Things that made me smile today:

~ Simon doing the nursing in his sleep mouth movement as he napped in my arms
~ Luis picking strawberries
~ Isabella holding my hand as we walked to the park
~ Rhubarb dream bars
~ Abigail shimmying up a tree, then declaring it harder to climb than the one at home
~ Vincent decked out for his role as the dragon in Lion King (yes, the dragon) with glittery makeup around his eyes and cheeks and his hair funky with hairspray

Tonight's production of the Lion King was one of those plays that makes you know what being a parent is all about.

Homeschool art always end the spring semester with a play. The costumes are handmade, the children write the dialogue (if any) and choreograph it. This year, Isabella and Vincent's class were the actors, making costumes and doing choreography. Abigail's class was the orchestra, making drums and working on rhythms.

Abigail planned her outfit today carefully - a vaguely African print dress - to coordinate with the theme of the play. Isabella, playing Nala, requested a ponytail so her ears would stay in better and so that her hair would be out of her makeup. Vincent, with the aforementioned role of the dragon, bubbled over with excitement and anticipation.

The scene - the Swiss bandshell at a local park. Bench seating for probably a couple of hundred people is occupied by about 30 parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. A beautiful early summer evening.

The play - 8 kids from ages 9 through 14 seated along with upper stage sides, beating colorful handcrafted drums in an attempt at coordinating with a CD of music from the Lion King. About 8 more kids from ages 4 through 8 in cardboard, paper mache, cloth and duct tape painted costumes. The kind of costumes that make you tip your head and whisper to your spouse "What animal is that?" The younger children marched, danced and stood on the stage to act out the roles. There were no speaking parts, just interpretive movement and dance, performed by children whose faces were serious with the effort of concentrating on their parts while glowing with joy and pride.

It was a night for applause and accolades as well as quiet laughter and secret smiles over the costumes and acting. Outer pride mixed with a little inner sadness over the speedy passage of the years.