...so...what's up guys?

Yes I am sorry...again. Truly. But I said that last time too so you really have no reason to believe me again...except that it is true.

So: more updates.

First: I dyed my hair, for (almost) the first time. Last time it was only a little darker than it is naturally, and it was a demi-permanent dye that washed out after three washes. This time it is also a demi-permanent dye but it is way darker and it has lasted for over a month. I love it.

Before: 

After:

We put a little tiny bit of red in it too =). I was way fun and I love it...but I'm thinking of cutting it in a bob and dyeing it blond with peach streaks =)...but I haven't really decided yet...but I would love your input. Beware though that I will - as Henry Higgins says "Listen very nicely and then go out and do precisely what she" - or should I say "I" - "wants" but I would none the less like to hear your opinions =).

Second: I was in the play! It was called "Quest For Honor: A King Arthur Musical". I played Morgana LeFay, and had way to much fun being evil =). I also got to be dead drunk in my first scene. It was waaaay to much fun =). 

Me as Morgana with Josh, the guy who played Sable Night, my partner in crime: 

The cast was wonderful! I had so much fun with them and made some really wonderful friends =). We had a wonderful stage, it was a amphitheater style theater with the stage on level with the first row of seats. It was tons of fun and I got my own set, and got to throw confetti at one point...it was awesome =). 

Third: MY BROTHER IS NOW MARRIED!!!!!! The wedding was beautiful =). 

The bride's maids lined up ready to walk down the isle:

The vows:

Ringing the bell:

Cutting the cake:

"Don't you dare Zack!":

My beautiful mother in the middle with my beautiful sister on her right and me on her left:

First dance:

They're married! Celebrate with a bang!:

Leaving the reception while everyone waves sparklers: 

Didn't I tell you the wedding was amazing? It was at her family's house in Idaho, so we got to road trip it up there and it was beautiful! They are on their honeymoon now and I can't wait for them to get back. They have an apartment ten minutes from my home and I am gonna be hanging out with Faith a lot this summer I hope =).

If I am ever rich...really rich =)

I would live in one of these places. http://www.groupemobilis.com/en_annonce-achat-NF52-2253.html http://www.groupemobilis.com/en_annonce-achat-BA70-277.html. In any of them I would; thoroughly refurnish, remove all red, and replace the floors with pale (almost white) wood, except the bathrooms which would have white tile floors and the kitchen which would get a black and white checkerboard patterned tile floor =). And I think I would leave the checkerboard pattern on the floor in the entree way in the apartment.

Dream come true!!!

First of all...aren't you proud of me??? Something happened today and I am writing about it...today!

...Anyway...

Ever since I can remember I have loved acting, and wished I could be in a *real* play...preferably a musical. The only problem is I can. not. sing. But today, I met with a woman who used to be a professional actress/singer, and who now devotes an amazing amount of time to a theater production specifically for christian youth ages 8-18, but which also includes some adults. And they have a vocal coach who can, hopefully do something for my voice =). I am VERY excited =). We are doing an original play written by her, that is based off of the King Arthur stories. It's a musical, and, Mrs. Wilson writes parts for every one, there is no "ensemble". The only problem with that is...she says, I'm gonna have to sing a solo. But still, I am very much looking forward to it!

News updates...there is plenty =)

Well, hello again! Have you missed me? I am going to delude myself into thinking you have =). I have missed you too.

First: my brother is getting MARRIED!!! *freaks out with excitement* I am so looking forward to adding another sister...plus, Faith absolutely ROCKS =). That also means that, (at least) one of my dreams is gonna come true: I am gonna be a bridesmaid! I'll write a long post all about it after the wedding, which is gonna be on June 29th "They say when you're married in June your a bride all your life" =).

Second: I have a new friend... correction; new best friend. Her name is Julia, and she has literally changed the way I think, the way I perceive myself, the way I relate to people. She has changed my life and I daily thank God for putting her in my life.

Third: I have a ballet showcase on June 22nd and we are dancing to Masquerade from Phantom Of The Opera. We get to wear bright tutus (mine is saphire blue) and mini top hats, and we are using fans in our dance. It is gonna be so cool. Plus we get to wear red lipstick and smoky eye-shadow (I am gonna put some blue on the edges of my eye shadow, to match my tutu). Plus the dance is REALLY cool! =). I am very excited!

Fourth: You absolutely have to look up Bobby Jo Valentine. If you have a face book look up his music page. His music is SO good!

Fifth: It has been RAINING! I am so happy! But I am also very cold. So much so that I am having a difficult time typing! Oh well, it's the price we pay =)

I think that's about all. But if anything else happens I am acctually going to tell you about it! I am! I am going to blog more. I promise.

Christmas is coming SOON!!!

So...I like Christmas. I love Christmas. I LOVE Christmas. And I am now going to tell you so much about our Christmases that you probably won't even read this whole post =). Oh well, it will be fun to write it.
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For us Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving...'cause we are just THAT awesome =). We go to Apple Hill, to our favorite Christmas tree farm, Robert's. We have a very high ceiling in our living room so we used to get the twelve-thirteen footers. But last year we got a six or seven foot one, and we really liked it. So I am gonna ask for another smaller one.

