Living in Munchkinland

We had our first puppy training class this week and Samuel took Holly and Davis took Sookie. Sookie is smart and knows a few things, but she needs to learn more before she becomes a city dog. At the class, they handed out clickers that we are supposed to click as soon as the dog does what we ask. We all noticed right away that the clickers are annoying. Your thumb slides down too deeply and sometimes the clicker doesn't click at the all important moment and then you've missed a training opportunity. This is very important when your dog is as young and excitable as Holly. Yesterday I dropped off Davis at the house and took Sam to a doctor appointment. When I got home, Davis was standing at the ironing board with a hot glue gun. He said he had decided to fix the clicker. A while later he presented me with an new and improved clicker that he had created with things he found around the house. It worked perfectly and accurately every time. It was so much easier than the...

We have finished our first weekend of the Lion King. This has been such a wonderful experience. When I was in fifth grade, my beloved teacher, Ms. Ann Perkins helped us put on Mary Poppins. I was cast as Mary Poppins and it changed my life. I discovered a true love for theater and it led me to a career as an actress and producer. Last year, I went to our local elementary school and asked if I could do the same for Davis's fifth grade play. I was so lucky in that both the music teacher and the principal immediately said yes and promised support. Mr. Haygood, the music teacher, and his wife, Laura, a professional director offered to help me. Our family foundation agreed to support my efforts and help purchase the rights for the play through MTI. In September, we set the schedule and held auditions. I had originally hoped that we could incorporate the play through the fifth grade, having teachers use it on many layers and with the GT students doing dramaturgy. We didn...

I've been working on our fifth grade production of Lion King. Lots. and Lots. And ferrying the children between school and after school activities and working for my mom and taking care of Holly, our new puppy. Michael has been out of town. Lots. and Lots. But in between and around we have spent time with our loved ones. We've had dinner with Michael's parents, and ranch happy hour, and dinner with my parents. We spent a lovely Friday evening on the porch of our friend Anne's new house with all of our friends. We spent a fun day out in Bastrop with all of our friends for the HooWee Jamboree, an annual camping party. We are blessed to have such a wonderful support system and group of interesting people that we love and want to spend time with us.

We had a lovely week in Taos after Christmas. Getting there was horrible. A storm had come in the night before and a tornado had hit our gateway city of Dallas. Flights were delayed and cancelled, we sat on the tarmac for long periods of time and it was one of the bumpiest flights of my life once we were airborne. Still, we made it and Holly was good for her first plane ride. My poor sister and her family weren't so lucky and had to drive to Dallas and still spend two days at the airport before they could get out. Eventually we all made it and were extra happy to be there! My dad did very well on the trip and spent most of his time sleeping in the recliner chair by the fire. Bruce came with us and was on hand to help with dad which was great. My mom and I did some shopping one day, just the two of us and had such a lovely time. Michael had taken the boys up to the Taos Ski Valley for snowboarding lessons. Mom and I wandered around and looked at art and then stopped at...