Jazz Under The Stars

I must say...as an adult it is genuinely FUN to hang out with my mom and dad. I thought that my parents were 'fun' when I was a teenager...but I would NOT have ever admitted it...nor would I have desired to hang out with them. By the time I would have enjoyed their company again...I was married and living 1000 miles away. So yet another benefit of moving back to Texas is being able to hang out with my parents (Kyle's parents too btw!).

They invited us last weekend to a jazz performance at my 'little' brother's school. My 'little' brother, Adam, may be 19 years YOUNGER than me...but he is now OFFICIALLY taller than my husband...oh my! He has spent many years playing classical guitar, and he is REALLY good - at least he has been on those rare occasions where we can convince him to put on a mini-concert for us. He picked up the bass guitar just so he could play in the jazz band...and he has some MAD SKILLS!! (that IS a compliment...right???...ha!) Not only does he play with the jazz band, but he also plays in the jazz combo - a smaller, more exclusive group, that travels and performs at functions, etc.

My grandmother was also present for the concert and my how she enjoyed it!! Alot of the music was from the 1940s and 50s...what she considered "her music." They even played "Sentimental Journey" - which was my grandfather's and her song. She mentioned that she couldn't count the number of times the two of them had danced to that song. My grandfather was VERY musical - he picked the guitar up very late in life - and it would have pleased him to NOOOO end to see his youngest grandson playing guitar. Alas, he died in 1995...Adam was not quite 4 years old. So, it was bittersweet for my grandmother to watch - enjoying it herself...but missing my G-dad terribly!!

I must apologize to my mom for the antics with her phone. OK - so perhaps the 'apology' is more of an excuse to re-live the hilarity?? I hope that by now she has taken the time to figure out how to use the camera....and change the wall-paper. Kyle and I might not be so 'kind' as to reset everything back the NEXT time. moooo-waaaaah!!! (diabolical laugh)

15 years!!!

Well, I think it is kind of funny that I am upstairs posting a blog about my 15th wedding anniversay, meanwhile Kyle is downstairs playing the Wii game that I gave him (Tiger Woods golf...or something along those lines). I guess that is what 15 years of marriage does! ha!

We had a fabulous evening! We ate at the County Line...really pigged out would be a more appropriate term. It was a great evening - just the two of us - and we took some time to reflect over the last 15 years and allowed ourselves to think about the next 15. Oh my! That was eye-opening!! It occured to us that our baby boy would be about ready to graduate from high school in another 15 years...let alone the ages of his sisters...23 and 25. At that moment we hoped and prayed that the next 15 years would NOT fly by so quickly as the last 15 years have. Although I do think we should have added a caviat that would allow us to change our minds when our girls get to that 'oh so pleasant' teenager stage...I have a feeling that I will want to speed through that time period and get to the mid-twenties when they will consider that Kyle and I will again have an IQ that can be respected.

I wish that I can say that 15 years of marriage has been easy-breezy...but I have to admit, there have been times when it has been hard work...for BOTH of us. However, when it is all said and done, there isn't another man on the planet that I would rather spend the REST OF MY LIFE with! I thank God for crossing our paths 19 years ago (almost exactly) at that scholarship interview...where Kyle held my purse for me. That is the man I feel in love with...that is the man I am in love with...that is the man I will be in love with...forever.

Summer's Dance Recital

After missing two weeks of dance rehearsals due to the swine flu break, I wondered if Summer's dance recital would be postponed. However, in true show-biz fashion and 'the show must go on' mentality Summer performed with the Cibolo Hermann Sons dancers at Texas Lutheran University yesterday. She complained most of Saturday about being nervous and not really wanting to perform, but once she was out on the stage during the dress rehearsal she was fine. She loved it! She couldn't WAIT for the performance!

She has danced for 3 years now...but she hadn't performed since she was 5. The year we moved she missed the recital and then last year she choose soccer over dance...so it had been 3 years since she had been on stage...I think a few nerves were justified! The girls danced to True Blue by Madona - (that is the blue tap outfit) - and Sunrise by Nora Jones (that is the yellow ballet outfit). I liked them both, but my favorite was the tap routine - the parents and kids voted for that for their group photo as well.

