It's in her blood

Naomi loves theater.  She was able to perform with a group for nursing homes and care homes.  They got together once a month to perform.  She was so awesome!  I love watching her do theater. 

Here is her song from Honk!  She was the Cat.

3D Fiberlash Mascara Review

What girl doesn't love a good mascara? How about one that makes your lashes look longer and thicker? Yeah, I thought so!

 

Younique has a mascara that does just that. Moodstruck 3D Mascara is basically a wonder product.

"Our simple three-step process combines Transplanting Gel and Natural Fibers to help create the appearance of incredible thickness and volume to your existing lashes. Watch as your lashes transform into something you have only dreamed of! The 3D Fiber Lashes are water resistant but easily wash off with warm water and facial cleanser at the end of the day. Try it! It will quickly become your favorite makeup must-have!"

I have FIVE girls in my house. Only three of them use mascara regularly but one of the younger ones needs mascara for theater. We go through a lot of mascara come showtime. I don't like fake eyelashes (I can't figure them out!) and I can't imagine putting them on a 9 year old anyway. So Moodstruck 3D Mascara is the perfect alternative.

When my package arrived I was thrilled at the packaging. It is a pretty little case that is so classy looking! The package has the Transplanting Gel and the Natural Fibers tubes. They are sleek black and a nice shape in my hand. Yes, that is important to me.

I immediately pulled it out and used it. Who could wait? I read the instructions, which are very easy to understand, and got started. After putting on a light coat of my own mascara I pulled out the Transplanting Gel and applied it. I wasn't sure if I was getting it on every lash, though. It was a little hard to tell but after doing it a couple of times I got the hang of it. Right after the Transplanting Gel is on you put on the Natural Fibers.

Now, I am going to be honest and tell you that I had a hard time with this. I like to have a clean wand/brush and tried wiping the brush on the tip of the tube. That doesn't work very well. It bothers me to have the fibers just hanging there...but that is probably just me! I applied the fibers and could instantly tell a difference. My lashes looked longer and thicker. I put another coat of the Transplanting Gel on and they were set.

It was amazing! I showed my girls and they practically swooned. This was going to change our lives. Okay, maybe not change them but definitely make our eyes stand out!

My 15 year old has crazy long lashes already but they are very blonde and hard to see. When she put Moodstruck 3D Mascara on it was crazy. Well, you can see for yourself!

 

I will tell you that I cried at one point while wearing Moodstruck 3D Mascara (not because I was so happy, although that did cross my mind) and it did not run. It didn't last as long but I did not look like a racoon or have black streaks down my cheeks. Score another for Moodstruck 3D Mascara.

I did get some of the fibers in my eye and it did burn. But, I was able to get them out easily and there were no lasting pain or redness. My 16 year old wears contacts pretty often and has had no problem wearing this mascara. Which is pretty awesome if you ask me.

Younique is selling Moodstruck 3D Mascara for $29. That might seem like a lot but it is totally worth it. I am seriously getting more for our theater productions. You can buy your own at their website. While you're there, check out the other great products they offer. Raquel Dunn has been working with us on these reviews and has been so helpful and knowledgeable. Head over now and check out this fantastic mascara!

 

While you are at it, head over to Home and School Mosaics and see what everyone else though of Moodstruck 3D Mascara.

 

Waiting 'till the last minute

Our homeschool group has been putting on plays for the last three years(this one included.) Well, that's not exactly true. Our group's founder Mrs. L used to write plays for our group that were sweet and wonderful. Then we quit doing them for a while. I'm not sure why exactly bu t we did.

Then a few years ago we started having a choir class. We performed a few times and it went really well despite resistance from the kids! But a few years of that and the kids refused to sing anymore. ;-) So, we found a script and put on our first play.

It was fantastic. I'm not exagerating either. The kids were awesome. The next year was even better with cosutmes and lights. They nailed it. We weren't sure about it towards the end and were pretty nervous but they pulled out all the stops and did a fantastic job.

This year was one of the hardest years yet. We had Seniors that were taking classes at college, sports schedules, vacations, etc. to work around and ended up not having a practice with all cast members there for over a month. It was maddening. Three weeks before the show went up they were still needing line cues. A lot of them.

