Body Heaven Spa

Our creative children spent the day "pampering" us at the spa they created and operated!  It was called Body Heaven, and was quite a complicated operation!

It started this morning, as coupons, signs, and a menu were created.  A coupon stand was set up at the end of the kitchen counter, and we were encouraged to book appointments.  The special of the day was the Kleenex Rub, and Krampa was the first to book his appointment for one of Annah's creations...  

Krampa carefully considered the items on the "menu."

Sylvia worked hard all day, keeping the books, while Annah gave the Kleenex Rub.

When a customer chose a "Backscratch," that was Sylvia's job.

Krampa told her she could "quit that about tomorrow!"

Jeremy was the next patron to order the Kleenex Rub.

I think it was kind of an intimidating experience,
so I think he was glad Annah held his hand once it was all applied.

The Kleenex Rub had no actual rubbing, but consisted of tissue bits wet with warm water and placed around the face.  Once they cooled, Jeremy asked if the "rub" was over.

Although the Kleenex Rub was the special of the day, I was a little afraid to have it done, so I chose the option 'Resting.'  I got to lie on the soft bed for 10 minutes.

I believe the 'Backscratch' option was created with Jeremy in mind...

Aunt Erin chose a Back Rub, and specifically requested the karate-chop.

Uncle Travis also bravely used his coupon for a Kleenex Rub.
(I love how Annah looks like she's thinking, "What have I done?!")

After having the Kleenex Rub, Krampa suggested that the spa have an option where a warm wet paper towel covered the face.  The "Paper Towel Sooth" was added to the menu.  Uncle Travis chose this option.  First, he had the "original" version...

Then, it was decided that the entire face should be covered...which caused a little nostril suction action while breathing...

Poor Tessa walked in while her daddy was having the Paper Towel Soothe and was a little worried about what she saw.

It was quite an entertaining enterprise, and we had lots of giggles throughout the day of appointments!

Swimming at Krampa's & Gram's

We had such fun swimming in Krampa's & Gram's awesome pool today!

Tessa sometimes swims with us, but today, she watched from her lawn chair.

We are so happy Jeremy came along this time!!!  The kids love when he swims with them.
Today, he helped them "fly!"

Looks like a belly-smacker, Caeden!

Sylvia's turn!

Annah, taking a rest.

Gram swam with us this evening too!

The kids think it's funny when Jeremy fills the pool with whitecaps!  Haha!

Samantha came to swim with us this evening too.

Summer Fishing

My Dad took the kids and Jeremy and me fishing this morning.  It was a really hot day, but we had fun.

Smiley Sylvie, ready to catch some fish!

Crazy Caeden, just ready to have fun...

Amicable Annah, always loves being outdoors.

Ummmm, Engineer Jeremy?  Borrowed a hat from Dad  that just doesn't seem his style... ;)

Krampa shows Caeden his fish up close.

Caught one!

Caeden's nice bass!  He reeled it in on his own!

Jeremy's "caught you guys a delicious bass."

We actually didn't keep any fish today, but caught quite a few and threw them back.

The kids waited in "Ol' Blue" while Dad and Jeremy unloaded and covered the boat.

Sibling Wars

Of the three kids, there are definitely the most conflicts between Annah and Caeden.  Maybe because there is the widest age difference between them?  I'm not sure. 

This morning at my parents' house, Annah came upstairs crying to me because Caeden had punched her in the nose.  He did not deny this.  Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Annah had been bossing Caeden around. 

Their punishment was to sit like this, for 10 minutes, without making nasty faces or comments to each other...to "love each other" for 10 minutes.  They also had to apologize to each other sincerely, and say "I love you and I'm glad you're my sister/brother." 

Thankfully, it worked.  They thought it was funny and started smiling at each other right away. They really do love each other, even when they're driving each other crazy!

Ruffles!

My mom made beautiful curtains for our front room, and she and Jeremy hung them this past weekend.  

I am so excited about them!

As with all the other rooms in our house, redecorating is going slowly in this room.  This is our music room, where we practice, and also where I teach voice and piano lessons.  It was a dusty green color when we moved in, and I had never painted it until this past April.  I painted it "Purple Heart," which is really a shade of lavender.  I knew I wanted to have espresso brown fabrics in here, and saw a photo of a ruffled curtain panel that I thought was beautiful.  I showed the photo to Mom, and she designed these...

I love all the many ruffles, and the way the light shines through the part without ruffles.

  

This window is on the front of our house, looking out to the street.  

The curtains look nice pulled back too.

I searched all over for curtain rods and holdbacks and finally found them at Lowe's online.  Another thanks goes to my mom for picking them up at the Ft. Wayne store, since they didn't have them at one close to us.  They go really well with our light fixture.

The other window in the room is narrower (and currently containing our window a.c. unit),
so only needs one panel.

Here's a little example of photography light and color differences...

1)light on, no flash;  2)light off, with flash;  3)light off, no flash

(You can click any of the photos to see them larger.)

  

I really love the curtains, and am so grateful to my mom for making beautiful custom curtains that are exactly what I wanted!  She is so talented!  And, thank you to my dear husband for helping install them in 105 degrees and 100% humidity!

I still need a rug in this room...I have been searching high and low, and am pondering making one this winter...  We shall see.  

I also need to get over my fear of hanging things on the wall.  Slow, but this is great progress... :)

A Year With Frog & Toad

Tonight was the final performance of A Year With Frog & Toad!  

Yes, it was crazy hot and humid again, but the kids performed like champs anyway.  Gram & Krampa came to see the performance too!  It was really nice to have them here watch the girls perform.

"Eating cookies!  Eating cookies!  Cookies, cookies, cookies we adore!"  The kids loved getting to pass Oreos out to the audience during this song!

"Toad, you really do look funny in a bathing suit."  "I know."

Sylvia and some mice and turtles sing about Toad's funny bathing suit.

Annah was the lead snowflake flutterer.  ;)

It was a lot of time, traveling, practicing and work to be involved with this show this summer.  The kids gave up other opportunities (including some they didn't know about) because they wanted to be in the show.  The whole cast put up with me teaching them crazy vocal and diction exercises and reminding them to smile, keep their eyebrows up and mouths open.  We all sweated a gallon buckets and sang the songs a thousand times.  And it was all worth it.  We had such fun learning and performing this wonderful show!

Opening Night

Opening night was a huge success!!  There was humidity, sweating, running makeup, adrenaline, singing, grinning, dancing, drama, an understudy playing the lead, and great success!!  I just cried with pride watching the kids perform a great show!!  They knew it went well too, and were happy!

I helped with makeup, so we arrived early.  I have been working on the makeup for the birds.  (They get fun swirly, spiral eyelashes drawn on. ;)

Our friend Addie (who is also one of my precious voice and piano students) is in the "big kids show"--Groovy.  She is playing Misty Dawn, the hippie girl.  She looked beautiful, as always, and Sylvia was honored to get a picture with her.

Even sweating hot, Sylvia and her mouse friends still enjoyed thinking and singing about how much they love spending Christmas together!

Annah the diva bird singing about how she flew south for the winter...

She spotted my camera and obliged with a nice cheesy grin while Frog was dialoguing with Toad.

Our sweet mouse friend Owen and Sylvia are happy to have one show down!

Tonight we got to stay and watch "Groovy!" and sing the finale, Put a Little Love In Your Heart, with the "big kids."  What fun!  All our hard work is now proved worthwhile and rewarding!