Summer was blessed with LOTS of family to watch her - Granny, PopPop, Mime, Grace, Dustin, Lisa, Caitlin, Taylor, and of course Kyla, Luke, Kyle, and me! Yet another instance when it is WONDERFUL to be near the family - they can share in your children's exciting moments. It's GREAT! I was able to make two flower arrangements for her out of all of the flowers she received - she felt like such a DIVA! You can probably tell that by the smile from ear to ear in her pictures! ha!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

After our swine-flu break, life seemed to pick up at a rapid pace and I have felt about 10 steps behind ever since. The break extended our soccer season yet another week. However, we FINALLY finished the season Saturday - a close game...but sadly, a loss. Kyla played goalie the 2nd half of the game and did an OUTSTANDING job. She even had a stop where she went for the ball and was practically tackled by an opposing player...she has a scrape right at her hair-line on the nape of her neck - a battle scar. A little frightening for mom...but it was something for her to talk about all day. ha!

It stresses me out to watch her play goalie. I wonder if she realizes all the pressure that 'should' be on her in that position?? There were 3 different kids who played that position this year...interchangably...and the coach awarded them with a special trophy at the end of the season party. Can you tell how proud Kyla is of hers??

Coach Mark has been an excellent coach these past four seasons that we have played with him. We learned at our last game that this will be his last year as coach of the Prowlers. His son, Stephen, was accepted by one of the Lions' teams - no surprise, he is an EXCELLENT player - and so we will be without him AND Stephen in the fall. It will be interesting to see what the fall will bring. I'm sure whatever it is, will be a fun new adventure to Kyla.

Swine Flu Break Week #2

By the second week of the swine flu break the natives were getting a little restless! Luke LOVED having his girls home all day long - they provide him endless hours of entertainment - but with no swimming pool open....and really nowhere to go....the girls' patience was running thin. You can imagine this was doing the same thing to mine!

Granny & PopPop stepped in just in time to save us. They had Kyla and Summer spend the night on alternating nights. Kyla went first, on Monday...and Summer was going to go on Wednesday...after we were to get home from the Dinosaur Musical (another sneak out and about). However, just as quickly as it all began - it was to end. We got a phone call on Tuesday evening (5/5) that the kids were to be back at school on Thursday (5/7). It seems the CDC reversed it's decision to close schools for 2 weeks and so our district had permission to re-open. Luckily, Summer could spend Tuesday night at Granny and PopPop's house and THEN we could go to the musical and finish our swine flu break strong!

We saw the Dinosaur Musical at the Magik Theater. What a GREAT job they do! We have seen 3 productions there now...and it is fun to pick out the actors/actresses based on the other roles we have seen them in. For instance - we knew the prince dinosaur was also Cry Baby William from Junnie B...and we recognized Junnie B...and Meanie Jim...and the actress who had played the mouse in "If you Give A Mouse a Cookie", etc. ha! :)

When Thursday morning rolled around, it was as if it were the first day of school. The girls were excited to see their friends....of course! We have since found out that the days will NOT have to be made up. The state is allowing us an exemption because the circumstances of the closure were not in the school district's control. However, we have had to deal with the cancellation of sooo many fun, end-of-school activities - field trips, field day, talent show, even the science fair. But I guess we can deal with that, if it means we won't have to stay in school until mid-June!!

Swine-Flu Break Week #1

Well, let's just say that life took an interesting turn a few weeks ago here in Guadalupe county! The swine flu 'epidemic' hit a local high school and before you knew it the ENTIRE school district was shut down for almost two weeks. We found out the schools were closing from a recorded phone call on Sunday afternoon - April 26th. We were told to keep the kids home for the week...avoid contact with other kids...stay away from crowds, etc. It was CRAZY! However, we did our best to comply (until Friday). I must admit I did have to take the kids to the store with me in the middle of the week. With such little notice, I didn't exactly have the pantry stocked for 24-7 home life.



The first week was novel...we stayed in...played the Wii...or played in the backyard. We weren't supposed to go to our neighborhood park - and ALL the city parks were closed...and the library too. However, on Friday, we headed north on I-35 and went to Mime's house. Mime treated us to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch and the kids had a WONDERFUL time! Luke must have tried EVERY game in the place! It was sooo nice to get out and about - but we DID use Germ-X at every turn...just in case!

On the way home from Mime's, we got a phone call from Kyle who had just driven past the school district office on his way to grab a bite to eat. The automated sign read that school was also closed for the next week. By this point, Kyla and I were over it and disappointed, however, Summer was excited for yet another week at home.