Little Comedian

Everyday at dinner Orion starts blowing raspberries and doing his best to get his brother and sisters to laugh at him. Of course they start laughing and then he amps up his antics even more. Silly baby!

 

Made In America

Last night was Phoenix's "Made In America" program at school. It was very cute and very entertaining with singing, speaking parts, props, and dancing. It also was just 30 minutes, the perfect length for a performance in my opinion. Phoenix is the first speaker at the beginning of the video. The song is the entire 3rd grade singing but I did zoom in on Phoenix during the song. She is in a red skirt, white shirt, and brown knee boots. Enjoy!

Do Everything

By Steven Curtis Chapman



The music video is a little weird but just listen to the lyrics. I heard this song yesterday in the car and while I had heard it before it spoke to me. Sometimes as stay-at-home moms it feels like what we are doing isn't important. Especially for very career driven woman like me. At this point in my life I expected to be a high powered attorney not a stay-at-home mom but you know what I couldn't be happier. The song says, "...wonder sometimes does it matter at all. Well let me remind you it matters just as long as you do everything you do to the glory of the one who made you." It goes on to talk about it doesn't matter if you're a high powered executive, or a stay-at-home mom, or the guy flipping burgers, as long as you do it to the glory of God it doesn't matter.

Big Announcement!

Video Tour of the New House - Main Level

My Jazz, Tap, and Ballet Star

Phoenix's dance recital was on May 1st but with our big move I never got a video posted. Without further ado, the highlights from Phoenix's three performances:

We've Got Talent

A couple weeks ago the kids' elementary school had their annual 5th grade talent show. At first Brennan was "too cool" to participate but about a week before the show his friends needed him to fill a small role in their McDonald's rap , so he was in. During the show I was impressed with how talented these kids really were. There were some really funny kids, great singers, great dancers, and great musicians. It honestly was more entertaining and well put together than I thought a elementary talent show could be. The show was long but below is a clip of the finale, which was great. Brennan is in the far back, left. I shot the video with my Flip camera about 8 rows back in not the best lighting so it is not professional but I think you'll get the idea!

Beautiful

Today was Youth Sunday at our church. Youth Sunday is the week where the worship service is turned over to the youth of the church to run and man, is there some energy in the room! Youth Sunday two years ago was actually the first time we attended Grace church and while energized, we weren't sure what to think, it was definitely more upbeat than we were used to. Now that I know what to expect I was delighted to walk into service today and to see the stage full of high schoolers on fire for Jesus. We sang so many great songs and I love worship music but this is one of my favorites we sang today so I wanted to share it with you, enjoy!

This Is Your Life!

By Switchfoot

The DC area Christian radio station I listen to has been playing this song the last few months and the lyrics are quite powerful. Searching around the internet I found out a music video was never released but this YouTube video with the music playing and the lyrics on screen is great because it forces you to truly think about what is being said. Isn't it amazing how music can move your soul?

The Sweet Sound of Music

I'll be the first to admit that while I was excited that my oldest was going to play the drums this year in band, I was not excited about the cost involved in renting him an instrument. He never practices at home unless I force him to and once I realized I had literally wasted $150 renting a silly drum I could've bought from Craigslist for $80 I was a little over the whole thing.

He says he likes playing the drum and wants to continue playing. I just don't see the practice, commitment, or follow-through I was hoping for.

Last night was the middle school, elementary school side by side concert where the 5th grade band students get to play a concert with the middle school band students. The middle school music teachers also feature exceptional middle school students in solo and trio performances. It truly was music to my ears! I reminded me how much I love live music. To get to hear a full orchestra and a full band play was a real treat and it is truly amazing how talented some of these middle school musicians really are.

Needless to say, mommy received a little attitude adjustment and I am once again thankful for the outstanding music program Baltimore County public schools has in place at the elementary level and beyond.

Without further ado, here is Brennan playing with the middle school band. He is a percussionist and is in the back right frame of the video. Hard to pick him out but the music is still great to hear, enjoy!

You Must Be The Change You Wish To See In The World

~Mahatma Ghandi

Helping others is an interesting thing. I find it brings more joy to me than anything else.

The Matthew West song, "My Own Little World" touches my hear each time I hear it. Yesterday on my way back from running errands and I heard the song and it spoke to me. I thought if I saw a homeless person or someone in need instead of passing by them and pretending they don't exist I was going to acknowledge them as a person and give them a little money, regardless of what they spent it on.

Not 2 minutes later as I pulled off the interstate there was a homeless man, not a lot older than me. One thing I remember about the interviews with Ted Williams, "the homeless man with the golden voice" is him saying one of the worst parts of being homeless is you feel invisible, people don't even acknowledge you exist. This touched me as well. How hard is it to say, "hi" and acknowledge someone else is another human being that deserves respect like the rest of us?

