Week 17

Author's note:  This is WAY too much for one post.  Some really big family moments, but I'm cramming them all into this weekly post before they sit in my to-do pile for far too long.  Spring sports kicked off, Project Dance, Fine Arts, baseball opening day....  With six active kids, there are constantly big, bloggable moments.  For now, this works.

Monday, Apr. 18th

Continuing on with some beautiful spring weather, I set the kids up with school on the trampoline so that I could work outside next to them.  They were very productive and quick to finish so they could play.

Colombo built me a third garden box.

Trevor.  Let's just pretend he's in 4th grade and knows how to spell America.  #homeschooled

Tuesday, Apr. 19th
First baseball practice- his 2nd year playing.  I was shocked (yep, that's the right word) over the emotional immaturity of some of his teammates.  The language, the disrespect of coaches, the inattentiveness, the meltdowns.  Shocking.  During their water break I pulled him in close.  "Some of those boys are using words and acting in ways that DiSalvatores do not.   I do NOT want to see you joining in with their inappropriateness." -- "Mom, I'm not like those boys."

Wednesday, Apr. 20th
Madison suggested I paint the boxes before I implement the other part of my plan.  (note to self:  Picking ONE color would've been MUCH cheaper.  Like 66% cheaper.)

Renna was invited to Aunt Florence's 102nd birthday party.

This is Mrs. Essick's aunt in the nursing home that they visit.  Renna has many friends at the nursing home and this day they filled her pockets with money!

Trevor had his first soccer practice.  He's giving organized sports another stab after a five year hiatus. We shall see...

I picked Maddy up from dance and had exactly 20 minutes in Macy's before the store closed.  The pressure must've worked.  She said yes to the dress. (for Nationals)

Thursday, Apr. 21st
With painting done, Nathanael and I laid patio stone dust, stepping stones, and filler rocks.  I LOVE how it all looks.  Madison's response, "Too bad no one's even gonna see it!"  Now I just need to fill it with healthy green plants that feed us veggies all summer long.

I also have to finish off the edging.

Nathanael had his first soccer practice.  This is his 4th year playing rec soccer.

Friday, Apr. 22nd

This was an EPIC day, even by our standards.  We started our day early.  I dropped Maddy and Nathanael off at the church at 7:00am to join the rest of the students going to regional Fine Arts and Youth Convention.

We met them up in Providence.  I had pulled some strings / called in a favor to get Madison to dance early in the day.

You can click here to see her dance Fine Arts.

As soon as she was done, she and I hopped in the van en route for New York City for her to catch up with her Project Dance group.  Halfway there, I knew Nathanael was presenting his short sermon in Providence.  I was crushed to not be with him, but I'd heard him practice 6-8 times.  I began praying for him and then my husband sent me this text:

And I lost it!!  I was so touched by the teens that my kids are surrounded by.  They were in prayer for him just before his turn.

I was also so, so grateful for Fan's Fan Club, who made it there to support him.

You can click here to watch his sermon.

In NYC, I pinpointed where Kandie and the girls were and literally kicked Maddy out at a red light downtown.  I made my way to the upper west side to park near the Friday night venue and deal with the barre for her dance.  I was so proud of myself for finding on-street parking and parallel parked on my first try with only a little adjusting.  Yes- so proud I took a picture!  And free!!!  And safe!  And 1 block from where I needed to be.  Thank goodness because I was on my own with the 80 pound barre.

The upper west side was stunning.

Then I figured out the subway (first time on my own!) and got myself back downtown to the studios where Maddy was rehearsing.

Then she and I subway-ed back uptown to the church where the worship service was to be held.  Let's just forget about the part where we got on the express and went 20 blocks too far.   We still made it to her sound check / run-through on time.  She was asked by the director to dance "Just Be Held" during the worship service.  It was a huge honor.

You can click here to see the director's very generous introduction and her dance.  The service was beautiful, powerful, moving.  Just an amazing time of worshipping the Lord.  I was so impressed with the caliber, passion, wisdom, vision, and commitment of the director.

At some point Friday night, I got the news that both Maddy and Nathanael had advanced to Nationals for Fine Arts...Louisville in August!!!!  So proud of both of them!

Then I kissed my girl, left her with Kandie for the weekend, and drove home, arriving safely at 12:30am.  What.a.day.

Saturday, Apr. 23rd
Trevor's first soccer game, actually a 3-game jamboree.  (Nathanael missed his since he was at youth convention.

Rocco had his opening ceremonies and first game.

 Maddy was busy at Project Dance in NYC.

 C4 was enjoying youth convention.

Sunday, Apr. 24th

Even though I wasn't there, I was cheering on my cousin who was running a half marathon.  Serious respect.  Go, Mel!!!

 Sunday, Funday.

 I took the kids to the park.  My crew (enough for a team!) got a game of basketball going.

 Then some of the neighbors (and Trevor's friend who'd slept over) made enough for a serious soccer game.

 Headed home from NYC.