Good-bye, January!

January is cold.  January is gray.  January is snowy and icy and windy and yucky.  January felt like 3 months, but it's finally over.  January found us getting back into the groove of school and activities after Christmas break.  The first half of January was filled with Penguin, Penguin, and more Penguin.  A few other January highlights:

Dance team continues with competitions.  Staley's team has qualified both their jazz and lyrical dances for IDTA state.  They have one more competition before state and then the season will be over.  

There have been playdates and opportunities to spend time with friends.

There has been plenty of playing in the snow (mostly just one specific member of the family), including this snowfort that he and Zach built on one not-too-frigid snowy day.

Although Briggs coming down ill on the day we were leaving put a damper on a family week-end trip to St. Louis, the girls and I still headed down for some unseasonably warm weather fun.  We drove down on Friday evening with a stop at Culvers and spent the night in a hotel in Troy.

Staley and I ran a half marathon in Forest Park Saturday morning while Adelie hung out at my cousin Emily's house with Junie, Emerson, and Gage.  This was Staley's first half, and she finished in 2:03.  I ran my fastest half in 1:41.

We finished our runs, went back to the hotel to shower, picked up Adelie, and then grabbed lunch at Fire and Smoke in Troy.  It was a great little BBQ joint with some delicious mac and cheese.

Since it was sunny and in the low 50's, we decided to spend our afternoon at the St. Louis Zoo.  Although not all the animals were out, it was a beautiful day to just enjoy the weather.  The highlight might have been watching the orangutan baby, although we always enjoy the penguins, big cats, monkeys, snakes, and hippos too.

I always love the St. Louis Zoo!  It was a great way to spend our afternoon.

We had dinner at Fountain on Locust.  We got to sit in one of the curtained booths. (So exciting...  although Adelie didn't understand why we couldn't close the curtain.)  And we finished off our meal with a World's Smallest Hot Fudge Sundae and World's Smallest Ice Cream Cone.

After dinner, it was time to head to the Fox Theater to see Six, which was one of the girls' Christmas gifts.

The show was great!  We all really enjoyed it!  It was Adelie's first time seeing the full show (not the teen version), although it was the second time for Staley and I.

And then we went to the stage door to get autographs and meet all the queens!!

It was a fun week-end getaway to beat some of the January blues.

Of course, we got home and finished off the last week of January with me getting my butt kicked by Influenza A.  I can't remember the last time I was that sick!

And we finished off the last day of January with Adelie participating in the school-wide spelling bee for the second year in a row.  She started as one of 20 and made it to the final 6 participants.  So proud!!

Good-bye, January.  Thanks for the memories.

Something Rotten, Jr.

Adelie loves acting.  She loves to sing and dance.  She loves to help others.  She loves to be around people.  And she has a special place in her heart for individuals with special needs. What better way to combine all her strengths than to be a mentor for the Penguin Project.

The Penguin Project is a theater opportunity for individuals with special needs.  Each artist in the program is paired with a mentor who partners with them at rehearsals and on stage to help them.  The artists are the stars of the show while the mentors are just there to help and support.  It is such a supportive, inclusive environment where kids can be themselves and be celebrated for who they are.

Adelie's partner for the Penguin Project was Naomi.  She is a sweet, 20 year old girl adopted from Columbia who has both physical and intellectual disabilities, but she and Adelie were a great pair.  They got along great, enjoyed each other, and developed a sweet friendship.

Rehearsals for the show started back in September with 2 evenings/week dedicated to Penguin rehearsals.  They then ramped up over Christmas break with multi-hour, daily rehearsals for the last several weeks leading up to the shows.  It was a big load, but Adelie never complained and always enjoyed going.

The show they performed was 'Something Rotten, Jr.'  I had never seen the show before, but it was a very clever show about a pair of playwrights in the time of Shakespeare trying to come up with their next big show.  Desperate, they hire a fortune teller to tell them what the next big thing in theater is going to be and what Shakespeare's biggest hit will be.  The end result is a musical called "Omelet."

Naomi did not have a speaking roll, so Adelie and Naomi were singers and dancers in the ensemble.  They were villagers as well as dancing omelets.  They were front and center during the song 'Will Power.'

Penguin Project was such a great experience for Adelie.  She truly loved the kids she got to know, especially Naomi.  Her sweet nature and helping personality was just made for this program.  Adelie has already decided that she wants to make Penguin Project a priority in her schedule for next year as well.

Adelie had a sweet group of friends come to see the show one night.

Grammie, Grandpa, Uma, Papa, Elliott, and the rest of our family all came to see her perform as well.

Penguin Project was such a great experience for Adelie this year.  I used to worry about Adelie finding her "thing."  She often follows in Staley's footsteps or participates in the things that Staley does.  And that's fine.  But seeing how Penguin is such a perfect use of Adelie's gifts and talents makes me feel happy.  I definitely think Penguin Project is Adelie's thing.

