Team Gray!

Our homeschool performing arts (HPA) group has grown. I think it was four years ago that they produced their first musical in our town–The Sound of Music. It was so beautifully done, and inspiring, that Yanni and several other children tried out for the show the next year. Yanni got into Annie, something I tend to overlook in my ungratefulness for her small role. She actually beat out several people she knew to get her part in the chorus, and at the time, we were very proud of her.

That experience showed me, however, that a musical is more for a high school student than a younger one, and Yanni sat out the next two years. She was ready to audition again this year, and she auditioned for two shows in one day! Last year, HPA produced two shows during the year, a play, Anne of Green Gables, and a musical, Jane Eyre. Yanni’s friends Khaliah and Lauren had good parts in Anne of Green Gables, and it inspired her to try out again.

This year, they’re doing Narnia and Hello Dolly. Yanni had a good audition. I don’t know how the directors are going to cast the shows based on the little information they gathered at the auditions, though. There were over 60 thirteen and up girls trying out alone. I saw a decent sized (but not nearly as big) group of thirteen and over boys trying out for Narnia. I know Hello
Dolly has a whole fleet of male roles, so I hope they got enough boys to cast it.

Yanni had to sing a chorus song from Hello Dolly, learn and do a dance, and deliver two lines from the show. For Narnia, she had two lines to deliver, and that same song audition was what indicated her vocal talent.

Keep your fingers crossed. We find out next week ‘after Tuesday. . . ‘

The coolest thing about growing up close with your boy cousins is that they grow up and marry great girls. Then you get cool girl cousins! In the Spring, we enjoyed spending time with Zo and Fe, and yesterday, we got to visit Lew and Deie.

I liked Deie as soon as I met her. Lew had brought her as his fiance to the family reunion in 2003, and Deie was so warm and friendly and welcoming, you’d think she’d been in the family for years.

An Iowa girl, Deie met my baby cousin Lewis in college at Iowa State. She held out on him until he got right with God. They’d stayed friends for years, and it was after graduation that Lew called Deie to tell her he’d gotten saved. He then proceeded to woo his wife. It blows me away to see them together, because I remember when Lewis was born, and he doesn’t look a day older than 15 to me.

Yet, there he is, husband, and daddy. Their little boy Lolo is the cutest, friendliest little boy! He got along so well with our children, and shared his MANY toys so well. You’d never know he is the youngest of the bunch. He and Imani especially hit it off, as she thought he was her own baby doll. His happy giggling interrupted many adult conversations.

Aunt Liz and Lang joined us, as well as Lew and Deie’s friend Ryan from church. The barbecue was on slam, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the economics and political discussion that we had during dinner. Even though Curtis and I tend to disagree with the family on politics, everyone remained civil, and it was stimulating. I didn’t complain when we switched to lighter topics after dinner, though.

We moved inside to avoid being eaten alive by mosquitoes, and Lang produced his chess board. Xay jumped at the challenge, despite the fact that I have never seen my cousin (Lew’s middle big brother) lose at anything.

Uncle Lonnie joined us after we had retired to the house, and Deie showed me her blogs. Curtis helped her with a technical issue, and she is sharp enough to follow his blogging advice without needing a guided tutorial. (unlike myself)

Deie loves scrabble, so she produced a board right before we were ready to leave. I protested, spouting my usual party line about hating scrabble because of Daddy. Lew and Lang understood, telling me that he’s just as hard on them as he is on me. I proceeded to play, and enjoy myself. I was surprised, and I got quite a few good words, and even a decent score. That’s always the point of contention with Daddy. He tells me I don’t know how to use the board properly–don’t get me started!

We had a wonderful time. Thanx, Lew and Deie for your wonderful hospitality! It was great seeing you all.

I just took a walk with all the kids here. (Xay was spending the night at a friend’s house). Yanni was complaining of allergies, and why was I trying to kill her? Esteban grew concerned that we were ‘walking in the woods,’ and Joy wondered how we’d ever get home.

Throughout the walk, we were hit with a pungent odor. Yanni thought it smelled like animal; I thought it smelled like fireworks. It was inescapable, growing stronger as we neared home.

We climbed the hill around the corner from our street, and. . . we saw a dead ‘possum in the road. And I mean dead. There was blood, we saw flies. . .

Yanni said, “All that time we were smelling that?”