Shakespeare

Alex was in the Shakespeare play on Friday. He was the head pig in a pre-show. It was pretty funny to see it done, Shakespeare style.  It was great! He was wonderful. When the main play began (Comedy of Errors) did the sound and was so good that he earned a star for tech crew! He is the first 8th grader to earn one. The tech crew teacher said he is a natural!!

More pageant photos

After the pageant.

Evening wear walk.

Holding her "Director's Award" gifts! Way to go Kenzie.

The opening number.

She has an incredible figure and smile!

The stage decorations. I was in charge of them again this year.

Evening gown practice - the firefighter walked her out in the real thing, he just had on his formal uniform. 

And of course, my traditional "I wish it was me pose."

Pageant and pastries

I will do things chronologically.....better for my old brain, you see. So, first, I went on a field trip for Alex's French class. We visited a French Bakery. They could only speak French. He pretty much panicked when he got in there. It was pretty funny, but he still managed to buy a box full, and two drinks and a baguette. I ate part of one or two and he pretty much cleaned up the rest. Guess that he needs to keep growing to keep up with the calories he is inhaling!

Finally, Friday was the big interviews for Kenzie. She did well. They were harder than the mock interviews, but she still did well. Saturday, was a long day! We started at noon and finished at about 9. I did the stage decorations again this year, and they were amazing. I was able to get decorations, real ones, from a float company. It was great. I also did some great flower work and fabric work that turned out great.

Kenzie had dress rehearsal all day and then the pageant itself started at 7. I was running back and forth behind the scenes so I really didn't get to see her on stage except for the main dance number, her walk and the announcement of winners. She did great and looked fabulous.

She had a tough on stage question. I wasn't happy with it. At. All. It was supposed to be one from her interview. It wasn't. In fact they asked her what she thought of the local resource program for kids with learning disabilities. That caught her off guard. First off, we left the local school because of the resource program. She thinks it is terrible and needs lots of work. She didn't dare say that. There were teachers from the local school in the audience. So she just said, "Its amazing. However they have things to work on." She didn't know what else she could say with out lying. Not a good thing. I am thinking opinion questions where a youth has to critique a community or school shouldn't be asked. Oh well.

She didn't place, but she won the Director's Award. Which was given to the girl with the best attitude, most on time, most on-top of things, and most organized! She won a teeth whitening at a local dentist, two gift cards, jewelry, make-up and a few odds and ends. Oh yes, flowers too! It was a great honor. Out of 8 girls, 4 walked away with nothing, so it was good that Kenzie got that award.

She loved the experience. It was a good one. She learned a lot. She did things she never thought she could do. We were super proud of her!!! She was awesome!

Her evening wear.

This is the outfit for the talent. She sang Moon River.

Her pageant picture.

Time is ticking down

McKenzie's pageant is on Saturday. Formal and final interviews are Friday. Today is Monday. Where has the time gone. We are doing last minute prep work this week. We pick up her formal on Tuesday. She has a dress fitting for her talent dress on Tuesday as well. We need to get shoes today. Final jewelry was purchased over the weekend, so we are close, very close.

On Saturday she had mock interviews. She had been practicing all wee with me and with neighbors I had called to help too. She did really well in the mock interviews. The judges wrote comments on sheets that each girl got, and Kenzie had only minor things to work on. We are going to practice together again and then one more neighbor will have a turn. She needs to increase her opening statement to the judges by about 10 seconds. She can do that. Tuesday and Thursday she has talent practices with her talent coach. I think she is pretty ready. I know I am NOT! I am so nervous. I need a chill pill.

Here she is waiting for her mock interview. This is the dress she will wear. It is a 1940's dress I found at a vintage store for 20 bucks. She looks so tiny in it and so professional. It is a one of a kind. The judges loved the out fit.

Alex has had a little relapse on the mono front so he is having laser treatments that seem to be helping. They blast his spleen. He woke up this morning and seemed taller than when he went to bed. We measured and he is about 3/4 an inch taller than Jay now.

Maylin loves our new dog. She takes it everywhere. He even has to go with her in carpool in the morning and then Jay or I (who ever is driving) has to bring him home. Luckily she hasn't asked that the other carpool driver do the same!

Mom this is for you! - http://www.austinmission.blogspot.com

Dancing King.....

Alex is taking 8th grade ballroom at the school. He really likes it. He says it is a great place to be with the girls! He is right. They had two ballroom performances today. On Saturday, they have a ballroom competition covering a huge region.

He was in three dance numbers tonight. He had three costume changes. He did great. In the performance this afternoon, I think he was nervous. He only cracked 1 smile, but tonight he was ALL SMILES! He looked great. I am glad that all 3 of my kids, especially my boys, know how to ballroom dance. What a great skill.

Tonight Alex danced the Cha-Cha and then a medley of 5 different dances including the Tango, Foxtrot and Swing. He was fabulous.

A beauty queen

Kenzie has decided to run for Miss Bluffdale, the scholarship pageant. It will be May 11. She has been attending workshops every Saturday, has completed her platform and fact sheet and has been working on her talent. Her platform is on learning disabilities, specifically how to help parents identify them, get their child tested and then homework tips to help the child learn to live with their disability. She chose this as she struggles with a learning disability. It has been a hard thing for her, but she has always made the honor roll and credits this to her long homework hours and dedication. She really wants to encourage others.

For her talent, she has decided to sing "Moon River." She loves this song. We went shopping this weekend at a vintage clothing store for something to wear for her talent. We came home with 3 outfits for $80. Reasonable. One she will wear for the interview, and one she will wear for the talent.....the other one she just loved and will wear it whenever she feels like it!

Yesterday it was the "Day Away, " where the contestant practiced their dance, turned in all their platforms, pictures and fact sheets. Then they did a photo shoot with the fire department and around our city. I was the photographer. I did it last year too. Afterward, we went to a fancy, fancy restaurant to celebrate all their hard work. Kenzie had a great time with the other contestants.

Here are some pictures of her practicing the dance and some of her at the photo shoot.

Some of the other contestants and last year's queen.

Having some fun!

The remodel moves on and gets even more messy. And the DOG arrives!

I thought having A HUGE HOLE in the back of my house was messy, especially when there is 70 mile an hour winds, but really sheet rocking and mud and taping is REALLY messy. So is having a flood during all the mess.

We didn't have rain gutters on our house for awhile, as they were adding on a new roof line. During this time we got hit by this massive rain storm and even though they thought they had the water diverted with plywood, it still managed to seep in....okay, more like run in like a river. My whole big room in my basement where we are living during the construction was flooded. This area is where our basement kitchen is. So to add to our mess, the carpet all had to be pulled up. There were fans every where. It was a bummer. But, they did get it fixed and the rain gutters installed. I think that part is good to go.

Now, we are just waiting for one more mud and taping and then painting can start! Almost to the end! But, then I realized all my hardwoods are being refinished and more are being installed and I realized the mess really isn't almost over. Anyway, besides the mess, the new space is going to be fabulous! The patio is bigger and we added about 250 square feet to our eating area and family room. It is so great! The constant mess will be worth it. The brick is up and the prep-work for the stucco is done too. We are just waiting for it to quit raining and snowing so they can actually apply the stucco itself.

I was supposed to have this cool ceiling when I first built the house, but eliminated it to same money. I get it now!!! So excited.

On a happy note: The dog arrived in all his cuteness. The only problem is the kids fight over who gets to hold him. Maylin usually is in tears when it isn't her turn. We may have to get another one so they can have more turns. His name is Bailey and he is a dear!

Mom this is for you or for anyone interested in Austin's letter: www.austinmission.blogspot.com