To say we were terrified and frustrated was putting it mildly. We talked about postponing but couldn't find a date. We talked about canceling but had already paid quite a bit to put it on. We were stuck rehearsing a play that was causing the directors no end of stress and grief. It was not a fun experience for the most part. Of course there were fun, silly moments that helped us limp along and kept us going.

The kids did end up doing a really good job but I have to wonder how much better it would have been if they had showed up and worked harder. (isn't that the question for a lot of things in life?)The directors can only do so much and then it is up to the actors.

I was very glad when it was over this time. More so than usual. The kids are great and are so talented and this play was stinkin' hard. I give them props for learning so many lines and stage directions. They are a great group of kids to work with. Let's just avoid talking about next year's play for a while!

 

Sets, Sets, Sets

This year for our play with our homeschool group we are using sets.  Sounds exciting, right?  It should be only we can't find any already made that we can use.  They won't fit our needs or they won't fit the stage.  Since we have 33 kids in the play this year it makes for a crowded stage.  Yeah, you read that right.  Last year we only had around twenty-something and the year before just 18.  It's cool that so many wanted to do it but it is a lot of bodies to keep focused.

Anyway, back to the sets.  The play we are doing lies heavily on entrances, exits, and certain doorways being there so we had to design them.  Okay, I did but with hep from the script and my co-director.  Once we got the plans drawn I went to Mr. Magic, a.k.a. Steven, and asked him to help build them.  He's pretty handy and is used to interpreting my ideas!  This time, however, proved a challenge.

The stage was such that we had to alter the plans a bit and make it fit-not perfectly but just okay.  We had a small budget to buy supplies but that meant we had to get the cheapest 2x4's they sold and work around their imperfections.  

It was a work in progress, let me tell you.  IN all we probably spent on the upside of 20 hours building, repairing, and reworking them.  It was a bit frustrating but we did it!  The next set we build will be...ahh who am I kidding?  It will be just as hard and we will spend just as much time on it!  It's a good thing we work so well together.  ;-)

Yes, these are all of Bethany and Steven working because when he and I were working there was no one to take pictures!  I hope I got some of the finished project.  They were simple but worked really well.

Another play

Each year, for the past few anyway, our homeschool group puts on a play. I direct them and have awesome moms that help out. We started out pretty simple the first year and worked our way up. Last year we had full costumes with minimal sets. This year we have full sets and costumes and lights and sound. aagghhh did you hear my head explode?

Yeah, this play is hard. The lines are hard. The costumes are hard. The sets are hard. It is hard. Did I already say that?

Since we only practice one time a week for about an hour and a half my co-director and I get a little stressed out. We had to call a few extra practices for the month of December to get lines memorized and sets worked with. The sets are still waiting to be built since Steven and I are building them. We have the plans but need a little bit warmer weather than 12* to work with tools in the garage. ;-)

They will get built. But we only have six more practices before show and I am freaking out. A lot actually. Tomorrow's practice will hopefully be better than the last one. lol

I can't wait to see the kids up there in their costumes performing for everyone. They will be great, of course!

 

Our Week...end...

Last week Sarah, Naomi, Hannah, and I were involved with Triple Threat's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Sarah was Miss Dorothy, Naomi was a Stenographer\Modern\Jailbird\Soloist, Hannah was a stagehand, and I was the choreographer.

Triple Threat is a great company in that it is for 1st-9th graders and everyone that auditions gets a part. Wee try to give everyone the opportunity to have speaking and singing parts. It is amazing to watch these kids blossom as they learn to act, sing, and dance. They grow in confidence and I am privileged to be a part of it.

The show went really well and I am so proud of the kids. I choreographed quite a bit of dancing and they learned it all! Last week was Tech week so the entire week was full of rehearsals and then four performances. We are exhausted but satisfied with a job well done.

Sarah did an amazing job as Miss Dorothy. She is such a natural on stage and I love watching her perform, she lights up the stage. One night an actor didn't make his entrance so Sarah and the girl playing Millie had to ad lib quite a bit. They were hilarious! They stayed in character and made up several minutes worth of conversation. No one could tell it wasn't in the script.

Naomi was fantastic in all her roles. Her solo went off without a hitch. She is fun to watch on stage and is just about as lively as her older sister. I can't wait to watch her develop as an actress!

Hannah was super busy as a stagehand. She was hauling desks, jail cells, and just about everything else on that stage. She was constantly busy and completely exhausted by the end of each show!

