"Ever After"

So I've mentioned Sam in a couple of my recent posts.  He and Caleb have been friends since kindergarten, and we really enjoy him.  We couldn't have hand picked a better friend for him.  Sam tried out for the school play this spring.  After casting was complete, Sam informed Caleb that they were short a security guard in the play, and Caleb would fit the part perfectly.  So Caleb, being the helpful and fun guy that he is, said "ok".  We're so glad he did!

The performance was last night.  It was HYSTERICAL!  From the first night of practice, Caleb has been proudly saying "I've had my lines memorized since the first practice!"  (and then he sheepishly said "I don't really say anything." ) 

Sam was the main character, Monty.  He played a "Maury Povich" type talk show host. 

 

His goal on this show was to reunite estranged fairy tail characters.  First it was Cinderella and her ugly step sisters.  

The "Ugly step-sisters"

Monty and his awesome security guard.

 

He is a singing...

AND dancing...

and singing

security guard, who wouldn't let the wicked witch get to Snow White.

Jiminy Cricket was also a guest on the show

hee, hee...I love this picture of Sam!

and the "Frog" prince was the final guest. 

he needed to be kissed by a princess to remain a real prince!  Fortunately, there were TWO princesses on the show!

did I mention he was a DANCING security guard?

yeah!  Look at those moves!

The end.

wait...notice any similarities between the above photo and THIS one?

Awesome performance, guys!  You were FUN to watch!

 

 

Laughter Amidst the Tears

OK...so while I was wiping tears from my eyes over that final performance of Caleb's...I also had to wipe tears of laughter.  Cameron is an amazing trumpet player.  He loves to hit those high notes.  But he does have to work REALLY hard to hit them.

I was worried he was going to pass out!  He was turning purple!

Cameron and Sam in the Jazz band

Cameron, we are proud of you!  Keep the music coming!

(Oh, and tonight at track?  He beat his previous best time in the mile by 6 seconds!  He ran it in 5:14!  GO Cameron!)

Final (sob) Band Concert

Having a senior is difficult for me!  Caleb had his final band concert on Tuesday night!  It seems like just yesterday that we were suffering through tremendously enjoying that extremely painful beautiful first fifth grade band performance!  I think all would be in agreement when I say they were MUCH better on Tuesday night!  I have really enjoyed listening to the band grow and improve throughout these past years!

Here are some photos from his last formal performance at SF.

Concert band

both Caleb (tuba) and Cameron (trumpet).  Oh, and our "other" son Sam on trumpet, too :)  Sam and Caleb are very good friends and he's spent lots of time at our house (or Caleb is at his house!)

Then they switched to the Jazz band for some awesome music!  Ya just gotta have a tuba for "The Pink Panther theme!"

but then he switched to sax for the rest of jazz band.  What can I say?  He's a multi-talented guy!

Recognition of senior band members.

We're proud of you, Caleb! 

 

Sadness...

has hit our lives this week, with the death of a good man. My good friend and co-worker lost her husband, Brian, on Tuesday night, to cancer. We are praising God that it went quickly and he didn't linger in pain for months on end, but it is always difficult when death claims someone so young! We rejoice with Julie and her son Justin, that Brian was welcomed into the waiting arms of his Savior, whose blood covered all of Brian's lifetime of sins.

I was out to visit Julie briefly on Wednesday after school, and again last night (along with the fixings for margaritas!) My sleep was short last night, and today was long, due to that short sleep, but it was oh so worth it :-) It was a wonderful evening (well...is it considered evening when it lasts til 1 am?) Through it all, it is quite obvious that Julie and Justin are filled with "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding," and that this peace is "guarding their hearts and their minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
⁵⁵"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting? ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(I Corinthians 15)

Caleb's Senior Scrapbook

Well, I'm plugging away (and doing so under quite a time crunch!) on Caleb's scrapbook.  I am ready to scrap his 2nd birthday!  (His 2nd year went MUCH faster than the first...I was much more selective in what pics I scanned, LOL)

I'm not going to share all the pages I've done here, but last night I scrapped one of my favorites so far.  It just makes me laugh out LOUD when I see it (or else makes me want to cry!)

hee, hee...see what I mean?  Doesn't it make you just LAUGH?

The kit I used was--Old Glory by Janniscrap Designs
tempalte--Lisa Minor

Here's another one that I LOVE!

Kit--Kimberly Cameron Summertime Fun
Template--Tracy Drane--Detaille (adapted)

How cute is he?

Kit: Shabby Princess  Happy Go Lucky

Template: Lisa Minor
Kit: Shabby Princess

Kit: Kim Cameron - Down By The Seaside

 

Here's another one that just makes me smile.  Wasn't he the cutest little baby??

Template: Lisa Minor
Background paper ME
Kit Lisa Minor's Promises

 

OK...I've got several dozen more, but that gives a glimpse of what I've been doing lately.  Only 15 1/2 more years to go, and only 4 weeks to get it done!

Rachel's Track Meet

Rachel went out for track this year.  She's been running for a while, hoping to try cross country in the fall.  She now has two track meets under her belt.  She has a bit of "performance anxiety".  She does well in practice but just gets so nervous before a meet!  She is improving though!  Tonight, she didn't hit a single hurdle on the way over!  (Last meet she hit every single one!)  She also beat someone in tonight's meet, and last meet...well...she didn't beat anyone.  So, she's pretty bummed, but I say "Hey!  You are getting better with each meet!  Way to GO!"

Getting in the running mindset!

The 200 meter relay.

200 m dash

200 m dash

200 m hurdles

can you SEE the tongue sticking out concentration?

great form!

We're proud of you, Rachel!  Way to run!

Ethan's Turn

for the spotlight.  He had his Elementary Spring Concert on Tuesday night.  The 4th grade sounded wonderful!

waiting (patiently?) for their turn to sing.

love that grin!

Great job, Ethan (and the 4th grade class)

I can barely CONTAIN my EXCITEMENT!

Just LOOK at Friday's weather forecast!!!!

Would you LOOK at that?  It says 80*   And SUNSHINE! 

That's ALMOST warm enough for me!  Woo HOO!

Piano Recital

Rachel had a piano recital this afternoon.  She opened the recital, playing the theme to the Pink Panther.  She did great, although she is quite embarrassed that she "lost her place" for a moment.  After a few other folks played, she took a turn on the electric keyboard, set to organ sound, to play the classic hit "Let It Be", where she, again did an awesome job!  She also played the finale, "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)".  We are so proud of her!

Here she is playing the Pink Panther theme. 

and here she's playing "Let It Be"

concentration!

Way to go, Rachel!

Sandy

Prom

Caleb went to his Senior Prom last night.  He had a great time!  He looked handsome, and Katie looked beautiful, and they had lots of fun!  Didn't they look GREAT?

at the Grand March

Caleb and his buddies...Ward, Caleb, Sam and Adam

Caleb and his best friend, Sam. 

Glad they had a great time, and I'm thankful that they all got home safely after a fun evening with friends.

Sandy