7 Quick Takes (Volume 271)

--- 1 ---

You ever wonder what your brain is doing or rehashing when you dream?

I had a dream this week that the pope was coming to my house. For some reason I wasn't too stressed about the event as I was lackadaisically cleaning things up here and there without any real urgency. Kevin invited our church choir to come over and meet the pope too and ladies were traipsing in the back door. At one point I noticed the Popemobile drive through our alley, obviously having a hard time finding the place, and instead of flagging them down, I let them wander a little longer in hopes of getting my dishwasher loaded before they arrived.

Now tell me. What was that all about?! I haven't read or heard any news about the pope lately. I've never had any great desire to meet the pope. I have been to the Vatican many years ago, but didn't see the pope while I was there. I'm not even Catholic, for crying out loud. The only thing I can decipher is that the state of my house has been driving me crazy lately, but I don't have the motivation to do anything about it. Apparently my attitude is really bad because even the pope coming could not get me in enough of a frenzy to get my house cleaned!

--- 2 ---

The Heartland Winter Arts Association drumline championships were last weekend. Princess Dawdle enjoyed participating this year for the first time. I think it was even more fun for her to have her brother and sister as instructors.


Here she is in action. Don't let the face fool you. She's doing the traditional drumline don't-mess-with-me face.


Sadly, our kids didn't place as high as they'd like, but they felt good about their performance. And I gotta brag about our snare players (one of which is near and dear to us as he's Drama Queen's boyfriend and the other has been a family friend his entire life). They were awesome! I know I'm biased, but I'd say they were some of the best snare players there that day. The highlight of their performance is a split part where each of them uses one hand to play as if they are one player. It's kind of like playing a drum roll (although not quite as fast) with each of them using only one hand.


I think the look on The Boyfriend's face proves they totally nailed it. Nice job, guys!


Here's a picture of the whole line.


At the end of the competition they do kind of a cool ceremony called the "Retreat." They line up all the color guards and drumlines and announce scores. Our kids changed out of their costumes for the retreat, but if you look closely, you can see some of the costumes of the other groups. Many of the shows were dark in nature--zombies, fear, nightmares. One show was based on Dante's inferno and their kids were drumming in the depths of hell. Ick.


I was glad we were one of few who didn't look gruesome. Our theme was "Reflections." Here's a shout out to Drama Queen and Drummer Boy for choosing something more enjoyable and less creepy to watch.

--- 3 ---

Do families ever grow out of bathroom humor?

We were clearing the table from dinner when I heard a commotion in the dining room.

Ladies Man: Dad, Princess Dawdle farted. Ground her.

Kevin: If I grounded somebody every time someone farted, no one would ever leave this house.

The kids thought he was hysterical and immediately raced to see who could tweet his words the fastest.

I don't get it. Shouldn't they be old enough to find fart stories as uneventful as we do?

--- 4 ---

Princess Dawdle had her first tennis meet this week. To be honest I was not looking forward to it as the school marquee said it was 38 degrees when I picked her up that day. But I bundled up and brought blankets and the sun was out so it didn't seem that cold. She was super nervous and lost her match, but got in some good shots and I think she will really improve over the course of the season. I'm just so proud of her for trying something completely new and different. And I love seeing this new competitiveness emerging in her. She came home from the meet fired up and ready to take on another opponent, wishing the next meet were sooner.

I did find one negative about tennis meets though. It's impossible to get a good picture through the fence!

--- 5 ---

Ladies Man was super excited about his outfit yesterday morning. He wore a pair of colored skinny jeans and t-shirt that his girlfriend bought him and topped it off with a collared shirt that brought the whole ensemble together in an awesome way.

Ladies Man: I look like a pop star today. Even the shoes totally work.

I admit he did look good. But for me the best part was that he was wearing Kevin's shirt! Yes, the shirt that made the outfit sing belonged to his dad. That's right, my husband's got the goods, baby. He knows style.

Come to think of it, maybe I do too because Princess Dawdle wore my sweater the same day!

