Callbacks

So the girls got callbacks for Annie and we spent all of Saturday morning at the theater dancing up a storm. Well, okay i wasn't dancing but the girls were. My fears were unfounded because they both did a great job. M even impressed me when she came up (they were in a room downstairs and parents were not allowed to watch) and showed me the dance they had learned. Her and her friend danced their little hearts out for anyone that would watch. This is a huge step for M and I was just so happy that it was a good experience for her. L was called back for the part of Molly and had to do a little extra singing as well dancing. Everyone was impressed with her and I was told, the other girls that were trying out all made a big AWWWWWWE sound when she got up to dance. I am hoping that means good things. M is being a really good sport about the fact that L might get a part she might not. I really hope that they both get a shot. It would be great to have them do something together.

Life is a learning experience

Last night both my girls had an opportunity to audition for the Scera theaters production of Annie. M has been very excited about the possibility of doing this show for months. L on the the other hand is just happy to have been able to sing in front of people alongside her sister.
I have had my kids audition many times before for all kinds of things. They have each been turned down and already know what that feels like and are just happy to have the chance to try.
For some reason, this time I was more nervous and I am not really sure why. I think that it might have something to do with the fact that they might actually get a call back. IF the do, there will most definitely be dancing and that is where I think that my worry comes from. When you are asked to a callback they teach you a dance that you are required to learn and perform that day. They aren't long dances but if you don't dance it can be scary. Both my girls don't dance. I know they can, if they are given long enough to learn it, but it can become a stressful thing for M especially.
I know my girls could be great in this play and I will be sad if they aren't given a chance, even though i don't relish the thought of driving them 30 minutes away, every night to rehearsal, but like everything in life, this is just a learning experience. They have such talent and I am just so proud of them for giving it a try. I will keep you posted on how they do.

In other news, T has been working for a while now on trying to pass off his 12 x tables. He has only a couple of minutes to do a page of them and after some extra studying and a little bribery, this week he was able to complete it. We are so very proud of his hard work.

I also decided that since C was so funny (infuriating, but funny) most of the time, I would add a little saying of his when they come up. So this morning after spending a few minutes standing and watching it snow he turned to me and said "they are just like little angels falling from heaven!" Where does something like that come from??

No More 'Half Assed' Anything!

I love watching the biggest loser. The show helps people lose weight and live healthier lives. This is a goal of mine and I am always inspired by these men and women that have usually struggled with their weight for most of their lives. They seem to accomplish things that I don't feel like I could do.
Last night while watching, some of the contestants were asked to run sprints, which is a very common thing on the show. What caught my attention was how fast the sprints were for some of them. When I run i frequently do interval training but my 'sprints' are set at an 8 on my treadmill and when I am done I am left wondering how anyone could run that fast for any extended period of time and I feel proud that I pushed myself that fast.
Last night however, I was humbled that a woman that weighs more than twice what I do, could run sprints at a 12. For those that aren't runners a 12 setting on a treadmill works out to be about a 5 min mile. Now she wasn't asked to run a mile at that pace, but running any amount of time at that pace is hard, but obviously not impossible. Jillian then made the comment after realizing that all along they could have been pushing harder " Think about it, What else in your life are you doing half assed?" This made me think.
I pondered that question this morning after I slept in and didn't get to workout when i wanted and considered, because I was just grumpy, not even going at all. Then Jillian's words came to my mind again and I decided that i was not going to let being grumpy stop me from getting out there and changing my self perception.
I didn't have a lot of time but I got out there and ran. After finishing a 5km i decided I would put Jillian's words to the test and not do my work out 'half assed'. I also thought that if they could run that fast then there was nothing stopping me, and I even decided I would go one better. So, instead of running 20 second sprints I decided I would try 1 min sprints at a 12, just because I can.
I let the treadmill warm up and i was a little afraid to jump on it with people around (I imagined not being able to keep up with it and flying off the back) but after about 30 seconds of watching it I jumped on and did it, twice!
This isn't going to win me any medals or even make me a faster runner, not right away at least. But i had a revelation today. If i believe that I can do it, then i can. In the words of Jillian Michaels "You have had a life changing moment, because now you have had a glimpse of your potential. Nothing has changed, except that you got out of your own way and excepted that you could do it. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, with the right attitude."

Trying again

I thought that i would try again to be a blogger.
Life is different from when I tried this last time. We moved house L started kindergarten, C started preschool and M & T started attending our local elementary school. They all have new friends and new hobbies.
M and I started doing local musical theater, which has been a ton of fun. T, even joined M in a high school play and did an amazing job. It was so much fun watching them both perform in front of sellout crowds. They both have some much potential and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do with it. I plan on trying out again this summer for the next musical, in hopes that my casting wasn't a fluke last time! M and L are also trying out for Annie this week. Could be a busy summer!
I started a part time job writing blogs for Mikes company. It has been an interesting experience but it is a nice feeling knowing that i am contributing a little to our financial situation. I am mostly hoping that I will be able to make enough to help fund a trip to Australia. It has been almost six years since we have been back. Too long in my opinion but without money its hard to make a trip like that.
I also recently taught myself to crochet and I have been experimenting with making all kinds of things. I plan on putting up some pictures to show you my work. I would love to have more time to make things, it relaxes me and I love the feeling get when I am done!
I think that has mostly caught you up on what has been going on. Lets hope I have some interesting things to say from now on.