It's All Too Much

I worry about my kids living in today's world.  I worry about the effects of screens.  I worry about the effects of social media.  I worry about their physical well-being.  I worry about their social-emotional well-being.  I worry about the things that are happening now...our parenting, their friends, their schedules, their activities...that are shaping the people that they are becoming.  And I worry about how all these factors influence who my kids are as we try to ensure they grow up to be grounded, well-adjusted adults who can contribute positively to society.  As Christians, we want to be in the world as a light and an example, but not of this world.  And that can be hard.

One of my current struggles is how to balance our values and beliefs with the excess that has become our world.  I don't want entitled children.  I don't want them to think they need all the things to be happy.  I don't want them to believe that anything good has to be over the top.  I don't want to give in to the 'more is more' philosophy that is so, so prevalent in our world today.  I'm tired of all the asks...not necessarily from my children, but from the world...that accumulate into an amount that just makes me say "it's too much."

I am noticing more and more that, with each thing my child is involved in, there are just too many asks.  Too many things.  Too much that does not necessarily add value...it just adds more.  Too many seemingly small things, small expenses, small commitments, small asks that just accumulate into what starts to feel like a burden.  When my kids bring home another paper or I get another e-mail or the kids have another ask, they often say, "It's only ___ dollars."  And yes, often it is only $5, $10, $15...but those add up.  And my response is often, "It's not about the money.  It's about the principle.  It's unnecessary."  And I truly believe that.  So much of what is being asked is not adding value.  It's just adding more.

Is it necessary to get a t-shirt for every single activity we are in?  No, it is not.  Because then you end up with a drawer full of Recycling Club t-shirts and Young Authors t-shirts and Drama t-shirts and sports t-shirts that don't get worn.  Is it necessary to come home from every birthday party or classroom party or youth sporting activity you go to with a goody-bag full of snacks and themed plastic junk?  Why has this become our society's expectation?  Do we need to build up every activity that our kids are involved in with extras like team meals and merchandise and snacks and awards?  Can't they just get the satisfaction from being a part of the team and participating in the activity/sport they signed up for?  I truly feel like we are setting our children up for failure in life when the expectations for each and every thing they do just keeps growing and growing. When did hard work and dedication and the sense of belonging and pride in being a part of a team become not enough?  Our work places are generally not providing us with daily snacks and fun extra activities and matching t-shirts.  We are not awarded every time we just finish what we are expected to do.  And if we are starting this excess at the grade school level and the middle school level, what are our kids' expectations going to be when they get to high school?  College?  Out in the work place?

The middle school dance team has become my soap box example of "too much."  Staley enjoys it.  She does.  And I enjoy watching her enjoy it.  She has improved as a dancer.  She has made friends.  She finds joy in it.  But it is too much.  The practices start in June and the season ends in February.  Too much.  They practice 5 hours a day, 4 days a week in June and July.  Too much.  They have to buy and wear matching practice clothes.  Too much.  They go to a 3 day sleep-away dance camp.  Too much.  They buy expensive competition jackets and backpacks.  Too much.  They are having a professional photo shoot.  Way too much! They have secret sisters and a Christmas gift exchange and special camp pillowcases and an over-night lock in and 8th grade night gifts and long practices on days off school and competition t-shirts and state sweatshirts and money for meals/snacks at day long competitions and a hotel stay before state and parent concession stand shifts and competition hosting responsibilities and end of the season awards banquet.  Too much.  Most of these things are little things...it's only $10 for a secret sis gift or it's only $20 for a t-shirt or it's only $25 for a photo shoot or it's only part of my day off school or it's only one shift you have to work or it's only one food item you have to provide.  But the "it's only" adds up to be a lot.  A lot of money.  A lot of time.  A lot of unnecessary excess.  It's dance team...so let's just dance.

Although dance team is my prime example, I feel it from all sides.  It's in the school clubs and youth sports activities.  It's in the middle school field trips and optional merchandise.  It's in meals and snacks and t-shirts and gift exchanges.  It's in volunteering and sign-ups and drop offs and pick ups.  It's in the full schedule, not just with the activity itself but with all the extras it entails.

We don't say yes to it all.  We don't purchase all the things.  We don't attend all the extras.  We make our children choose or contribute or use their own money for certain things.  Staley doesn't have a dance backpack.  Her dance jacket doesn't have her name on it so we can pass it on when she's done.  If the kids want to get a t-shirt for a show or an optional activity, they have to pay for it.  Sometimes this makes them upset.  Sometimes they feel left out.  And sometimes as parents we have to give in...we buy the dance jacket or pay for the photo shoot or pony up for the field trip or say 'yes' to the merchandise.  Sometimes it's to celebrate them.  Sometimes it's so our kid doesn't feel left out.  Sometimes it's an obligation.  Sometimes it's just a special treat.  It's a hard balance to find.  We don't want to be the high maintenance parent on the team.  We want our kids to feel included...to not be the odd man out by not matching the team or participating in the team activities.  We want our kids to be happy.  However, we also want our kids to understand that life is not about the excess.  Joy and contentment are not found in the stuff...in the extras.  There is joy in using their God-given gifts.  There is joy in working hard to accomplish a goal.  There is joy in spending time with friends and people who share your passion.  And sometimes the joy is easier to find when it's not buried in the excess.  Because sometimes, just sometimes, it's all too much.

