These past few days have been really busy. We registered the children for school, and have been to the music store to get Paul’s old trombone fixed up for Andrew. He is starting fifth grade orchestra this year. It was fun to see so many old friends at the registration. So many of these families have walked similar education paths with homeschool, private school, in and out of public school as the situation warrented, and finally enrolling children in the most excellent of Charter Schools. I love our school! It is such a relief to me not to have to home school. I have great memories of our years of being home together, but it has also been fun to watch our children blossom with new friends, teachers, opportunities for music, sports, and the fun associated with being a part of a small school that has a strong emphasis on academics.
Our children are really excited to go back to school, and after a chaotic summer with workmen in and out finishing our basement, (they finished the work yesterday! WOO HOO!!), New Puppy, and trying to function without a washer and dryer for most of the summer, it has been somewhat difficult to smooth down the inevitable tiffs that would arise over turf wars. And since the girls bedroom was in our living room, it just added to the congestion in our home.
I am going to audition for the Colorado Mormon Chorale next week. It is a great choir to be associated with, and I am excited to add this endeavor to my year’s outside activities. I had a new music friend try to convince me to audition for the Colorado Repertory Singers for the upcoming season when they are performing the Messiah. It will be quite an experience to sing Brahms Requiem, The Messiah, and Faure’s Requiem in the same year. Now I just need to find a group singing Mozarts Requiem and I’ll have a grand slam home run year for music.
I don’t know that I can fit in all of the rehearsals, but I think I am going to try it for a month to see how it works. The Faure rehearsals are only once a month, and we will be performing it next June at Carnegie Hall. I always dreamed that I would one day sing on that great stage. It will be extra fun to do it with my daugher Allison. She is singing with her schools choir, which has been invited to participate as well. We are saving money as I speak to take the trip to New York next spring. We are hoping to see a Broadway Show or two, Visit the Manhattan Temple and visit the site of the world trade center. I have never been to New York City, although I did go see the Hill Cumorah Pageant when I was a teen.
One of my other dreams is to participate in the Pageant some year with my husband and children as actors. An old friend from my summer stock days is the choreographer for the show, and I would love to see him and meet his family as well as participate in the performance. I am hoping to do that sooner than later, perhaps in the next five years or so.
I have four more rehearsal for the Brahms Requiem this week, still have not heard if I am doing the Soprano Aria, but I am excited to find out! I keep rehearsing it every day, and almost have it memorized.

We went to Ben’s Playgroup yesterday and had a wonderful time visiting with friends. About ten mothers and over thirty children attended. (Mormon Mommas tend to be very prolific). It was our final park day before the older children go back to school. I really enjoyed having Michelle and Allison, my teen daughters, attend. It was so good for them to listen to the young mothers talking about the realities of motherhood and to spend time with the pregnant and nursing mommas. This exposure and the friendship of the Moms, some of whom are only a few years older than my girls, will hopefully help them in their mothering. I believe it is very healthy for young women to socialize and be friends with young mothers who are just getting started with family life. It will help them when they start their own Mothering adventures.

School starts a week from today, and we are planning to go camping this weekend for a final outing before our busy schedule starts. It should be a memorable fall season with sports events to attend, Musical Performances, as well as just regular living. I was also called to be the Preparedness person in my ward last sunday, and will take my Provident Living adventures to the next level as I learn the ins and outs of this calling. The Bishop said I could continue to teach my Sunday School class, but they may have the ward missionaries help with the teaching. Should be fun.
I need to go make breakfast, but just wanted to post something, as I am not sure I will get back to the computer this week. We have a load of work to do in setting up the girls bedroom and moving all of our food storage back down to the basement. We refilled most of the water barrels last night, moved the 72 hour kits out of our front hall closet, and carried about forty boxes of food from under our bed to the storage room. It will be nice not to be sleeping three feet off the ground!
Jenny Hatch