Sunday Smiles

 Once again, I am relieved to go back to work after a weekend I stuffed from end to end. I did it myself, so I have no one else to blame. Saturday was just a typical activities blast, from dance to library to chores. Jon took the kids to the playground in the afternoon after he had an astoundingly productive morning tuning up the Thesis.*

Church was our now-usual 3 hour affair, ending in choristers practice for Miles. After a quick lunch, he and I drove over to the middle school to watch Aaliyah's big brother play flag football.

This was important for Miles, as he's been having a bit of a hard time finding a kindred spirit in kindergarten. One of his recent prayers at bedtime was that he would find a new friend at school. This little girl, whom he befriended in daycare last year, just gets him.

They hardly did more than exchange greetings when the giggles began and it was chase-chase-chase time. All over the bleachers, for the duration of the football game, they chased each other and laughed endlessly. She had her grandma call me and put him on the other day, and after a short conversation, they just happily sat in silence on the phone, playing in their individual houses. That's how they roll. I know he misses her & I'm so glad to have her Grandma's phone number to hand. 

They were all lit up the whole afternoon. 

Sunday evening was Miles' first time singing in the choir for the congregation. It was also only the second Evensong we've attended at church. Remind us to go again. It was so gorgeous, from the chanting to the collect, from the lovely music to the post-event wine spread. 

Adele was proud to watch brother sing. She wore his old outfit for the occasion, perhaps to show support. 

Their first band photo?

 Once inside, we set up the nursery for the assembled tots and then I got a glimpse of Miles, in his choir robe for the first time.

Here he is with his best church friend. They sing in the Tiny Section together.

The video is of poor visual quality, but I couldn't help myself, taking it. It was my first baby's first performance, after all. They sang "Non Nobis Domine." He'd been practicing all week, but I was still pleasantly surprised that he actually sang, audibly, and opened his mouth wide. After the finished, he grinned at me and his sister and waved. So, we'll work on stage deportment.

News in the #ALIVE campaign: I'm struggling to incorporate exercise into this schedule. My most recent effort involves putting on a list of oldies and doing the Twist, the Watusi, the Pony, and the Mashed Potato with the kids in the living room. I cannot be unhappy while doing these dances. It's not possible. We must have done the twist alone for about 35 combined minutes this weekend, and the kids now think they're experts.

Cheers, everyone! Do what makes you live!

*I'm not sure if I mentioned this on the blog, but Jon defended his Master's thesis recently and is now making final revisions in anticipation of a December 2014 graduation. That makes his third master's degree. Whew! Wish him  us all luck as he goes on the job market.