Pressure, Kids, Stomach Bug, and the Olympics

So, my kids are in a 4 week theatre camp.  They missed week 3 and we knew that when we got back from vacay they were going to have to buckle down and catch up on all that they'd missed (namely the blocking of all of Act 2 as well as run throughs with the casts).  Grace and Joe each got big parts and this was the cause of some stress for me while we were gone and worrying about whether they could catch up in just 4 days (opening night is Thursday).  We practiced almost every day while on vacation and it paid off.  Amanda (their director) texted me midday on Monday and said that they all did great and had already learned their blocking.  With just a couple more run throughs to practice they were good to go.  Huge weight off of my mind.  Until about 3 am this morning.  Joe woke me up to tell me that Grace had thrown up in her bed and he had gotten it on his arm and clothes.  He insisted on a shower.  At 3 am.  If it was Hannah who had thrown up I would be concerned but not terribly worried.  She has a sensitive stomach and it's not uncommon for her to throw up.  But Grace.  This could only mean one thing...a stomach bug.  During show week.  After missing a week of camp.  With only a few days to catch up.  I spent the next hour wide awake and worrying about it.  I kept reminding myself that in the grand scheme of life, a stomach bug is really, really not that big of a deal.  Even if worse came to worse and they didn't get to perform in their show this weekend.  Really no. big. deal.  I have 3 friends fighting cancer, one friend who's baby is in the hospital having her 4th brain surgery in 4 weeks.  I reminded myself of these things and that would help me calm down for a little while but I continued to have a sick, worried feeling.  I got very little sleep and woke up early to re-organize my day.  Nothing like the stomach bug to de-rail any and all plans.  A friend picked up Hannah and Joe and delivered some Matzo Ball soup.  Grace watched Netflix and I got busy catching up on church stuff, theatre stuff, and VBS stuff--lots of e-mails flying from my computer.  I also disinfected the house, washed sheets, and did all of the laundry and prayed a lot...prayed that Grace would get better before tomorrow and prayed that Hannah and Joe wouldn't come down with the bug as well but if they had to...could it be sooner rather than later.  I found out that a few of our Chicago fam is also sick so it's definitely a contagious bug.  I dosed all three and myself with colloidal silver and have continued to pray.  I made a dinner that wouldn't be too gross if I have to clean it up in the from of vomit in the middle of the night.   We'll see.  Grace hasn't thrown up since noon and has eaten some soup and a baked potato.  So, the good news is that the virus is short.
I have spent the evening watching the Olympics and they keep showing the parents of these kids.  The parents are a nervous wreck and I really felt for them.  There is so much pressure on their kids and it's so exciting and stressful and pressure to perform...after a day of worrying all because of a show this coming weekend I could relate.  Sort of.  On a VERY different level but still.  I worried so much during the last show as well because Joe was playing a lead and it was a lot to learn and a lot of pressure and I was so nervous for him.  And now, the worry again with this show.  I know that on Thursday night I'll be a bundle of nerves because I know how little practice they've all gotten.  They pull through every single time though, no matter how much I worry.  So, why can't I relax.  Maybe it's that Type A personality of mine...anyway, watching the parents tonight I commiserated with the stress and it made me wonder why I do this.  Maybe my kids could just not be in theatre, not be in shows, not do things that put pressure on them and consequently me.  In some ways that would be really nice.  But it's not going to happen.  They are all too into theatre now.  And, really, for all the stress there is also so much joy and it's so fun to watch my kids perform and have fun doing it.  And, I think those Olympic parents would say the same.  I just watched the girls gymnastics team win gold.  I was crying along with them and their mommas.  It was thrilling.  So much pressure but worth it.
I know myself and I know that I won't relax until Saturday night when the kids have their last performance.  I also know that even if it comes to pass that one of them is sick and can't perform for one of the shows that will be okay too.  In the grand scheme of life...it's not the biggest deal.  There will be more shows, 5 coming up in the next year...aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Madeline Island Again!

 We managed to fit all of the cousins' names into a Bananagrams grid.  And, below, the results from the 100 meter dash.  Everyone ran except for Jaime (she's pregnant) and me (doctor says no running).  Even Stanley (the dog) ran and he turned out to be the fastest.  :0)  The kids had a blast and most of them ran a second time hoping to raise their scores.  Even Sophie ran the whole thing. 

