Alice in Wonderland Jr.

And that's a wrap. 

It's been a busy few months for Lucky with rehearsals for the play, Alice in Wonderland Jr.

He's worked hard and it's paid off. Last week was the busiest with set work, dress rehearsals, and performances. Monday night this week was closing night.

We missed a few holidays and observed others. I didn't even take pictures of the waffles we had on a day other than International Waffle Day, March 25. 

 

Last year, Lucky was able to play Michael in Mary Poppins Jr. This year, he played a Cheshire Cat. There were two casts so the other nights he was in the ensemble. He had another good experience.

Jeremy took most of the kids to watch him on Saturday and I took Jet to watch him on Monday. 

 

I also got to watch him Saturday evening in the ensemble. I like to see both. 

Monday night, we had friends sit with us, which added to the enjoyment. Jet did well and enjoyed the show.

Stephanie was sweet and got the following pictures with her camera. Thanks for sharing them, Stephanie.

 

I'm proud of our boy and glad he is enjoying pursuing his interests. It doesn't hurt that as a theatre kid myself growing up, I know how fun putting on a production can be.

And a fun thing I found out that I didn't have on my calendar but I do now... opening night was World Theatre Day, March 27. Woohoo.

Here's a little treat Jeremy put together for Lucky to say congratulations. 

Mary Poppins Jr

Lucky had the opportunity to do something he's never done before. He participated in his elementary school play. Nichole and Jr. both did school plays when they were in elementary school then when they were in high school, they were in pit orchestra for some high school plays.

From start to finish Lucky worked hard on this play, Mary Poppins Jr. He played Michael Banks. He definitely has the look for that character and he did a really good job. I'm so proud of him. They split the students into two casts so half the performances, he played Michael and half the performances he was in the ensemble.

Jeremy and I were both theatre kids in our youth so we are thrilled to support our children when they have those interests. We do support them in other interests as well.

Here's Lucky when he went to his first audition.

And when he was starting rehearsals.

Lucky and I helped deliver set pieces from the elementary school to the high school where the play was performed before they started dress rehearsals.

Opening night, Jr. had an instrumental recital so Jeremy took a couple kids to watch Lucky's play while I went to watch Jr. perform. I took Jr. to the last performance. We were able to split it up so Jeremy and I were each able to watch Lucky in the ensemble and as Michael.

I told Lucky that when I was in high school it was tradition to go out to opening night pizza at the local pizza parlor. I made opening night pizza at home for Lucky. 

There was a sweet teenager in our ward who got flowers for a few of the kids in the play. She is a sweetie.

Way to go, Lucky. You are amazing.

 

A Fun Saturday

Remember how I mentioned we were getting ready for a trip? Well... in the midst of it all, I kind of took a Saturday off. It was only going to be a morning then spontaneity hit.

That Saturday before our trip, Jeremy, several of the kids, and I went out looking for bobolinks. We didn't find any. We found plenty of other birds including a lot of snipes so we got some new good snipe pictures. I never see snipes when I go on a snipe hunt but when I don't go looking for them...

We also saw quite a few marmots as we often do in that area.

The sandhill cranes were pretty photogenic as well.

 

After we got back, Jeremy and Jr. went out to help friends move. While they were gone, I got a text from my friend, Stephanie, inviting me last minute to go see a play that her friend was in. Jeremy was okay with it so off I went and didn't do as much getting ready for the trip. But I had a blast.

Three of us drove up to Salt Lake together and met another there to watch the play, The Importance of Being Earnest at Parker Theatre. When my oldest two heard which play I was going to, they absolutely encouraged me to go. They've both read the play. 

I love the theatre. It was such a fun production. We chatted with Stephanie's friend afterward who was in the play. She was so fun to watch in it. So expressive in a humorous way, which the part called for.

After the play, the four of us spectators (audience members?) went up the street to Salt Lake Chinatown (did you know Salt Lake City had a Chinatown?) to try some new foods and had a great time getting to know each other better.

That afternoon/evening was just what I needed.

And I still eventually got ready for our trip. Tee Hee.

 

P.S. That night I spent a bit of time outside taking photos of the Strawberry Moon.

Catching Up- June

We sent Nichole off the end of May and while she was having a good time with cousins and grandparents, we were having fun here with our boys.

We started the month off with Orem Library's Summer Reading Program kickoff.