I am so blessed to a part of this company and can't wait for the next show to start...just not for a couple of months!!

 

(pictures will be coming soon!)

Joseph at Sight and Sound Theaters Review

While we were in Branson this summer we had the privilege of seeing Joseph at the Sight and Sound Theaters. I had heard about their show Noah but we weren't able to see it. So when we had the opportunity to see Joseph we jumped at it.

Sight and Sound Theaters has a long history of quality productions. They are a first class theater that offers amazing, well, Sights and Sounds! It is family friendly and worth every penny.

Joseph is the story from the Bible that most people are familiar with. But one that we should all revisit often. The thread of forgiveness and God's providence are woven throughout this incredible story. Sight and Sound Theaters does an amazing job of setting the story to music and dance and visual effects and...

Yeah, it was that good.

I wasn't sure I would like it because I am a pretty tough critic. I direct plays and demand a lot from my actors and seeing a show that does not meet my standards is very disappointing. If the actors don't believe what they are acting it comes across and completely takes me out of the moment. Even if the actor isn't the best actor or singer, if they believe it I believe it. I was so thrilled that the actors at Sight and Sound believed what they were portraying, therefore I believed it too. I was transported to Joseph's family and felt like I was a part of it.

The sets were GORGEOUS, FANTASTIC, AMAZING, SUPERB. Seriously. They were phenomenal. ThePharaoh's palace really looked like we had been transported back to Egypt and the nomadic tribe of Israel included animals! My 3 year old was enthralled with the camels that walked by her. The costumes were lush with colors and textures. They used not only the entire stage but also the sides of the stage out in the audience. There were levels on each side of the audience that enhanced the sets and story. There was also a screen that was used to show videos that blended in with the action on stage and made you look twice to be sure it was really there.

The music was not cheesy. I had to get that out there. Sometimes when we go to a production the sets, costumes, and everything else will be fine but then the music starts playing and it sounds like they recorded it in their basement closet. Not at Sight and Sound Theaters. The music was full and gorgeous. The orchestrations were beautiful, the lyrics were simple and not dorky, and they were both delivered beautifully. I enjoyed listening to them and would even buy the CD. My husband said the same thing and he is a professional singer with CD's of his own out there! That's saying something.

I just really can't say enough about our experience at Sight and Sound Theaters production of Joseph. It was simply wonderful. The theater is beautiful, the people were helpful, and the quality of the production was fantastic. This is a family show that is appropriate for all ages. If you have the chance to go...Do it!

There are videos you can watch on the website but I couldn't get them to load here. I highly recommend watching them if you need to see for yourself how amazing this show is. You can find ticket information there as well. Tickets are Adult: $43.00,Teen: $25.00,Child: $18.00. You can buy tickets Here. Just don't forget to choose either Branson or Lancaster! But hurry because Joseph is only running through October 18th and you won't want to miss it.

 

Here is a little about the theater. You can find out more Here.

Sight & Sound Theatres is the largest faith-based live theatre in the country and has been described as "Christian Broadway." Last year, nearly a million people from around the world came to experience a production at one of Sight & Sound's theatres in Lancaster County, Pa., and Branson, Mo. The Lancaster County location is one of the top three theatre destinations in the country.

In 2013, the organization celebrates 37 years of public productions, but Sight & Soundâs roots go even deeper. Founder Glenn Eshelman, a native of Lancaster County, began to develop his gifting as an artist as a young child on his familyâs farm. His landscape painting led to photographing inspirational scenes that were then presented to churches, schools and civic organizations across the U.S. with a single slide projector and screen, along with a turntable and microphone to provide sound.

 

I know if you go to a Sight and Sound Theaters production you won't be disappointed. We can't wait for the next production, Jonah!

I received free tickets in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

 

Dixie Stampede Review

We took a family vacation this summer to Branson. We do it every year but this year we decided to spice it up a little!

I sent a few emails to some shows to see if they would be willing to let us review their shows and the Dixie Stampede said yes! We were thrilled to put it mildly. Steven and I had been many years ago and really wanted to share it with the kids this year.

As the day drew closer to us going we tried to rack our brains to remember what would occur. The girls had tons of questions about it and couldn't contain them. All of them-the older ones anyway! The 3yo was just along for the ride.

