State of the Cake and other family updates

Wow, this week really got away from me.  I've enjoyed participating in the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day (see previous entry for my offering) but work has been kind of stinky.  I'm glad I can live vicariously through my children and Steve will cook dinner for me on Sunday!  And tomorrow I will draw for a winner in my giveaway.

Quarta's 5th grade class did state reports yesterday.  In the spirit of Cupcake Wars and last year's Boston Tea Party project, she recreated the state of Arizona in a funfetti cake (the colorful chips in the batter are the jewels underground) with marshmallows, mini M&Ms, sourpatch kids and colored sugar.  I'm pretty impressed with the neatness of the flag and the 3-dimensional cactus and orange tree.  She did all of the mixing and decorating with no help from me.  I wasn't able to see her oral report though.  Quarta is also busily practicing for the handbell choir, which will play at graduation.

Tertia's school choir participated in a district-wide choral concert last night.  It was exciting and fun to hear, and several complete strangers congratulated her.  (For my new followers, Tertia is my 13-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome).  She has a great choir director, Mrs. Hebner, and has come a long way.  I wonder whether she'll be able to participate in choir at the High School level, but we'll see.  At the moment I am more worried about whether she'll be able to get out of bed early enough to make it to High School on time, but that's awhile down the road.  And on a somber note, I am so absolutely shocked by the news coming out of Cleveland, not far from where I grew up.  One of those poor girls was Tertia's age and kidnapped while on her way home from her 7th grade special ed class.  Just horrifying.

Secundus is singing with the choir at the Cedar Tree auction tomorrow evening.  But choir isn't really his thing -- he's looking forward to training for his first marathon this summer.  Neither Steve nor I know where he gets it from, but he's an amazing athlete.

And Daniel, all grown up and finishing his final exams for his Freshman year at Grove City, enjoyed a highlight when he participated in the All-Campus-Sing with the AEX housing group, and they won for the 7th year in a row.  We are really looking forward to seeing him in person next week! Here's the video - he's always the blondest in every group.