Dance With a Purpose Video

"I See Heaven" Level 5/6 Performance Video

at Dance with a Purpose 10/28/16

Conference Weekend

Last weekend we ventured just up the highway to a lake resort where a Catholic young adult and family conference was being held. Our friends head up the group that put on the conference, and there were several other families that we know who attended. The focus was more on young adults, and the 800+ people were more in the early-mid 20s age range, but we still had a good time and were glad to get to visit a bit with some of the other families.

We registered in early August, but as the date got closer we realized that Saturday would be the first day of baseball games for the boys, as well as their team photos. We opted to still go to the conference, but to come back for games on Saturday and then head back to the resort late in the afternoon before mass.

Although we missed pretty much all of the talks and some of the fun family activities, we did get to attend the Friday night fajita dinner, outdoor kid games, and concert, the Saturday evening mass, BBQ dinner, and I got to hear a couple talks and some worship/Adoration time. Sunday was a day of rest and family time at the resort, so we spent about four hours at the pool area before heading back home.

The highlight of Friday night events was the outdoor concert, and our little dancers. Steven Joseph is quite the wild child when it comes to dancing at weddings and concerts. A person in the audience actually took this video of him and Katie Grace dancing, and I found it on Instagram. They were pretty cute!

A highlight of the Saturday events for me was the short time I spent hearing some talks and worship music with Adoration that night. Right when I walked in, the topic happened to be about how sometimes God needs to "cut us open" and fix our hearts from the inside. I think the word "scalpel" was even used. As I'm approaching my 6th c-section, this was a poignant analogy. It's a painful physical and emotional experience to go through a major surgery while wide awake, and yet knowing something so good is going to come out of it...a beautiful new baby! As it gets closer I definitely struggle with more and more anxiety about the procedure, our health, the recovery, and our family's future as regards more children. But God always teaches me some beautiful lessons in this. I am trying to take this aspect of my life and my motherhood and use it for good things.

Sunday was a day of fun as we enjoyed the mini golf, pool and water park there at the resort. It was nice to be able to sleep in and not rush off to early morning mass and Sunday school. I even snuck into the breakfast buffet for a little date with Katie Grace...I love a good breakfast! Although Steven and I didn't get to visit with friends much this day because of the logistics of where the table was and the kids were playing in the pools, we had a nice day ourselves and enjoyed some delicious pizza for lunch before we headed home! 

Some snapshots of the weekend...

I opted to go and check in with the kids since Steven was running late. It was quite an ordeal getting checked in and taking things to our room!

A little snapshot of the Friday night dinner area outdoors, lots of games, a bounce house, and tables to sit outside and enjoy visiting with friends while we ate some fajitas!

Saturday morning looking over the lake and the young people praying

Another angle of the hotel tower and the outdoor area where we hung out

Katie Grace on Saturday night after Mass, playing in the bushes

a kiss for big sis!

hotel room fun watching tv!

Another look over the lake with a young person praying, recalling those years when I would just sit in the grass and pray, read the bible, and journal.

my breakfast date who kept wanting to do "cheers" over and over again with our glasses

a little collage from Sunday fun out our hotel window and in the pools

It was a fun weekend and a nice little getaway for our family. Although we didn't get to attend our usual Fullness of Truth family conference in August, we're grateful that there was this nice conference just up the road from us where we could spend a little time with our family, our friends, and Our Lord!

7 Quick Takes Friday

I'm determined to stick with my blogging each day program for the week, but it's now 11:11 and I don't feel like I have much to say.  Let's see if I can come up with a few random thoughts...

1. Bedtime!  All 4 kids are sleeping snugly in their beds right now.  Well, so is #5 :)  This is a big deal.  We'll see how long the boys last.  They have been taking over our bed and I'm already having a hard time sleeping with my nightmares about doctor offices, head shavings, snakes, and scorpions.  I always have vivid dreams during pregnancy.  Last night I went ahead and moved down to the floor bed because I was too lazy to move the boys (we have a memory foam mattress topper doubled on the floor so it's actually comfy).  Then another child came in to that bed with a nightmare, so I moved to the foot of our bed.  Not gonna work.  Please sleep well, boys!

