Christmas giving

OK people.....all of you out there that spend at least $100 on gifts for friends and family need to spend at least $20 (or some of your time) on someone who may not be so fortunate to get a present. Stop by your local mall or grocery store and pick someone off the Angel Tree.....donate an unwrapped toy to Toys for Tots.....volunteer some time at your local soup kitchen...there are so many more ways to make a difference, so get out there and do it. It's not too late!!! Your life will be so much more complete if you share some compassion.

Happy holidays to everyone. I hope everyone is able to spend some time the way they wish! My sister, Jessica, just arrived last night. She was able to see Amber in her chorus concert at school. Amber had a solo and she rocked it out. We (me, Amber, Tyler, and Jessica) are driving to Ohio on Friday afternoon to spend some time with our family and attend the "30th Christmas Sing-Along". It is a great family tradition my family has and it's great to see most everyone. We are also going to deliver our items to my family's adopted family for Christmas the same day, a new tradition my family has done for the past two years....I think this tradition is also a keeper and can continue for 30 years!!! Me, Amber, and Tyler will be driving home on the 23rd to spend Christmas with Robert.....he is bummed he can't make it to Ohio due to work.

I am not sure if I will have much time between now and Christmas to write on my blog...so Merry Christmas to all!

Willy Wonka part 2

Willy Wonka's show ended yesterday. It was a great show. Amber had a blast. Thanks for anyone who was able to come and see it and support CYT. And for those who haven't gotten to a show, if you are able to you should try and make the next show- Seussical..... these shows are amazing for a non-profit group that rehearses for 9 weekends! I was blown away when we saw our first CYT show- we were hooked....Enjoy the videos! These videos are a little hard to see....if you go to my MySpace you can make them larger!

(Above) Candy Man Can- Amber is a Candy Man Kid and she is in a purple shirt and is wearing her hair in pigtails....

(above) Golden Ticket - In this, Amber is again a Candy Man Kid and is singing in the last part of the scene.

(above) Blew It - Amber's not in this scene but it's cute- it's when Violet turns into a blueberry!

(above)This is the finale....Amber is wearing all black and has a silver face. She is the second from the left when they squat down....

Willy Wonka- 1st weekend

Ok- I have finally recovered from the first weekend of Willy Wonka (and yes, it is Thursday....and the craziness starts all over again tonight!) The show is really great and the kids are doing a magnificent job on all their scenes....and the parents are doing great on their end too! I helped out with the sets "pre show" and I am mainly selling refreshments during the show but I also get to go backstage during the second act and help with squirrel makeup, handing off props to the Oompa Loompas, and corral kids to make sure they are where they need to be.... it is pretty hectic backstage and it's amazing how the show comes together. Amber is a Candy Man Kid and a Shadow Worker. I have a couple videos from last weekend and I'll try to get a few more this weekend and post them next week, until then, here are a few photos......

Amber- Shadow Worker

Inside the chocolate factory

Violet (the blueberry) and Oompas

Willy Wonka and Oompas

Amber and friend Sheridan before the show in Candy Man costume (Amber has on a cover up shirt so she could eat!)

And here is my little man being a monkey. I kept hearinghim in the other room, up to no good and I walk in and he is on the buffet....so the third time I got him on tape- caught in the action!

Marine Corps Ball 2008

This past weekend was the Marine Corps Ball. Luckily for Robert, my birthday is the day after the Marine Corps birthday, so he never forgets and lucky for me, my birthday is Veterans' Day, so I usually get to spend it with my family because school is out and usually Robert is off work!

The Ball was really fun this year. We were stuck in this back room and could barely hear or see any of the ceremony- but it was really nice because we didn't have to be on edge the whole ceremony- we were kinda like the "kid's table" section and we could be loud and talk and not get evil looks! I got to wear my favorite dress again; unfortunately I didn't get any full length pictures because my dress is amazing! The dancing afterwards was fun, even though me and Sonia were out there mostly with the "Younger" crowd- we didn't care! opefully next year is a blast just like this one!

Our Election Day

So we went to DC for Election Day....not for any reason, just because we had the time and Robert insists that me and Amber should see the monuments at night. Of course the day we pick it is drizzling so it deterred us a little for seeing a majority of the monuments up close. we'll try again after the holidays (because we are too busy to do it before!).

