An update....(finally)

Update of the SUMMER (and most of fall!)

School ended with worn out students and teachers that were oh so excited about the prospect of sleeping in!  Me...I was just getting started!  We rehearsed A Midsummer Night's Dream through May and then opened at the end of May/beginning of June.  We ran 2 weekends and had an AMAZING run.  I was Titania, the fairy queen.  It was one of the hardest plays I've ever done and oh, so rewarding to see the crowds love it!

Once that opened, I began rehearsals for Winnie the Pooh at Theatricks.  Webster was gracious enough to allow me the opportunity to direct!  It was my directorial debut and it was a hit.  Most shows were almost sold out!  I was VERY proud of my cast and crew!  (To sweeten the deal, my friend Leslie was Kanga so I got to see her almost nightly for about a month!)

While we were in rehearsals for WTP, Alan was offered (an accepted) a job in Addison as an accountant.  To celebrate, we spent a weekend in New Braunfels with my Aunt and Uncle.  This is our favorite get-away spot...any questions why?!

Once WTP closed, I spent 3 days in San Antonio for our bi-annual Statewide Conference.  When I got back from that I started rehearsals for The Secret Garden.  I had the joy of acting with my good friend Laura.  We hadn't been in a show together since Sound of Music.  It was a great show and I made many new friends!

Sadly, during the rehearsal process my sweet Grandmother had a stroke that affected the right side of her body and we went to rehab.  We were very impressed with the place and were excited about the possibilities.  However, sweet Grandmother's body was just done and after a series of large strokes, her blood flow was completely blocked from part of her brain and we went back to her apartment on Hospice Care.  While it was a really rough week in hospice, it was also a really fantastic week of loving, laughing, and being with my mom and sisters.  On Friday, August 15, just a month and week before her 97th birthday, my sweet Grandmother went home.  My 4 year old nephew phrased it perfectly: We were happy-sad.  Happy she was in heaven with Jesus and healed and whole  (could stand tall, talk well, etc)....but we were so sad she was gone from us.  A week later we laid her to rest next to my GrandJack who had passed 31 years earlier.  They were together again at last.  It was a sweet ceremony, a sweet day.  I miss her terribly...I still drive to mom's and think, "Now when we go see Grandmother....oh...wait..." Here are some pics of me and her...

 

Well, we opened show and it was a GREAT show and the run of it was so fun...except the Sunday I fell...down the stairs...backstage, in the dark, with a great thud.  And sprained my ankle.  The one I broke 9 years ago...yeah - big ole monster sprain.  Joy.  I finished the run of the show on crutches...on the floor.  In a boot.  There are no pics.  However, after a month in the boot and on crutches, I did get a lovely brace that I wear sometimes now.  I go back next week and we will see.

 

Just after the close of the show, my friend Tessa married her sweetheart, Gary.  The girls (Tessa's daughters) were flower girls and looked lovely...as did Tessa, of course.  This weekend we are going to another wedding.  A girl I went to church with when I started teaching and taught when I taught 5th grade (that was 4 years into teaching and this is my 14th year...) is getting married.  I feel old...where's the walker?!  I'll post pics of that one later -- but here's Tessa and the girls...

The big news now is.....Alan and I are......looking for a house!  We've decided to buy a house.  We are currently looking in Anna, Melissa, McKinney, and Allen...but haven't found anything yet.  I promise to let you know when we find something!

I won't do anymore shows until the spring when Theatricks does The Velveteen Rabbit, so until then...I'm just trucking along in the school year.  And that...my friends...basically brings you up to date!

Pretty Happy Funny Real

Pretty:

Look at my pretty puppies enjoying the pretty sunshine!  They love to go out in the afternoon when I get home...the trick is to then get them back inside...as you can see -- Lily was perfectly content to stretch out and stay a while.  When it's pretty I've been known to grab a book and sit outside with them for a while...love those puppies!

 

Happy

This guy...he makes me happy....

 

 Funny:

Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na....BATDOG!!!!

We went to the 2104 North Texas Westie Resue's annual Westie Walk last Saturday.  Lily was an honorary Westie for the day.  This was her costume for the costume contest.  While she didn't win -- I think it's hysterical!

  

Real:

Oh ankle...

I fell 6 weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon near the end of a show during The Secret Garden.  After 4 weeks of walking in a walking boot (3 of those weeks with crutches), I graduated to part time ankle brace.  Oh the joy.  I'm also in PT right now (more joy).  I go back next week and we will see what the Dr. says.  Isn't it a lovely, large addition to my wardrobe?!

 

More real: the line at Starbucks on an undisclosed morning at an undisclosed time...Let's just say it was a day and a time I thought I'd be able to zip right through -- uh...no.  Sherman, we might need another Starbucks!

 

DISCLAIMER:

I know I haven't blogged in a while...I was having a REALLY hard time with blogger.  I decided on a whim to try today and lookie there -- an update. I will update the summer -- but likely without pics....Thanks for understanding!

 

Update (no pictures)

I was informed by loving father that 2 months is far to long to go without a blog update.  I haven't updated because I've been very frustrated with trying to put pic in.  it will only allow me to put them in when I am using HTML which gives you a load of gibberish, not a picture.  Then you have to try to click back and forth to put them where you want and guess where to type.  This is FAR to much work to post a picture and we all know people only want to read a blog with pictures...therefore, not updates.  However, at dear daddy's request I'll bring you up to speed on the Duigan's....minus pics.

Leanne:
School's out for summer, PTL!  At the end of the year I auditioned for A Midsummer Night's Dream and was cast as Titania, the fairy queen.  I had the joy of having a BEAUTIFUL costume and makeup and being on stage with wonderful friends.  I have LOADS of pictures to prove it so head on over to my Facebook page to see some!