We answered their questions as best we could and showed up for the pre-show. First of all, let me say that you should not miss the pre-show if you can help it. The pre-show we saw was a juggler and his step-son. They were AMAZING! We all just sat there with our jaws on the floor watching them juggle balls and balance golf clubs. It was seriously cool.

After the pre-show you are ushered into your seats in the arena. Yes, the arena. It is just like the horse barn we went to with our uncle when he was buying horses. Except the smell of course! Also in this arena there were tables and chairs to sit in. ;-) We quickly found our seats, which are assigned thankfully, and our server was waiting for us. She was friendly and very helpful.

We were served drinks first. Lots of drinks! Our waitress was refilling our glasses everytime they were a little past the half-way mark-we never ran out of our chosen drinks. Then the food started coming out and it seemed like it didn't stop. We were eating and eating and eating. It was so delicious we didn't not want to try anything! A bonus for the kids was that there were no utensils. They were supposed to eat with their hands! Everyone except the 3year old thought that was a great idea. She just looked at the table and tried to find the silverware. She eventually ate with her hands but went through a bunch of napkins. ;-)

We were completely stuffed. The food is incredibly delicious and the service was fantastic. And they have a vegetarian meal as well!

The show was amazing as well. The horses, buffalo, ostrich races (my favorite, I think), lumberjack races, singing, dancing, magic tricks, pig races, and more all while the North and South compete for flags to win the day.

This is a family show that all ages will not only enjoy but ask to go back again and again.

From the website:

Minutes from miles of everything, including Silver Dollar City Family Adventures Theme Park, family members of all ages and groups of all sizes agree that Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show is the perfect combination of world class entertainment and fantastic four course dining!

If that wasn't enough, in addition to our main event, every Dixie Stampede ticket also includes pre-show entertainment in our world famous Carriage Room featuring our Opening Act where the entire family can enjoy the fun and excitement of our fabulous opening act.

Only Dixie Stampede brings you this diverse mix of talent in such a family-friendly atmosphere. You won’t want to miss it!

Here is some additional information you should know:

• Children under the age of 3 are free only if they sit in a parent's lap and eat from their plate. If you wish for your child to receive a seat or a meal, a regular children's admission will apply.
• The Carriage Room Opening Act begins 50 minutes prior to our exciting show. Plan ahead so you don't miss our fabulous opening act!
• Each Dixie Stampede Show Ticket includes general admission, a fabulous four-course feast, and spectacular show.
• Delicious Vegetarian meals are available upon request.
• Our facilities are fully accessible for individuals with special needs. Please advise us if members of your party have a wheelchair, hearing assistance or other special needs and we will gladly accommodate you.
• The Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction involves live animals, dramatic lighting, sound and pyrotechnics. If you or anyone in your party has allergies or medical conditions, please be advised to take the necessary precautions prior to entering the facility.

Ticket Prices vary according to show and time of year. But generally the Adult prices are $50 and the kids $24.61. Always check ticket prices through their website or calling to make sure you know your total. Like I said, it is pricey but oh so worth it!

You can contact Dixie Stampede here:

3849 Parkway

Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

(865) 453 4400

Or visit their website.

I recommend the Dixie Stampede for the whole family. It is good, wholesome, amazing fun that everyone will enjoy.

 

I was given discount tickets in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own and companies are not guaranteed positive reviews.

Grand Performances!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Course Meal

I did it again.

I remember last summer I said that I would not let the next one be so busy.

I failed.

Miserably.

It started with Convention and moved right into theater camp. Which slid into vacation.

We did get a bit of a break the week after vacation but we were so tired we couldn't have done much anyway! There were some orthodontist appointments, dentist appointments, lake day, and Bethany and Sarah teaching Sunday School to pre-schoolers thrown in the week good measure. But not too busy. ;-)

The following week had more dentist appointments followed by Cousins Camp for three of the younger kids. Somehow during Cousin's Camp I didn't get as much done as I had in the past. I did get to spend some great time with Bethany and Phoenix though so it wasn't wasted.

I started a Bible Study on Thursday nights. A Beth Moore so I am super excited about that.

The weekend of June 28th, we headed out to my mom's to paint the outside of her house. Yup, the whole house. Our six, Robin, my brother, my other sister and her husband scraped, repaired, and painted the entire house in just one weekend. It was HARD but so worth it.

