What Else We Have Been Up To

Drying flowers


Learning letters


Writing a book


Making homemade pizza...


with the whole family


Making inventions


Painting


Putting on shows (and make up)


Going on rides at the Mall of America


Celebrating the spring equinox (by taking a hike through the snow)...


where we found a raccoon living in this tree (and now we visit it regularly)


Crochet class (Grace and I)


A date (Meritage- awesome)


And last but not least, school work

The Play

I decided our make up posts would best be divided into two categories- the play, and everything else.



While the year is not over yet, I think I can say for certain that this play was hands down the highlight of their school year.  (All pictures of the play were taken- ahem, against theater rules- by my Dad)



After all of their hard work (rehearsals often four times a week and 45 minutes away), it was such a joy to see them up their performing (and loving every minute).  They did awesome.  I couldn't have been more proud.



After their very first show, I took them both to my favorite coffee shop (where I had spent many rehearsal nights quite enjoying myself) to celebrate.



Then, with only a few hours to spare before their next show, we spent some time in one of my favorite places in the whole world, Interstate Park.  A place I use to spend a lot of time in when they were little.







We saw animal "stories" everywhere, just like their play.



On week two of the play, with a night performance to be followed by another performance the very next morning, my mom treated all of us to a night at a local hotel.  This allowed us to replace driving with sleep, swimming and "office playing".



While I was so ridiculously proud to see my children up on stage acting, I was equally proud to see the way this lovely group of young actors (with such diverse backgrounds and ages) worked together, both on stage and off.  I had the opportunity to be backstage for several performances and watching all of them interact with each other in such a caring and respectful way was very inspiring.  I know that is why Grace and Jackson enjoyed themselves so much throughout this experience.



Countless rehearsals and 11 performances, it consumed our lives for those two months, but definitely in a good way.  They are still sad it is over.  They miss their new friends and the excitment of being a part of something bigger then themselves.



But, they have both assured me, this is not the end.  There will be more plays to come.

Weekend Highlights

~ A late afternoon Friday swimming field trip, just the four of us.  A good start to the weekend.

~ Sun and "warm" (when I took these pictures it was the coldest part of the weekend.  Today was 55, not super impressive for the grown ups but Grace and Jackson thought it was steaming out.  They both had shorts on and bare feet at one point)

~ Wood cut (for next year)

~ Watching both Grace and Jackson carry or tow ridiculously heavy logs of wood.  We just finished reading Pippi Longstocking and I think they were inspired.

~ Playing games with Grace and Jackson during Nora's nap yesterday

~ Chicken coop cleaned (the chickens were so happy about this)

~ Making brunch for everyone today with Grace

~ An evening to myself on Saturday (where I landed at Barnes and Noble to read books and drink Chai tea- awesome)

~ My dad coming out today to help with wood and have dinner

Here We Are

I think that was the longest break I've ever taken from here.  So much so that it stopped even crossing my mind to post.  Now of course I am overwhelmed... there is so much to write about.  But sometimes I just need to say something to get the ball rolling.  More soon.

Snow

Sunday Morning

Happy Valentine's Day

{Rose from my Dad, he has brought me one every year since I was in college}


{Grace has been making these crochet hearts all week and hanging them everywhere}


{Valentines I made from mint tins and fabric scraps}

Makin' Valentines

2013

Being that it's February, it's probably too late for a review of 2013.  But I'm doing it anyway.

Let's see... it felt like a year of celebrations.  Celebrating Grandma Sam and Grandpa Scott's wedding, celebrating my my Grandma's 90th birthday, celebrating my parent's 40th anniversary.  Yes, a lot of celebrating.

And while in 2012 it seemed as though I never could quite catch up (with a new baby to adjust to and all), 2013 felt much more relaxed.  It was as though being a mother of three finally "fit" me.  Yes that part was good.

Then there's homeschooling which was of course all new to us in the fall.  That has felt like an adventure right from the beginning.  Yes there were (and still are) some bumps and hurdles but for the most part, I would say that homeschooling is just plain fun.  Serious fun.  Something I grow to love more and more each day.  I think Grace and Jackson feel the same because they are begging to continue with it next year.  Which I suppose we probably will.  It does feel like a really good fit for our family.

The were challenges too... in fact the beginning of 2013 got off to a pretty rocky start with all of the sickness and never ending snow.  That was depressing.  There were other bumps too but I think the fact that the year ended on such a happy note makes anything else hard to dwell on.

So that's about it for the short and sweet version of my year.
And below a review in pictures...

2013 from Amy Miller on Vimeo.

Plays, Plays and More Plays

We have had an exciting week here as Grace and Jackson were called back to the 2nd audition... and then on Friday we found out that both were cast in the play!  Grace as the role of Aesop and Jackson as the roll of the bull.  They have had two rehearsals already and really, really seem to be enjoying this wonderful experience.  All that being said, the next month and a half is going to be pretty crazy for us with four rehearsals every week.  Hopefully it continues to be a fun and exciting sort of crazy.

Back at home we have a lot of plays going on as well.  This one, by Jackson and Nora, was called, "How Baby Lion Killed the Dragon".  With a title such as this it probably goes without saying that it was exceptional.