2. Doctor drama.  I still don't know what in the world I'm going to do about a doctor.  Everyone has different recommendations here and it's hard because most ladies in my homeschooling circles prefer a hands-off doctor for a natural birth.  But this current OB is quite old and only comes into the office a few times each week, so he doesn't even see patients until the last month of pregnancy!  He's also already suggested tying my tubes and jokingly said, "You're going to kill me" about doing a 5th c-section.  Oh, and I was at the office for at least 2 1/2 hours for an ultrasound and "quick" OB consult. Thanks Dr. S, but I think I'll be moving on now.

At least that office helped in getting me this medicine I need.  
Only took about 15 phone calls and 2 trips with this crew to a grocery store 
way across town, but at least I've got it!  Like a bag of gold here!

3. Disney!  Disney planning is in full swing.  We were able to find PLANE TICKETS this week.  That wasn't in the plan at all because of the cost, but we were really dreading the 4 days in the car with 4 kids.  Southwest came out with some amazing deals last week, and when we looked at the savings, it was only going to be slightly more expensive to fly.  We're also getting an extra night in Florida now, which means another day of FREE Disney dining!

4. Disney Food.  The Disney message boards and websites are filled with loads of helpful information about restaurants at the parks and hotels there.  You can look at menus, see photos of the actual plated food, and get advice about the best use of the dining plan.  We have already made our meal reservations, but now need to add one more!  Steven and I have been enjoying looking at menus and reviews online each night.  I am getting so excited about this trip, and am hoping and praying that everyone is healthy and feeling well when we travel.  Once we finalize our meal plans, then we can start reading more about the rides and plan out our days a bit.  The planning is part of the fun!

5. Boring.  The kids have been really good sports, but it's hard when we seem to spend days at a time without leaving the house.  I haven't felt that great and honestly we haven't had anywhere to go.  I mean I could take them to the store or the library, but I just don't have the energy for that most days (see photo above in the grocery parking lot to understand why).  This week we did take a beach outing one morning, and I think that wiped me out for the rest of the week.  That and the forever-long OB appointment.  I'm looking forward to starting back with our activities in mid-August and can't wait until August officially begins next week so we can renew our pool membership and enjoy some fun days there before it closes (we opted to skip this month because it's so expensive).

beautiful morning at the beach

6. Funny dreams.  I meantioned that I've been having vivid dreams about things like missing my OB appointment, or being attacked by scorpions and snakes.  But other family members seem to be having interesting dreams, too.  One night this week I was still awake, and Steven (Sr) yelled out twice asking for his police stick!  Tommy mentioned today that he had a dream he was singing in front of people wearing underwear.  I didn't realize that toddlers would have dreams about only wearing underwear in public!  While we were in Houston he had this funny dream he recounted to me about being Daddy's age and driving Daddy's car into the water, but then the car was a submarine, and this was all happening in his tummy (we'd been talking about the baby in my tummy).  Here's the video!  Excuse the tired and yucky looking mommy, please.

7. I'm proud that I made dinner every weekday this week (Steven made our entire anniversary dinner on Sunday), even though I didn't feel so great!  On Monday we had leftover grilled steak and chicken quesadillas, Tuesday was leftover grilled chicken in a stir fry with green beans, Wednesday was my new favorite baked chicken (using my Bulgarian yogurt to coat and then rolling in bread crumbs) with roasted broccoli, last night was Cream Cheese Crock Pot Chicken (a favorite in this house) with salad, and tonight was King Ranch Chicken with rice and corn.  I don't think we ate out once this week.  Go us!  Now I just need to get back to ballet so I can work off all these yummy foods.

Alright, well those were the boring-est quick takes, but that's what's going on over here.  Hope everyone has a glorious weekend!  Adios!

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

{pretty}

Before we went out of town, I hosted two informational meetings for the new homeschool co-op, and then we had overnight visitors.  It felt good to get the house cleaned up with so many visitors and guests between May and early July!  I'm not sure if I've posted a pic of our bedroom with my new cute little throw pillow.  It's all about colorful poppies!  I think I was also hoping to add these to Theme Thursday at Clan Donaldson last week since the theme was "rooms."

