Update in Pictures...in random order :)

I fell down the stairs last week.  I had just woke up from a nap and wasn't quite awake.  It was rather shocking to find myself at the bottom of the stairs when I had just been at the top.  I sat on the floor for several minutes while Aaron told me just get up and "walk it off".....compassion is not his strong suit.  Anyway, this bruise is on the top of my thigh on the side/back of my leg just below my bum.  I also have a nasty bruise on my arm just below my elbow.  I guess I just feel glad I didn't break my hip....I am getting up there in age :)

Joe wearing a few of my buttons.  I have quite a collection now!  I try to order buttons every time my kids do a show. 

On the first day of Spring Break I took the kids to have lunch (and a treat) at Sam's Club.  It was fun.  Megan was there too, she just wasn't in the picture.  Matthew got to go to California where he did not take any pictures of his adventures :( 

This picture was taken at the Friday night show of Beauty and the Beast.  There were so many people there that it took like 20 minutes for everyone to be able to get out of the auditorium!

My dad is famous now.  His name is the first one under the Castle Level on this banner.  He donated a very generous amount to North Star Theatre's production of Beauty and the Beast.  He's super cool like that!

So, I always knew I wanted to try having really short hair at some point when I grew older  It came a little sooner than I planned but now that I have it I think I'm going to keep it like this.  It's soooooo easy to do and I never have to worry about it getting messed up in the wind or having to use a flatiron.  It's awesome!  Maybe I will let it go the natural gray that it is.....but not yet...not ready for that yet! 

On Valentines Day I came out from work to find that my van had been given a heart attack.  It was hard to get good pics but there were streamers hanging down from the ceiling and stickers everywhere.  Thanks honey!  It's nice when that romantic part of you comes out to play. 

feeling loved on Valentines Day

Beauty and the Beast was the last show for Megan's High School theatre career.  She was the stage manager and did an awesome job!  She is a very talented actress and I'm really glad I got to see her in a couple really fun roles (the principal in Grease and Mrs Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) but her true love is being bossy....she's really good at it.  She gets lots of practice at home.  :)  She is planning to move to Utah right after she graduates.  I'm going to miss her....but I don't think she will miss me, she's too excited to be out on her own. 

One of the very fun things the North Star kids did for a fund raiser is have a tea party before the Saturday Matinee of Beauty and the Beast.  Hannah was so super excited that she got to participate in this.  She got her picture taken with Belle and the Beast and then had tea (lemonade) and cupcakes with all the characters.  She also made a tiny tea cup, which you can see in the next picture and she got a light up rose to turn on during the last song in the play.  It was really fun!

Josh came to see the last show.  He also auditioned for the show at Pinewood Bowl (they are doing Shrek the Musical this summer).  He got a call back and the part of Shrek was between him and two other men and even though he thought he wouldn't do the show if he didn't get the part of Shrek he decided to accept the part of one of the three little pigs.  I'm super excited that he will be living at home this summer while he works and does the play. 

I really wanted a good pic of the kids all looking at the camera and all having cute faces.....Megan was not cooperating and then a couple of her friends photo bombed. 

Hannah is super proud of her teacup. We could not find Matthew anywhere to be in these pictures.  We found out later that he was up on the catwalk which is where he was during all of the performances of the plays, he was in charge of the flies...he really likes doing tech for theatre. 

Zacharoni

It's Funny how kids are born and right away you can see little pieces of their personalities.   I have so many funny memories of Zack.  He loved doors!  I mean he had an obsession with opening them and then closing them.  Cupboard doors and doors to rooms.  When he figured out how to open the sliding glass door he would constantly open it...wave goodbye to me, go outside, close it and then start the whole process over and over again.  This was a precursor to his naturally curious nature....always wondering what's "behind the door".  Later on..when he could talk he would constantly ask questions...so many!!  I would always try to answer them, he really wanted to know pretty much everything.  His favorite thing to say was "cause why" before every question.  I can remember his Aunt Michelle driving him home from one of family camping trips and she couldn't believe all the questions he asked all the way home.  I still find myself saying "cause why" before I ask a question, it became a staple in our family language.  

I can also remember him interacting with his cousin, Stephanie.  He would take a toy she was playing with just so he could watch her react.  He didn't even really want the toy...he just wanted to see the "show".  She would get so mad....her whole body would shake....he usually would end up getting hit or bit but apparently this was worth seeing the "show".  He didn't really do things until he was pretty sure he knew he could do them....he would sit back and watch and then make a conscious choice to do things.  

I see these same things in him as an adult...yes, he's an adult now....it's so hard to put my head around that!  He's still curious.  He still likes to sit back and watch.  I think he still likes to get reactions from people and "watch the show".  He's probably one of the funniest people I know.  I can't even tell you how much I miss him.  He's in college now and lives three states away.  Sometimes I ache for those annoying questions and his cute red hair and that freckled face.  I miss all the times he wanted to hang out with me and listen to me gossip with my girlfriends.  I miss the times we had adult conversations before he was even an adult.  I can't tell you how much I miss those early mornings we did a paper route together and he made me laugh and laugh when he would run to the doors.  I miss his hugs that feel like a hug and a shove all at the same time.  I miss his laugh and his smile.  Sometimes it's so sad and yet so wonderful when kids grow up.  I'm so excited for him and what lays in store for him.  He's so talented and such an awesome person.  I'm so glad I'm his mom and always will be!  

With Aunt Michelle at Sweet Tomatoes

Ice Cream time at Ivanna Cone

Oldest and Youngest

My sweet boy