So many good things!

We didn't really want to mention it, but another reason last week was rather strenuous was a Saturday dance audition.  Julia and Katharine both auditioned to be child dancers in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert in December, and since Justin was camping with the Scouts, this meant that the whole family got to hang out in a historic (read tiny, maze-like, no parking lot) LDS chapel in the Avenues of Salt Lake while groups of 50 dancers were auditioned at 45+ minute intervals.  It was a disaster.  It became a full-on debacle when one of our dancers left the audition half-way through in tears.  Since we took one glance at the rehearsal schedule and saw that our other dancer would be unable to attend some of the important rehearsals, this dancer's bailing meant that the entire undertaking had been worse than futile.  This is the sort of thing I expect to happen in my life, so I had no frustrated words for this child, but it was rather ridiculous.

Perhaps luckily, another dancer somehow was asked to do some of her Irish dance moves, at which point even our dancer who had bailed also showed some of her dance moves.  Whether it was magic or a mission blessing, somehow the girls were both invited to call-backs, so Saturday morning we were once again at a chapel in Salt Lake--this time only with those participating--and they were once again asked to run through even more exhaustively their Irish dance repertoire.  We will find out Wednesday if they will be in the show.  The ironic thing about this: the family schedule has precluded the girls from continuing with Irish this year, so Julia now only dances MDT in the school play and Katharine only ballet at the nearest conservatory I could find.  C'est la vie.

In other news, we are almost completely set for housing in Italy and for someone to take our house here while we're gone!  Amazing!

Justin and Abdiel enjoyed their second BYU game--a 30-3 victory by the Cougs. 

Abdiel is a very cute boy.  Earlier in the week he called Justin back for another hug at bedtime. He squeezed his dad around the middle with great vigor, all the while looking up with his sweet and happy face. After a time, though, he reflected, "We should stop doing this." "Oh," said Justin, "was it hurting you?" "No," he said, "but my neck hinges were about to crack."


Finally, we're trying to make the most of our 1 pm church schedule.  This morning we went to the duck pond and did some ministering visits.  Julia also made final touches on the wonderful talk she gave on Honesty. 

 

After church Julia interviewed Great Grandma JoAnn about her life.  At dinner she reported that it was the highlight of her day.  Elisabeth interviewed Nin and also had a wonderful time.  

 

The evening ended with family council, treat, and bedtime.  The littles have read through all the Henry Huggins books.  Now Justin's reading them the Ralph books.  Best dad ever.