As the last pictures posted were of Dance Recital, it is now important to discuss The Music Man as Dance Recital happened in between performances of it! Tacey once again played Amaryllis, and I am pleased to say she is finally coming to understand her Mom does have a bit of knowledge in the whole 'Theatre Area'. She let me coach her a bit this time, and has definately improved as an actress! We didn't really get pictures of the event, except for this important one:
Amaryllis trying to kiss Winthrop! Heh heh heh. Poor Sam Gold. After that, the next major event was graduation. Is Tacey really that old you ask? Nope, shes not: which is a good thing as that would reflect on my age in a way I don't really want it to! It was MY graduation. Just to remind everyone of all the 'drama' (pun intended) -I went back to school to get my Master's in Theatre. I really enjoyed it and found out a few things about myself. First of all; I am SMART! Second; I have really original creative ideas! And third; I am exceptionally good at what I do. All of this led to two years of totally enjoyable work, a 4.0 and a snapped achilies tendon! I was supposed to graduate LAST May, but I took one final Thesis credit in the summer so that I had a little more time to finish it. I made this decision back in January, thinking with the number of shows I intended on doing, it would be a good thing to take a little more time. Then, I had to deal with the whole snapped-tendon-surgery thing in the middle of the semester, so that turned out to be a VERY good thing on my part. I am SO glad I listened to my little inner voice. I was all set to walk Commencement in August, but then found out they had cancelled it. I was ANGRY. So, to sum it all up in not a few words: I did graduate in August, I have had the Diploma in my hands since October to prove it, I paid $85.00 for an ill-fitting uni-sex black dress with dumb sleeves (THATS a whole different story), a hat that looks good on no one with a hangy thing (that said the wrong year), and a weird scarf so I could get the holder for the Diploma!
Here is the very important man that PAID for that little piece of paper! About the weird sleeves: I put on my graduation robe when my Mom was here for Laura's graduation. As I did so, my hand went to the bottom of the sleeve and got stuck! I looked at my Mom, angry that I had been given a defective robe with one sleeve sewn shut! I put my hand in the other sleeve and you know what? SAME THING! Then my mom noticed it did have arm holes and the end of the sleeve was supposed to dangle off my forearm, not stop at my wrist. I would feel really dumb about this (I DO have my Master's and all), except that as I stood in line for the procession, someone commented thay had the same experience and as we took a poll: everyone originally thought they had a defective robe. Now your looking at the picture to see the weird sleeves, aren't you? I guess part of getting your Master's is learning to 'Master' the funny robe!
My Dad, Grandma and JoAnne came up for the event; that was AMAZINGLY too long. I heard other people in the Master's Section talking about how they were going to walk the line then keep going and walk out of the arena. I swear, when I get my Doctorate, I am doing just that!!! Shane held in until the very end. Hope he feels he got his money's worth!
Dad, me, Grandma!
My Dad also threw me a Graduation Party that was hosted and catered by my cousin Xochithl. This meant he went to the nearest store to help buy supplies. He saw the chocolate, and thought of me. Dallin thought that was a pretty good idea!
Xochie's house was a good choice; it came complete with a big backyard, a trampoline, a hammock, lots of cousins to play with and PUPPIES! Mac spent alot of time with the cute little guys (so did JoAnne for that matter. . . ) 
There were also light saber battles to be fought
Some of them with Uncle Cuauhtemoc
And a hammock to make the puppies stay where you wanted them and swing gently on in the nice weather!
Thanks Xochie!
While we were occupied with graduation, we also had a production most of us (Me, Tacey & McCade) were involved in. I wrote and directed a production based on the Anansi Folk Tales with a friend of mine to serve as a cultural experience for the kids at the school I teach at as well as a fundraiser for the PTO. It was a big success; making a good deal of money for the organization and presenting the kids with experiences that managed to shock the school councilor. (In a good way. . .). Here's cute little cast. By little I mean they were all young; there was a TON of them.
Tacey was the Assistant Director and McCade played several parts.There were several stories, so everyone got a chance to find a minute to shine. This particular one was 'Anansi and the Turtle'.
That's Mac as Anansi. Anansi is a spider.
This is Mac attempting to 'jump into the pool of water' to eat dinner with Turtle. Mac really liked the whole trampoline thing; I knew he would (hehe). He (Anansi) was too light to sink to the bottom so he had to fill the pockets of his jacket with rocks.
Then turtle yelled at him for wearing his jacket at the table. Sounds kinda mean when you don't know the whole story, but Anansi really desreved it. He had treated Turtle badly earlier in the story.This one is called 'Anansi and the Liar's Contest'. Mac played a fly in this one.
He told a lie about how he had beaten a Tiger by flying down her mouth and grabbing the end of her tail and spinning her around and around until she was so dizzy she fell down. All in all, it was a good experience! I was also preoccupied by a nest of baby robins that were growing up before our eyes in the carport. The Mom Bird built 3 nests in all, finally deciding she liked the last one. She laid three eggs and would yell at me whenever I went outside to see how they were doing. (I didn't touch them, just held up a mirror so I could see in what I THOUGHT was a non-evasive way). I got in this habit after I went out there and was CERTAIN that one of the babies was dead. I called Shane, who was out of town, and told him about it. He asked me if I had touched it, to which I replied 'EWWWW! NOOOOO!'. He tried to convince me it was asleep. I wouldn't believe him. I mean, COME ON! What bird sleeps with it's head rolled back and mouth open? It totally looked dead! But nope, it was just sleeping; Shane was right. I was relieved. Who knew baby birds played dead so well? Not me, that's for sure!
