Preview Night

Tonight was a run through of the first two songs in the marching band's show. Kai was excited to show us what they had learned so far. Apparently, they had the third song (Rock It) almost done, and was a week ahead of where the band was last year as far as getting the show together. It was exiting to see the band in action with all their regalia. Kairi had a lot of fun, but has to remember to hold her horn higher ("I'm trying!" she says).

The band played the jazz standard Chameleon by Herbie Hancock, and Walk This Way by Aerosmith, and then a couple of their stadium songs like "The Hey! Song" (Rock and Roll Part 2) and Wipe Out (with an "interesting" dance by the tubas).

Here's a video of Chameleon:


If you don't see it, or can't play it, try clicking here

Back To School ... Again

The new school year started today for Kai and Nick. Kai enters 7th grade in advanced Math, with a male homeroom teacher, and as the first chair French Horn in the middle school band. Nick starts 3rd grade with a brand-spanking new teacher.

Both the children were excited, although I was a little apprehensive. Was Kai going to be able to go to band camp three nights a week, ballet and private French Horn lessons once a week, and still keep up with homework? What about Nicky with football and Tae Kwon Do? Would Nicky remember which bus was his, and when to get off on the way home (he hadn't taken the bus since Kindergarten)? Would the family survive through October, when football season ended?

Well, so far, so good. Barry and the kids arrived early to make sure Nick got on the bus, and the rest of us got out the door on time, bags and all. Kai and Nick ended up having a great first day. Both of them had plenty of friends in their classes, although Kai is without Sherry on her team again this year.

The only problem ended up being that Nick's bus was so late coming back (because some kids got on the wrong bus) that it became difficult for Jenn to get Kai to band practice on time. But things will smooth out as the weeks go by. Now, all we have to worry about is Kai remembering how to say "May I please go to the bathroom?" in Spanish.

26-20, Little Panthers

Does it matter that the Catasaqua Rough Riders only have a 90lb. team, not an 80lb. team?
Does it matter that since you're on the 80lb. team, you spent most of the game on the sidelines?
Does it matter that when you got into the game, you only got to play one series because the 80lb. offense was seriously outmatched by Catty's 90lb. defense?
Or is the final score of 26-20, Little Panthers, the only thing that matters? Congrats on your first win, Nick!

Technobliss

Lookie what I got on my desk when I returned to school. Isn't it purty???? 20" flat screen monitor, quiet as a mouse, speedy quick... I loves it.

Now I gotta find a way to get one for home!

Band Camp

Whoever thought the last few weeks of August was a good time to have middle and high school kids march in formation on a shadeless field carrying heavy instruments is a sadist.

Still, other than her ankle injury still hurting her, Kai seemed to do okay during band camp. Seven hours a day of playing and marching, marching and studying formations, hauling equipment and marching. She's a little crazy, methinks.

I hope the fun of playing in the stands and on the field and at all the various band competitions that will keep us going all through October is worth all this hard work!

Last Golden Taste of Summer

"Summer's gone... it's winter's fault my summer went away..." - Gaelic Storm

Summer's not completely over of course. I'm sure we'll still have some warm days, and even some downright muggy ones. The calendar doesn't even put the end of summer until September 21. But this golden sunset hour in the park on Saturday felt like the end of summer.

Next week, both kids are on a full time band and football schedule. I start back to work on Wednesday. The lazy, golden days of summer are winding up, whatever the calendar says.

No more wearing pajamas until noon if we want to. Only a few more days of the waterpark at Dorney. No more vacations, or family vacationing at our house. Staying up until all hours needs to end, or getting up at 5AM isn't going to start. It's dark by 8:30. School clothes are piled in bedrooms. A flock of over eager migratory geese flew overhead at Dorney on Sunday. We're cleaning up the Sunday School rooms for Rally Day.

Summer's definitely on the way out. But that's okay - only 292 days until summer vacation!

Juli, Juli, and More Juli

I love these shots I took of Juli while I was trying to entertain her at Putt U. She's so darn pretty!

Putt U

Putt U is the best mini golf course around! We had so much fun this weekend playing a round on the red course. Kairi got a hole in one, but we didn't really keep score. Would have been hard with Faith setting the ball four inches from the cup at each hole.
We wanted to spend a lot of time with Hannah this weekend because she goes back to her mom's house to start school soon. We'll miss her so much!

Community Day

We took Cyndy's family to Community Day this year. As you can see, Juli had a ball. (Groan....)
As usual, everyone enjoyed the free rides and giveaways - the kids got to win stuffed animals at the duck pond, coloring books and fanny packs at the obstacle course, and get piles of goodies from all the other booths.

