Happy birthday Mackenzie!
You are the sweetest, kindest, smartest, cutest, 13 year old I know.
I hope you enjoy your party.
And I hope you will follow your dreams and passions always.
Love you!
xo Mommy
Okay, a little background information here...so you know that for Mackenzie's birthday she got a Magical Mystery Tour to see Les Miserables. I told Rob I was most sad about not being able to see her face when he told her the surprise. So I asked him to take my camera (with strict instructions on care and handling of camera...ie. don't leave it on top of the car and drive away) then set her up to take a picture. Tell her to say "Les Miserables" so that he will get her face when she finds out. Oh! This is much more confusing to write. But these photos are of the moments of her discovery. And I love them so much!
Oh, and he put her in front of the sign without her seeing it...nice touch Rob! This photo is of her turning around to see it. And all the photos are here.
So without further ado, here's Mackenzie....
HELLO EVERYONE! here is how it all went down!!. . . .
So, there I was on a normal school day sitting in my band lesson, getting ready to play when Hope, one of the office secretaries came in and told me that I needed to leave because my Dad had just come to pick me up. I had no idea what this was all about so I just went up to my locker, got my stuff and went back down all the stairs to meet Dad. So we went out to the car and apparently I had a "Doctor's Appointment". When I sat down Dad handed me a bunch of clothes and said "Here's your change of clothes." I immediately knew that there was something up but decided not to ask. So, we drove for about an hour, during which time I had to change in the car from my jeans into a skirt, which was not easy let me tell you!-until about 15 minutes away form the secret location Dad told me to close my eyes or read and NOT LOOK UP! the last bit he stressed numerous times. Finally, I heard the crunch of tires on gravel and a women say "Are you driving north or south on the way home?" "North" Dad replied. Then the women said "Enjoy the show!" I already guessed that we were going to see something but I still had no idea what. So Dad parked then told me to get out of the car but to Keep My Eyes Closed!! He led me to a spot on the gravel close to the road and told me to open my eyes. All I saw was a parking lot full of cars, so I still didn't know where we were. Until he said, " Smile and say 'Les Mis.' " I was so surprised that I really was speechless and, of course, burst into laughter, as you can see from the pictures above. Once I had changed my shirt we went and got our tickets and sat down in the theater. The theater itself wasn't all that nice but the set was amazing! Shortly after we sat down the show began!
Of course, it started off with 'Look Down' by the prisoners and officers, where Jean Valjean (pronounced John Val John with a soft 'J') gets his yellow ticket of leave. The whole show was absolutley Amazing!!! It was definiteley the best show that I have ever seen! It really was broadway quality! This was the best birthday present ever!! Thank You a million times Mom and Dad!!
After like a week of rain, the sun finally came out. Rob, Riley and I were home and saw it peep through the windows. We ran outside and stood in the driveway just to feel the sun on our faces. The residents of our barn were also feeling Vitamin D deprived I think, they were coming out to feel the sun on their wee faces, too.
We went apple picking here. We liked this orchard (Ricker Hill) much better than the one we went to last year, and they had Gala apples, which are my favorite after Pink Ladies. So yeah, 30 pounds of apples.
Us older girls ended up dressing alike. That was funny...and weird.
There were a variety of apples that we had never heard of before called Honey Crisp Apples. We bought five for the ride home and quickly devoured them. Rob says they are his new favorite.
And we couldn't leave without some apple cider and cider donuts. Yum.
In the last two days I've peeled, cored and cut something close to 100 apples. Next year I am so totally buying one of these.
I don't know why the photos are so grainy and pixelated. Typepad is really annoying me lately.
Riley wanted an international pen pal (she talks about visiting England all the time and wanted a pen pal) but the international pen pal service that had been setting up pen pals for over 50 years went out of business June, 2008. Sad. So we decided to try Flat Travelers (based on Flat Stanley). Our first traveler is a Koala named Kasper from Australia. His first adventure was to the farm. That family will be receiving our Flat Traveler soon...a porcupine name Smallie.
Watching this...and reading this...you never can be too prepared.
Mackenzie auditioned for her school play.
I am loving everything this woman creates.
Gwenyth Paltrow is now sending me emails. My dream of becoming her BFF is closer than ever! :)
Rob bought a enormous turkey from the farm. He wanted to talk about how John was processing them when he got there, and I was all if you want me to ever eat meat again you will keep that to yourself! The pour guy doesn't get much meat around here. None of us girls really like it. But we've made so many meals from that one turkey, and even have some soup and stalk in the freezer. Do I want turkeys on my future plot of land, not really.
I've been a canning fool over hear. My mother likes to laugh and reminds me of my old self, the girl who never dreamed she'd be in the kitchen near as many hours as I am. She says my Grandmother Francie and my Great-grandmother Chickens are definitely in heaven smiling down on me. I say, if they are watching me, they are surely laughing their butts off.
I like how on this site you can enter in things you are craving, then they will give you suggestions.
Thinking Obsessing a lot about the thousands of photos on this very old (nearly 8 years!) computer. Worrying that I haven't really printed any photos since I moved to Maine (and had to leave my lovely photo developer in Arizona). I need to do some major scrapbooking. Thinking I might take this lady's prompting and do a Week in the Life. Next week...maybe...
I can't believe this girl is about to be thirteen. T h i r t e e n. People, come on. She was just a baby like, last year. For her birthday I wanted to give her something special, and when I found out Les Miserables was playing at the Ogunquit Playhouse, I knew that was the gift. This summer she decided to read the book and when she finished she wanted to use some of her saved money to go see the show playing at Bowdoin College. She was heartbroken when she found out all showings were sold out. Today was the show and Rob picked her up early from school and took her on a Mayes Magical Mystery Tour. I can't wait to hear how she liked it.
I went to an art opening with Betsy to see Jen's exhibit at Nahcotta. It was awesome.
Feeling excited and nervous that Election day is some 4 weeks away. AH!! Thank goodness John Stewart streams his shows...where else would we get our news! And the debates were streamed live on CNN.com.
People keep telling me I look like Tina Fey...I don't see the resemblance. But good grief, does that also mean I look like Sarah Palin? (The correct answer here would be a resounding NO!)
We got to see Jess and Taber this weekend.
Cidney is doing very well in school, and has made a good friend. She is at a sleep-over right now. And she has joined the International Club at school.
We are trying to decide what to be for Halloween. Cidney and Mackenzie say they might be too old this year. What? Too old? Phooey! Riley is deciding between two costumes: Robin Hood and Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
I really loved the old blog design, but it was hard to read. Am I right? Were you having trouble reading it? Is this design better?
Rob and Riley went over to help the Soule's grow their wood pile. I was very nervous about Rob and an ax, but all went well. Riley even learned to whittle from Calvin. (Thanks for the Photos Amanda)
We are deep into squash season. I feel like Bubba on Forest Gump: We've got squash soup, pumpkin soup, squash muffins, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie...
