Theatre camp fun

My 5-year-old daughter went to theatre camp this past week.  It was Mary Poppins themed and she was so excited.  It was what she was looking forward to all summer long and it was finally here.

So, I sent her off, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. every day for a week.  Monday, she brought home her script and her music book.  She was quite devastated because she didn't get the part of Jane, like she wanted.  She was crying so hard, but I talked her down and explained to her that you don't always get the part you want, and when that happens, you do your best with what you were give them.  That night, she went through the music book and picked out the solo she wanted to try out for and she started practicing it every free second she had.

Tuesday, she came home happy.  She was really excited about learning the penguin dance, and she was really excited about solo auditions that were happening Wednesday.

Wednesday came, audition day.  And, she came out so excited that she got the solo!  I was so proud of her.  But, she was even more excited because they finished learning the penguin dance.

Thursday was just another day for her.  She was happy it was over, because that meant the next day was show day.

Friday came, show day.  She had a full day of camp and then they had two shows that evening.  She was so excited.  We only got four total tickets, divided among the shows, so we decided that I would go by myself to the first show and the Papa and little man would come to the second show.  So, I sat nervously awaiting her performance in the front row.

For a 5-year-old who only had a week to learn a dance, a skit, and a 20-minute song and dance routine, she did great.  Sure, it was perfect.  Yes, she had to look around to remember some of the dance moves, and she didn't sing every word, but I was very proud of her.

My big surprise came when the music portion of the show started and when it came time for what I was told was my daughter's solo, she was standing in the back row behind 4 much bigger girls while they sang her solo in front of her.  Every other "solo" during that night the soloists all stood in a row together.  Never was there a soloist standing behind the rest of them.  She was told it was because she didn't tell the dance teacher that she was a soloist.  But, I'm pretty upset about that.  Why can't they get their act together and not rely on a 5-year-old to relay details between teachers for her first show like this.

But, she loved it and she has asked to audition for the Nutcracker in a couple of months.  I have a true performer on my hands.

Summer time, continued

A couple of weeks ago, the kids and I tagged along on my husband's work trip.  We knew in advance that he wasn't going to have much, if any time to have fun with us, but we got a free hotel in Denver, so why not?

The problem ... I was sick when it came time for the trip.  I had no voice the day before and along with coughing, it hurt to breath.  Add in 2 small kids in the mile-high city, and you've got a rough week for this Momma.

But, if you ask my kids, I don't think they will remember that I was sick, because I did everything possible to make it a memorable trip for them.

Day 1, we got there and didn't have time for much.  We did dinner and happy hour and just settled into the hotel.

Day 2, we took a walk down to the 16th street mall.  We shopped and got some little gifts for the kids, and we saw the sites.  I was excited to see the capital building and have fun with my kids.  My kids were excited because they got to ride the bus.

Day 3, I took my kids to walk around the entertainment district of Denver.  They saw the performing arts buildings and even got to go inside the concert hall and take some pictures.  My kids loved the dancing people statue that was outside.  "Mommy, they're naked" is all they will remember of the entire trip to Denver.

Day 4, We took the bus and then walked to go to the Denver Children's museum.  They had a lot of fun.  Even through the coughing and inability to breath, I strapped Maxwell on my back and hiked all the way to the other side of town for them to have this fun day, and then hiked all the way back after they were done playing.  They loved it and we even walked along the river on the way back to get some extra scenery in.

Day 5 was a pool day.  Our hotel had a "hot tub" warm indoor pool and the kids loved swimming in it.

If you ask Maxwell what his favorite part was, he'll say swimming.  If you ask Jade what her favorite part was, she'll say the Children's museum.  Both will say they had fun and want to go back, so all in all, I think it was a successful trip.  Neither one of them will even remember that Momma was miserable the whole time, so I see that as a success!

What will she remember when she's all grown up?

Summer is a fun time for kids.  There is no school and parents do whatever they can to keep their kids busy, which includes vacations and lots of fun activities.  Now, here we are a month into this summer.  Independence Day is upon us.  If someone were to ask my kids how their summer has gone so far, would they be satisfied?  Would they be pleased?  Or, would they just have a long list of things we haven't done yet?  And, most importantly, would my soon-to-be-kindergartener be happy with how her last summer as a little girl is going?

I hate to say it, but with the attitude my 5 year old has been sporting lately, I'd have to say that she would just have a long list of things yet to do this summer.  I know she has been having fun.  She's enjoyed our adventures so far, although she complains every day we have a "normal" day.  How did my sweet little girl become the one who always needs more?  What did I do to teach her that it is okay to always whine and complain about things? I thought I did a better job of showing gratitude for what I had and never showing any need for anything else.  I have never shown her that I want anything more than I have.  So where did she get this from?

And then there is my 2 year old.  He is happy just visiting the library or going to see his best friends Maddy-Sebastian-Zach.  He asks for the "normal" days of going to the YMCA and the grocery store.

So, there is 6 weeks of summer left.  I'm taking the kids on an adventure in a new state for a week.  I hope to take them to all the places that I promised before the start of the year.  My big girl has two more summer camps, one where she will put on the play, Mary Poppins.  I want to take her to the zoo, since she still hasn't been.  I want to take her to Kiddie Park, since she still hasn't been.  I want to take both of them to Morgan's Wonderland, since none of us have been yet.

I didn't want to cram too much into this summer.  I wanted to just cuddle with my big girl and little boy.  But, more and more keeps coming up.  And, now, with it almost half done, I feel like there is too much left to do and not enough time to do it in.  So, will I let her down?  Will she remember her last summer before school as the one where her Mother didn't give her everything she promised?  Or, when she looks back, will she remember how hard I tried to give her as many memories as I good?