The Party Has Moved

For anyone still checking in here and following this blog, I've felt it incumbent upon me for sometime to leave a note saying: The Party Has Moved!  It is now at http://www.walkalongtheway.com/ where we are relating our adventures in Switzerland. I'm pretty sure you know that, but I wanted some closure -- just in case.

Cinderella

Every year, we make movie with our cousins. Last summer we did Cinderella. In the past we've done Little Red Riding Hood, Robin Hood, Snow White, and even our own story, Dragon the Prairie. Hopefully, I'll get those up eventually. But for now, you'll have to content yourself with this one.

Comedy of Characters

A few weeks back, Loulou and Pete's put on a play too! They've been doing an acting class for the past few months with some friends. Below we have the gypsys, Esmerelda and Rudolpho. Rudolpho is one of Pete's good friends. They loved to steal - no, my bad - borrow shiny things.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Wilbert and the gypsys. You may recognize Prof. Dr. Dr. Wilbert from the tea party at WalkAlongtheWay. Although perhaps not with that hat...

King John (good King John, not the evil one of Robin Hood's time) and his sister Esmerelda, who is ste-borrowing his shiny crown.

Happy book club friends. Wilbert, the fair Princess Annalina (King John's daughter), and Esmerelda.

Summer is Here

Julius Caesar

A few weeks ago my middle school had our annual spring play. We did Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. It was a shortened version, but it was still Shakespeare's original words. I played the part of Portia, Brutus's wife. We had so much fun rehearsing and putting on the play. My teacher has two actor friends who came and helped us stage the play and it's been amazing to watch God in their lives.

Anyway, here I am with Brutus. Don't we look very Roman?

This was the first part of the performance, where we recited poems from the second part of the year (we had a winter feast) and talked about some of the terms we had learned.

Here's another picture of me with Brutus, it's really bad quality because it was a snapshot of a video. But it's still the best picture of me lighting wise.

Here are Brutus's troops marching off stage. I'm the curly head.

And the battle between Mark Antony/Octavius and Brutus/Cassius.
Death. Blood. Swords. Death.

The final bow.

Zaz hanging with the "big guys" afterwards. I love this picture.

Jenni and I, who is my sister-in-law through the play.

I had so much fun doing the play and I'm sad that I won't be able to do one next year. But I'm so glad that I did at least one!

And for the first time, I feel like taking more drama classes at some point. It's fun!

Portland II

A lovely weekend in Portland with old and new friends. On the way down we stopped at Burgerville in Centralia, where we feasted on cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and french fries - although the french fries turned out to have some gluten in them. :(

We went to sleep not long after wards (well, most of us did) and woke up in the morning to find that their had been gluten in the french fries. Mama and Lou did not feel good!

Nonetheless, we went to Charlie's lacrosse game and cheered him on. Then we headed to Bob's Red Mill and had a wonderful brunch. (gluten free for those who needed it) Pancakes, french toast, hash browns, omelets, muffins, eggs. Need I go on?

After brunch, we split up, half of us going to the Colombia Outlet.

The rest of the day we hung out and as I said, watched basketball, jumped on the trampoline, and napped.

Zaz in the play room/nook.

Lou, Peter, and Leah.

Aunt Betty and Mama catching up.

Oh, how I love trampolines! A beautiful day = beautiful pictures.

Charlie, Pete, and Lou.

Jumping for joy! Me!

Lou and I traded off with the camera, doing photo shoots of each other. So fun!

Portland

We've been here less than 24 hours and I've taken more than 150 pictures. Prepare for a picture overload sometime this week! This morning we went to a lacrosse game, Bob's Red Mill, and the Columbia Outlet. This afternoon was all about napping, jumping on the trampoline, and watching basketball.

Happy Saturday

Zaz's 4th Birthday

I just found this in the drafts. 'Tis long overdue. Uncle Chip, Aunt Janet, Kelley, Hannah, and Abby came to help celebrate. We had a potluck at church after the service and so brought cupcakes to share. Zaz was ecstatic about his gifts. An Indiana Jones hat, cowboy gear, yard toys, a Swiss toy bus, and many other fun things.


I attempted to make some cupcakes from my cupcake book, Hello Cupcake. The beginning stages...


The Wonder Dogs from Jupiter. And yes, they resemble their cousins, the schnauzers and chihuahuas. How observant of you!

Skiing Weekend

Two weeks ago, we had winter break at Ecole Vieux Pin. The previous post done on this subject would have been better named Christmas break, but oh well. We took a lovely two-day skiing trip to Stevens Pass the first day and Mission Ridge the second, after spending the night in Wenatchee.

Zaz was very excited to go skiing as we got ready, but slightly less so when it actually happened.

Cheerful smiles.

Zaz also spent considerable time studying the map. Even though it was upside down...

We had fairly good weather at Stevens, although it rained a bit at the end. Such beautiful sunshine!

Zaz skied very well

More studying of the map over lunch.

Mission was really beautiful too, especially after coming out of dry Wenatchee. Talking to friends later, we realized that we were truly blessed with a clear day. We could see Mt. Rainer and Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood was hiding a little behind some clouds.

The view was stunning. Lou got a bit annoyed at me for taking so many pictures. (i.e. taking my camera out a LOT!)

We also got to see the wing from the bomber that crashed there during World War II and learn it's history.

After lunch Zaz got to go play, and us other five enjoyed skiing together.

Plus a nice ski-patrol man took our picture together.

The way the wind has pushed the snow on the trees, buildings, and these posts at the top of the lift was really cool - and beautiful.

We are very thankful for a fun, successful trip, clear, blue skies, and enjoying God's creation. This was also only the second time we've able to go skiing this year, although Papa and Zaz are off to Snoqualmie tomorrow morning for a ski adventure in honor of Zaz's 4th birthday.

Marina

Zazzy's Depiction of Papa and First Drawing of a Person

Christmas Tradition

So it's not Christmas anymore, but it's never too late to share!

In 2006 we started a tradition of making Christmas dishes. Mommy wanted Christmas dishes but she didn't want to spend lots of money. So we've started making our own! We missed 2007 but we've done it for three years - this year we took pictures.

My 2006 Angel.

And My 2008 Snowflakes. I seem to have a blue theme.

Looloo has built up the Nativity scene. In 2006 she started with the stable, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherd, and the baby Jesus.

In 2008 she continued it with the three magi.

Mr. Pete has the Christmas tree...

With the presents under it.

The Zaz wasn't even one in 2006, so he had his first mistletoes...

And reindeer in 2008.

On the back of each plate, we put our hand print, name, and age. Last year, the Zaz was allowed to decorate the back of his plate as much as he wanted, because his hand was already on the front.

With eight plates, we started on mugs this year. Snowflakes, the Nativity, Angels, and a winter wonderland.

When asked what he wanted on the inside of his cup, the Zaz said, "A black snake." Mommy agreed and there you have it.

In case you can't read it, which is very possible, as the lighting was bad, it says, "He shall crush the serpent's head!"

We now have a joke in our house, "There's a dead snake in my cup!"

Mr. Pete opted for a more cheerful inside decoration.