Fourth of July Recap: Finale

Family. 

Ice Cream. Sparklers. 

Quilt. The Sound of Music. 

French Toast. BBQ.

Swimming.

Some final photo's from our Fourth of July weekend:

My niece, Daria, sewed this quilt for our family and surprised us with it. It is absolutely beautiful and perfect for snuggling Elisabeth...as is evident in the picture above.

   

It was another first holiday for Elsa Lelise. 

She pretty much thought the Fourth of July was fabulous!

  

It was a very busy, non-stop kind of weekend. 

But, I think perhaps my favorite moment was this quiet little one...

  

...where I discovered my girls huddled around a story book as it was being told on the record player in the background. (Before you could download audiobooks, or buy books on CD or books on tape...there were books on record.)

God Bless 

America.

The Sound of Music

The hills are alive...

The Fourth of July was opening night of The Sound of Music. Alexandra is cast as Marta Von Trapp and had the time of her life performing in front of a sold-out audience. You should have seen her afterwards - she was glowing she was so happy! She told me it was 'the best night of [her] life'.

Here are some photographs from the musical. It is being performed in an outdoor amphitheater alongside the great Columbia River. (Photos courtesy of Chelsea Taylor)

Meeting Maria.

 

Do-re-mi.

Liesl sneaking in.......and.......Children afraid of a thunderstorm.

Curtain clothes.

 

Edelweiss with Captain Von Trapp.

 

The concert.

My Marta:

And now a few behind-the-scenes and during-intermission snapshots:

Backstage, Von Trapps play Uno.

 

Lorelai and cousin Daria.

 

This is how Elisabeth enjoys a show.

 

Elsa and cousin Danee. 

(Can you tell that Elsa likes to jump into every picture possible? This girl loves the camera!)

My view from the orchestra.

There are still four more shows this week, Thursday through Sunday!

So if you haven't yet, come, come!

Click here for show information and to purchase tickets.

(It is double cast, so if you want to see Alexandra, 

make sure to buy your tickets for the 10th or 12th.)

4th of July Recap: Part 2

Swimming

  

Alexandra Louise, lounging in the pool.

 

This baby loves her papa.

 

Donald with our four daughters.

 

Lorelai Leigh, living the good life.

 

Cousins!

 

4th of July Recap - Part 1

The 

Family 

BBQ

Oh, what a weekend! We had family come from the other side of the state as well as Utah. It was so fun to be together and celebrate!

We kicked off the weekend with a barbeque in our backyard. I had a blast seeing my girls playing with their cousins. This is always special for me to watch since I myself have no cousins at all, not a one!

[Family!]

 

[A new flag flying on our homestead.]

 

[How many cousins can you fit on a teeter totter?]

And once the sun set, a little pre-4th-of-July sparkler fun:

Magical.

The 4th of July!

Happy

Independence 

Day!!

4th of July, 2009

As I write this post it is a very similar scene: everyone is napping - including house guests. 

Good thing, because we have an exciting evening ahead! 

It's opening night of The Sound of Music! Alexandra is so excited! 

Just two hours until curtain!

They're Comin' Out!

"I'm getting my tonsils taken out!"

 

Finally.

This has been the longest process in the history of medical processes. I have been working on this since the new year! Things just seem to drrraaaaaaaag in the ENT world - quite different from the world of neurosurgery, I must say. Brain surgeons are a little more eager to operate, I guess. They get you in and out in a flash. Not the case wth the ear, nose, throat guys....it took 8 weeks to see a doctor to go over results from the sleep study.

But, at long last we have made it to the end of the road. We have a date set to have Elsa's tonsils and adenoids removed.

Hallelujah!

*** 

Picture of the Day:

 

"Whoa..."

Case in Point

My favorite parts of these pictures:

~ Big sisters tending to their little sister.

~ Elisabeth lounging with her hands behind her head - like a queen!

~ Lorelai rolling around in the background

~ Brigitta sniffing for food in the kitchen (I NEVER have to sweep anymore. She's a canine vacuum.)

In other news... 

Remember yesterday when I was talking about Alexandra's new-found self confidence??

Yeah well...

 

She taped a paper that states, "Alexandra is" to my pillow that reads "Practically Perfect in Every Way" 

Case in point.

[Alexandra, trying out the harp during rehearsal last night. The show is being performed at an outdoor amphitheater just next to the river. It's the perfect location for a summer musical - especially this one! Click here for ticket information and show details.]

The Next Stage of Childhood

Alexandra, standing alongside her wardrobe for The Sound of Music. She has seven costume changes!

Last night was fun...so fun! Performing in the orchestra while my daughter was on stage - indescribable. As I was playing I thought back to when she was a baby and I dreamed of her growing and us doing things together - and now here we are. I'll tell you what, being a parent is such an amazing thing. I love watching my children grow and learn. Each phase of childhood has been a treasure: the baby years, the toddler years, the elementary years. Now Alexandra has entered the next stage, she is a little older and a lot more independent.

I don't think I ever mentioned it here on the blog, but auditioning for The Sound of Music was all Alexandra's idea. Every step from deciding to audition, to preparing her audition song, to making sure I was available to drive her - it was all her. And once she made it into the show she took full responsibility for learning her parts, practicing the songs, and keeping track of rehearsals. Indeed, this is the first glimpse I've had at the next stage of childhood. 

Seeing my child take a step from dependence toward independence; watching her gain confidence; observing as she discovers who she is and what she wants in life - therein lies the greatest joy in parenting.