The exchange was simple, I rolled down my window, smiled and said, "hi, how are you"?, to which the man responded with a smile and, "a little better now". I handed him all my change, couldn't have been much more than a dollar, I smiled again and said, "may God bless you" and the light turned green and I went on my way.

The interesting part is how it impacted me. I've given money and food to the homeless before but over time has become a bit cynical about the whole situation. A lot of people are homeless because they struggle with mental illness, or alcohol or drug addiction, and money is often spent on drugs or alcohol, but you know what I realized yesterday, it is not my place to judge. I will not miss a dollar or even five. We have always been blessed with enough to meet our needs, even when things have been tight. It is much more important to respond to someone in need with compassion rather than judgement. This doesn't mean every time I see someone asking for money I'll be able to give but it does mean when I feel moved to give I won't resist it.

When Witches Go Riding, and Black Cats Are Seen, The Moon Laughs and Whispers, 'tis Near Halloween

Author of quote unknown

We like to do things like holidays big around our house. An excuse to decorate and throw a party and dress up, count me in! Here are the highlights from our Halloween adventures.

A glamour witch, a soccer star, and a scary boy is what we had in our household this year!

Have you ever seen a prettier witch?

I don't think soccer star is that far from the truth.

B was some sort of grim reaper, scary guy, and ever other 10 year old boy we know had a similar costume.

We of course made jack-o-lanterns. My kids are getting so big! This year they carved their pumpkins almost entirely independently.

We combined animals and trick-or-treating at Zoo Boo at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

And we hosted a rockin' 2nd annual Halloween party. That's my handsome husband, Indiana Jones.

Bobbing for apples is always the highlight of the party for the kids.

Bobbing for apples is no easy task and not surprising but no adults gave it a shot. We adults decided to show our competitive sides during our annual Halloween Cranium match.

Don't believe me that bobbing for apples is really exciting? Watch the video and you'll see!

Hope your Halloween was filled with lots of treats and not too many tricks. Happy Halloween!

Lead Me

Several weeks ago I first heard the song Lead Me by Sanctus Real. For me it struck a chord and has since become one of my favorite songs. It seems to come on the radio just when I need to hear it. I wanted to share the song and video with you, my readers.

Sanctus Real is a Christian band, but Christian or not, as wives, mothers, and husbands the message is powerful. I don't claim to be an expert on marriage, I've only been married 2 1/2 years and in relationship with hubby for 5 years, but I was married before, I know what didn't work for us. I have seen countless marriages fail and crumble under the day-to-day pressures of life, as well as countless marriages succeed.

Hubby and I are also part of a small group at church for stepfamilies. We alternate between doing stepfamily studies and marriage studies. The group has been such a blessing to us and our marriage. Last spring we studied a book called, Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, and the message was similar, men need respect, women need love, and went into great deal how you can meet your spouses needs, which of course leads to a happier, more fulfilling marriage. As much as it may not seem like it at times, women want their husband to be the leader of their house and to lead and take care of them and men want to provide and take care of their families.

One thing is for sure, marriage is not easy. There are many things necessary for a successful marriage but a marriage cannot be sustained on love alone. A marriage needs constant work and effort, undying commitment to one another, and willingness to be partners in life, and take everything head on together. I especially like to be in control, to try to have everything my way, but really I want my husband to lead me and need to give up some of that control.

Take a minute and listen to the song, very powerful!

413th Place Feels Like 1st Place to Me!

I ran my first race ever yesterday, the Pikesville 5K. I finished in 37 minutes 42 seconds, meeting my goal of maintaining a less than 12 minute mile time over the entire race. I wasn't running this race to win but my prediction of finishing the race in about 400th place during the pre-race interview (conducted by Wyn) was almost spot on.

It feels so good to set your mind to something, train for it, and then accomplish it. I love running! In August I start training for a 10K held at the end of November. In the meantime I am going to work independently at both increasing my speed and distance. I hope the weather here in Baltimore cooperates a bit because running when it is 100 degrees really isn't my thing.

Next Stop American Idol

FiFi is up first, in the red shirt and denim skirt, Wyn is up next in the yellow shirt and jeans, and B is up last in the red polo shirt and black jeans.

Only 5 more years until B can try out ;-)

My Beautiful Ballerina

FiFi just had her first ever dance recital and she was very excited!

I look so tall next to little FiFi

Concentrating on her tap routine

Her whole class

End of the ballet routine

This beautiful ballerina got some flowers after the performace for a job well done.

B, FiFi, Wyn, and hubby after the performace

Thank You For Making My SITS Day So Special - Vlog

This Mama Can Rock Climb!

Listen for hubby to say, "Maybe she'll fall and then I'll be glad I have the camera." What a sweet guy!

P.S. Sorry for the background noise in the video. The climbing wall is at our YMCA and it was really busy that morning!

Christmas Gift From Hubby

I realize I still haven't shared what my great Christmas present from hubby is. I also still haven't undecorated from the holidays either. Wow, I really am a procrastinator!



Does everyone know what I got for Christmas now?