Here it is! I'm no professional, but it did impress the kids, and that's the whole point, after all! I had fun doing it - it's an idea I've wanted to try for a few years. The cake itself turned out to be more bread-like than cake-like. It fell in the middle. I'm not sure how or why that happened, but since Sam is only eating the frosting, Elli doesn't care as long as it has sugar in it (and is actually doing better with this consistency than she does with cake), and Scott claims it's fine, I guess I should stop worrying about it!
Here's the happy birthday girl! She had some help blowing out the candles, but she absolutely LOVES the Happy Birthday song. I can't believe she's 6 already. -------
The other night I dreamed I went back to my alma mater and found my debate coach's office outside the new theater. I was soooo envious of the new building and all the perks the theater department now had. Then I learned what cool things the debate team was doing and I was really really envious. Even though her office was a hole in the wall. They were on the road every weekend going to really cool colleges and flying, not driving.
Then I woke up and realized most of that dream was true. I know my former debate coach has retired from coaching the team. And I know that if she still teaches at the school, her office isn't a hole in the wall outside the theater! But the team is travelling all over the country and placing first against schools like Wheaton at tournaments at places like the real Notre Dame in Indiana. I'm trying not to be totally envious. We once went to a tournament in Oklahoma and thought we were big stuff then. But we drove the 16 hours in a college van. And we drove our coach insane by the end of the trip. She never took us that far again!
And the theater department now has an awesome facility. The theater students have so many more opportunities now. They actually have student-directed productions every year and don't store costumes and props in 120-year-old cellars far below the earth's surface. I'll never forget crawling around in tunnels underneath the old auditorium in search of props for "The Diary of Anne Frank." It was kinda cool, but also a little spooky. I am happy for them and I'm so thrilled that students are getting recognition for these things to -- it was rather ignored back when I was there (sooo many years ago! hah). But I'm a little wistful, wishing I'd had those opportunities. Weird what an effect crazy dreams can have on me!
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I am considering a part-time job as Parent Coordinator of the Family Advisory Council at Children's. It would be 6-8 hours per week and would be promoting Family Centered Care (FCC) at the hospital, planning and running the monthly council meetings, and consulting with faculty and staff interested in FCC. It's sooo very tempting. But I'm trying to decide if I really have the time, and if I really want to spend 7-10 hours away from the kids each week (cuz you have to include the commute, which 45 minutes one way).
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It's gardening time!!! The weather is awesome and I have garden spring cleaning to do! I'm seeing bulb sprouts everywhere and need to free them to flourish. I also am planting irises along the side of the house, and probably a clump out in front. I'm still trying to decide where out front. I had fun window-shopping in my seed catalogs while everyone was sick last week. Now I have to narrow down my list (which probably totals more than $200) to a manageable amount to afford, to plant, and to maintain. Oh yeah - and if we are really going to sell this house next year (or possibly even this fall if I take that part-time job), what am I willing to leave behind?
