Well I have finally recovered a week post musical, but wow it was such fun and I was so proud of the kids they did so well. So the week started the previous w/e with rehearsals all day Saturday and Sunday. I went and ironed costumes for 4 hours on the Saturday morning which I have to say was hard graft and very tedious. There was one other mum there for some of the time and the teacher doing costumes did do some as well, but I have to say I was glad to escape at lunchtime.
So the kids all had rehearsal on the Monday from 12-5pm, Tuesday technical rehearsals started from 4-9pm, Wednesday and Thursdays were dress rehearsals from 2-8pm, then shows on Friday night and Sat afternoon and evening. I went from Tuesday rehearsals onwards, miking up the kids pre and post performance, then also got involved in helping with costume changes, tidying dressing rooms and feeding kids as much as possible. It was a very busy but exciting week. The auditorium which was only opened in January was completely full for the friday and Saturday night and 3/4 full for the matinee so in total about 1650 people came to watch a very professional performance. I also met a whole lot of parents who were also Christians which was great, and also ended up joining FOTA (Friends of the Arts) which I felt I ought to given that Rebecca has a performing arts scholarship. Anyway I've added a few pictures of the kids all dressed up with their cast members. So just waiting to see what they do in 2 yrs time :)
So the following week was really strange, we were all exhausted but it was weird with no rehearsals. However the kids were back into usual rehearsals for foundation day and the official opening of the auditorium with the QLD premier attending. The day after the musical we also went to tertiary expo so Josh could try and work out what course / uni he wants to go to... I think it helped a bit but Rebecca found out a lot of stuff and what uni courses she can start in Yr 12!
Josh was definately back to work with lots of
work and assignments to do, so no real rest for them really. However both of them have declined the sport option this term so at least we have Saturdays free again as well. Last term really was too hectic.
So this week Rebecca also had drama camp on friday and all day today which she really enjoyed working with a professional theatre company and Josh had a professional singer from the 'Ten Tenors' come to Barbershop boys so do a workshop. The opportuninties they are getting are fantastic, they just keep making the most of it.
Rebecca is also getting the chance to go to Townsville for the final of the science and engineering competition later on this month so is quite excited about that.
Well the highlight of Rebecca's last 3 weeks is that today she 'officially' started going out with Cameron, a lad from church who is the son of some very good friends of ours. So she's walking around with a great big grin on her face.
So a new era dawns... all 3 kids going out with someone... all very strange but great fun so far.
So as for the rest of us. Ceri and Matt are nearing their completion date for their house, it becomes theirs on the 19th August, so they are very excited, although worrying about that first mortgage payment, Mark just reassured them that as this was the first for the next 30 years they would soon get used to it... very kind of him!!!
So they have all sorts of plans going around in their heads now.
Mark has been really busy with work and garden and studying. He has completed his first 2 pieces of work for the degree which have been ok. The good news is that the week before last week he got a phone call from the probation service... they have a job for him and no interview to be done.. woohoo!!! It is only until October but with a view to extension, but at least once he's in there may be further opportunities, so we are really excited. Its come just at the right time as standing all day with kids has proved a real toll on his foot and he was really starting to struggle. Also having regular full time hours will be so much easier than all the split shifts and driving. So all the paperwork has been done, he is just waiting for the security check to be done. He has also been working really hard in the garden trying to get it sorted. Ashamedly (is that a word) I had a bit of a paddy a few weeks ago about the state of it, so he has got on with it, bless him. He's also had some help from 2 of the lads at church that have come up after school / college, so its now getting there.
We've also had to get a kennel and make a dog run seeing as the dog will now be left for 7 hours a day when he starts work, so a bit unfair to leave him in the laundry all that time.
As for me, work continues with ups and downs, I had an interview last week for an additional 10 hours / month job as respiratory clinical lead for the Brisbane south medicare local, so hopefully should hear this week. I'm not expecting to get it, but as I do know general practice well I may be lucky.
I'm finally back on the bike and managed 58km yesterday, so nice to get back out properly but I'm not going to tell you about my little tumble last week :)
Church is going brilliantly, we have just included a Congolese congregation who are having their own service at 11.30 after our morning service but sending their youth to kidszone and youth group, as they want to integrate their youth into Australian culture for the future. However a lot of them are coming to night church and they have had a lot of their hanger ons all coming back to church, so seeing it grow and integrate is going to be exciting. We also had a stand in the local shopping centre and gave out 800 flyers about the church this w/e and lots of interesting conversations were had. God is just so at work around us.
This week Josh went to watch War Horse with school, not that he enjoyed it, but we went to the cinema while he was in the theatre and had a lovely evening ending it in Max Brenners - very scrummy chocolate shop.
Last night we were at friends who have just spent 3 weeks in France and London, there were 8 of us so a fun time was had.
So am now getting really excited about my cousins coming in 2 weeks and thinking what we can do. Have also almost planned our itinerary for our UK visit which I'm sure will come around far too quickly.
Ok, so have caught us all up with the last 3 weeks events... will try not to make it quite so long next time so I can remember more.. obviously the brain cells are wearing out.