Just want to say a little something about the election. If you were a McCain supporter I hope you are able to deal with Obama and not be a sore loser, and for the Obama supporters, I hope you can get over what has happened in the past and not be a "sore winner". What our country needs to do is stop being so polarized and start being united no matter what our views, there has to be some common ground. I am tired of being the American in the middle of all the fighting! It seems that people are just disagreeing to prove their point which only makes our country more and more divided! I wish all those people in Congress could see what this is doing to our country, it seems that they are blind and hopefully that will change....maybe it is part of this "change" that Obama is talking about; I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Sorry it's been a few days (oops weeks) since the last post! We have had a lot of stuff going on. With Robert going to DC every weekend for work, me trying to do sets for Amber's show and Amber having rehearsals and a teenager's life, we have been going nonstop! Tyler is the only one without plans but he is always busy so I am glad he doesn't!

Since the last post, I have had minor outpatient surgery to have a lipoma removed from my right side....very minor; it just gived me a headache because I haven't been to the gym in two weeks.....the plan is to go back on Monday and rejoin my spin class!

Also since then, it has gotten really cold! Time to put up the shorts and tank tops and get out the jeans and sweaters! I don't mind the cold! The leaves are really getting beautiful and then they will be all over the lawn and they won't be so beautiful anymore, just another big chore for us to clean up!

Amber's show is getting close, only two and a half weeks before opening night. Those kids are always ready though and the shows are (as Amber would say) UH-MAZ-ING! I am posting some old videos from before her auditions. These were the two songs she chose from to do and it was last moment to prepare and only one minute for the audition. Once Willy Wonka is over, I will add some short clips from the show!

Take care until next time!

"He's A Tramp" from Lady and the Tramp

"Finale B" from Rent

Skyline Drive

So this past weekend, my best friend Amy was visiting. We had a great time! We went to Georgetown for a night on the town and the next day did some sightseeing on the National Mall (of course I forgot the camera that day!) We also drove to Shenedoah National Park and drove on Skyline Drive to see the leaves changing color. Here are some photos from that trip.

Super Baby and sis!

Tyler for some reason wanted to put on his blanket like a cape and run around the house. The first time he screamed like a maniac but when the camera came out he didn't do it (of course).

And what kid doesn't like to walk around in BIG shoes?

And here some photos of Amber and Ty. Amber took these. Seriously, what is it with kids and cameras these days? Amber has a sleepover and they take at least 100 pictures! We go to the mall and they are posing with mannequins, taking pictures next to the candy bins.......then they have to go post them on MySpace immediately!

Dance Dance Tyler!

Amber had a song by Pink on her Myspace page and everytime she played it Tyler started to do this Riverdance looking dance. We thought it was funny so I thought I'd share it. This is our entertainment in our house. (Yes, I already know that I don't get out much, so please don't comment on that!) And usually Ty has on pants!

As you can see it happens almost every time we play this song....if you haven't already had enough!

So if you got bored of the Ty action, here's a little something from Amber..... my other form of entertainment!

Hope these videos brought you a smile to your face and maybe a little chuckle!

I'm new to this so cut me some slack!

OK....so finally after months of thinking about doing this, I am finally getting around to it! I hope to keep this updated with pics and videos of family events so all our friends and family can keep up with us! I have a hard time keeping up with us, so hopefully this will provide me an easier way to keep you all up to date too....I am sure some of you will be surprised to know that Amber is 13 (almost 14) and an 8th grader, with all the drama that goes along with it....and she is a drama queen.....seriously, she is in some musical theater performances with an awesome group, CYT. She really is a great kid with a big heart! You may also be surprised that Tyler is 20 months old and has like 20 teeth and lots of blonde hair....he is a crazy man and him and our puppy, Abbie, like to get into a lot of trouble together! (OK I guess Abbie is over a year but she is a black lab so until she is three, we are supposed to consider her a puppy!) They like to drive me crazy but I guess that's what I get for having a baby and buying a puppy so close together. At least we have an easy way to clean up food after Tyler is done eating. If you have the time, send me an email; I only check it like 20 times a day so I don't consider myself obsessed!