Friday Night, Nolen Style

We just finished a dinner of biscuits and shrimp. Steve, Audrey, and Caleb wanted shrimp but Julie and I didn't, so we had biscuits. Everyone was happy.

Now I'm watching the 2 big kids play Sorry Sliders on the Wii. Just a video game version of a board game. It's nice because nobody can cheat. Julie is on the floor playing with a little white stuffed kitty. A minute ago she slithered out of a chair and announced, "I'm an iguana." She is one-of-a-kind.

So next Friday is a relatively big day for 3 of the 5 Nolens. Back in the summer our church was asked to participate in one of three VBS preview/training conferences for 2009. Tonight is the first conference at Ridgecrest in NC, next week is ours at Glorieta, and the following week is the final one in Nashville. So I have jokingly said that we were asked to present the VBS musical for the "West Coast Premiere." More or less.

I wish I hadn't agreed to do this. It's been a HUGE pain. But it's a week away. It consists of a choir of 15-ish kids singing the VBS songs in between scenes of a drama. There are 4 kids and one adult in the drama. And the adult is me. I wish I had found someone else to either lead this thing or be in the drama. I go back and forth between being stressed about the logistics of it all and being stressed about learning my lines. But in a week from right now, we'll be taking the stage and this thing will be DONE. Until June, when we will do it for our church. But that's much easier.

So now Audrey and Caleb are getting ready to play Battleship. Caleb is setting up his ships and Audrey is standing here watching me so that she doesn't see Caleb's stuff. Now they've switched places. This video game is great. Again, no cheating.

We're getting ready (sorta) for Julie's b-day next Saturday. I can't believe she's already 3. She wants a princess party. That surprised me. I was expecting Dora, puppies, pink poodles, Diego, but not princesses. Good thing, though, because they actually have princess plates and napkins at our grocery store - so I don't have to go anywhere special or order anything for her party. And she's already figured out 2 of her 3 guests. The kids get to invite one guest for every year old they are. It's a system that's worked well so far. It won't work this year for Caleb's party. Wanna know why? I'm sure you're just dying to know.

He turns 8 this year, right? The problem is that themed party supplies (plates and cups in particular) come in sets of 8. So 8 guests plus Caleb equals too many people to have themed plates. I told him that he could either invite 7 guests and get themed plates or invite 8 guests and get solid color plates. I don't think he's decided yet. Better get on that, Son. You only have 4 months!

Steve is in here now giving Audrey his nautical advice for Battleship. Audrey has sunk Caleb's 3-holer, but Caleb has sunk Audrey's 5-holer and her 2-holer. So he's winning.

I'm going to go now. Audrey needs some moral support.