Sweet Sixteen with The Bard

My middle daughter turned sixteen yesterday...

Where does the time go?  Really.  You hear people say that all of the time, but it's true.  Close your eyes and its gone...so sad.  But not to get teary eyed - cause as my girls are growing up they are becoming amazingly awesome!  I mean, how many 16 year olds want a Shakespeare themed birthday!?

That girl does, that's who.  So, being an obliging mother I threw her a Shakespearean family dinner party.  Like I have mentioned before, we just do family parties.  I figure, I gave them life, they can spend their birthday with me.

They doth not protest.

The trifold paper on the table is "how to use thou, thee, thy & thine" that I found here.  Well, actually I found it on Pinterest, that's just the link.

My husband had this Shakespeare bust on his desk.  And obviously her favorite color is purple...

Rose shaped lollipops...easy to find since her birthday is so close to Valentine's day!

She got some clothes.  A super cute navy dress with pink polka dots.  It looked like something that Clara would wear (Doctor Who)  so I stuck a note in that read, "a dress for the Impossible Girl".  I also got her a navy dress that had birds and feathers on it.  The note in that one read, "Mockingjay, dress like you are leading a rebellion".  I picked up some leopard print flats that were awesome, jeans, a long white shirt and a fabulous handbag.  Oh, and the DVD "Shakespeare Retold" that has 4 different plays put on with a modern spin.  The above is a handmade fangirl art project and I'm pretty sure it was the favorite of the gifts.  A montage of the characters she loves with the guys who play them.

Oh!  And we also did the Shakespearean Hokey Pokey.  (the girls won't allow me to post the video of them).  But it was great fun.  Another Pinterest find...Shakespearean Hokey Pokey

What a gorgeous child!  Happy Sweet Sixteen, pumpkin!

The Fires of Pompeii

I love my kids...they are quirky and creative.  I have been under the weather for about a week almost.  Miserably sick.  Fever, sinus congestion that became chest congestion and a throat that felt like it was on fire.  My voice is scratchy and sometimes nonexistent.  Today, however, they made me smile.  They were up in their room doing whatever it is they do up there.  Sometimes they sing musicals, sometimes they make up stories and sometimes they do stage makeup for fun.  Today was makeup day.

And the theme was The Fires of Pompeii from Doctor Who.

My youngest daughter is a tech theater kid.  She has been the stage manager for her junior high school.  She tried out for her first play in high school and made the crew.  She is my behind the scenes girl.  She really loves theater, but not being in the spotlight.

She looks pretty legit seeing as she used eyeliner pencil and stuff she found around the house for an impromptu costume.  Clever girl.  Her older sister dressed her and took the photos.  Well done, ladies, well done.

Sherlock Flag Bag

 

My sophomore needed a new flag bag for color guard by the first game.  I found that out a few days before the first game.  No time to order one, so off to Joann's fabric store.

 

 

My love for the show Sherlock made a great black and white print stick out as I was walking down the aisles.  A little yellow spray paint...yeah, fellow Sherlock fans know what's up...

 

 

The Sherlock Flag Bag...

 



 

 

Sturdy upholstery fabric and a quick sew job.  I even included a nice carrying strap and a drawstring top with a cord lock.  Pretty sweet for a short afternoon project.  Should be pretty durable, but just in case she's a bit rough and the bottom starts to wear out I purchased some Union Jack duct tape.  It just got sweeter...

 

Football Season is HERE!

How do you know high school football season has arrived?

This little guy lets you know.

How?

Like this...

Nothing says 'We accept you' like 'I made a big mess in your yard for you to clean up'.

This is how the band and color guard drop off the yard signs.  My now sophomore got to clean it up last year and now my new freshman gets the pleasure.  And it is a pleasure.  It truly does make them feel accepted.  It's a weird phenomenon.  I remember it from my high school days. 

Funny how something that seems like it would be a mean prank is anticipated with a lot of excitement from the person that will spend their Saturday picking up tiny torn bits of toilet tissue out of the slightly damp grass.  Forget about scaling the tree, which they did a great job of hoisting rolls of TP high up.  Kudos...

Now to go 'encourage' the clean up...

:)

Back to School

The buses are on the loose again.  The AM traffic is back to horrible and the blinking school zone lights are on once more.  Ah, back to school time.  I love this time of year.  It means fall is around the corner.  Friday night high school football games are gearing up.  And better day time sleep for the night time worker! 

This back to school year also means my baby is in high school. 

And my last year freshman is what she calls, a squash-more.

Let's not even get into my second year college student...
              - She asked me the other day what I'll think when she turns 20.  I told her that in this case, thank goodness for teen pregnancy, lol.  Even though they all know what a hard road it was when they were younger.

But as everyone goes through the anxiety filled, yet exciting back to school days - I wish the best to all!

JJ Watt

My daughter woke up at the crack of dawn and went with her friend to the Houston Texans training camp.  She has been wanting to meet JJ Watt for just short of forever.  She's determined to marry him.  When you go to the training camp, some of the players will come out and autograph items for you.  Last year she went and was disappointed that she didn't get to JJ Watt.  This year she did.  Here he is autographing her friend's item.  He signed her football right after the picture was taken.

 

 

All she could manage to say was "Thanks" so we aren't sending out the wedding invitations just yet.  Still, she had a great time and was super excited! :)

Dance, Dance, Dance

Every little bird has to dance - I just hope mine was appropriate!  My youngest daughter had her eighth grade dance recently.  She got dressed up.

 

 

Endured a photo shoot with patience (sort of).

 

 

 

 

And got the lecture - don't talk to strangers, be appropriate, Jesus sees you when you dance, don't spend the whole night in the bathroom, stay in a group, be polite, text when you get inside the gym, be a good example for your friends, have fun but don't act too crazy and be respectful to the teachers...