Capitol-ists

Thursday was field trip day for Clark, Bethany, and Elinor.  My dad took them to the Capitol to meet and greet our local representatives and watch the legislature in session.

The kids were so excited to spend the night at Grandpa's house the night before.  Elinor was bidding the rest of the family farewell as if our separation were going to be indefinite. 

I was very happy for them to have such a great experience learning how things work at the State government level.  But I was especially grateful to see that they could each pack their own overnight bag and not forget any essentials-- toothbrushes, underoos, shoes-- they remembered it all!

Here they are with Aaron Osmond-- our state senator. 

Abe met up with them at the end of the day to bring them home.  They were anxious to tell me all about their day, which was a fun change-- since I usually already know everything about their day because they are home with me:)

Do you know who Don Aslett is?

He is a cleaning guru.  He's written many books on cleaning and has a chain of cleaning supply stores and a line of cleaning products.  I own some of those products, which I do not use as often as I should.  But my point is, when Clark was cleaning the bathroom this morning he looked at the bottle of cleaning solution and it had Don Aslett's smiling face on the label.  Clark quite accurately pointed out that Don Aslett looks like a perfect mixture of both Grandpa Cannon and Grandpa Fox.

It's true!  He's right.  That is precisely what he looks like.

 

Funny.

Speaking of funny things, we went to see the newest Muppet movie this evening.  We all LOVED it.  I was nearly in nostalgia tears many times.  I was glad we've subjected our children to so many Muppet shows and Donny and Marie shows, so they totally got the humor.  Such good, clean, wholesome fun.  Mahna Mahna.

Mr. & Mrs. Darcy and Friends

The Gift

I think I have a healthy, albeit very boring, attitude towards Valentine's Day.  I help the kids get little valentines and treats for their friends, we make heart shaped sugar cookies and call it good.  Abe and I hope to continue attending the Regency Ball as part of our Valentine's celebration, but neither Abe or I are big into Valentine's gifts.  I expected nothing today as I am still reeling from the delights of the ball. 

But I was overcome with the gift that awaited me on returning from my morning walk.

My man-child had purchased me a gift. 

With his own money.

This is remarkable because, as of late, I have not been on the man-child's "Most Loved" list.  You see, it was my idea to sign him up for the swim team last week and he wasn't so keen on it.  But he was even less keen on the other options we gave him.  So swim team it was.  We missed the happy, contentedly tired young man we knew during football season when he was exercising hard several times a week.  After three grueling workouts since Thursday I think he is liking it okay--even though he's not likely to admit it.  Actually, he won't even come close to saying he likes it.  Perhaps he really doesn't like it all, but already the boy of last fall is returning.  So I'm liking it.


AND HE BOUGHT ME VALENTINE'S CHOCOLATES!!! He loves me; He loves me not; He loves me!

Now, onto a story of my youngest son.  We go through a lot of pencils at our house---boxes and boxes of pencils a year.  We go through more boxes of pencils than a homeschooling family with six children really should, and that is a lot already.  But we have a problem.

I came upon this very disturbing scene on the kitchen floor today.  "NOOOOOOOO!"  I yelled.
The children came running in and they too screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!".

Why such distress over a few pencils fallen out of a box?

Because George bites the eraser off of EVERY SINGLE pencil he can get hold of. 

GRRRRR.  And there's no point in putting on those eraser tops.  That's makes biting it off that much more satisfying to George-- plus he'd probably choke on it.  I'll just have to hope that my pencil supply holds out until the school supplies go on sale in July.

Mistress of Pemberley

Alright, ladies.  Let's talk details of how I came to so thoroughly embody Elizabeth Bennett last night.

At about 3:30 it was time to start getting ready for the ball, and I had to call Bethany home from her friend's house to help me do my hair. 

As you can see, this was no easy feat.  There was a lot of manpower, electricity, and hardware involved.

Once the hair was curled, I put it in a pony tail and started pinning up the curls. 

Like so.
Then I tied my ribbon in my hair.

Next I put in my small curlers for the "soft curls to frame my face".
The long braids in front were wrapped under and then over my big bunch of pinned curls in the back.

Overall I was happy with the hairstyle, except in hindsight, I wouldn't have done the braids.  They made me look weird in all my pictures because they pulled on my temples and gave me abnormal wrinkles on both sides.  Perhaps no one else can tell, and you probably wouldn't tell me if you could, but I think I look strange.  No matter-- the evening was still outrageously fun.

As for my dress, it is the same dress I wore last year, but with a different color ribbon-- pink rather than periwinkle.
But it is time for me to come clean.  It's not actually a dress.
It is a nightgown my grandmother gave to me at a shower before Abe and I got married. 
I wore my nightgown to the Regency Romance Ball. 
It was very comfortable and I do think it looked better this year since I was smaller than last year.
I like to think I was resourceful.  

I like to think a lot of things that make me feel better.

The first three ladies in the picture-- Adrianne, Jennilyn, and Andrea-- were also resourceful.  But they were resourceful AND talented as they each made their own dresses.  I love having talented friends.  I'm happy to bask in their reflective glow.

 

I understand there may be a Titanic themed ball coming up in April-- minus the prospect of the entire group being sunk at the end-- it sounds delightful.  First I get to dress up and act like I'm the Mistress of Pemberley and now you are telling me I get to pretend to live at Downton Abbey? 
Are you kidding me?  Here's to fleeing reality!

The Regency Romance Ball

Last night was one of, if not THE most enjoyable evenings of my entire life.

An overstatement?  I don't think so.

It was the return of the Regency Romance Ball!

It is like Prom for parents!

Last year was so novel and enjoyable, but this year was FANTASTIC because we were there with many of our very good friends. 

This is the group having dinner at about the midway point of the evening.  We did have a picture done of the whole group, but I can't put it up quite yet because it isn't scanned. 

The dancing!!!  Oh, the dancing was SO MUCH FUN!!  We learned 12 different dances-- some of which you do in a square of four couples, some in two lines-- gentlemen on one side, ladies on the other, and some in a giant circle.

This style of dancing MUST make a comeback in the wider population!  It is so clean and fun and elegant and graceful and lovely.  There was one dance in particular that is so fast and it is all you can do to keep up and your swinging and flinging your partner and everyone is laughing.  My hairpins were quite literally flying out of my head.  It is making me grin with delight just remembering it!

Before beginning that energetic dance, this was the scene before my eyes-- HOW GORGEOUS IS THAT??? 

And this was the scene before them.  Lucky, lucky men.

I will do another post after this one discussing the costuming and hairstyles, but I must make mention that Andrea made her gorgeous dress and bonnet.  How fabulous.  She came in runner-up in the ladies' costume contest.

Here we are promenading in the ladies' contest. 

The gentlemen preparing to promenade.  Ooh-la-la!

Here is Abe giving his best Mr. Darcy impersonation.  And it was really, really good because he was chosen to be one of the finalists.  The ball attendees voted with cheers and although he was up against stiff competition from a Scotchman in a kilt and a man dancing a jig in breeches, Abe ran away with the competition!!  I was so proud!!!  He looked the part, but he also really hammed it up, keeping his chin elevated and playing it very cool and arrogant.
He won some movies and play tickets.

I like it.

 A lot.

This is the new picture, to replace last year's picture, that I will put in the heart shaped frame on my kitchen window sill.  When I do the dishes I will look at it and it will keep me from feeling resentful that I am the one doing the dishes.  After all, the man did take me to the Regency Romance Ball-- 2 years in a row!