One day I went out, and there were only two. I was SO sad. I thought the little guy had fallen out of the nest and was going to starve. I went out again later and there was only one and the second guy was one the ground, standing there looking at me. 10 minutes later, number three was also gone. I assumed it must be 'flying day'. I hope they all made it, but as is wise to do with many things, I just let nature take its course.
Summer also means that we spend time with Jarrett and Cole. Our summer activities started with lunch, a trip to the library, a walk along the river to feed to ducks and a trip to Reed's Dairy for Ice Cream. There were also lots of baby 'things' there; baby ducks, baby geese and baby bugs of many biting varities.
Dallin 
McCade . . . and everyone!
And of cource, Baseball and Softball were in full swing (pun also intended there!)
Dallin and McCade played on the same team, Tacey is playing on two separate teams. They took official team pictures, and I have video, but blogger isn't cooperating right now. I PROMISE it will take me less time to post those!
On that note. . . More to come later!!!
Danielle!!!
Sometimes I wonder if his backside is a heat regulator. And a snoring blanket is ALWAYS funny.
Those are not bad shields; they are plates with pictures of Green Eggs & Ham on them. That was my way of keeping them on their hands while they danced.
The fourth grade sang songs about America. I had kept a small group of the kids after school for a few weeks, and they formed an 'Honor Choir'. I taught them harmonies, descants and alternate parts to their songs. HA! I rock! 4th graders singing in HARMONY! Did I mention I bought the entire 4th grade Kazoos? Yep, a bit of insanity that had an amazing payoff! I was disturbed at how many kids didn't know what a kazoo was, not to mention the fact they had no idea how to play it!
Dallin finding an egg.
McCade not able to find anything - even the marshmallow bunnies right by his hand!
The troops showing their 'stuff'. Happily they were just as excited that they had new clothes to wear to church.
It is a VERY serious business, this Pinewood Derby.
This is the board with the heats and results.
In case you couldn't see in the other picture; these are the final standings. 
Dallin and the winning car!
McCade and the car that gave Dallin's a run for the money!
All our Cub Scouts and their cars. It was a fun night!
I think the movie was the longest she had gone without texting in a long time. I swear, that girl even texts in her sleep.
The boys are the best male dancers their age, and actually in a class by themselves. I mean that both literally and figuratively.
Tacey after the recital. She had 5 classes so I don't even try to take pictures anymore. I'll scan in the ones I paid for later. . .
This is Tacey and her Ballroom partner; Jace. I think he is totally cool! He was fun, had rhythm and was a good dancer! They plan on dancing together again next year. 
Lots of dance classes means lots of costume changes and lots of stuff to carry.
They let the kids vote and won't be posting 'Winners' until Monday. We aren't holding our breath; with the kids voting it is sure to be more of a popularity contest than anything else. 
We are content to know she did VERY well.
They play intimidation ball in the driveway ALL THE TIME, so this is nothing new. We were happily disappointed that Tacey did not almost kill Matt like she did last time she played him. He went to stuff her during a layup and she ducked and turned, forcing him into an airborne position parallel to the ground. At least he has a hard head. I think he is fully recovered - even his pride. 
I can't say her team was amazing scorers, but if they gave points for fun, determination, and hitting the rim - they would have totally kick everyone's butts. Now she is just down to her 5 dance classes and the school musical. But be aware - Softball starts soon!
Dallin decided to make the famous 'Don't Tread On Me' flag. I think it was because I had mentioned I saw a 3 foot long Gummi snake at the Army Surplus store. (I was there getting hand and foot warmers for the movie thing). So, really he did this whole cake himself. He helped significantly with the baking and did all the decorating himself. 
McCade and I talked about it and we made cupcakes. (I don't want to eat anything a bunch of cub scouts have been cutting themselves and using their hands to scoop up - YUK!). Then I used white chocolate chips for the stars (I might as well throw out the left-overs. We NEVER eat white chocolate). and fruit roll up for the stripes. We did this because I am too lazy and too uptight to have stripes that aren't straight. 
This is the last year any of my kids will have only one candle on their cake. *sigh*.
No, they don't play at a jail; just the equivalent - a Junior High School.
This is Dallin dribbling. I am not quite sure why McCade has his arms straight up in the air, but that is him behind Dallin. He is the only kid I know who purposely wears a long sleeve shirt to play basketball *whatever*.
This is one of two free throws McCade shot AND MADE! Pretty cool.
One of the few moments they are both out of the game. They look like brothers who actually get along in this picture.
This is from the top of the field they were shooting in. That tent is the tent the director stood in while filming was taking place. There were about 25-30 hired extras that day. However, for this particular scene, they pulled the 5th grade out of the school back there. They did alot of semi-choreographed cheering and running. All of these shots were for about 4 lines in the movie. They had at least 5 different cameras/camera angles they used and did each one about 5 times. It was tedious, tedious work. The kids were really cold. They were troopers on film, but alot of the extra kids were crying when they finally got done with this particular scene.
About then, craft service showed up with Hot Chocolate and snacks. That was a good thing. This is Mac with one of the prop 'Snowmen'.
Dallin with the same 'Snowman'.
This is the field of 'Snowmen' the kids 'built' later in the day. They are made out of foam. It was funny to see all these fake snowmen in a field full of real snow. They sprayed all the 'Snowmen' with water and then sprinkled real snow on them. They also piled up real snow along the bottom to help them look real.
This is Dallin resting and getting warm(?) on the bus while playing his PSP.
McCade can't sit still - even in the cold. He played in the snow ALL DAY.
This is the boys and all the other extras building their fake snowmen. That is Dallin all the way on the right. McCade is in the middle about 3 kids away from Dallin.