She Says...

 

"This hat is cute, but it has been known to cause temporary blindness."

Staley's Birthday

Staley turned 14, and so we celebrated!

Staley had a dance team competition on her actual birthday.  So she hopped on a school bus at 5:30 in the morning and got home around 6:45 in the evening.  On the plus side, she enjoyed a day with dance team friends and her team qualified their lyrical dance for state.

After she got home from her competition, grandparents came over to share in a birthday dinner, presents, and dessert.

Staley enjoyed her birthday dinner of choice...Zach grilling hamburgers and brats...as well as her dessert of choice...Oreo balls and Uncle Bob's Oreo Overload ice cream.

Although when Dad is in charge, he just gets all the options.

When I asked Staley what she wanted to do for a birthday activity with friends, she decided that she just wanted to go rock climbing with her friend, Morgan.

I took them to Upper Limits, and they spent several hours climbing.

They had a great time and tackled some really hard climbs.

They even made it to the top of a couple of the 65-foot tall silos.

After climbing, we enjoyed dinner out at Ancho and Agave for some yummy Mexican food.

It's good to be 14!

Happy Birthday, Staley!

 Each year seems to fly by so quickly now.  Birthdays come up again and again.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I was combing through pictures for Staley's 13th birthday, and here we are again.  So enjoy this brief walk down memory lane as we watch Staley morph from an adorable infant to a precocious toddler to a confident grade schooler to a responsible middle schooler...all in the blink of an eye.

And it truly does feel that fast!  I love looking back through pictures and relishing all the memories that are captured there.  I love reading back through my blog and remembering all the moments that brought us to where we are now.  It's a little bittersweet to see how quickly time is going, but it's also so very fun to just enjoy the amazing person Staley is now.  I love this smart, confident, talented, hard-working, funny, driven, responsible, mature, amazing woman that Staley is becoming.  

I sure do love this 14 year old!!

Happy birthday, Staley!

Interview with a 14 Year Old

Favorite color:  Coral

Favorite food:  A lot of them.  It depends on the day.  I like cheeseburgers and fish tacos and normal tacos and chicken alfredo and red bag chicken and chicken strips.

Least favorite food:  Peas

Favorite restaurant:  Monical's Pizza

Favorite stuffed animal:  Teddy

Favorite animal:  Sloths, I guess

Favorite game:  MarioKart

Favorite movie:  The Princess Bride

Favorite sport:  Cross country

Favorite activity:  NTA

Favorite thing to do at home:  I'm not home very much.  Probably listen to audiobooks.

Favorite thing to do at school:  Talk to my friends

Favorite subject:  Algebra

Favorite place to go locally:  The pool

Favorite place to go on vacation:  Pentwater

Favorite thing to do with Adelie:  Dance

Favorite thing to do with Briggs:  Play Stratego

Favorite thing to do with Mom:  Run and play Connections

Favorite thing to do with Dad:  Run and watch movies

Favorite book:  I don't know.  Inheritance Games, I guess.

Favorite princess:  Belle

Favorite outfit:  State sweatshirt and black leggings

Favorite PJs:  Shorts and a t-shirt

Favorite play that you've been in:  Lion King or Mean Girls

Favorite play that you've seen:  Wicked

What is something you are excited about now that you are 14?  High school

What are you afraid of?  Ordering at restaurants

What is the best thing about you?  Everything

What are you good at?  Running, theater, dance

What is something you wish you could do or do better?  Juggle

Who is your best friend?  Morgan

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Actuary

Where is one place you'd like to go that you've never been?  Bora Bora or Hawaii

What is one play you'd like to be in?  Newsies

Yep!  She's 14!!

Good-bye, 2024!

We truly enjoyed the rest of our Christmas break.  With all the busy-ness of school and work and kid activities, it was nice to have a reprieve from some of the busy to just relax and enjoy time as a family before everything started back up again.   Although there were some dance practices and Penguin rehearsals and work and a few play dates, outings, and birthday parties over break, we had plenty of time for sleeping in, watching family movies, going for runs, playing family games, reading books, and relaxing.

We enjoyed a family outing to the Riverfront Museum for the Jim Henson exhibit, which we really enjoyed.  We also fit in the Festival of Lights (since we didn't get that done before Christmas).

Other than that, much of our break looked like this...

There were pajama days and book reading and trying out new Christmas gifts.

There was running and building Legos and playing video games.

There was a birthday shopping trip and pottery painting with Uma and Papa.

There were makeovers and photo shoots and dancing in the basement and sister fun.

There was a birthday party...

and several play dates with friends.

And we ended our 2024 with an evening of eating, game playing, visiting, and fun with the Hostetlers to welcome the new year.

Peace out, 2024!

It's been a good one!!