It doesn't get much better than this.

Ian had such an insanely amazing day on Friday, October 19th that you couldn't help but smile being around him.  It was definitely one for the record books.

Ian's middle school is doing a production of "Rock of Ages".  Competition is fierce to not only get a role, but to perform in the play at all, even as a minor player.  There's auditions on acting, singing and if you manage to get a call back, dancing.  Approx. 225 students try out and only 50 or so get a part.

Just a side note:  Ian tried to get a part in last year's play, "Little Mermaid", but didn't make the cut.  He made lemonade out of lemons and volunteered to do lighting.  However, he quickly found out that lighting wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  And he still had 6 more shows to work after this realization.  :)

Ian worked hard on his audition and made it very known to us that he really wanted this part.  It's the part of Lonny, who is the narrator of the show.  Lonny is described as the guy who commands the audience and owns the stage.  He is friends with the best people and everyone wants to be friends with him.  Everyone loves him.  Ian's drama teacher said, we want this to be the most likeable character of the show.

Ian finally heard back on Friday afternoon the results.

How's that for an awesome result?   Top line billing!  OMG!   Ian came home and couldn't stop jumping up and down.  To see this level of excitement was contagious and soon, I was jumping up and down with him.   Way to go Ian!  He is going to make an awesome Lonny!

But wait, there's more!

The previous week Ian asked a girl out for the first time.  Ever. !!!!   His date was Friday evening, going to their school's high school football game.  He said the date went really well and he was excited to report that he held her hand -- in front of the whole school to see.  How's that for making an announcement to everyone that you are together?!?!  He also said she looked cold and he offered her his hoodie to put on.  She had a coat on and now Ian's hoodie too.  Ian is in 57 degree weather with just a short sleeve shirt.  He is silently thanking his parents that we made him put jeans on and not wear the shorts he was planning.    So Ian had everyone coming up to him (even high schoolers who he didn't even know) congratulating him on getting the part of Lonny (it's a really BIG deal!) and then seeing him with a girl he likes.   He couldn't have been happier than if we told him we were putting a go-kart track in our back yard.

First date ever!   And it landed on the same day as Ian getting the role in the play.  Talk about an awesome day.

I am so happy for Ian. He has come far from just one year ago at this time, he'd come home every day from school and announce that he was dying.  Every time he walked into another class he'd either get nauseas, his back would hurt, he'd have a headache and lots more other ailments.  His transition to middle school was a rough one. It was touch and go there for a while on if he was going to survive 7th grade. ;)  

With 8th grade, it appears Ian has found his groove.  He has a great group of friends and being a theatre nerd is not such a bad thing.   Between now and President's Day Weekend in February, Ian will be spending almost every day working on either his school play or the musical he is in with his AFYP (acting for young people) group.  I love that he has the confidence to do this and getting up in front a whole theatre full of people is not intimidating.

This girl he is interested in is a very lucky young lady.  I hear from those in the know (ok, Ian), that he will be getting date #2 in the works.  Now, I just need to figure out a way to meet her.

Writing.

So I haven't felt very inspired to write lately.  I've spent some time thinking about why and can only come up with the following theory - Writing to me was an avenue to process all the crazy stuff we had going on with the kids and generally living life.  Many days I felt like I was on a high-speed train and there was no getting off.  Every time I turned around, a new crazy situation was occurring or something that should've gone as planned, didn't.  I needed to get it all down on paper before it too quickly became a blur.

Writing was my way of moving on.  Documenting all these little moments and the big ones too so we'd have record of them to look back on when the kids got older.  I never want to forget some of the more outlandish experiences (flying with the kids when they were 2!, taking them to the zoo when they really didn't want to be there, Ian at the dentist, working for The Crazy Man), just like I don't want to forget our wonderful traditions (apple picking, ice cream on the first day of school).  And along the way, there were some very funny moments (accidentally dropping Ian in the trash can, Sam telling Ian that he needs to stop talking because she was going to pass out from his bad breath), the special days (Ian's Bar Mitzvah, my trip to England/Portugal, adopting Lucy) and hitting milestones (getting braces, learning to ride a bike) deserve their place too.

But lately, our life has become so much "easier' (for lack of a better term).  The kids have become very independent and can do so much on their own, without assistance from me and Jeff.  We can leave them alone at night and go on a proper date.  They can prepare simple meals for themselves, and showering is most definitely a solo activity not needing our assistance.  All of our potty training issues FINALLY became a thing of the past.  The kids have wonderful friends with very little drama that normally associates itself with adolescence.  Sam's behavior has vastly improved and she has become a fabulous little person to be around.  Life just feels more comfortable.  It's like this is how it's meant to be lived and I don't count the minutes until Jeff comes home at the end of the day to rescue me.

I still very much want to document the day to day - it's the best form of a diary I'll ever manage to keep, but I need to be inspired to write.  And I just haven't been until now. Something has happened very recently and my first thought was, wow, this day needs to be written about.  So I'm back at the computer and getting back in my groove.  Stay tuned...