Hello...hello? Anyone there?

Yes, we are here...it's just dress rehearsal time. Each time I direct a play, I seem to disappear the last two weeks. The house is a wreck, the laundry is piled high, I haven't had a square meal in days...the fridge is virtually empty...it's intense.

Our days seem to go like this...
8 or so- sleep a little late - the kids are sleeping later because we are out so late
8:30 or so - eat breakfast and catch up on email
9-1130 or so - do some easy, fun school projects for a couple of hours - word puzzles, reading, art projects, math
1130 or so - eat lunch
1230 or so - pile into the car and run errands for the play
2 or 3 or so - head to the theatre to work on the set with the producer
430 or so - kids eat dinner with cast, the producer and I work some more (along with LOTS of other sweet volunteers!)
530 (exactly!) - Cast & Crew meeting
6 or so - run the show
8 or so - Cast & Crew meeting #2
815 or so - finish up mic checks, deal with discipline issues, clean up after 60+ kids, plan the next day with the producer
9 or so - arrive home to Daddy and Little Guy still going strong, find something to eat, answer emails from parents and personal email
11 or so - Finally get the big kids in bed and fall in bed myself
2-3 or so - wake up worried about the play
4 or so (sometimes) - finally sleep

It's a terrible way for a family to live, but it's temporary and the big kids are both learning so much and love being involved. Reeves is overcoming stage fright...Embree has so much responsibility on the backstage crew. She's handling all the props and running all the special effects...wearing a headset and shushing cast members. I'm so proud of her. I can't tell you how happy I am that she's found something she loves and is good at...and something so dear to my own heart.

We are all looking forward to our summer in the mountains, which begins just days after the show closes!

But, when I get overwhelmed and frustrated, I think about the sweet kids who have worked so hard on this play; who show up day after day, learn their lines, and enjoy this experience each year...it's worth it in the end...time well spent.

and my sweet boy...