This Was Awesome... Dress Rehearsal

That famous Annie overture. The curtain opens. And your baby has the first lines of the performance. I get the chills just thinking about it.



Especially when her first lines are, "mama mama mommy"



Oh and that spotlight on her.  It's just too cool for words.



"Shut your trap Molly"



"It's okay Molly, Annie's here"



"Blow"



"Maybe far away"  I got to watch her little eyes flutter closed and man is she ever good at faking sleep.





And I adored the silly scenes like her hiding in the laundry basket and her muffled voice, "nothin" when Miss Hannigan yells "what are you doin in there?"





"I love you Miss Hannigan"



Oh Abigail you are such an actress!



A quick costume change and she's in this scene.



Can you see her smile?  And those shoes she's wearing.  Adore.





But THIS song was such a joy to watch!  "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" And I love love love those shoes!











Oh this one!





A New Deal For Christmas 



"And oh what a fix, no peppermint sticks!"







I love this... because it's a dress rehearsal you can see my Dad walking back and forth in front of the stage.



And yes, this was only the dress rehearsal. But I love it so...

Annie

My Dad has been directing children's Musical Theatre for 42 years. Each year he produces a HUGE show that lasts most of the school year. It culminates into one amazing show. Well, actually there are six performances, I think. And each summer he directs a smaller, quick show that he can get up and going in less than four weeks.

When I was growing up I was in ALL of his summer shows. And this summer Abigail wanted to be in one of "grandpas shows". So we said, sure!

I thought she'd be scared up there and oh so quiet. I thought she'd make a cute orphan and be 'just' an orphan. But on the first three days the kids 'try out' (everyone gets to be in it... tryouts are just to see who is who for the show) my Dad sat down next to me, pointed to the stage, and said, "look at your daughter".

She had expression. She sang and danced her heart out.

And so she got the part of Molly. MOLLY!

Molly has lines! Molly wears a microphone! Molly sings solo lines in songs! Really? We were so excited to watch her over the past month grab onto the challenge and joy of becoming "molly".









Tonight is the big performance and we are over the moon to see our girl up there! MOLLY!

Still Cooking

Learning to to cook (and clean up) takes patience. But they love it. And I love that we're together.



So we had another round of good lunches this week.



Abigail has had fun with her little Elecare cookbook. And although they aren't exactly the lunches that we're used to we sure are happy to indulge our little cook. (especially since eating is one big important thing in her life. One that she struggles with) But this has been fun ... trying new recipes with her!







And Anna certainly is not taking the easy way out. She likes a longer recipe.



One that involves her at the stove and flipping things.  She is one great breakfast for lunch cook!



I have to admit, I hated the idea of her sweeping.  I thought, how good could she really be?  But my oh my, she got all those crumbs into a pile in the middle of the floor like a champ!



Summer, summer, summer, time, time, time........

This Space

When she's wearing a cherry dress



That just happens to match the colors out here right now



And her face is lit up from the pages in the book



And I know that snow will one day cover this place up for months and months



I just have to capture it



So that I know



It will come again



The End

Sazuki Solo Recitals

At the end of the school year the girls played in their solo recitals.

Abigail played May Song.





Anna played Minuet by Bach





And they did an amazing job!

All I Need

a song he sent me



When he's away we are oh so happy when he comes home.  Everything just feels right.



Even my backyard feels better.  Ahh... they're playing tag again the grass is saying.







yup... all I need...