 We all take turns cooking when we are at Madeline Island.  I usually sign up to help someone but not cook my own meal because I'm intimidated by cooking for so many.  I decided to be brave and do my part this year--I made a baked potatoes and toppings and cobbler for dessert.  It was really good and not so hard.  Of course, I do nothing without a list. 

 Every afternoon the kids spent a couple of hours with Grandma and Grandpa.  They did a project, went to the library, went out for ice cream, went to the beach, and who knows what else.  Grandma and Grandpa happy hour usually coincided with my naptime.  One day during Grandma-Grandpa time the kids all got to do makeovers on themselves.  Even Joe...no pics of that yet.  Later that same afternoon we did a family competition.  We divide up in teams and are given a challenge.  The challenge this year was that each team had to write a poem for "Juliet" and make a kite out of a trash bag to deliver the poem to "Juliet" on the balcony.  We had nothing to write with and were only given a piece of paper, two trash bags, and some string.  We had to use nature for everything else.  We wrote our poem with charcoal (Grace's idea) and the other team did something with a pocket knife and grass.  Here's our poem--
"Juliet, Juliet, I have a dream.  That you will provide my coffee with cream.  A soft, milky white stream flowing down from above.  Descending like a dove, down into my mug.  I will drink and drink the fullness of our love with flaky biscuits, .... (can't remember), and chewy toffee."  Lisa and I wrote it.   

 Stanley got dressed up for the family competition.  He was a Babushka.  :0)

 After the competition, we made a campfire and enjoyed s'mores.  Yum!

 The next night was the family talent show, also a tradition at Madeline Island.  There were some wonderful acts--Hannah and Grace did a dance, Joe read some poetry, Grace sang a song, Joe teamed up with Sophie for some songs, Hannah teamed up with Sophie for some songs, Kea and Corrie sang a song from their camp, Samantha played the piano, Grandma taught an Italian lesson, and Tim painted a "portrait" of Hannah...turned out to be a duck, Ellie wrote a funny pledge, and there were some other acts but I can't remember what else.  Videos to come later!  :0)

Madeline Island...

 The cousins enjoying the ferry together...

 We stayed at the same house that we stayed in two years ago and two years before that.  Above is right across the street from the house, you can see the top of the stairs leading down to the beach.  The picnic table at the top is the perfect place to set up an easel and paint a picture. 

 Joe really enjoyed the boat this time, that's him in the pic above.  He also spent a lot of time moving rocks.

 Aunt Steph did some fun nature activities with the younger kids. 

 Tim and Lisa brought their dog, Stanley.  Of course, Grace and Joe absolutely loved him. 

 Above is the view from the screened in porch downstairs.  Just beautiful. 

 Gabi is a great photographer and he set up some camera equipment and took pictures.  There are some family ones to come later but I don't have them on my computer yet.  I love the one of Joe below. 

 These two pictures are pretty funny--above is a game of Bananagrams with a sleeping grandma in the background.  :0)  And, below, Grandpa drives all the floats and boats to the lake.  You can't tell in this pic but he's also wearing a swim mask.  :0)

Hanging around the campfire circle one afternoon.  The great thing about going to Madeline Island is that it is so relaxing.  There is lots of playtime for the kids, visiting time for everyone, and time to relax as well.  We spent a lot of our time outside, the weather was just beautiful, very few mosquitoes and great temps.  We even had some rain one night and the next morning. 

Trip to Chicago and Madeline Island

We flew out last Thursday night to spend ten days with our Chicago family.  We flew into Chicago and then drove with the family up to Madeline Island on Lake Superior where we stayed for a week before returning to Chicago and then flying home arriving at midnight last night.  Yes, we're tired.  :0) We had a great week and a half though as you'll see from the next few posts.  Hannah, Joe, and I sat together on the flight out.  Ollie and Grace were together further back in the plane. 

As soon as we got to Chicago, Joe took off down the street to Aunt Steph's house and was met by some very excited cousins. 

We took two days to make the 8 hour drive up to Madeline Island, we caravaned so there was lots of switching riders and drivers.  The above pic is when I was riding with Grandma with the top down in her Mini Cooper.  Fun!  We made a few stops to break up the drive, below Sophie gives me a big smile, I think she was really happy to be out of the car. 

In keeping with tradition we stopped for some berry picking before taking the ferry over to the island.  We picked 3 flats of raspberries, they were amazing!