We decided to sign up for the reading program this year. The theme was the Centennial (not surprising) and traveling through time on the time traveling train- the Orem Express.

Jeremy built the train out of balloons this year.

During the reading program we earned badges for reading certain amounts of books and we earned badges for doing other activities. We received different awards for different amounts of badges.

The kickoff had an old west theme.  The boys were able to get their picture taken in a wanted poster, practice their sharpshooting, practice roping horses, and pan for gold.  Jr. was helpful and took a lot of pictures.

As usual we loved the puppet show.

The day after the Summer reading kickoff, Jr. went back to school (so much for sleeping in in the mornings). He was accepted into a Summer program at UVU where they teach junior high age students STEM skills. UVU Prep.

He learned a lot of things and made some new friends and said he loved it.
It didn't stop him from being involved in some of our Summer Reading Program adventures, though.
He helped Jr. Jr. create a box dwelling to be included in the library's Box City.

He helped his sister solve a mystery in the teen area.

He read plenty of books to himself and also his little brother.

Jr. wasn't the only one reading books aloud to Lucky.
On the very first day of the Summer Reading Program, right after we signed up, the kids picked out books and Jr. Jr. immediately started reading to Lucky. I love those kids.

While Nichole was still gone, we got to go to a Summer party, one that we go to every year.  Jeremy worked and the boys and I played. But the boys were so good to offer Jeremy food and drink while he was working.

While we were there, both Lucky and Jr. Jr. got balloons from Dad, inflated but not twisted.  They twisted their own.

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to go to another play from friends who used to be in our ward in Orem before they moved.  We enjoyed it again. Ah, community theatre. It brings back so many memories.

We welcomed Nichole back from her trip.  The younger boys made her "Welcome Home" notes. She had a great time with her cousins and grandparents and even saw a pileated woodpecker in Oregon and told us how they had identified it.  That's our girl. She was in good company with Grandma and Grandpa who also like birds.

Jr. Jr. had the opportunity to go to Cub Scout Day Camp and do a lot of activities there.

Another day, he had some Cub Scout fun finishing up some of his requirements that they didn't do at the day camp.

Jeremy and I did balloons at Orem Summerfest again this year.

For Father's Day on June 16, the kids fixed Jeremy breakfast in bed.  Sweet kids.

The kids wrapped and decorated a present for Jeremy- a portable charcoal grill.

What Jeremy wanted for Father's Day was a homemade ice cream and homemade root beer party with friends so we did that the day after Father's Day. Homemade root beer floats.

After my parents dropped off the girls and went back to Oregon, not long after, they came back to Utah again. My nephew was going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so we got together to listen to him speak in church before he left. After church, we were able to have a relaxing afternoon at my sister's house. It was the perfect opportunity to get a grandkids picture since the last one we had was from when Nichole got baptized.  My parents have had more grandkids arrive since that picture including Lucky and my niece's husband.

These two grandkids pictures were taken by my photographer sister, Kimber Hodson. I love seeing her work with people in her photos. You've seen some of the pictures we get with our kids refusing to give us happy looks. She is great with it. My kids will smile for her.
Here's a link to her photo site: kimberhodson.pixieset.com

Jr. Jr., Lucky, and I went to Provo Towne Center one day to conduct an experiment. We took coins and the boys raced them. Jr. Jr. created a chart so they could keep track of which coins were fastest.

While we were at the mall, we also played and rode escalators. 

One night at the Orem Library, we had a busy badge earning evening. The kids joined in at the LEGO Lab and built trains.

Then we went over to Open Chess Night to play some games.

While Jeremy and the kids finished up with chess, I went over and took a class about sourdough baking.

And of course there was more book reading.

One of the badges suggested checking out cookbooks and trying new recipes. Nichole and I each picked out a cookbook and tried some recipes.  Nichole made bon-bons for the family. Great job, Nichole.

We took a day and brought a friend with us to drive up to Hanna to see hummingbirds like we did a couple years ago. The boys had fun because when they started getting restless with the rest of us taking pictures of hummingbirds, the owner of the house we were at took them over to throw rocks in the stream.

Afterward we stopped off to see some friends from our old ward who moved to Hanna recently. That was neat.

We enjoyed more time with friends throughout the month.

As you can see we kept busy in June. And what of July? Stay tuned to find out.