugging on Levi, who turns the big 1-4 this year!!

She's our first niece and when she was born, I'd only had Will and Ethan so I was quite green with envy over her arrival...I actually thought I'd never have a daughter. And then when Alexandra's sister, Abbey, pictured above also, on the left, showed up when I was pregs with Mel (but didn't know it was a girl)...was even more green with envy.

God was gracious in giving Melanie to us, for imagine the mayhem that would've ensued if it had been Melvin instead of Melanie. ha ha. (I do love my boys!)

Happy Wednesday to you and a very happy birthday to Zandra.

Holes

Yesterday, my three oldest kids and I had the immense pleasure of joining Tammy and her two oldest girls in downtown Indy at the Indiana Repertory Theatre's presentation of "Holes" (you may have seen it in movie theaters about 8-9 years ago)....it was SO cool. we were in the SECOND row and E was in front of us in the front. The players literally spit on us. ha ha.

Always checking out the floors...

There were costumes placed all around in their upper area...the girls really enjoyed posing next to them.

I've got to get me some of those star lights. love 'em.

creepy little bird..handsome young men.

We weren't allowed to take pix inside the theatre but these doors were open into the theatre...I wasn't technically in there...this is our cast practicing before their 10 a.m. show...

We went down to Mass Ave after for some Bazbeau's pizza for lunch....Here, we have our crew next to a creepy big head, sniffing Tammy's Fair Trade coffee...My boys...just love their expressions. E, I hope it was just because you were standing in the sunlight that we had this expression.

not much better here but what can i say...maybe the big head was freaking him out.

The adventures that aren't pictured here include:

Taking my big, grey van into the Circle Centre Mall's parking garage

-just barely short enough

-Tammy crouched down in the front seat out of fear that at any moment, we would shear the top of our van off on a pipe or cement structure. so much so that she pulled a muscle.

-Due to the mounting fear that we would get stuck, after finally finding a decent parking space, squeezing my van in, tapping the car in front of me, I left my window rolled down the entire time. Thankfully, nothing was touched. but sheesh.

-When we drove out to pay, the attendant at the money booth, in her cute little foreign accent said "You drive beeg bus"...

We had a really great time and it was so cool to be so close to the action on stage....I knew it made me wanna do some acting...Thanks, Tammy, for suggesting this to us, getting us out there and getting some culture. It was a blast.

Now I must go....we have a busy day filled with Soccer at CCG (12:30 and 2:30), Bandy work, house cleaning, and a "Come Wreck Our House" Party at the K's tonight.

Yiddle birdies and outdoor fun...

Hello Beaker! maybe you'll grow into your beak soon! and then start pooing all over my porch...

adorable.

from what I can see, there are THREE little birds!

this is where they sit...under the rafters of our unfinished upper porch (which I love in spite of it's need for siding, caps, cedar paint, etc etc)

they remind us of Muppets.

Levi, showing his mad jump jump skills. over and over..."Hey, Mom, watch THIS!!"

Today, we enjoyed a visit from the K ladies....and in spite of the torrential, speedy rain (no lightning), they swam anyway. love those girls!

gotta love the creative titling on this post, eh?

Life is slowing down a bit. At least for the kids and I. This is the time of year that I enjoy being home and find it difficult to be away from our ever-changing home.

Except for the bug/amphibian issues...gigantic spiders, tree frogs, wood roaches....I could do without. I hope you enjoy the baby birdie pix above as much as we have. I have not enjoyed the uber protective momma bird's endless pestering when we are outside....she flies around and around till we go back in...yesterday, though, her babies hatched and we have had a lot of fun spying their tiny, fuzzy, gray heads bobbing in their perch.

Time to shut the 'puter off...we are enjoying an early summer thunderstorm....adios amigos.

Piper graduates top of her class....Go PIPES!

speechlessly cute...

the "infamous" photo board

Jazz hands...P is on the right, in the front...

just a little taste of the future....and yes, we did all tear up when we heard Pomp and Circumstance.

P getting her diploma from her cool teacher, Mrs. L.

A little graduation song!

Piper's Nana and Papaw hosted a little gathering afterwards...and we got to initiate the new screened-in porch...very nice!

Amanda and Becky...friends for the long haul.

The gaggle of kids...

Melissa & David...still fun after all these years.

Molly was trying to sneak into P's cake pic. nice try punk.

things got crazy and Maria, Nora, Molly and Piper started dancing on the table...

everyone gather 'round for some delish Boyden's cake...this was the main reason we attended. forget my adorably cute niece and her Kindy graduation...:)

Just wanted to get the Kindergarten grad pix on before time got away from me...

Hope this post finds you enjoying the last evening of your weekend...I am NOT ready for Monday to show up again.

Peace...

lately

We took our Flat Stanley's down to the canal. Aunt Nan is a Kindergarten teacher in MI and her class sent Beck's kids and our kids a Stan to take pix by a cool landmark or area in our town...we, of course, chose the canal and the NCAA. those places are close to our hearts.

hanging out on the sculptures

yet again...

there is an amazing rolling hill by the Indpls water company...I'm sure we looked silly but man, was it fun to throw oneself down the hill. wow!

this is Beck at the end of the hill...I didn't post my pix...my pants were falling down so...

be back later with more...working on vocabulary and getting ready to head up to Mich City tomorrow...overwhelmed!

Well, we had an awesome, uplifting time with David & Vince in Michigan City. I won't go into all the details now...I'll try to get some of the pix posted of that particular job...

Until then...adios. I'll be back with more posts...can't help myself.

Happy Monday to you!

Hollywood is skeery...

City of Angels

E's hands are almost as large as Clint's.

for a tip, you can have your pic taken with whatever character you see walking outside of the theatre...no shame. David was really excited about finding this Stormtrooper.

Apparently, the Roosevelt is haunted by Marilyn Monroe.

Jimmy Kimmel's Cousin Sal (the guy in the black button down and jeans, by the easel), taping a segment from that evening's late night show. We didn't get to watch it because my slacker brother failed to get a converter box. and he's never home, so it works for him.

We ate at this open air thingy...and our view was the Jimmy Kimmel pic above. pretty cool. Charlie was NOT impressed.

When Marilyn isn't haunting at the Roosevelt, she's working it with Michael J. This guy was eerily similar.

And when the King of Pop isn't haunting with MM, he's getting coffee at this swanky little coffee shop in the uber expensive but super neat-o mall with US! (Levi's expression is like "Umm, thought this guy was dead")

the yellow vest on this fella was a wee bit teeny...

Char, you are a poser.

I was really hoping we'd see Tom and Katie. but alas, not on this trip.

There's that Chinese Theatre again...

I mean, it IS cool there....just so many people, and it's sooooo grubby. Money, apparently, can't cover grubby. or creepy. or weird. or odd.

Levi, looking on in complete awe!

Infamous Hollywood Boulevard...

ahhh, got it. didn't think I would, but when it appeared thru the trees, I swear little angels sang and the sun DID shine even just a bit brighter (than it already WAS, OMGosh, it was never cloudy there)

grid-lock...this is another of those "parts" ya don't see on TV.