Time, Time, Time.

Who doesn't love a then-and-now collage?!?!

Gingkos on Catalpa

Every year there seems to be a magical weekend when - BAM! - all the Gingko trees on Catalpa turn bright yellow and fall to the ground.  We don't know if the neighbors on the block have an actual agreement not to rake them up for a few days or if it just happens that we drive by the block before anyone has gotten to their yardwork for the day, but each year when we see that the block has gone all yellow, we usually rush home to change into something cute and grab the camera.

Last Sunday was the day.  The girls were already dressed up for church and we saw the leaves as we were headed home for nap.  We went back over after nap.  (I, coincidentally, had also taken a nap, so go easy when judging my hair/lack-of makeup.)

First - 2012

2014

wait for me!

peek-a-boo!

ellie's favorite activity - running with Daddy

Our little stander - finally caught on camera!

Paws Reunion.

WHEW.  I had a wholelotta words written about this weekend.  Boring, timeline-of-the-day words.  Luckily, I paused before hitting 'publish' and am back to rewrite.  

Fall 2002 was my first semester in Paws and Listen.  I auditioned after hearing the group open for a choir concert or vocal recital or something.  It was sort-of on a whim, and sort-of because I still hadn't gotten over NOT making my high school's elite singing group. (it's right up there with not getting asked to prom)

I sang "I'll Fly Away" from Oh Brother Where Out Thou? and wore these really awful red (possibly nylon?) Old Navy pants.  Somehow, I made the group!  I was in a 16-member a capella group!!

I met all these great girls - especially this one cool Alto II, Rachael.  She had the most amazing voice, and was funny, and friendly, and a little bit nerdy.  She also really disliked my ex-boyfriend and was talented at boosting my ego whenever we would cross paths.

My second semester in Paws and Listen I started dating this redheaded runner guy I met at work.  Rachael sort-of knew him because he used to date a girl who lived on her floor when she was an RA. 

Fall concert - 2003.

My third semester in Paws, my parents came to visit and attend one of my final choir concerts before I graduated in December.  They had met Pete that summer when we went to Arkansas to visit them.  AcoUstiKats even brought my mom up on stage for their serenade number.  ("For the Longest Time," maybe?)  That was the last time my mom ever saw me sing on stage.  

All that to say, in hindsight, my Paws membership was during a pretty important and pivotal time in my life.  Rachael is now one of my best friends, and, obvs, there's that cute red head.

When we heard about the reunion concert, we decided we would attend together or not at all.  The first song we all sang last Saturday morning was Billy Joel's "And So It Goes," the very song I heard Paws sing that spurred me to audition.  Rachael and I were both in tears before the final verse. 

Bright and early - ready to rehearse.

We sang all day, barely even noticing when it was time to eat.  Girls from 2002-2013 all returned to sing the songs we loved in college.  Fast-forward through dinner at the King Alumni House, and we were putting on make-up in the dressing rooms behind the stage at the Singletary Center, just like the old days.  Of course, I don't have a single picture of us in our pretty dresses with full hair and make up.  There's supposed to be a video somewhere, but I'm not sure that I am willing to share video of the concert as I had serious trouble memorizing the words to the second verse of Boogie Woogie and pretty much snapped my fingers and smiled while the newer members sang their hearts out.

Raye returned to coach us - just as she had our first two semesters!

I had no idea how restorative it was going to be for me to leave my family all day and sing with an old friend.  I had no idea how much it would mean to me to be able to see my family - my children! - see me up on stage in the exact same place I'd sung as an undergraduate.  But it was great.  Really wonderful. 

Halloween 2014

Hello there, faithful blog readers!!  For the few of you who still stop by to check our news, I will try to catch up as I have been very bad about blogging lately. 

We wrapped up a really great weekend that started with, of course, Halloween.  The weather was pretty miserable, but, luckily, we had a party to attend at our friend's house, and only went outside briefly to trick-or-treat up and down our block with all the neighborhood kiddos.

There aren't any pictures of all four of us, but Caroline was a mouse, and Ellie was a black cat.  Pete and I tried to complement each of them with some very quickly put-together costumes.

This picture was taken last weekend -when it was 80 outside - at our neighborhood costume parade.

Ready for school Friday  morning.

After a visit to the library Friday morning.

Cat and mouse partying at Emily's

Cat and mouse, part deux.

Ooh! This house has different toys!!

No one loves baby toys quite as much as big sister.

meow

This is the only non-blurry shot I got of the trick-or-treating.  Very pleased about getting a Reese's cup at Stella's house.

Caroline hitched a ride.

End of the night, we brought our little kitty cat back home.