Last night was the concert that I went to for my Music Appreciation class. We left the kids with my mom, and headed to Knoxville. While I write about going to Knoxville all the time, we rarely go into downtown Knoxville, so we spent about thirty minutes driving around trying to find the theater. The concert was at the Historic Tennessee Theater. Once we found the theater and parked in a nearby parking garage, we walked a few blocks down the street to a little restaurant called, The Bistro at the Bijou. We didn’t have a reservation, but they gave us a table with a good view of the gigantic picture of a naked woman. The bistro was full of people attending the symphony. Chris had the lamb chops with a blackberry glaze, green beans, and yam fries. After perusing the menu, I decided to try something I had never had before and ordered the shrimp and artichokes with capers. I found out that I don’t like artichokes or capers. The shrimp was great, though. We left there, and walked back up the street to the theater. I felt so glamorous walking arm in arm with Chris, my high heels clicking along the sidewalk. Chris looked mighty handsome all dressed up, and he smelled nice, too. With the tall buildings on either side of us, Chris said that it was reminiscent of when he lived in New York.
The Tennessee Theater was gorgeous inside. I had forgotten, but I had been there once before to a concert with a friend of mine when I was a teenager. With a little bit of imagination, it was almost like stepping back in time. The theater was ornately decorated in rich, plush carpets and draperies in gold, burgandys, and a sage green accent color. The enormously high, domed roof was gorgeous, and the seats were covered with a velvety burgandy uphosltery. Eighty percent of the audience were probably over fifty…maybe sixty…years old. They were oh, so glamorous. The men were in suits while the women had perfectly coifed hair, elegant clothes, and many of them were weariing fur coats.
When the lights dimmed, there was an air of expectancy that was almost palpable. The program for the night was Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Debussy, followed by La muse et le poete by Sain-Saens, and finally the Carson Newman acapella choir joined the KSO for Daphnis and Chloe by Ravel. I enjoyed it. I kept telling Chris to act like he had some class when he used the words “torturous”, “never-ending”, and “boring” to describe the last piece, which lasted about fifty minutes. I had to giggle, though, when he suggested that it would be better if they had Charlie Daniels come out with his fiddle for a solo. The last piece was a little long, since they performed both suites. If I understood correctly, it was the complete music for a ballet. I’m sure I would have not gotten bored with it if I were watching the ballet unfold to the music. Some of the parts were simply breathtaking. It is amazing the talent that those people have. If you are interested, you can click here for the night’s program.
All in all, it was a wonderful evening. What’s more romantic than dressing up, going to the city, and listening to French Romantic Music with your sweetheart?

I took my algebra test the other night, and I made a 100.

I took my music test, and, while I haven’t got a grade back, I think I got them all right.

I turned in my personality profile paper last night, and I am confident I’ll get a good grade.

(Cue the music) She’s a brain-i-ac, brain-i-ac…

Okay, okay. I’ll stop.

“Me not like soap.”
–Elijah

“Superheroes don’t go to bed, Mama.”
–Elijah

So, I know I’ve been absent for a few days. If it weren’t for my life going into warp speed lately, I think I would blog more.

Last Friday, Mom watched the kids for us, and Chris took me out for dinner for our anniversary. It was nice. We went to The Bonefish Grill. I had never been there before. We hadn’t planned where we were going to eat beforehand, so we had to wait an hour for seats. We went next door to the little ice cream shop and had a choco-latte while we waited. It was yummy. Dinner itself was delicious. We got the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer, and Chris impressed me with his ability to use chopsticks. Who knew? I didn’t. He had the grouper, and I had the mahi mahi. It was so good! It was fun, too, because it was somewhat more fancy than most places we go out to dinner to. It felt special.

Saturday, I got some groceries and did a little laundry, but, for the most part, I read. For fun. It was good. I had just got a new book in the mail, Singing Songs by Meg Tilley, and I read the whole thing in two or three hours. It was good, but a little sad. I’m going to review it in What I’m Reading if you want to check it out. I also started Lord of the Flies but I’m only about five chapters into it. It’s pretty interesting so far. It’s nice to read for fun. I’ve been too busy for the last few weeks.

Sunday, we went to church in the morning, amidst snowy conditions. We got little more than a dusting, but they had closer to two inches at church. A lot of people weren’t able to make it to the service. After church, me and the kids went to my mom’s and had dinner, and Chris came home to study. He preached the evening service, and it was really good. Pastor Pallotta told him to make sure he put the message on the web site, so, if he does, I’ll give you the link.

