On 4/7/15 my friend and I put on a Read-A-Thon at our school. The school becomes a magical place as we transformed the school to look like a scene out of a Dr. Seuss book. Our art teacher works on art projects with the kids for us to hang throughout the hallways. She has the 4th grade students paint the exit doors with different Dr. Seuss book themes. This year we did something new. With the help of our amazing gym teacher, Mrs. Herrling, our gym was transformed into a magical flaslight reading place. Each grade level came in and was able to read. There were mats, cushions, blankets and christmas lights hung. It truly was in my opinion one of the best sights this year. And to watch so many kids come into the gym all excited and then all at once become quiet and go into reading mode was amazing. We did not know if it would work. If having 4 different classes together would be disruptive and if the kids would be silly in the dark gym. But they did it. They came together for our literacy program and read together. We saw kids with a love of reading want to do this. It was truly a magical experience once I am ever so grateful to have started with my friend, Jill at our school.....

This past weekend I got to spend the night in downtown Chicago with my husband. Oh how I miss going to the city. Since moving to Wisconsin I don't get to go there nearly as often as I used to. Something about the air and how busy it is there that draws me in. Our kids have grown to love it to and were so disappointed that they were not getting to go with us. I knew that this would be a perfect place for me to do this week's image project of "Leading Lines". We were standing at the train station and I was explaining to my husband about leading lines and this is what I saw. It was the perfect representation of leading lines. They draw you into the image to see what is beyond the lines.

Back in December when Ally tried out for Annie at our local high school we never thought in a million years she would get picked to be in the musical, let alone get a main orphan role. It has been an incredible ride for her with a wonderful cast and director. The high school students have taken Ally who was only 7 under their wings and watched over her since January when rehearsals started. They have all been like big sisters to her. From Olivia, who took care of doing her makeup, to Nelly to took care of her in the Orphan room during the shows to Kayla/Lauren/Lexi/Jordan and so many more who have been a part of Ally's first theatre experience.  She is pretty sad this morning knowing that she will not get to see these kids again. But, maybe their paths will cross in the future. We do know that this has given Ally the itch to do more acting. And we are sure she will have a bright future with anything she does. 

Spring is in the air and with that comes our schools spring concert. The music was amazing! Our kids music teacher does such an incredible job putting it all together. She had such a great time playing an instrument singing a solo and singing with the Janssen Singers. It was a wonderful way to get in the mode for Spring!!

My daugthers have been Irish dancing for many years. My oldest for 6 years and my youngest for 4 years. They decided just recently to stop. So let them do one last setup of pictures of them together. While I was moving around I caught them hugging. It is moments like this that I am so grateful to have had my camera close by. Ally our youngest has watched her sister dance and couldn't wait until it was her turn to start. They are amazing dancers, but were having to drive over 1 1/2 hours to get to class each week. So, it was taking its toll on them. I love them for all they accomplished with dance and for doing it together. 

Our youngest daughter, Ally, made her acting debut this weekend in the musical Annie at the local high school. She played the role of Molly. The sassy outspoken orphan. Yep, they pegged her dead on for that role... If I could have been a fly on the wall for her audition I would have loved to see what exactly she did to show her true colors. HA! It has been a lot of hard work and dedication for the past couple of months for our little 7 year old who is only in 2nd grade. But she was amazing! She could not believe that people came to see her in the musical. So, sweet and innocent...

Deep thoughts are always something we see from our middle child. You can often find her staring off, thinking about something or coming up with a song or story to write. Whatever it is she has so many great thoughts, deep thoughts, happening...