Beautiful Ballet

We saw Chalice dance a lot last night in Coppelia. Pax and two of his friends from football were in it too. He wore nickers, knee-high socks, and a puffy-sleeved white shirt. He looked really good and was quite impressive as a dancer. Chalice wore a very feminine black and white Bavarian-style dress that was just beautiful. She and others did this dance with fans and then with tamborines that brought out her Puerto Rican flare. The whole ensemble met for a late night dinner and after-party at Snappers.
Chalice has to resolve to rest her foot now for 6-8 weeks due to a torn tendon she's been dealing with for a year or so. She has a great doctor advising her right here on Maryland Avenue.
And Pax can now concentrate on his first love, lacrosse!

(More pictures on Chalice's blog)

Red Pax

Since red has been showing up on other family blogs I thought

I'd post this picture of Pax taken with our new little Nikon.

I think Pax is watching The Sound of Music. He's on the coziest

little corner of our living room couch.

Easter Sunday

Kate and nutty girlfriends....Kate cooking (which Lisa says I never do), and girlfriends being way too manic in the kitchen because we are around FOOD.

Eli!

Heidi, from Sunnyside Shop, was looking for someone to watch her little nephew Eli on Saturdays and at other times. So for the last 2 days we've had a cute little chubby guy racing around our home. He reminds me of Pax at 3 but with longer hair. He is so fun. Damien is making cookies in the kitchen so he thinks Dame is magic and is just hanging out in the kitchen with him. I knew he would start gravitating toward the man of the house. In fact when Damien told me to get Eli to do something, I said he didn't have to and Eli said, "Yes I do." I forget the particulars but he already figured out who he was beholden to!

Posie-girl

I have been at the Montessouri school this week which means I have had the pleasure of seeing Posie and Levi and Anne a lot. Anne teaches singing in French, how to play instruments, relaxation of body and mind (some stretching) and little talks about loving yourself and others. I especially liked how she talked briefly to be mindful of what you are eating at meal times. We all shovel food in at times and eat without thinking or too fast so I enjoyed what she said. Brae is big time into those thoughts on food! But what I wanted to say was how Posie really impressed me today. Three girls, all around age 11, were trying to put a dance together for the upcoming mother's tea and I noticed Posie getting ujncomfortable with how it was coming along. The one ring leader was incorporating pop music (you know, bubblegum stuff) with all the accompanying throw your hip out and your chest and shake it down stuff and Posie had had her fill though she was trying to be a good sport. Finally with a little coaxing from me she said with tears, "My family loves jazz (the meat!)and other kinds of music and my family doesn't really like this kind of music and I don't like dancing like that. My mom doesn't really want me to do that and my dad..." Well, you get the message. She referenced her family so many times in that little conversation that it made me cry ( later in the kitchen with Anne who was cooking!). It was really precious to see that budding individualism, her objections and her sensitivity.

Pastor Pax?

I had such a good time with Pax today coming home from school. He told me a junior high friend spoke at chapel and that he thinks he would like to do that. He said it would have to do with keeping a clean conscience and that he would write about James who confesses sins and himself. Pax said he feels like a different person from who he was last year. Instead of not caring about breaking things, for instance, now he takes ownership of what he has broken. He broke a ball pump at school today and he said "and I just told the person in the office what I did and it was fine." I suggested that maybe he had become a Christian lately and he didn't object to the idea. He wants to write out what he would say at a chapel and ask if he can give it. I really encouraged him to do that. Go Pax!

Car talk

My brother-in-law David and his son Ben and I spent a lot of time together traveling to and from Silver Spring this past weekend. Ben is 17 today. He was interested to talk about God and it was really encouraging to hear his thoughts about eternal things. His father encouraged all of us to read the Gospels and jot down questions and comments that we could talk about the next time we meet. 17 is a hard age in so many ways. Ben commented on how none of his friends are Christians. I remember leaving the carefree years of childhood and grappling with uncomfortable things like voting, driving, a changing body, algebra and the strange new world of sororities and "parties" and guys. No wonder most of us feel weird and displaced at 17. Ben seems to have a lot going for him and a lot on the ball. You should hear him go on and on about history and his adored little sister "Fuss" and his growing understanding that dating in high school is really stupid (his word). A guy who likes to talk to older people like me is a novelty in itself. I really enjoyed spending time with him and David.