New Project

Keira started sewing a dress for herself.

Fabric has been chosen, and the pattern has been pinned and gathered.

More Awards

At last weekend's AMP Plano Theater Award show (kind of like the local theater version of the Tony's) Katharine won an award for best dance performance and was a finalist for a bunch of others 

Here she is pictured with her friend (and often co-star) Abbey and her director Morgan.

Dog Food

The vet asked us to put Sherman on a special diet. 

No more dry dog food (which he hated and never finished half the time), but rather a mix of certain unseasoned meats/rice/grains/vegetables.

The meal often looks good enough to eat, and it quite literally is.

Now as for the "diet" part..

I messed up the portions last night, and gave him around 3 or 4 times as much food as he is supposed to get. 

And that little dig still cleaned it all up in a few minutes!

Performance Awards

The annual Performance Awards were held at dance last weekend. 

Each girl performs a small program (no costumes or loud music) and is judged on their technical abilities and performance. It is more academic than entertainment.

Keira and her friends all pulled down gold medals and a scholarship to a summer NYC Dance Intensive that none of them will ever go to..

Table Tops and Bottoms

The Martels gave us a nice activity table for our Tree Room, 

Keira quickly put it to use, but still preferred the floor to the chairs..

Ballerina Birthdays

Katharine earns extra money dressing up for birthday parties at her dance studio.

She has also been assisting teachers with some of their dance classes, and will officially go on the payroll this Fall.

Who says a dance career can't pay?

RIP Pepper, and Happy Showers

Old man Pepper passed on today, after 15 years of great companionship.

Pepper facts:

Pepper was a great hunter, and was still catching mice when he was 15

Pepper loved to be sprinkled with water, and step into the shower after it was turned off

Favorite food: yogurt and Whisker Lick'ens crunchies

Pepper always meowed when he came back in from outside (he could use the pet door by himself)

Pepper liked to sleep in Kassidy's room

Pepper liked to nap in laundry and wicker baskets

Pepper always came into the bedroom at night for one last cuddle before sleep

Pepper loved to go outdoors, and sit under garden furniture in the rain

Pepper was very talkative, and would meow back to you if you started talking to him

Pepper and Sherman were friends, and Sherman always deferred to Pepper and watched over him

Pepper paid attention to what was on TV, more than most animals do

Pepper had long hair that would often get matted if he wasn't brushed

Pepper never scratched furniture and always used his litter box

Iria picked out Pepper at Petco with my Mom

Favorite spot to get rubbed: face, chin and behind the ears

At night Pepper would always come inside and sit on my lap while we watched TV

Iria hand-fed Pepper his crunchies and yogurt

Kassidy carried Pepper around by the nape of his neck, and he never fussed

Pepper never scratched or growled at any of our kids

Birthday Games

Some of the boys headed to Tristan's birthday party after the game today, and the playing didn't stop.

Everybody but Lennon and Tristan would eventually get in big trouble over the bubble soap and bounce house. 

Our boys are the mature ones :)

Farewell Ladies

Linda and Erika fly back to Germany today.

We will all miss them (especially Sherman).

She got Spunk

Keira has started asking for an allowance, although I don't think that she quite understands exactly what that means just yet.

She has always been a great cleaner, although apparently quite a pricey one.

Good for her :)

Happy Birthday, Katharine!

We are 16X more proud of our wonderful daughter as her birthday comes around again- and it just happens to be her Sweet 16 :)

Katharine facts:

Favorite subject in school: geography/human geography

Loves drawing, going to theater rehearsal, going to dance, and hanging out with family and friends

Currently playing: Smash Bros and Diablo and Overwatch

Favorite school subject this past year: civics

Least favorite: math

Currently listening to: musical soundtracks and 80's music

Favorite video game characters: DVA and Lucina

Favorite food: pizza

Favorite desert: cake

What she wants to be when he grows up; animator and/or theater performer

Least favorite thing about being a teenager: hormones and constantly being unsure about everything

Dream college: Cal Arts

Dream vacation: Europe trip

Favorite movie this past year: Spiderverse

Who she thinks will die in the next Avengers movie: Iron man and Captain America and maybe Thor

Favorite superhero: Spiderman

Favorite youtuber/streamer: CellSpex

Favorite performance from last year: Cabaret

Currently reading: Lots of fan fiction and Homer's Odyssey

Closest friends: Trinity / Paige / Barbara / Abbey

Favorite drink: water

Favorite number: 21

Birthday presents: a gold amethyst and diamond heirloom ring (Grandma), and money from relatives and ipad stuff

Birthday meal: Glorias

Favorite thing to do with Kassidy: being a big sister

Favorite thing to do with Keira: watching She'ra

Favorite thing to do with Lennon: playing video games

Favorite thing to do with Lukas: playing video games

Favorite thing to do with Mom: hanging out

Favorite thing to do with Dad: showing me her art

Broadway Cafe 2019

Here are a few pictures from Broadway Cafe this year. It was Lennon's first time participating in this youth choir fundraiser.

Pancake Art

Full house at the Martels this morning. 

All of their moving boxes arrived yesterday (they are returning to Dallas to live year round), and they have a bunch of friends and frousins visiting their children before they head back to Wisconsin tonight.

As always- food mixes and mingles with art in.

Super Blood Wolf Moon

We all got some fun science in last night, watching the eclipse.

And I have yet to take a decent picture of the moon with my iphone- just imagine it looking a lot bigger and spectacular.

Blankets

This is always Kassidy's pit stop on the way to breakfast after she gets up in the morning.

Sewing Circle

Everybody was busy working on their various sewing and knitting projects when I came home tonight.

Patchwork Pillow Production

Keira is currently sewing 11 pillows.

The best thing is- the more she makes, the more comfortable it is for her to sit and work!

Happy New Years!

General Sherman

Living up to his famous name, Sherman was assisting Katharine fight battles in Risk.

All Smiles

Sorry Dad, special request from Mom (when you were helping the Grand-kids build their birdhouse).

This is from a photo from \around 15 years ago. Dad was holding a baby and standing next to Mom (the reasons for his big smile, I presume) but Mom wanted me to Photoshop everything out but Dad :)

All in the Family

Here is our annual family portrait in front of the lobby Christmas tree at church.

Twas the Night Before Christmas,