And here's the clean-ish living room ready for the guests.

{happy}

kids and books being silly and happy

{funny}

Little man only likes his picture taken when he asks.  And especially not when he's throwing a fit.

 

Also, funny right now because it's so frustrating...

I have taken part in about THIRTEEN phone calls relating to the ONE prescription I'm trying to pick up today!  Seriously, this shouldn't be so complicated.  Except that initially they wanted me to get the medicine at a compounding pharmacy which doesn't take insurance.  Then the regular pharmacy said it wasn't covered.  Then the insurance company said that it would be covered with pre-authorization.  Then we realized pre-authorization takes up to 2 weeks.  Then they switched the prescription.  Then the pharmacy said they didn't get it.  Then the NP said she sent it.  Then they actually did get it, but needed to fill it.  Oh but let's see if we actually have it.  NO.  Then I plead that I'm just trying not to MISCARRY MY BABY, and then she offers to call every pharmacy in town.  Then she calls back and found a place that has it.  Then I call them, and they have received it but need to fill it.  And it's way across town.  And Daddy is on a "work" (fishing) trip.  And so I'm about to venture out with the kids just HOPING and PRAYING they have this medicine ready and I only have to pay the co-pay amount and not the hundreds of dollars it actually costs.  Because we pay thousands and thousands in premiums and I don't want to pay out of pocket for medicines!  Thank God they gave me the medicine in shot-form yesterday, but I was supposed to have 2 doses today and I have yet to get any.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THIS!

{real}

I'll end with some fun videos.  This first one is the girls' last day of summer ballet class, and the other is the firework show on the Woodlands Waterway for the 4th of July!

Alice in Wonderland Ballet

I'll start with the video of the girls as teacups at the dress rehearsal.  

Mary Clare starts 2nd to right, and Ellie 4th from right, 

then front right in the later part.

  

And a whole bunch of (not great) photos from the dress rehearsal...

Here's Alice and the White Rabbit

Teacups come on (MC 2nd and Ellie last)

MC on right and Ellie on left

Now they are soldiers ("All the King's Men")

Ellie on left and MC under Humpty Dumpty

Is Humpty going to fall?

Now they are butterflies standing behind their toadstools.

MC in orange 2nd to right and Ellie to right of Alice

Their last dance was the grubworms. 

Ellie had a little mini solo at the beginning.

The ballet director is standing at the left watching :)

MC is 2nd to right

"Crowning of the new queen"

The girls are way in the back on these

They do a funny little move in the finale

("wiggle butt down")

Here's a clearer photo of the finale during one of the student matinees.

I went with Steven Joseph to watch Mary Clare.

Daddy never got to watch the show since he was home with Ellie on Friday,

and I was backstage to be by Ellie on Saturday night.

Hope the DVD doesn't take too long to arrive!

The girls before the Friday night show

Before their butterfly dance 

(poor Ellie was fading; they didn't start dancing until nearly 9pm!)

Some photos from backstage...

Leaping butterfly Ellie!

 

Mary Clare the grubworm

both of my grubworms in this shot

And a few phone pics from the night...

Ellie in the dressing room.  Poor thing was so, so tired.

But she made it through all 4 dances!

In her teacup watching from backstage

And before their grubworm dance :)

We're so thankful that Ellie was well enough to perform on Saturday night.  She didn't have all her strength back, but she was determined to dance.  It's hard to miss a performance after working several months to get ready for the show!  They both love ballet so much, it's fun to watch them perform, and this was a fun and colorful production to see!  Great job, girls!

Ballet Recital 2012

Last Saturday was finally the day for the big ballet performance.  I am so proud of the girls for trying out this new studio when we moved.  They are dancing beautifully and starting to make some friends.

Here are the matchy-matchy sisters heading to the dress rehearsal

All the photos are from the dress rehearsal.  We bought professional portraits and the DVD, so we look forward to getting those!

Mary Clare is near the front right

Beautiful girls after the rehearsal

And here after the late night performance with pink roses from their brothers, one who didn't want his picture taken and the other who was being Mr. Photogenic!

And the videos...

Ellie's Dance at the dress rehearsal

Mary Clare's Dance at the dress rehearsal