As my kids would say, "BOOM!"

--- 6 ---

I really don't understand the whole snapchat phenomenon. It's just a bunch of people taking selfies all the time. I mean, how many times can you send a friend a picture of you with your tongue hanging out or at your smiling best or pulling your hair out? I bet Princess Dawdle has sent 1000 of virtually the same picture to her buddies. I dont' get it, but I've humored my kids lately. The other night I caught Princess Dawdle snapchatting one of her friends at 1:AM and we took a picture together with me shaking my finger and looking mean to tell the friend she'd been busted.

And then there was this impromptu pic when Ladies Man said, "Mom, take a selfie with us."


I think you can tell I am less than enthusiastic. I guess it's fun to have a few silly pics together but you can't even save them with snapchat.

Wait, I'm sounding like a fuddy duddy, huh? Okay, 'nough said.

--- 7 ---

Now that drumline and show choir seasons are over, we'll get our weekends back, except I'm spending tomorrow in the metropolis of Fairbury, Nebraska, speaking at a women's retreat. I'm excited to spend time with some quality women, though (including my mom and aunt--yay!) and talk about how God works. What better way is there to spend a Saturday? Sunday I'm planning to see some old friends (friends I've known for a long time, not friends that are old, okay? I know what you were thinking!). Should be good even if the sun doesn't shine. At least it won't involve cleaning the house for the pope.


I hope your weekend is relaxing or exciting or boring or whatever you wish for, friends. Enjoy it in the way you do and find time to read more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 270)

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The other day as I was getting into my van after working out, I detected a familiar aroma. I couldn't figure out what it was. I checked the gauges on the van and everything was normal. There was no spill or dead animal on the road. It was just a weird odor I knew I had smelled before. Finally it dawned on me. It was corn dogs. Something smelled like corn dogs in my van. I looked around for any trash the kids may have left in the back seats and then it hit me.

It was my sweaty self!

So I guess the moral of the story is if you want to work out with me you'll have to decide if you can stand the smell of corn dogs.

Is this why I have an aversion to exercise?

--- 2 ---

The seniors in Ladies Man's class took surveys, things like "Who is most likely to become a politician?" or "Person who knows the most people," stuff like that. Ladies Man was voted "Guy with the Best Hair." Do you think he could have won that title a few years ago with this do?


And obviously they were not privy to his early years when this look was the norm.


Nonetheless, I am a proud Mama, I guess. Nice work, Ladies Man. Way to evolve in the grooming department.

--- 3 ---

And now it's time for a little bragging on my husband. Have I told you lately how I adore the man? Well I do, because he is wonderful. And cute. And sensitive. And can hold down a conversation better than anyone I know. And life is just better with him in it. Anyway, I am super proud of him. He has several choral anthems published with Lorenz Publishing, but last fall broke into Hope Publishing. Recently we received his complimentary copies in the mail.


Is he a stud or what? We thought the banner at the top which reads "The R. Kevin Boesiger Choral Series" was pretty funny as this is the only piece in the "series." I'm applying wishful thinking and hoping it means they expect to publish more of his work in the future.

Congratulations, babe! I'm proud of you.

--- 4 ---

Another studly thing my husband accomplished this week was putting together a Beatrice Regional Orchestra concert featuring three high school choirs. There were 177 voices on stage! It was a cool night.


His orchestra keeps getting better and better too. That guy knows what he's doing.

--- 5 ---

Princess Dawdle has apparently been listening intently to her brother's advice about experiencing everything she can in high school. Though she's never had any formal training or experience, she joined the tennis team this Spring. So far she's loving the camaraderie of the team and the patience and helpfulness of the upperclassmen and coach. She's catching on pretty well too, I think. The biggest surprise for me is it's bringing out a competitiveness I've never seen in her before. She's my easy-going whatever girl, but she came home all fired up from practice the other day because she got cheated out of a game she was winning at the end of practice even though she was way behind in the match. I saw a look in her eyes I've never seen before, an I'm-gonna-get-em kind of glare. I think a tiger may be lurking in my little kitty girl.

