September already here!

Schoool has been underway for almost 6 weeks now, with Marian already passing the midterm!  She is loving her sophomore year.  She has a lot more homework, but still getting it all done.  She has been cast as Rebecca Gibbs in Our Town, she plays the younger sister of the lead in the show.  She is also helping as the sound technician for another local production of Five Chinese Brothers. 

Gabriel has started classes and so far reports all is great. He has an apartment this year, and has it all set up nicely.  Unfortunately, he had his bike stolen, right from his backyard! 

Anna has been moved to the infant room at her work, so now watches 6 weeks-1 year old babies each day.  She has moved into her apartment and walks to work, she lives literally right next door.

Due to changes at our parish, I've been asked to be the interim Dir. of Religious Ed.  It's time consuming, but I've done this before, so I've comfortable with the work.  But, that does mean it's busier than normal.  Girl Scouts, Hospice, bible study, high school lunch, music ministry, medical billing, costume design, and now religious ed.  I've warned Marian and Bogdan to not expect a clean house in the interim period.

If you see any movie this year, see Won't You Be My Neighbor?  It's a documentary about Mr. Rogers.  It's an amazing movie, just so great.  I have a strong connection to Mr. Rogers, other than of course watching it when I was a kid, but he debuted Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on the very day of my birth :)

Karen's Summer Reading

A selection of books I've read this summer

Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben
The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian
The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn
Find Me by JS Monroe
Only Child by Rhiannon Navin
The recipe box by Viola Shipman
One of the Boys by Daniel Magariel
The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go by Amy Reichert
Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer
Just between us by Rebecca Drake
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
A state of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
The talented Ribkins by Ladee Hubbard
The trouble with goats and sheep by Joanna Cannon
Two steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist
The summer that made Us by Robyn Carr
The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans

A whirlwind of a summer

Well, today being the first day of school, it is somewhat an end to summer.  But, really Labor Day does officially end summer.

Marian begins her first day of sophomore year at Oak Ridge High School.  She had a busy summer with some highlights including: being in the Ensemble of Oklahoma (singing, dancing and loving it), doing her summer reading (finishing it just yesterday!), re-designing her new room (she's taken over Anna's old bedroom), visiting NYC and seeing her first Broadway show (Anastasia, which is AMAZING), doing some fun things on her summer bucket list (learning to knit, going in the World's Fair Park fountain fully clothed, trying 10 new candies, among other things), and having her wisdom teeth out (not too fun, but it's done!). 

Gabriel starts his junior year at Rice in a few weeks.  This is his last week in NYC. He has had a good time there and loved his internship.  He is renting a house with 7 other guys (4 on each floor) and will be moving into there in the next couple weeks.

Anna got a job, about 6-7 weeks of looking, but her perseverance paid off.  She is an assistant teacher at a daycare and takes care of the 18-24 month old kids.  She has saved enough money and will be moving into her own studio apartment at the end of August.  She is excited to be on her own.  It will be a challenge to organize all her stuff into a small space, but I'm sure she'll work it out.  She is very much looking forward to saving money on gas, as the apartment is walking distance to work.  She worked backstage for Oklahoma and has been asked to work the next show, Deathtrap. 

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers out there.  Happy Mother's Day!  Thank you for the gift of life you gave to your children.

Pictures from Anna's Graduation from Roane State!  She is now officially looking for a job, any leads are appreciated!!

March

Well, the saying that March came in like a lion and out like a lamb, not quite so with the weather we're having.  While March in TN is usually mild, it has been very cold and rainy.  Today is no exception, even tho' it's already April.

March was a whirlwind of activity with the musical (The Music Man), 6 shows, over 4500 people in attendance, largest cast, most costumes, great sets, the list goes on!  I've included some pictures below. 

Then we had vacation, in which we did all the show laundry, ironed, and returned all the costumes.  My sewing room is finally clean and organized and I can now do a cleaning of my machines. 

Marian spent her vacation mostly watching TV shows on Netflix or Hulu.  And catching up on sleep. 

We had a lovely week celebrating Jesus' Passion and journey toward Easter.  Holy Thursday, complete with foot washing, Good Friday, with a lovely service a church, and Holy Saturday, culminating the 40 day trek we began on Ash Wednesday.  We welcomed 5 new members of the church, including 3 teenagers.  We are back today for our normal Mass, then a feast of pulled pork (requested by the girls) and scalloped potatoes.

January and February

Too busy here to post anything, but here's an attempt.

Marian performed in the Acting Awards for Bijou, didn't win, but had a fun time.  She is now 15, and has her learner's permit.  She is asking to drive at every opportunity.  But, she says she's scared of driving on the highway.  She is very busy now with rehearsals for The Music Man.  She loves being involved onstage, after so many years watching from the wings.

Anna is busy working on school and focusing on graduating.  We are all hopeful that it'll be in May.  Starting soon, she'll be looking for employment.  Marian is hoping Anna gets a job right away and moves out, as she wants her room.  Anna had the best birthday present, as we gifted her with tickets to Dancing with the Stars Live!  She was in the 3rd row and had a blast. 

Other things we've done:

• Girl Scout International Festival (we did the country Germany and served chocolate cookies and Gummy Bears)
• Making TONS of costumes for The Music Man!!  Still working on alterations.
• Girl Scout Cookie Season (everywhere you look in my office, there are cases of cookies!)
• Finally getting our furnace working, after it seemed like months without heat (it was probably only weeks, but it felt much longer)
• Watching the Olympics and rooting for Team USA
• Getting sick, but not the flu, and suffering for a week with horrible cough

Happy birthday to Marian, Anna and Karen

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!  We welcomed the New Year in with very cold temperatures.  It's been close to zero for weeks it seems.  Today it's 11 degrees with potential freezing rain coming tonight.  School has begun for Marian, with some rooms still very cold (I've heard from the students)

Gabriel returns to Rice today and classes begin this week.  Anna has another week of vacation and classes will start next week. 

Costumes are underway for the spring musical (The Music Man), having made 35 costumes over the vacation. Fittings and other costume making still to do.  Largest cast (55!) yet.