It's showtime!!!!!

OK, we didn't drop off the planet...we finished our show! Rodgers and Hammerstien's "Cinderella" was a big success, and we are all thrilled to be back on regular sleep schedules! But, oh, how worth it!

Six of the Washburns lit up the stage....but none were more excited than Bekah, who made her premier main stage debut as a village girl

and a mouse who got turned into a horse!
Christian also doubled as the Herald
and a guest at the ball! All the boys had some pretty impressive waltzing going on!
Jonah doubled as a court guard
and a ball guest.
Indy doubled the same as Jonah, guard
and impressive dancer!
Kamberlynne had a single role, but played it up beautifully as one of Cinderella's stepsisters! I think her favorite part was wearing a size 22 fat suit (wait till you see the video!)
And finally, momma was the music director, and ran all the audio equipment....and was tired!
And now for all you big fans (Nana), grab some popcorn and enjoy a few videos!

Here is the opener...Christian soloing in his new lower voice, Jonah and Indy to his right, Kamberlynne center in the big fat suit and orange skirt....and watch for Bekah's one line "Maisy"...she's adorable!



Here Rebekah (the mouse on the far left) is transformed into a horse....



Now check out Jonah and Indy "Dancing like the Stars". They are center stage...oh, and Kamberlynne comes in to "dance" with the Prince!



Another ball scene....hard to see, but Jonah is just behind Cinderella with his partner, and they ROCK!


Now the "Stepsister's Lament".....brought big laughs! Kamberlynne's big take the stage moment!



And at last, the finale....whole ensemble, and a very nice harmony note at the end, even if I do say so myself!!!!



So, there you have it! Now our next big debut will be the new baby....13 days and counting!

Ultimate Girls Night!

Fabulous dinner...


Fabulous fabulous show....


With one fabulous fabulous FABULOUS girl!

I love being the momma!

Yep, a night like that makes it to the top of the girls night "All-time Greats"!

Just for laughs!

It's a scientific fact that you don't talk about dieting to a pregnant woman...especially when she is in the last trimester, and forgot what she really is supposed to look like. Well, Brian is recovering from a knee injury, is just about back to full speed, and is super psyched about taking off the pounds he put on while his knee was on the blitz. I took it pretty well... for a while. Until he got a little more specific. And I quote,

"I just wish I could get rid of this stuff in the middle", he says.

OK. That's enough. Compared to MY middle, buddy, you're doin' just fine. So Stop it. Seriously.

I actually told him that...and even though I was kind of smiling, he got it, because the next day he came home with this to show me....

1 minute and 46 seconds of pure truth. And funny. Very. Very. Funny.



So the only thing that could be better would be a new one entitled "Things you don't say to your PREGNANT wife!

Come on. Click the video. It's worth every second!

Rainbows

As much as we love the sunshine, sometimes God let's it rain. And it rains, and it rains, and it rains. Really really hard. Its such a big storm, you end up losing power, and you try and function off the meager lights of a few candles. The wind seems to be ripping apart your house, and the thought enters and re-enters your mind that you just might not make it through this one, and you are certainly going to sustain some damage. You wish it would end.


And then, there is a slow change as the sky lightens up a bit and there are small breaks in the clouds. You see it. Even while it is still raining, the sky is brightened and beautified by the loveliest of rainbows. As you enjoy the wonder of it, a deeper realization stirs your spirit. You understand that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn't mean the storm never happened or that you are not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover, there will certainly be more rainy days, but the appearance of the rainbow provides a counter balance of beauty, color, and a sense of promise. Something stirs within your heart that seems to have barely survived. You feel it like you haven't since the storm first hit. It is hope.

In grieving circles, babies born to families after the loss of a child are often referred to as "Rainbow Babies". We are counting down the weeks, and praying with all of our hearts to bring our "rainbow baby" home. The hope and gift of him has brought healing and peace in a way that nothing else has since we said hello and goodbye to Mariah. But it is also a hard battle between faith and fear. I am quoting to myself daily, sometimes hourly, 2 Timothy 1:7: " For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Next week we begin weekly stress tests and ultrasounds to keep a close eye on this little one. Whatever extra prayers and thoughts you may have in your home, would you please remember us? Especially me....I am so in need of "a sound mind". Eight weeks still seems so very very far away.

I can't imagine having come this long through the storm, and still not having a rainbow.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart"....

Here comes the sun....

Today.
Outside.
71 degrees.
In the middle of February.

With piles of snow still on the ground.

Just weird.
Lovely.
But weird.
But did I mention how very lovely?

Forecast is calling for snow on Sunday.
Figures.

Just too cute!!!

Daddy and Kamberlynne have been teaching Briella "I Love You" in sign language. The other day she did this in reply:

"Ummmm...what does that mean?", we ask.

"I love you MORE!"

"OH, of course!!!"

Isn't that the cutest?

It's the Birthday Boy.....ummmm....I mean TEENAGER!!!

And, yeah, how happy do you think he is about it?!?!?!?

We spent Christian's 13th B-day doing all kinds of typical teen-agery things....

Hangin' out at the local bowling alley...

with lots of really cool people!

But still taking time with the little guys!

Then on to devouring lots of pizza....

and throwing in a game of pool! (Thanks to our neighbors for the quick set up and portable pool table! FUN!)

And here's a really fun growing up stat....

We told Kamberlynne last year on Christian's birthday she had one year left before he caught her...I think he even has her by an inch or so!! But don't worry....

I've still got him...for one more year--or at least a few months!
And with all that big guy size comes....

the ginormous quadruple layer "make it as much chocolate as you can, Mom" cake! (Yep, he takes after his momma!)


Christian's wish came true, he got to stay up way past bedtime playing his new Settlers of Cataan game!

So here's to 13 years with 1 amazing kid! Having Christian bless our home means always being able to find the sunshine in cloudy days, still being able to hang with the little guys no matter how big you get, knowing way too much about some of the grosser creatures on our planet, and hearing some of the finer movie lines delivered in spot-on imitation! But more than that, we get to love and nurture, inspire and be inspired by a tender-hearted and compassionate boy who is turning into a mighty warrior for the Lord right before our eyes!

And oh, yeah...now we have two of these crazy teenegers in our home! Aren't we blessed?!?!?

You better believe it!

Just give us 5 inches!!!

OK, we'll make do with 4...

From the top.

Kamberlynne just hangin' on!

Christian showin' us his surfer moves.

Jonah doing the 360 spin!

Indy planning the perfect run!

Bekah racing the clock!

And Briella...ummm....SMILING!!!

More smiles... (we had about 25 of our friends on the slopes with us!)

The Tricksters...

The penguin.

The Daredevil.

The evidence...

Momma was really there!!!

Well, dear ones, gone are the days when it took a half hour to pack and zip all those little ones into the snowsuits, pry on the boots, find the mittens, find the mittens again, zip them again,...you know the drill...just to have them be out in the snow for 15 minutes before crying that they were all done!!!! And then wanting to do it all again an hour later! Nope, not anymore! Even Ellie was up for a good couple hours of frosty fun! Of course, ending it all with hot chocolate and donuts even sweetens the memories!

And makes us wish for just 4 more inches.....!

One last smile....


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!