We always used to invite friends to our Tree Day expedition, but in the last few years we have been growing up, and most of our friends are either my friends or Zack's friends or what ever. We don't have that many friends who the ENTIRE family would really LOVE to have up for Tree Day, who aren't already busy. And this is a special day for us so it has to be a family that we ALL love. So for the last few years we haven't invited anyone. But this year I had an inspired idea (yes it was mine, and never let anyone tell you different =P) on the way home from dance class, my dad and I were discussing how to get some friends up to our house and it hit me "Dad, lets ask them to come for Tree Day!" It was a perfect idea. Every one agreed. Dad texted Mrs. Krouse, and she said they could come! We still aren't sure if the boys can come (it would be very sad if they can't) but we love Mr. and Mrs. Krouse and we are gonna have tons of fun with them =).

Now the Bitter Drop in the cup, there are three drops actually.

Bitter Drop number one: Madelaine (my older/only sister) is at collidge and can't get home for Thanksgiving or - more importantly - Tree Day. Sniff sniff

Bitter Drop number two: Zack (my oldest brother) has to go to WORK on Tree Day. Sniff sniff sniff.

Bitter Drop number three (which isn't all bitter, but is somewhat bitter): My brothers' friends have created a tradition of having a FOOTBALL game on TREE DAY! How dare they? But the not-so-bitter side of this is; I get to spend the afternoon by my self listening to my Christmas music, baking and decorating the house. Which is pretty fun =).

Actually the fact that the Krouse boys might not be able to come is a possible Bitter Drop number four. But I can't very well put it as a Bitter Drop 'cause we don't know if it is gonna happen =). __________________________________________________________________________

I play the piano. Not very well, but I do  play. And that is another reason I love Christmas. Carols, are surprisingly easy to play (and make sound pretty good). The first Christmas carol of the year that I play is Oh Christmas Tree when we bring in the Christmas tree and set it up in the living room.
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Technically we don't start playing/listening to Christmas music 'till Tree Day, but I always start a little early, when I am by my self...like now =).
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Our Christmas tradition pretty much ROCKS. I give you permission to copy it if you want to, but never forget that we started it =).

We start putting presents under the tree as soon as we have them (or if you think ahead as soon as you have the tree). At least us kids do. Mom and Dad put the ones from them under the tree while they stuff our stockings, after we are all in bed. We always eat Christmas Eve Dinner out on our upstairs deck, by candle light. We have bread and cheese and sparkling cider, and read the Christmas story. Then we go to church. When we get home we open one 'tree present' each, decide on a time to open stockings the next morning and go to bed, while Mom and Dad stuff our stockings.

The next morning we all come out as we wake up...or at least us kids do. Mom and Dad lie in bed talking loudly until the appointed time. In resent years my younger brother and I then go drag our older brothers out of bed, and we open the stockings. Then we eat Dutch Babies for breakfast. No we are not cannibals, Dutch Babies are also known as German Pancakes or Puff Oven Pancakes. They are SUBLIME!!! After that we open the rest of the 'tree presents'. That's pretty much as far as tradition takes us. After that it's just hang out and have a good time, 'till dinner. We have a really good dinner, the content of which varies. Sometimes it's honey baked ham, sometimes  it's Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. But - like I said - it is ALWAYS really good =).
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That's all for now =). I wonder how many people have actually read this far?

Love Y'all!
Claire

P.S. You might have noticed the Christmasy new template? Yeah well...I told you I LOVE Christmas =)

Fly

This is my room and it's robin's egg blue and it's got a few crack in the ceiling 
This is my street where the minutemen meet and dad says that i'll never be leaving
I'm ten years old but i know how to smoke and the drinks help to cure the bad feelings
This is my home and the sticks and the stones are made up of the darkest of things

But in my dreams i can fly and i soar and my feet touch the sky and it seems i can go anywhere it i try 
And the world's not so dark when the cloulds make it white 
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams i can fly

Here come the tears and i cover my ears and i swear i can hear my own heart-beat
When they stop fighting to turn out the lights i pretend that i'm already sleeping
After the violence Alone in the silence just me and the secret i'm keeping
My dad tells me i'm not worth anything and i've almost admitted defeat 

But in my dreams I can fly and i soar and my feet touch the sky and it seems i can go anywhere if i try                                  And the world's not so dark when the cloulds make it white
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams i can fly
In my dreams i can fly

This is my room and it's robin's egg blue and it's got a few crack in the ceiling 
This is my home and the sticks and the stones are made up of the darkest of things
After the violence alone in the silence just me and the secret i'm keeping
My dad tells me i'm not worth anything and i've almost admitted it

But in my dreams i can flyand i soar and my feet touch the sky and it seems i can go anywhere it i try
And the world's not so dark when the coulds make it white
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams i can fly

And my feet touch the sky and it seems i can go anywhere if i try
And the world’s not so dark when the clouds make it white
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams i can fly
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams i can fly
If there's no hope, tell me why in my dreams ï can fly...

-Bobby Jo Valentine

Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsforsong.net/ 

Ballet

I started taking ballet the end of last August. I LOVE it! I am not on point (obviously, since I just started) but I hope to get there someday. I will never be a real ballerina since I started so late...but still =).