The next week was Fourth of July and we were still busy. Another ortho appointment and a field trip on Tuesday made the time off fly by. Bethany had rehearsal for her song she was singing on July 6th and then we had a family night with some friends. That Sunday Beth sang at my in-laws church and then we ate lunch with everyone.

The week of July 8th was quiet. Kind of. Steven, Bethany, and I were getting ready for our missions trip with Royal Family Kids Camp. Hannah had a service project day at church and she got her braces that Wednesday, and then we had our RFKC picnic that night. Bible Study and then the kids went to my mom's on Saturday.

July 14th-19th we were at RFKC. Sarah worked on Friday at another theater camp for me and then the following week we had theater camp from 9:30-1:30 Monday -Thursday. It was more than exhausting. It was a hard show and the kids really struggled with it. By Thursday night I was in tears. But that could have been because of the broken molar and dentist appointment I had to go through that day. This time, again, the numbing medicine didn't work all the way so I was shaking and frazzled by the end of it. *sigh* Hannah had another service project and I had Bible Study. Friday had three eye appointments in the morning with Sarah having a b-day sleep over that night. Saturday Beth and I went to work day at the AYSO fields then came home to finish cleaning out the garage. ugh. Then Beth and Sarah had to teach again this morning at church. This afternoon we will try to celebrate Sarah's bday but she isn't feeling well and neither is Bug and Naomi. :-(

So far, next week isn't looking too busy but there are some things going on. But the following week is another theater camp and the start of school.

Summer has yet again flown by and we haven't crossed as many things off of our Summer Bucket list as I had wanted to. This week we are going to work on that and may have to carry it into September...but we will get many more crossed off. We will.

For now we are going to enjoy the slowness of today and wait for tomorrow's troubles to come tomorrow.

I am tired

I knew this week would kill me but I didn't know how hard it would kill me! I left Bethany, Hannah, and Bug home on Monday but soon realized I would need them with me the rest of the week. Why you ask? Well, Nina, the director is pregnant and due any day. If she were to go into labor I would need Bethany there to help me put on the show and corral the kids.

Thankfully, it's Thursday and she hasn't gone into labor yet!

I am just about done though. Dancing and singing and being peppy for the kids from 9:30-12:30 is either going to really be the death of me or get me in better shape!

On the upside the kids are doing great and the show is coming together really well. ;-)

The show is cast...

Auditions went really well today and we cast the show! I think we have the perfect kids in the perfect spots. Each kid that wanted a solo has one and everyone has lines to memorize. And let me tell you, there are a ton of lines to memorize.

Sarah got the solo/duet What is this Feeling, playing Elphaba. She is also playing the Mad Hatter and has a solo in Good Morning Baltimore.

Naomi is singing When She Loved Me from Toy Story 3, a solo in Part of your World, and You've Got a Friend in me. She is also playing Jesse and a maid in Little Mermaid and Kim in Bye Bye Birdie.

It is going to be a long week but it will be well worth it.

It has started

This summer is panning out to be as busy as last summer and that worries me just a bit. It started with convention and is on a roll with theater camp this week. Triple Threat Music Theater company is putting on a summer camp called Random! It will be a show that includes music from Singing in the Rain, Wicked, Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, Jr., and scenes from those shows and a few others. We will have auditions on Monday and then have Tuesday through Thursday to rehears. The show is on Friday.

Not long is it? We ask a lot of the kids and they always deliver. There will be choreography, singing, acting, and a few costumes to figure out and implement. I can't wait to see the kids and cast the show.

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It's over...

Well, the play is over.  We had four performances in three days and it is finally over!  Yes, I am really happy to be done for a while.  But also super sad because I love those kids and I love the theater.  But, I'm more happy than sad. lol

The performances Thursday and Friday went really well.  My nieces were in those performances as Princess Aurora/Briar Rose and Merryweather-main fairy.  They were outstanding!

Saturday's performances featured my girls.  ;-)  Sarah was Maleficent and Naomi was Flora, a main fairy.  They were amazing!  Sarah is a natural actress and played Maleficent with a lot of character and dimension.  She was outstanding!  But, we aren't surprised at that.  We have known that she is an amazing actress her whole life but it is always good to see it again!

The one we were surprised at was Naomi!  Not that we didn't think she would do a good job but we just didn't know how she would respond to having such a big role.  She has only had a very minor part in a summer camp before this and the night before the show she was sobbing she was so nervous!

