Performing Arts

In keeping up with the "catching up", three Fridays ago T and his classmates presented "Kindergarten Rocks", a concert of singing, smiling, gestures, and overall 6yo cuteness.  Every parent there was so proud.  I had the honor of representing for all the G-Ville adults--GG, Mimi, and Papa were all traveling that morning, leaving the lone mama and the little girls to represent.  Unfortunately, we were all in the midst of the dreadful stomach virus, but we mustered the energy, put on a smile, and were there to cheer on our beloved T!

The night before he was insistent that we pick out his outfit and have every piece perfect--"I want to look handsome, Mommy."  Cute.  I think we succeeded, don't you? ;)

Our Dapper T, ready for school and the big show!

He was so excited to see us when we arrived...

Afterward we were lucky to get a shot with T's amazing kg teacher, Mrs. C, who also taught M and whose sons were taught in confirmation by Mimi and Papa many moons ago!  She is the best and offers me such encouragement! ;)

Here we all are, in various forms of togetherness.  I wish I would have gotten a shot with just T--oh well!!  Sick babies don't like to be put down in strollers!

If only the fun ended there...  Later that day, M, T, and J all came home from school and withered into a heap of viral illness.  It was a sad night in G-Ville, but made exponentially easier thanks to movies!  When we're sick, we're going to the dogs completely by rotting our brains too!  Just get me through it, dear Lord.  In addition to movie time, another perk to stomach viruses is that they go easy on the kitchen because nobody wants to eat.  My kitchen had a day or two breather, which it really appreciated.  It hasn't been that clean since! ha!

The older two boys unfortunately had to miss their piano recital the next day, but instead, we held one here at the house--great idea, Papa!  Mimi and Papa returned from their trip and breathed new life into our home on Saturday morning.  We needed it desperately--thank you!  They took care of us and ran out to buy various things.  The boys mustered stomach juices to eat a donut.  I "managed" a tall Americano from Sbucks--isn't coffee the wellspring of health and wellness?  ;)

The boys performed beautifully at their home recital--M even added some of his own touches that made his piece extra emotive.  Pretty cool that he's starting to sense the music and use it as a form of expression!  If only he could latch onto that for weekly practice... Both boys are disliking daily practice something fierce these days.  It is a battle and I dislike fighting it.  They know, though, its a battle that will wage on through middle school.  End. of. story.  I need to step up the consequences for whining.  But, back to the home recital.  Here we were in our (still) unfurnished piano room...

J was still in his jammies at 3pm.

Our recital crowd--a sell-out.

The sick boys, not looking too worse for the wear.  We made them get dressed for the "event".

After the recital, we celebrated the Kentucky Derby with mint juleps and some good, old betting on horses.  Mimi's horse won (legitimately) and T's horse took second in the family pool.  GG's horse was last, but he wasn't even there to choose.  We picked for him.  ;)  The kids ate a few bites of pizza and we enjoyed getting our minds off of nausea!

Derby-focused!

Thanks to Mimi extraordinaire!

This little lady was mustering an appetite that night, but didn't really rebound until days later thanks to an additional double ear infection, poor thing.  We are grateful she is back in the land of the eating and healthy!

That's all, folks!
God bless,