--- 6 ---

Here's fun picture I haven't posted yet. Drama Queen's brothers helped her celebrate her birthday with some friends. Their favorite thing to do is what they call the sister sandwich.


She seems to be enjoying the older version better than this younger version.

--- 7 ---

I've enjoyed a few days away this week. Is it bad that on my kids' Spring Break I ran away for my own break? What is that adage, something about to be a good mommy you have to take care of the mommy? Yeah. That's what I did. It's supposed to be good for them in the long run, right?

This is where you're supposed to yell, "Yes! You are absolutely right, Tami!"

Really. Go ahead and affirm me. I won't mind.



That's all for this Friday, friends. Enjoy your weekend and visit Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 269)

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Last weekend was lively. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Lloyd Larson and watch him in action at the Homestead Choral Festival. He did a marvelous job communicating with our musicians and participating in worship. It was a good shot in the arm for my husband. Lloyd has been Kevin's editor at Lorenz Publishing for a few years now, but they had never met so it was a real treat. I was surprised how alike he and Kevin were. Not only did Lloyd tell the choir the same kinds of things Kevin does, but they even wore the same shoes! Weird.

--- 2 ---

After dropping Lloyd off at the airport, we helped Drummer Boy move into a new apartment in Lincoln. It was great to see his good judgment in choosing a place that is secure, a perfect size, in his price range and close to work. As an added treat, if you cock your head just right when looking out his bedroom window, you get a great view of the state capitol.

I don't care how many times these kids of mine move in and out of my house, it still gets to me. Proof I am a super wuss. Good grief. He was moving less than an hour away and I moped around the house for a week before Drummer Boy left. My kids kept telling me I was acting "emo." How is it they get into your psyche like that? I'm choosing to focus on the positives of him having his own place. There are no cracker remnants and boxes left in the living room after late night video game sessions. And I don't have to find things like this in his room!


That is a cup of something that sat so long in his room, the mold petrified. It was hard as a rock!

Ew, Drummer Boy. EW!

--- 3 ---

Because of the Homestead Choral Festival, Kevin and I missed one of our kids' show choir competitions. When Kevin planned the event over a year ago, he purposely stayed away from the last Saturday in February because this particular competition always takes place then. Wouldn't you know they changed it this year?! ARG!!!!

It was especially sad to miss because our junior varsity group got second place and our varsity group took runner-up honors overall. Way to go guys! Thank you to the good parents who post pics on Facebook.

--- 4 ---

We have some wonderful friends who live across the street from us and our kids have basically grown up together. Summer time brought walks together as families to McDonald's for ice cream. Weekends were spent making videos at each other's houses or kids playing video games while the adults talked until the wee hours. We've spent a lot of time together over the years and I guess we got a little nostalgic at a school concert the other night when we realized all the kids were together again. It doesn't happen that often anymore.


I don't know why I got sentimental about it. Some things never change. They'll never grow up.

--- 5 ---

Wednesday night youth group was themed "Winter Olympics Night." Kids were supposed to come dressed to fit the theme. Ladies Man put together this ensemble. Can you guess who he is?


He was Bob Costas with pink eye! Sadly the middle school kids didn't get it. We thought it was hysterical.

--- 6 ---

Ladies Man and Drummer Boy came to church at different times last week but ended up looking quite a bit alike. Ladies Man calls this pic Twinnin Bros.


I could just scream right now. How hard is it to take a nice picture, boys?! Really?! GRRRRRRR!!!!!

--- 7 ---

This weekend looks to be a little less hectic. We'll attend the last show choir competition in Lincoln on Saturday which means not so much driving time involved. We may actually be home Saturday evening. Bonus! Tonight we're meeting some "kids" for dinner who used to be in our college Bible study years ago. I say "kids" because they're all grown adults with children of their own now.

Ugh. We're old.

(Note to my children: Zip it!)

Let the weekend begin! I hope yours is fabulous, friends. Start it off by reading more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.