It’s been a busy two weeks … AJ’s been on vacation (summer break) … it always goes by MUCH too fast.  He only has one week left, and then it’s a random state holiday until Thanksgiving.  Here are some of the things that we’ve been involved in:

On Father’s Day he noticed his dad’s next door neighbor had put an old dressing table, probably circa 1930’s, at the curb.  Ever one for a challenge, AJ got our brother-in-law, Tom, to help him load the rickety old thing into the bed of my truck.  There was also an armoire in even worse shape … unfortunately the truck would only hold the dressing table without risking further damage.  When we got home, he began disassembling the dressing table in his spare time (what little he has).  He reglued veneers, carved replacements for missing pieces, began gluing the thing back together, and after sanding it, stained it an English Chestnut, per our daughter’s request.

Here’s the finished product in her newly painted bedroom (her color choice, not mine!):

It’s been a few months ago, but he also built the coffee table below from solid wood floorboards salvaged from his dad’s house when they had a new floor put in.  He brought the floorboards home, removed all the nails, planed them down to a suitable condition and then designed and built this table for me.  He has enough wood left to build two matching end tables, as well!

There are no nails or screws in the table … he used all mortise and tenon joinery and dowels to put the table together.  Pretty cool, huh?  I found the baskets at Target and they fit perfectly on the lower shelf.  They hold our magazines and a few games.

Last night was the 2008 Summer Children’s Musical Theater Workshop Performance.  I was blown away by the professionalism of the production.   Keep in mind, the workshop started this past Monday at 1:00 p.m.  Last night’s performance consisted of 15 actual workshop hours, plus whatever time each child put into practicing at home.  Here are some photos from the dress rehearsal on Thursday:

“Consider Yourself” from Oliver!

Jami is sitting on the second step from the bottom, on the right hand side (above the little girl in the green kerchief).

“It’s a Hard Knock Life” from “Annie”

“My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music

Jami is in the foreground, left hand side … her best buddy, McCauley, is in the center.

“Matchmaker” from Fiddler on the Roof

This was my FAVORITE.  Jami got to play a main role (Hodel) that involved speaking and solo singing parts.  In this shot, the Matchmaker is telling her she’ll make a good match for her.

Another shot, where Hodel is singing about finding the perfect  match. 

I have to tell you, my doors were blown off … when this kid sings with her iPod … well, egads!  But she sang BEAUTIFULLY in this piece.  I kept wondering where she’d been hiding that voice.  Her instructor was very pleased, so I’m thinking that if she continues in this music/theater/dance direction, we may have to look into voice lessons.  We know two very good instructors, so I’ll have to talk with Jami and her daddy to see if that’s a direction we need to go in.

Have a blessed day!