She came out on stage and her face was so alive and captivating.  She used her whole face and interacted with the others on stage so well.  I couldn't be more proud of her.

She has definitely been bitten by the acting bug!

Pictures will come but I was directing and couldn't take any so I have to wait to get them from others!

Still behind

We started our Tech Week on Sunday the 21st and it hasn't stopped since.   Sundays rehearsal was a long one and a scary one.  It was the first tech run-through so we threw in lights, sound, sets, etc. and it threw everyone off.  We were there from 1:30-8:30 and it wore me out!

Monday we were back at rehearsal in the afternoon and it was a better one.  The kids settled down into their roles and started performing.

Tuesdays rehearsal was even better.  But by Tuesday morning Sarah was really sick.  I thought she had strep and let her go home from Monday's rehearsal early but a trip to the doctor revealed bronchial infection instead.  Yeah, isn't that great?  She plays Maleficent and has two shows on Saturday so we got her a shot and antibiotics.  She was able to do Tuesdays run-through but just barely.

By the time we got home Tuesday night I was on my sick bed.  I felt horrible and didn't care who knew it!  Wednesday morning had me waking up with a high fever, sore throat, achy joints, stuffy nose, and a cough.  I could barely move for the aches and pains.  And it only got worse throughout the day.

By this morning I had had enough and called for meds.  They called out steroids and a zpack for me.  I took all 6 steroid pills at one time and went back to bed.  Thankfully I was feeling a little better by the time we needed to be at Call Time.  I did make-up and helped get kids ready for the show.

Tonight's performance went well.  There were a few rough spots but the kids did a really good job.  They had fun and looked great.  We have three more performances between Friday and Saturday with our two kiddos performing in both shows on Saturday.

I am tired.  Super tired.  I am ready for this week to be over and to slow down a little.  At least before the summer schedule begins!

Catch up

It seems that no matter how hard I try I keep falling behind.  In everything.

ugh

So, I'll just start where I'm at.  ;-)

Last weekend, Bethany had a soccer weekend.  More like extended weekend with a home game on Thursday and two away games on Friday and Saturday.

We lost all of them.  :(

Thursday's game was a hard fought game but the other team was way more physical, read dirty, and had excellent ball handling skills.  Bethany took a few hard hits from a certain player before she gave what she got.  The girl didn't bother her after that! lol

Friday's and Saturday's games were hard to watch.  The offense and midfield seemed tired and left the defense to work their entire side of the field alone.  No one came back to help, except a few players who were fighting hard, so they played four defenders on at least eight opponents.  It was tough but the defenders fought hard and should be proud.  It wasn't the way they normally play so it was even more frustrating.

Saturday's game was much the same.  I had one very frustrated defender by the end of the weekend.  But that's life and learning to lose is part of it, right?  There will be times when the defense messes up and the offense is playing more than their share and then they will be the frustrated ones.  Then there will be games like ones they have already had when they are all hitting the mark and are on fire.  Ups and downs are the name of the game.

Sometimes no matter how much you train or how well you know how to play it just doesn't come together.  That's true in sports and in life.  We watched footage this week of a professional soccer player who was defending his goal and went to kick the ball out and accidentally tipped it into his own goal.  Yeah, he knew how to play the game, trained to win and in one moment made a mistake.  It happens. And being that it's high school soccer and not life and death I think it will be just fine!  ;-)

The team had a great time socially in between games and grew closer together.  I drove a group of five girls to and from the games and carted them around the town.  They are super sweet girls and thankfully no one but me snored that night! lol

The rest of the weekend was low key and spent at home...in bed...sleeping!  I was so tired I couldn't function right.

Monday rolled around and was filled with theater practice and soccer practice and general craziness.  Tuesday was school and BSF.  Wednesday I got to have coffee in the afternoon with a dear friend and Naomi had gymnastics.  Thursday we had two sickies in the house; almost three but the mom doesn't get to be a little sick does she?  Today we are talking about getting formal dress for Bethany so she can attend a formal dance in May!

