SNOW

We have a lot of it!!! At this point, I can measure around a foot. It is still snowing, and is supposed to keep on snowing right through tomorrow morning. Yikes!

Church services for tomorrow have already been cancelled. That's a big disappointment, because our service tomorrow was going to be so special. First the Bell Choir was to play. Then my children's choir kids were ready to sing two songs. A young man/former dance student of mine who is a professional actor/singer/dancer had prepared a beautiful medley of

Angels, we Have Heard on High/Silent Night/O Holy Night. My daughter, C, was going to dance during the "Angels" section, ending by ringing the C5 bell as J began singing Silent Night. The Chancel Choir was prepared to join him on the chorus of Silent Night, and then J would continue into O Holy Night. Then, as if that wasn't enough music, the Chancel Choir had prepared a beautiful Cantata. B1 had a solo in it. All that hard work and now . . . nothing. There is hope that the Cantata can be done at the early Christmas Eve service. I hope I can get my children's choir together for that service, or maybe for next Sunday's service. I'm not sure if J will be in town long enough to get to do his songs.

BUT, we're all safe and sound. It's a beautiful snow, and we're enjoying this time together. I have baked and cooked (and washed dishes) all day long.

Again

So another 6 weeks have gone by and I've posted nothing. My biggest problem is that I seem to no longer be able to change the colors and fonts I'm using and that really annoys me. I think if I try to do it on my computer at home, I'll have more success. Planning to work on it tonight or tomorrow while it snows the 1 to 18 inches we're supposed to get. @@! Note that I KNOW my colors do not match the gorgeous new background I just added -- I'll be fixing that ASAP!!!!!!!! :)

Seriously?

Really? Has it REALLY been this long since I've paid attention to my blog? Wow. It's a good thing I mostly do this for myself and not a long list of readers. (But I do appreciate my follower! Hello, Teresa!)

So, where to begin? The rest of the winter flew by. C and I went to many more dance competitions. Then spring came. More competitions, and B1 went on his Band trip to Disney. VBS happened. We went to the beach. C and I left the beach, took the train to DC and went to a National Dance competition.

School started. Autumn began. Halloween trick-or-treating happened. And now, here we are.
I love Fall. I really do. But I am DREADING winter. UGH.

For now, though, I'll focus on the great things that occur between now and the end of the year. I really like November. The weather yesterday has been just gorgeous. Sunny with beautiful blue skies. Thanksgiving is coming up! And then: BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea!

I'm ready to get back into this. I have let it go far too long.

Happy Fall!

February is on it's way out. It was a fast -- and slow-- month. The bad weather days really made it drag for me, but we've had some decent, and even GOOD weather also, and that makes it seem as though the month has flown. :)

C and I went to Cleveland last weekend for the first big Dance competition of the year. There are no solos done at this one, just duo/trio, groups, lines, productions. C and her duo partner won 1st place in the Junior Ballet duo/trio category and were awarded for having the highest score in the Junior division. They actually had the 2nd highest score in the whole competition -- even among the teen and senior divisions!! The two groups C dances in -- one is a Ballet group, and the other was registered in "Open" because there are more than two "tricks" in the choreography -- took 1st and 2nd place respectively in their categories. Both dances fell into the teen division with the averaging of the dancers' ages. All in all it was a good weekend. We had fun even though it's a very busy and exhausting trip.

B1 is at the state wrestling tournament today, cheering on classmates. Apparently some are doing pretty well.

B2 is being more mindful of his schoolwork which makes me very happy.

I have gotten myself addicted to Facebook. Yikes. :)

IS 40 the new 30?

Jennifer Aniston and I have something (probably just ONE thing) in common. We're both now 40. She turned the big 4-0 sometime last week. Today is my birthday. Woohoo!

Actually, I don't really have any problem with it. I mean, it's just a number, though a larger number than I have ever been before. Age is really all about attitude, isn't it?

But here's the thing: Yes, Jennifer Aniston looks amazing. So do a bunch of other celebrities who turn 40 this year. They look great; they feel great. They are in their prime. Good for them.

Yes, they work. But do they work all day, only to later schlep their children from one place to another, not getting home until 9 or after nearly every evening of every week of every year? When they arrive at their homes, do they have to dust, vaccum, wipe, wash, sweep, polish, and shine? Do they have to go to bed without working out yet again because they are just too darn tired to fit it in today's schedule -- or, worse yet -- it's already tomorrow so there's no possible way of exercising today, er, yesterday.

I'm just sayin'. . .

Now, am I happy to be 40? You bet! I'm still alive -- I have a wonderful family and great friends. Do I look as amazing as Jennifer Aniston? No way. Let's face it though, I never really did. So on this day of turning 40, I truly say "woohoo!".

To all my friends who are forty, who are past forty, or who will ONE DAY be forty, 40 might not be the new 30, but it's just fine. :)

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The title is me, rolling my eyes.

Let me preface this post by saying that I love my cat. I really do love her. Sure, she's a little skittish; she only has lovey lap time about twice a day. She frequently turns the love sessions into a biting/playing fest. But I love her.

Today, however, we went for her annual check up at the vet's office.

All was well; she got her Rabies and feline leukemia vaccines. Her skin/coat/eyes/teeth looked good. Great. Do you have any concerns?

Well, there's this thing where she pees on sweatshirts or whatever the kids take off and throw down.

Has it been all the time or just recently? Has it gotten worse?

Well, she didn't do it when we first got her home. Yes, it's become more frequent.

Ahhh, then it could be cystitis. That's usually the case with a young cat. Let's spin her urine and look for crystals. I'll do an ultrasound of her bladder. We'll see what's up.

Yes, Mrs. K, Gabby seems to have cystitis. We'll give her an anti-inflammatory injection and then start her on a special food, which will be a lifelong diet.

I love my cat.

Whew!

We made it through January! And the first week of February, which wasn't much better. Now, it's a lovely 55 degrees, the snow is gone for awhile, and I can enjoy this brief peek into Spring.

C and I had our first dance trip and it was a good one. Our studio had a lot of success! We can't wait for our Cleveland trip in a couple of weeks. Of course, I say that now but ask me when it's Thursday and we're leaving Friday afternoon and I am not packed and haven't been to the grocery store and. . .

B1 had a successful weekend while C and I were away. He placed 3rd in the County Math Field day and advances to the regional competition next month! It's very exciting. This is the best he's done since he started competing in Math Field day in 4th grade!

B2 continues his Soccer drills on Sunday afternoons/evenings. He complains a little, but it's good for him. :)

We have sent a video audition of C for considerations for American Ballet Theatre's Young Dancers Program. A photo in 1st arabesque was required. Here is the one we sent: