Opening Weekend

I wish I had more pictures to post of this, but I felt weird because nobody else had their cameras out. I wasn't sure if maybe it was a breach of proper theater etiquette, (e.g. I totally missed the memo about opening night gifts from the cast members to each other, I got cookies, candies, a rose, a small pouch containing a key, and some wild flower seeds that had been cross-stitched with the show's name and running dates! . . . and I didn't bring anything for anybody. How lame am I?) Or maybe nobody else cared enough to take pictures . . . I guess when you've been in 41 shows, (yes, there is someone in our cast who has been in 41 shows) you don't really feel compelled to document each one. But since this is a rarity for me, I snapped a few anyway.

Me and Robert. Robert plays Ben Weatherstaff, and he and I are fellow staff members at Misselthwaite Manor. :)

The Ayah, and Collin (April and Trent) getting their make-up done. Ayah has really cool eyes, and Collin just looks very sickly and pale.

A bunch of the ladies in the dressing room.

From left to right, we have Lina (who happens to be my voice teacher--she was asked to fill in last minute) -- one of the ghosts at Misselthwaite, Claire--Lilly Craven, Riannon-- another ghost, Kathy--Mrs. Medlock, Lindsay--Rose, Mary's horrible mother who dies at the beginning of the show, and Paula--the nurse. It's been fun getting to know these people.

Lillie, Me, and Corey, aka Mary, Martha, and Dickon

Dickon and I are brother and sister in the show, and it worked out that we kind of look like each other. He is 13 years old, and he was amazed when I told him that I actually have a 13 year-old brother in real life. That little Lillie who plays Mary is 9 years old, and does a super job! Seriously--you'll be amazed.

Thanks so much to all of you who came to support me opening weekend. It meant so much to me to have all of that support--When I came out for my first scene on Friday night, I heard lots of whispers from my friends pointing out to their kids, "There's Sharee, look there she is." And it made me smile the rest of the night. I really appreciate you all coming out to see it, and I appreciate all of you who are coming sometime in the next two weekends!!! You won't be disappointed. :)

Gingerbread Party

Earlier this month, Daphne and her brothers were invited to a cute Gingerbread party put on by a girl in Daphne's 1st Grade class. It was really cute! I thought it would be a fun idea to do with some of our friends. On another year when I have energy for something like that. Here are pictures from the festivities.

Here are the kids working on their gingerbread houses.

Daphne and her friend Amy

This is Amy's Grandma. The party was at her house, and she has a huge collection of Santas. Hayden took a liking to her, and followed her all over her house while she found cool Santas for him to look at. This one dances when you turn him on, and Hayden thought he was AWESOME!

Amy had a little present for each child who came (wow!) and the kids couldn't wait to open it when we got home. They were all different Santa ornaments--very cute.

Thanks for the festive time, Amy!

Round & Round the Christmas Tree

We listened to a little Bing Crosby Christmas music while we decorated this week. Dallin & Daphne had school off on Thursday and Friday for parent teacher conferences, so we used the time to trim the tree and get the other decorations up.

My kids really love this little red bench with the santa and snowman friends. They took a bunch of pictures of themselves next to it, so I finally took one of them all where we could actually see their faces. :) (Dallin is VERY excited about being a cub scout--can you tell? -- Are there rules about wearing your uniform whenever you feel like it?)

In my blog title, I'm quoting a Bing Crosby song I grew up listening to at Christmas time. Well, the next part of the song goes: "Presents hanging there for you and me. One for you and two for me, Oh what a Christmas day!" Whenever that part comes, my kids always say, "He's so selfish! I can't believe he says one for you and TWO for me!" And the reason that makes me laugh, is I remember saying the EXACT same thing with my sisters growing up. Timeless. We know how to call 'em, huh, girls?

Sean dancing. :)

I put together this little display on the front entryway landing, and the kids kept putting all these cheesy stuffed animals up there. I would move them, and then the next time I'd walk by the stairs, they were back.

Finally, I let the cheesy stuffed animals sit by Santa and the snowman on the red bench. This satisfied the kids, and I reclaimed my landing. :)

Here is our family room in all it's Christmas glory.

And that is our beautiful tree from the mountains.

Last Name Game

Last Name Game--It's harder than it looks. I saw this on one of my cousin's blogs and thought it looked kinda fun. Try it with your last name and see how you do.

