Sydney the Birthday Girl

Sydney turned four on June 25th.  She got a card from her great grammy and grandpa with four dollar bills in it, and she went around for most of the day telling anyone who would listen to her, "I have FOUR dollars!  1-2-3-4.  See?  FOUR DOLLARS!"  It was a pretty exciting event in her life.  Nona and Papa also sent her a birthday check, which I was instructed to cash and give her twenty ones so she can have even more fun counting!  :)  She had her favorite friend Audrey over to play on her birthday and I took the two of them for Frosty's on the way to drop Audrey back home.  

friends and frosties

As requested, I made her a pink birthday cake.

And she got three "Ever After High" dolls which is all she asked for besides the pink cake.  She "accidentally sneaked into them" before they were wrapped, so there were no surprises here, but she loves them anyway, and always asks Daphne to play "Ever After High Dolls" with her.

Oh how we love our Sydney.  She is stubborn and feisty, has curly hair and wears skirts every day.  She loves to draw and play dolls and watch princess movies.  She sings to herself while she colors or builds with blocks, is learning how to swim, and is a good big sister to Bennett.  She looks out for him and tries to carry him around even though he is a little too big for her arms.  She has a cute sense of humor and requires the silence of everybody in the family when she speaks--a feat that is very difficult to accomplish, much to her frustration.  Happy Birthday, sweet Sydney.  We love you!

CMT 2014 presents a Broadway Extravaganza!

June 16-21

CMT's Broadway Extravaganza

This year CMT was a little different in a lot of ways.  First difference is that we did not do a musical as in past years; we did a musical revue--songs and dances from several Broadway shows, both classic and contemporary.  It was fun--easier to rehearse and we were able to feature many more children in this format than a traditional musical.  Plus the kids got to learn music from shows that CMT will NEVER do (South Pacific, Hairspray come to mind.)  I'm thinking I will alternate between this format and a play every other year.

The biggest and best difference was that this year we had a CMT committee.  I worked closely with the Shepherds who were co-directors/ co-producers/ production managers/ Awesome people.   And in addition to that, we had parents who chaired costumes, props, set, refreshments, backdrop, rehearsal snacks, cast pizza party, registration, etc.  It was AMAZING!  The whole process was much more fun, and the other parents did a WAY better job than I could have at their respective roles.  Huge thanks to all the parents who helped make CMT a success!  

And now, a bajillion pics of CMT 2014!

Painting the set

Dads and sons helping set up and strike the set

Rehearsals.  

Yes, this is a picture of one of our rehearsal days.

One of the kids threw his shoe up on the roof.  

Thank goodness for Ryan, we got it back down.

it was a little perilous.

"Seize the Day"--Newsies

"Naughty"--Matilda

"I Won't Grow Up"--Peter Pan

"Elegance"--Hello Dolly

"Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile"--Annie

"Hard Knock Life"--Annie

"Nothin' Like a Dame"--South Pacific

(turned out SO cute!  These boys were hilarious!)

"I Know it's Today"--Shrek

 "Under The Sea"--Little Mermaid

"You Can't Stop the Beat"--Hairspray

"When I Grow Up"--Matilda

Notes after the first run-through

Cast Pizza Party

CAST PICTURES!

Just the cast

Cast + 4 directors, + 5 youth helpers

Sydney enjoyed the dress rehearsal while Arthur worked on the lighting.

And the costumes/props were ready . . .

the "Candy Bonanza" was ready . . .

The kids were ready . . .

And the directors were ready!

Showtime:

CMT is brought to you today by the Number 5 (5 rehearsals) 

and the Letter "C" (CrAzY!)

Not very many pictures of performance day, because I am too busy with everything else that day, but I have a few either from other people or taken after the performance.

Dallin singing "Arise and seize the Day!"

Dallin & Curtis

The Three Fiona's, Sophie, Lucy and  Daphne

my friend Tamera and I after the performance.  

We did it!

Love these Shepherds.  Seriously could not have done it without them.

Top 4 reasons I do CMT:

The kids all did so great--I was smiling the whole performance and sometimes tears popped into my eyes too.  Maybe because I was tired and stressed, but also, because I think CMT is  beautiful.  And when you have 66 kids up on stage singing "When I grow up I will be strong enough to haul around the heavy things you have to haul around with you when you're a grown-up," sometimes tears happen.