Kairi got to play as an official member of the marching band for the first time. She's having a bit of a hard time holding up that heavy horn and her music folder, but she'll get the hang of it!
Nicky escaped from a burning building. Okay, he really escaped from the burning building simulator the fire department was running, but still, I'm glad he knows what to do in a fire!
And of course, our two girliest girls had to get their faces painted. So cute!

Family

It's not all joy and happiness, you know. We argue. Boy, do we ever. We scream and make nasty faces, too. Our kids throw temper tantrums the like of which you've never seen. And they're champion whiners. Heck, they learned from the best, cause some of us adults take prizes in whine. We walk away to avoid killing each other once in awhile. We complain. We worry. Our kids don't listen, and that goes for Mom's kids, too, more often than not.

And then.

You look down at a child, and they smile up at you, and put their hand in yours. You reach out your arms, and someone steps in for a hug. You make a joke, and at least one pair of eyes meets yours in a grin, or a voice laughs out loud. Hair gets tugged, shoelaces get tied, toddlers are watched by more than one set of eyes at all times. Quarters come out of every purse for duck food, snacks are handed to anyone who looks hungry. When the photographer finally gets everyone looking in the same direction for a picture of six squirmy kids, applause breaks out spontaneously loud enough to make everyone in the studio jump . Advice, smiles and conversation are always free.

And if your eyes suddenly well up with tears of emotion looking at a family portrait you never thought would happen everything stops until you've been hugged and teased and comforted back into laughter.

Because what you can't see in this picture is the one thing that matters more than all of the rest. Family means you are loved.

(And YES, everyone, I'm DONE being SAPPY now!)

Playgrounds, Pictures and Pizza

After the crazy but fun excursion to the zoo, we took today much slower. A trip to the playground, the photo studio, and Pizza Hut were the only adventures we embarked on. Even then, you get some stares travelling as a group of 13. The patrons in Pizza Hut might have been a bit overwhelmed by our large, noisy group. But the kids were all very well behaved, so too bad for anyone who didn't like us - have you ever tried to feed 13 people for three days?

The photo studio was also an adventure, but a great one. We got a wonderful family portrait, and a bunch of other good shots as well.
After all that, the kids blew off some cooped up energy running around the playground.
You know your family is into taking pictures when you just left a photo studio and everyone is still stepping into each other's shots at the park!
So, what do you do when you've worked out all of your energy?
Head to Aunt Cyndy's for some frosting and cake (in that order) to replenish your sugar levels, of course!

What A Zoo!

We took the zoo to the zoo today. My sister Angie is in town with her husband Jeff and their youngest, Christopher. (Their older two are out of high school and stayed home.) I haven't seen her in 17 years, so it was wonderful to have them here. My mom and my other sister Cyndy and her family joined us, so we were a party of 13 for the three days they were here. Talk about chaos! But we had such a great time. The picture above is Christopher. He's only two, believe it or not, but he's much bigger than his three year old cousin Faith.
We got to the zoo really early. No one had been particularly thrilled to get out of bed and on our way by 7 AM, but we mostly managed it. Cyndy and Barry beat us all to our rendezvous point, though!

The kids enjoyed the benefits of our membership - lots and lots of free animal rides! Faith laughed the whole time on the draft horse, sandwiched between Hannah and Nick.
And Christopher, who was a bit shy, had no problem hanging out with his cousin Kairi as long as they were on horseback!
The Treehouse was a hit too - I've never seen my kids actually enjoy the place so much. I guess the built in playmates helped!

Although Cyndy may not appreciate it, I love this shot of her with Mom - they both look so relaxed and happy. Of course, this was before we had all towed 6 kids, two strollers, three backpacks and a myriad of cameras all around the zoo!
We stopped in to feed the birds. It didn't go so well for Nick this time. Mommy was too busy defending the littler ones to notice this lorikeet infringing his personal space! (Until I took the picture.)

Not to mention, somehow, with all the little people to take pictures of, this is the only shot I have from the day of my sister Angie. But, like I said, we had several cameras going, so I know I'll get a few more on CD.
Christopher really liked the birds. But then, he really likes pirates, and what's a pirate without a colorful parrot?
Even Faith got into the action - after we circled back around so she could go through again. Had to throw this picture of Kairi in here. Somedays, I'm just struck by how pretty she really is. How the heck did she get so darn big??
QUICK! Get a picture! They're all together for 8 milliseconds! Okay, that's over.

More pony riding... Hannah looks adorable,
Christopher looks thrilled...
Faith's just angelic!
Kairi concurs that Nicky belongs on the animal side of the fence, I think.We actually skip the petting zoo, usually, but with all these little ones that just wasn't an option.

Oh yeah. And we saw animals. There's a concept!