1. What is your last initial? G
2. Name an animal...Gorilla
3. A Boys name...Garrett
4. A Girls name…… Gabby
5. An occupation.... Garbage collector guy
6. A COLOR... Green
7. Something you wear...green socks? (why can't I think of anything to wear that starts with G? I'm sure there's something . . .)
8. A beverage ... Grape Juice
9. A food... gyros
10. Something found in the bathroom...garbage can
11. A place...Germany
12. A Reason for being late....garage door broken
13. Something you shout... Good Grief! (yes I actually shout this, more often than I'd like to admit.)

Bunnies, Birthdays, and Baptism

1. Bunnies

Hayden calls them "bummies." We are pet-sitting our friends bummies and the kids love them. Sometimes I think they just might love them to death. But so far they are still alive, and it's been a week. I'm rather proud of that.

2. Birthdays

Dallin turned 8 last month and was very excited for his birthday party. We do birthday parties on years 5, 8, 12, and 16, so they really look forward to it when it's their year for a "party." All I can say is the next time I do a party for a boy, it will be OUTSIDE! Those little guys get so loud and crazy.

I sure do love my Dallin. He is a good example for his younger siblings. He is a very perceptive little guy--notices everything and remembers it too! He knows a lot about the gospel and the scriptures, and was sooo excited to get his first nice set of scriptures for his birthday. He also got a couple of ties that he can tie himself--he learned a few weeks ago and has been pestering me ever since to get him some "real" ties that he could tie himself. Since he'd sworn off clip-on ties and was wearing his Harry Potter "Gryffindor" tie to church, I decided I'd better widen his selection. Happy Birthday, Dallin!

Hayden is 2!

I can't believe my Hayden-boy is 2! This little guy is very observant. Don't do anything you don't want him to copy, because he is very good at imitating what he sees. He is a tease, and has a smile that gets him out of lots of trouble. He spends a good amount of time on the dryer (the time-out spot). He knows how to make the best of a situation, though, because the last time I put him on time-out, he amused himself by emptying the box of my fabric softener sheets. He is also quick to give hugs and say sorry when he hurts someone. He is busy, busy, all day long, and I don't know what I'd do without him!

Hayden enjoying his birthday present.

3. Baptism

Since Dallin turned 8, he is old enough to be baptized, and become an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so proud of his decision to follow Jesus' example and enter the waters of baptism.

What a special day for our family. It's hard to describe how you feel when you see one of your children come up out of the water all fresh and clean, and then to have him receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm so proud of him for making those special covenants with Heavenly Father to take upon him Jesus Christ's name, and to obey God's commandments.

President Adams, who was there at the baptism to welcome the children to the stake, told the 3 newly baptized children that they should write down their feelings about their baptism in their journals. The next day, I reminded Dallin that he needed to do that, and he said, "Oh, I already did that, Mom. Last night before I went to bed I wrote about it in my journal." Good guy.

The Christmas Tree Hunt

The day after Thanksgiving, we drove up to the mountains for our

traditional Christmas Tree hunt.

Uncle Mikey and Daphne in the parking lot of the ranger office--Arthur was inside buying our tree permit for a whopping $10.

It's bright outside!

We didn't expect this much snow to still be on the ground, so we didn't bring the snow boots up. That limited the amount of time we had to find the tree. It didn't take long for the kids shoes and pant legs to soak through, and then for the complaining to start.

So far, everyone is still happy.

"Unca Monkey" & Aunt Amber

We just love these guys. Hayden is sitting on my lap right now, and keeps asking to see Amber. When her face isn't in the viewing window, he becomes very distraught!

Mikey brought his shotgun to play with in the woods.

Arthur and I both took a turn shooting it. Kinda fun--very loud, though. I wrapped a scarf around my head, and it wasn't so bad.

We found the tree! And not a moment too soon. Daphne had been crying about her cold wet feet as she trudged along for the last 5 minutes.

Mike & Amber found a good one to bring home too. :)

Sean was a trooper and didn't cry the whole time. Even though his pants and shoes were wet, he just kept walking along, singin' a song about finding the car and getting a tree.

It was so cute.

Hayden was another story. That boy lost his mittens one too many times and he is not the type to suffer in silence. Poor little boy. We had to find that car quick!

Below, Amber, and then Dallin & Sean drag the trees to the car.

Ah, safely in the car. We took off wet shoes and socks and turned on the heat so those poor frozen kids could unthaw. fun times. (no idea why this is underlined, and I don't know how to turn it off.)