Way Off Broadway

All Aboard is putting on a show in July but everyone who wants to participate has to audition.

They're calling it the Way Off Broadway Variety Show and Beth's audition time is this Monday at 2:15.

She's planning to sing Bring Him Home from Les Mis. But it's the version from the 10th Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall. It's a really difficult song to sing but she's pretty good at holding that last note. We were in the car the other day and I was amazed at how long she held it! "Wow Beth that was really good!" 

She just beamed. 😊

She practices all the time and every day she'll text me, "I did hold the note mothera!" I tried to get a video of her singing it but she didn't want me to record her.

Maybe as the concert gets closer. 

Do You Mind?

When Beth was born we had to teach her e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. The physical therapist that came to our house each week showed us how to manipulate her fingers so she would eventually learn to grasp a toy. We worked her legs so she'd feel the movements of crawling. We showed her again and again how to roll over. Each new milestone was preceded with weeks, even months of strengthening exercises.

Beth with her physical therapist

We taught Beth every little detail about sitting up and walking, swimming and running. 

But something I wish I could go back and do over is the mental aspect of life. Now, you're probably thinking, "Well duh, of course you'd have to teach her the mental things." And we did. She attended good schools, we even home schooled our girls for a couple years. 

Beth and my mom

But I'm talking about those tiny, day-to-day things that you just don't think about. At least I didn't think about 'teaching' them to Beth. I didn't teach them to Sharaya or Diana but they understand the concepts. For instance:

"How much money do ya have on you?" 

If you or I were asked that question, we would grab our back pocket where we keep our wallets or clutch our purses and then give you an approximate number. But when Beth is asked that question she looks down and never answers. She's completely  silent. I've learned instead to ask her,

"How much money do you have in your wallet?"

Then without hesitation she'll answer, "A five and some ones." Then I explain to her what 'have on you' means. A quirky little phrase when you think about it.

  Another one is:

"Do you mind if I borrow your colored pencils?" 

For a long time she just looked down and wouldn't answer. So instead I would ask, "Is it okay if I borrow...?" That one she answers immediately, "Yep!"

The whole 'do you mind' question is tricky because you have to answer 'no' in order to say yes. I even find myself answering twice when someone asks me that question, "Sure. I mean no!"

Are there any phrases that have you scratching your head?

Have Ya Ever Noticed....

Have ya ever noticed that when you decide to update the blog, you have to read everyone elses posts first? Before ya know it, two hours have gone by and you haven't even signed in yet?!



Our family is gearing up for a big vacation next month. For those who have been reading a while, you know we love road trips. Well, next month we are driving to Colorado to visit Chucks mom and sister, then to San Diego to visit my family, then stopping at Disneyland on our way home. Except this time, there will be 7 of us... in our 7 passenger van. We've never done that before. There's a 21 month old in a car seat and three of us get car sick. I'm stocking up on the Dramamine.

This last weekend we took a mini trip, all 7 of us up to Camano Island. It was about an hours drive from our house.... and we did great! Stopped at a small park on the way home to let everyone get out and stretch. The entire trip lasted about 4 hours. Now we're even more excited about next month! Only 22 days!!

 

 

 

 

It was a very cool park and everyone had fun!