Yesterday, we took the church kids who were under ten to Chuck-E-Cheese’s. Can you say crazy? Everyone had the same idea, and the place was crammed full of kids. It was Pastor Pallotta, Miss Tammy, and me watching out for my three kids, Emily, another four year old girl, a five year old girl, and two little boys, aged about eight and ten. It was nuts. We had pizza and played, and the kids came home with tokens that they didn’t use up. They had a lot of fun, though. I managed to take a few pictures. I’ll try to post them a little later.

About thirty minutes after we got home from that trip, I had to leave and go to speech class. I had to give a speech demonstrating how to do something. I had finally settled on demonstrating “How To Bathe a Baby”. I wrote my outline yesterday morning, and practiced it about four times right before going to class. Kyra was mad at me for taking her baby doll with me to use in my demonstration. I was hoping to do it quickly, but we did our speeches in the order that we signed up for them. I was second to last. I wasn’t nervous when I got there, but the longer I sat watching everyone else give their speeches, the more nervous I got. I think I did okay, but I don’t know that I did really good. The bad part is, I have to wait like three weeks to get my grade.

School is going to get pretty busy this week and next. I have a Music test to take between midnight tonight and Saturday, an algebra test to take by next Wednesday, and my algebra mid-term has to be taken at a testing center by next Saturday. This Friday evening, I am going to the symphony, and then I have to get to work writing a concert report for that class that is due mid-March. I also have to re-vamp my paper on Miss Tammy for Comp class and have it completely finished by Thursday night when it is due. Luckily, since I did my speech last night, I have it easy in Speech class for the next couple of weeks. Next week, we are just going to finish the demonstration speeches. Since I already did mine, I just have to go and watch the others’. The week after that is Spring Break, so there won’t be class. I may have already mentioned that I got my acceptance letter for the honors program the other day, so now I have to set up honors projects with two of my professors. I am going to go Friday morning and talk to my Speech teacher about a project I can do for her class. I plan on talking to my Comp professor about a project in his class as well.

So, as you can see, things have been hectic. Chris has been busy with school, as well. The kids are all doing well. Time is flying by, and, before we know it, this semester will be over. Chris is really looking forward to leaving for Chaplain school in June. He is so overworked right now, that he’s looking forward to a break from it all. We are going to take a vacation the end of May, but we haven’t decided our destination yet. We have contemplated Disney, but I don’t know. I do know that I am looking forward to it, though.

So that’s what I’ve been busy with. I will try to get some pictures up later today, and a book review as well. Right now, I have to see to a squalling baby, and then some algebra. Have a great day, everyone!

She’s only four (going on fourteen), but, Heaven help me, the mood swings are killing me.

Isn’t he adorable?

Dear Chris,
Six years. Can you believe it? Six years today we were exchanging vows and promising to love each other forever. Marrying you was the best thing I ever did. I was merely a girl when you married me, but I hope that I haven’t disappointed you. I want to be a good wife. I know I’m not everything you may have wanted in a wife, but I promise you that no one could ever love you more than I do.
It’s hard to believe that I have been with you since I was sixteen years old.There are so many memories that come flooding back when I think of the years we have spent together.
Do you remember that time that we were out fishing in your boat and it was so hot that we decided to jump in the river. We jumped in clothes and all. We were climbing up on that rusty old piling and jumping off. It was so fun.
And do you remember our first kiss? Sitting under the stars on the tailgate of your truck in my parents yard. I wasn’t expecting it, and you caught me by surprise.
Do you remember how we used to drive around in your truck forever. We would just drive and drive with no destination. Just talking about our future and how things would be when we were married.
Do you remember how you kept rubbing my forehead with your fingers when they delivered Kyra. You were so worried, and I remember how comforting it was to look over and see your eyes over your surgical mask. You’ve always been there for me. Right by my side.
I’ll never forget how you got teary-eyed during the ultrasound when we found out Elijah was a boy. You were so happy and so proud.
Do you remember how I looked walking down the aisle six years ago? I remember seeing you at the front of the church. You looked so handsome in your tux, and I remember the tears in your eyes. I was so happy and so proud that day, and I was so relieved that the day had finally came. It seemed like we had to wait so long.
Remember how no one thought we would last. With every anniversary that rolls around, I want to stick my tongue out at everyone. What did they know. Nothing. They knew nothing about us and what we have together.
It has all went by so fast. I have loved it all. Every moment was precious, even if I didn’t know it at the time. I look forward to the rest of our lives together, and can’t wait to make many more memories with you and our family.

I love you, Honey.
Rachel

Click HERE to watch a video of Elijah and Owen. Dianna, you can see Owen crawling in this one.