The Golden Scholar

She also turned 13 recently! What a fun party that was!

Yesterday was a big day for Hannah. After a very long school year, Hannah reaped the rewards of sticking to it and working hard, despite her health difficulties.

Hannah was awarded the prestigious Golden Scholar Award given to those students who maintain a 3.8 GPA or higher. Her GPA was on the higher side (.2 higher, to be exact). Not that I am bragging! Well, maybe a little.

In addition to this award she was also awarded "English Student of the Year" for all grades 7^th – 12th . She was also awarded her legion's award which goes to one student from each legion.

I am so proud of her and for her tenacity to get things done, despite ANY obstacle!

You may notice that her feeding tube is out for the pictures. Yeah! It has been out since Monday and she is able to eat a little. She is happy and hopeful. She is by no means out of the woods, but we are encouraged greatly!

And on top of all that, SHE is BEAUTIFUL! Inside and Out!

Trick or Treating and then some!

Becca went to her first junior high party/dance with her friends. It was sponsored by her school and was on Friday early evening. Becca said that the only time a boy asked her to dance was during the "snowball" and she only danced with him for 6 seconds. I was surprised to learn that there were any boys there. When I dropped them off there was a steady stream of GIRLS!

Apparently, Becca also won some kind of dance contest. We only know this because she has the prize. She will not show us any of her award-winning moves! Maybe it was the hippie costume!

All of her cute friends came to our house for dinner, getting ready and heading out to the dance. We had bone bread sticks with blood dipping sauce, pizza, and bloody guts (fruit salsa) with cinnamon pita chips.

Halloween morning Hannah made green and purple "spider pancakes" for breakfast. She really loves to cook and is always lending a hand and learning new things about cooking. She LOVES to make pancakes!

Cleopatra Hannah

Just before trick or treating.....for the last time!

Next year she will be too old!

Joshua the Vampire!

Hannah and Becca dressed up for the Ward Fall Festival.

Musical Theatre Workshop

Under the Sea. Joshua is the octopus in the center.

Please forgive me as I try to play catch up with our blog from this summer. In early June, Hannah and Joshua participated in the Summer Musical Theatre Workshop. This group meets every day for two weeks to learn an entire musical production. Then there is a performance at the end of the two weeks. It is great fun for all the kids as they each have to audition for certain speaking parts. The directors of the program put together a story line that weaves through several Broadway musical numbers. Each year the story and songs are different. The kids have participated once before and they had a blast. It is even fun for me except for the mad dash midway through, when I have to locate costumes for them according to the parts they get. It always involves a trip to either Goodwill or DI.

Some of the songs this summer were from Hair, Suessical, Godspell, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella to name a few. Each child is required to audition and everyone receives parts in more than one song and at least one speaking part. Josh auditioned to be the Cat in the Hat and was really disappointed that he didn’t make it and then he was furious when he found out that they cast a GIRL in the role! You should have heard the rantings and ravings: “Don’t they know the Cat in the Hat is a boy!” He worked very hard on his lines and really put his heart and soul into it so I was sad for him. He did get a different speaking part and had a lot of fun so the furor dissipated.

This video is from the song "Hair". All the videos are fairly short.

"Hair" video again!

Hair video - another short one.

"We Beseech Thee" video

My Feet

My Feet
by Hannah Walker

Hannah wrote this poem about her feet. She is recited it to us for Family Home Evening last night. Her performance was exuberant . . . and hilarious! Sorry you missed it. But, here is the poem.

(The stench of)My FEET
Look at my feet
they smell so sweet
but to me, they smell like raw meat

oh oh the stench of my feet

I walk in the room
no shadows will loom
for my feet make them swoon
and I feel like a common loon

oh oh the stench of my feet

The beach is near
and also clear
because of my feet so dear
and because they are near

oh oh the stench of my feet

Oh WOW my feet smell freshier
because i've discovered in-shoe freshener
I have new shoes which are quite meshier
And my feet are much less wettier(with sweat)

oh oh the NEW stench of my feet

Luke's Wedding

Luke and Alyssa.

Alyssa and her Dad walking down the aisle.

Hannah caught the boquet.

Matt and Grandma cutting up the dance floor.

Alyssa and Little Ty

Becca and Uncle Evan dancing

Jake and the kids watching the dancing.

Aunt Allie

Grandma Holly and Grandpa Mike

Pat, Hal, Jeanne and Holly

Jeanne and Evan

The three girl cousins

Grandma Jeanne and Jordan

Cassie, Matt, Craig, Shawn, Holly and Mike

Groom and his brothers looking very handsome!

Lunch before the wedding.

The Bridegroom at lunch before the wedding.

Cousins Tyler and Joshua - The oldest and the youngest!

We had a great time in Colorado celebrating the marriage of Luke and Alyssa. It was a wonderful weekend jam-packed with activities. I will post more pictures later from the rest of the weekend.

This, That and the Other

We have had a crazy busy week! Last week was Hal's birthday, again. I wish he would quit having them because every time he has one then I follow suit shortly after and I certainly don't want to get any older! We had a great deal of fun and partied for two days. We enjoyed dinner out with friends and also a comedy show.

Part of the fun is that Hal's Mom is in town. We love having her visit. We went on a walk this morning. It was a beautiful day. We also managed to do a little shopping and of course lunch at a sidewalk cafe.

Also, on Friday, Hannah had her final concert for her community orchestra. Her chamber orchestra sounded the best they have ever sounded. It was a lot of fun to have Grandma here as she has never seen one of Hannah's concerts!