Flat Stanley

We've enjoyed participating in the library summer reading activities. We've been reading about Flat Stanley and each got to take a picture of him vising somewhere.

Julene took her Flat Stanley the most places and has enjoyed reading his books the most. Jared even listens in during reading time. She took him on a family hike.

 We sure love our library and all the fun suggestions and activities they give us.

Romeo, Romeo

The three older children participated in a Theater camp for the month of June. It helped us keep some structure that I think most of us enjoyed, and it still left time to do other fun summer activities. They all loved being in the play. Their favorite part was being in it together, not very common with their varying ages. Nathan was Romeo.

He wasn't very excited about the part until he learned about the sword fights. They were able to have weapons' expert come and teach them how to do stage combat.

He just kissed her hand.

It was a shortened version of Romeo and Juliet because it was a play within a play. But there was still some very hard and challenging dialogue. They took on the challenge and were reciting Shakespeare at every spare moment. We were pleased to have Randy's mom, my parents and some friends in the audience.

Marianne was the chorus.

Janae got to play a "pants role", where a girl plays a boys part. She was the Friar. It was supposed to be serious (and she was), but that wig she is wearing was more than we could stand.  It was all we could do not to bust out laughing. The forehead went on forever. It took all our will power to stay silent, and Randy missed every line she said trying to bury is giggles.

The play continued with Jr High kids putting on their own version of Romeo and Juliet.

Marianne still got to be the Chorus. With costumes now picked out by Janae's character.

Then Marianne spent the rest of the performance sticking her head through the curtains, making silly faces, and once trying to do the splits. This is Janae in one of her many costumes changes. 

Nathan playing Mercution in the bad play. I love his Genie hat and foam noodles for swords. Don't miss Marianne.

In this bad version Mercutio even comes back to life and continues fighting with everyone. Marianne still there.

Janae even comes out in a gorilla costume that I don't have a picture of.  We loved this experience. The play was sure fun especially watching 3 special people.

Summer Birthday

We got the Birthday Girl laughing so hard she couldn't even blow out her candles. This teenager has really grown up and has changed a lot being in 7th grade

• She has embraced playing the oboe, and we like seeing her perform in her school plays (looking forward to more in the future)
• such a wonderful big sister, everyone wants Janae to play with them
• Still likes to be with her family
• She always tries to do what's right, I can see her testimony of Jesus Christ growing
• She's a great reader and sometimes stays up way too late to finish the best part of the book
• She's become much more independent and responsible
 

What a great group of girls. Janae has such wonderful friends

June Baseball

Marianne played her first year of softball. She got some great hits. It was fun to be on an all girl team. She really improved throughout the season. It was a coincidence that she and Nathan were both named Giants. Go Giants!

Nathan had a great season. He got to play lots of positions. I think his favorite was 2nd base, but he also liked catcher, pitcher and shortstop. He's becoming very good at throwing accurately.

Let's Start at the Begining of Summer

Summer Starts with the end of School. We celebrated our dance festival at the Elementary school.

Spectators have just as much fun as the performers.

Julene did the cutest duck dance. But right at the begining her hat blew off . She would do all the steps while looking longingly at her hat a few feet away. She just wouldn't get out of position to get it. She finally picked it up at the end, and then she posed and smiled to show me how she really could dance.

The children all had really fun songs to dance to and had me download them so we could enjoy them at home. One of the nice blessings of the digital age. I was even able to find Julene's duck dance once I heard the song. Dynamite, Move it, Move it, Ducks don't Dance.