First Highlights!

Katja got her first highlights on Columbus Day. My hair dresser of 20+ years (Beth) did the honors. She foiled about six strands around the face and we were quite pleased with the results. Katja is quite into grooming and primping these days. She wakes at 5:30 a.m. just to roll her hair and puts much thought into every outfit she wears. She such THE girly-girl. I thought I had a few more years before we reached this stage, but alas, time snuck up on me! Sighhhh.... Here's the latest on Katja:

• Her new nickname (at school & with friends) is "Kat" though she does go by Katja as well.
• She is playing volleyball for Knox as well a singing in the choir and playing in the school's orchestra.
• She just had her first concert "chair audition" with the Houston Youth Symphony and will be playing 2nd chair viola at the November 8th concert. This means she gets to sit front and center on the stage. Of course, she wanted 1st chair but got beat out by a girl that has been playing since she was four years old. The good thing is that she will have someone to push her and challenge her so she will be motivated to continue to work hard on improving and maturing her skills as a violist.
• She goes to Junior High All Region Orchestra Auditions tomorrow. Since she made it last year as a middle schooler, her goal this year is to make the top orchestra and rank in the the top three in the region. Her teacher told her that all of the top students will play the right notes, but that the top players will be those who can make their violas sing. We'll see!
• She had her first junior high boyfriend last week, but as of today he is already ancient history. Her only regret is that she is now without an escort to her first dance- a Halloween costume dance at Knox Jr. High. However, she did point out to me that word is out that she is once again "single" and there are still almost two weeks before the dance.
• She is also trying out for All Region Choir Audition. She is singing "Alice Blue Gown". I will post a recording of her singing it soon.
• Speaking of singing! All of the Knox Jr. High volleyball players went to watch the College Park volleyball team play at one of their home games. Just before the game started the announcer introduced Katja by saying that she would be singing the national anthem. When I asked her why she had not told me that she would be singing she informed me that she had been volunteered by her teammates at the last minute and even she had not known anything about it. So, she had no qualms about singing "cold" without practicing even a bit and in front of hundreds of people without a moment's reservation. Poor thing my child, she is so shy!

Jack loves to watch Robbie's football games. He yells "Go Robbie!" from the sidelines, climbs the fence to get a better view (as seen below), and runs up and down the sidelines having a ball. It was so cute the other day... I took Katja and some of her girl friends to see the Woodlands High vs. College Park football game at the new football stadium (gorgeous!). Jack had the most fun of all. The weather was misty all day so he got to wear his London Fog coat with his yellow rain boots to the game and even got to hold mama's "brella" at times. He would stand on the stadium benches and make comments such as these on the game:

• "(Gasp) He catch the ball, mommy!"
• "Oh, no!!!! He fall down!"
• "Go Robbie!!!!!" (He assumed, of course, Robbie was one of the players ;)
• "Holy moly! He kick the ball highhhh!"
• "He run with the ball, mommy!"
• "Isha big helmet" (at half time when WHS brings out the giant inflatable helmet for the players to run through."

Robbie got a hair cut. The "bowl" haircut is no more. (sniff, sniff) I will post recent pics of him with his new "doo" after tomorrow's football game.