That's us in a nutshell.  Maybe next week I will keep up a little better.  But then again maybe not.  Next week is tech week with four performances Thursday-Saturday...don't count on hearing from me anytime soon! ;-)

Dancing, Acting, and Singing

Our production of Sleeping Beauty with Triple Threat Music Theater Company is under way.  We have had several practices and I am really looking forward to seeing this production unfold.  The kids are already hard at work learning their lines and songs.  Today we learned three dances and finished up one more.  Needless to say, I am tired! lol 

But, it's exhilarating also.  If you've read any of my pasts posts you know that I love working with kids in the theater.  I love watching them make their character their own and enjoy the thrill of performing. 

For our production of Sleeping Beauty our 8yo Bean is one of the three main fairies!  She won the role of Flora and our 13 yo, Sweet Pea, won the roll of Maleficent.  Both of those roles are double cast but each girl will get to be in two shows in her role. 

The coming weeks are going to be hectic and exhausting but they will be thrilling as well.  For now, I am going to go to bed!

So Stinkin' Proud

Last night's show was just as wonderful as opening night.  No, it might have been more wonderful.  I had several cast members come up and ask if they could do some improve between scenes.  Yes, you read that right.  4th-High Schoolers are asking to do improve in front of an audience!  They are just that comfortable with each other and trust each other enough to wing it like that.  Awesome. 

In all I think there were four mini-scenes that were totally improv'd last night.  We had a few costume changes that were incredibly quick and needed extra time between scenes-the kids stepped up to help without a second thought. 

There was also a lot of improv going on during scenes too.  It was fantastic.  I loved every minute of it. 

I loved the cast party too.  Where else can you get a group of 25 kids in your house and not worry about a thing?  They were all respectful and watched out for each other.  They mingled with the adults, they joked around, and they did Just Dance 4 until the basement smelled like sweaty kids.  It was kinda gross but oh so fun to watch! 

Did I mention that I love these kids?  I seriously do.

Now I'm getting excited about next year...

Opening Night

Cinderella Redux opened tonight to a full house!  I couldn't believe it was so packed in there.  It made me a little nervous, honestly. 

But, the kids were ready.  We prayed before-hand and expected God to show up.

He did.  I have prayed all week for God to allow these kids to shine.  They love acting together, being together, and learning to be better actors and I wanted that to come through in their performances.  I wanted the audience to see that love and know my kids the way I do. 

It happened tonight.  It really did. 

The kids were completely 'on' from the first sentence of the first scene.  They were completely in character and were adding subtle things to bring it up a notch or ten.  They were ad-libbing and using their entire bodies to tell their story.  It was awesome to behold. 

There were a few mistakes but there was always someone there to cover for them and the audience was none the wiser.  The crowd was laughing almost constantly and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  The kids were beaming at the end.  I think they could feel how well they did. 

I really almost cried with how proud I was/am of them. 

Let me just say...I love directing these kids.  It is stressful and completely time consuming but it is so worth it in the end.  I am already looking forward to next year's play!

A Sigh of Relief

To say that I have been a little scared about our homeschool play is an understatement.  It has been downright frightening the last month.  Between sickness and people not being at practices for this reason or that, we have only had half-dozen or so practices with everyone there. 

That has made this director stressed out beyond limits. 

But, we are down to the final week and I am happy to report that our practice today went much better.  It wasn't quite where I want it to be but it was so much better than the week before that I can't complain.  Much.

There were still a few spots that were scary but there were more amazing scenes to make up for it.  There were moments that actually took me by surprise and made me laugh out loud.  I even snorted a few times!!  These kids really do get acting and becoming their characters.  They are having fun and I am having fun watching them develop their talent and love for theater. 

I am still praying for good shows, don't get me wrong.  We have one more rehearsal on Wednesday and shows on Thursday and Friday.  The costumes are ready, the lighting is set, and make-up is planned...we are ready. 

Now, on to another theater practice for a different show! lol

Weekends are for

Rest.

Nah, not really.  They are for doing all the things you were too busy to do during the week. Right?  Of course, right!

Last weekend was no different.  While we don't have soccer going on at the moment we had a basketball game for a friend to go to, call backs for Triple Threat Music Theater Co., a Sunday School party for Steven and I-just on Saturday.  Sunday we had to go out of town for Steven to sing at his brothers' church and then come home to get ready for friends to come over for the Super Bowl. 

It was a pretty hectic weekend but it was good. 

Bug got sick Sunday(tonight) night so we'll see where that goes.  :(

Now, to get ready for the next 9 weeks of school and our performances of our play for our homeschool group.  *sigh*