When that closed I immediately went into rehearsals for Winnie the Pooh at Theatrick's (the children's theater here).  Webster, the director of shows there graciously offered to let me direct the summer show.  He was the assistant director this go round.  He still had a lot of work to do, but got a little rest by allowing me to direct.  It has been so much fun and the reviews of our community are good! I'm so proud of my cast!

In the daytimes I've been sleeping in, playing with the girls who are no longer in daycare, playing with my dogs (for obvious reasons), and fighting the fruit fly invasion of 2014.  (I don't want to talk about the last of those...)

Alan:
Alan interviewed and accepted a job in a surgical center in Addison at the end of May.  He had a long weekend between when he finished at West Asset so we headed to New Braunfels for a weekend by the pool and a visit with my aunt and uncle.  (Again, pics are on FB)  Then we came back and he started working as an accountant.  He is enjoying his new job...but perhaps not the hour commute there and back.  There has been talk about moving to McKinney, but there's no timeline on that at all...just lots of talk.

He now works Monday-Friday from 9-5:30.  He likes to arrive a little early so he usually leaves here about 7:30 and arrives there around 8:30.  Then he heads home somewhere around 5:30 and is home by 6:30-7.  He usually gets off early on Friday.  He has spent some time at my parents house as it's only 10-15 minutes from the job. 

Other:
Amy and her family were in last week.  We both went down on Sunday night and spent the night at mom's to spend time with them.  Then I went down most days to join in the fun, while Alan stayed down nights to have dinner and some time with them (though rumor has it he slept on the couch a lot!). 

I'm auditioning for our fall musical, Secret Garden, today.  On Sunday (after we close and strike Winnie the Pooh), I will head to San Antonio for our Statewide Deaf Ed conference.  Once back from that I will (hopefully) go into rehearsals for Secret Garden and start looking to the start of school....though only some.

I'm sad to say I haven't finished a SINGLE sewing project this summer.  Terrible I know!  I have several to work on and none done.  I did buy a new book that a friend and I are going to work through and create seriously cute outfits! :)

Other than that -- it's day to day! 

Thanks for reading...sorry for lack of pics...Have a good day! :)

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} -- Furbabies edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!


Today we start with REAL:
--Today was supposed to be the 'Rissa Edition', but things have changed and I've decided to do a 'Furbabies' edition. You see, this morning, my sweet friend Donna had to put down her sweet puppy Emma Claire. Two years ago Emma Claire was liberated from a Puppy Mill. When she was rescued she had tumors in her mammary glands that were removed and it was assumed that she was cancer free. She was adopted, then later my friend Donna got her. Donna loves her pups well! Over the weekend, Donna text me and said she was going to the ER vet with sweet Emma, who was just having some troubles. We went, they did x-rays...and found the cancer had returned and metastasized in her lungs. We were hoping to get her comfortable and give her some comfortable 'last days'. However, yesterday evening she took a turn for the worst and this morning it was time. It doesn't matter how many times you see it, experience it, it never gets easier! In honor of sweet Emma's passing - I give you 'the furbaby edition':

Here is a picture of Emma and Mercy from the dog park over the summer.

Funny:
Oh the many faces of my sweet Lily! I like to call this one 'home dawg'.

Happy:
My girls...in my lap...le big sigh!

Pretty:
Aren't they just too sweet? Love our girls and are so thankful for them and for our sweet Auntie Donna who loves them like they are her own. Mercy will be going over to her Auntie Donna's to snuggle her and help her feel better. While I will miss her, I love that I have such a good friend in Donna and that my girls love her as much as she loves them.

With that my friends, I say "Hug your fur babies tonight and be extra grateful for them!"

Also, Alan, Candice, and I will be walking (running) for SPCA this weekend. Our team name is the PuppyMill Pirates in honor of sweet Emma. Feel free to donate to the SPCA to help us out!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} - The Ally edition

~Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life~
~Every Thursday, at Like Mother Like Daughter~


Pretty

Last night we got to go play with some new friends for a little while. Ally discovered that they had a lovely collection of books and Kathy snapped this shot of the little bookworm! Lovely!


Happy

I picked Ally up from daycare recently and when I looked in my mirror I saw this happy face singing and chatting away. So...at the next stop light I snapped a quick pick of the happy girl. This smile can light up a room! And it makes me happy when she's so happy!



Funny

I admit that this is kind of an old picture. And I know it's a bit fuzzy. But it makes me giggle EVERY. TIME. This kid is so full of personality! She's a hoot and a holler and we sure love her!

Real

This is Mr. Pete reading to the girls. We love the Scheibmeirs and are loving getting to know them better and spending time with them. We've had dinner with them several times recently, and Kathy has meet the girls before, but this was the first time for them to meet Pete...and he was a hit! He sat on the floor and played with them and read to them and they loved it. Pete and Kathy have 9 kiddos (8 boys, 1 girl) and they are a storehouse of child-rearing knowledge! Just love them! Thanks for letting us play with you last night! We look forward to playing again soon! :)

**Tune in next week for the 'Rissa edition!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Easter Flashback

Easter Weekend Started off with a brunch at Grandmother's. Alan and I got there first so we snapped a few pics:

Then the family arrived and Thomas and I had a special moment...

The next morning was Easter and Alan and I went to church.

After church we had lunch with the girls entire family (plus some). Here are the girls in their Easter dresses!

We had a great weekend and enjoyed time with family and friends! What an honor and blessing to say "He is RISEN indeed!"

Flashback: Dance