365 ~ 2016: Day 91

The boys started back up at swimming last week and today David got to learn the flip turn today.  He was so close to getting it.  Not bad for his first go around!

365 ~ 2016: Day 90

My 3 handsome guys!

365 ~ 2016: Day 89

David's school hosted author Terry Farish tonight for a story telling event of her new book Joesph's Big Ride.  Evan was really excited to get a copy of the book and enjoyed following along while she read from the story.  We also heard the story in two different languages, Nepali and Kinyarwanda.  It was a really cool experience and we are fortunate to have such a diverse population at our school.

365 ~ 2016: Day 88

I have the best family!  I especially love that they humor me every Holiday so I can get the perfect family photo!

2016 Easter Festivities!

Easter felt like it sneaked up on us this year.  Although I generally feel that way when Easter falls in March.  We tried to make the best of it though and even though it wasn't as warm as we though it would be on Easter Sunday, there was no snow, like last year, when Easter fell in April!

We decided to color eggs on  Friday, since my MIL had come up to help me get the house ready for our festivities on Sunday and I thought she would enjoy it.  Turns out she had not colored eggs in years and was excited to make a few with the boys.

Saturday was spent running errands and getting all the food that I needed to make the delicious food that we were going to eat on Sunday and the kids were such great sports since they had to come along for the ride.

On Sunday morning the boys were excited to see what the Bunny brought.  They were happy to see some new baseball gear, books and some candy.

New Disney Infinity character and some baseball pants!

A new baseball gear bag and the Chris Grabenstein book.

Batting gloves and a Disney Infinity character!

They also got some pool toys and giant water bottles for the days we spend at the ball field.

Charlie had to work, so dinner was planned for later in the day.  That gave me plenty of time to prep the meal and get some yummy appetizers in the oven.  We had a nice spread of hot and cold munchies, including the crowd favorite stuffed mushrooms, which rivaled the delicious bacon wrapped tator tots that my Aunt brought.

My sisters cute jelly bean garden cake!

I have pretty much perfected the Easter meal and have not deviated from the menu because it works and I know how to prep everything so that it's all ready together.  We had 2 different styles of ham (a whole smoked ham and a spiral ham), an herb roasted leg of lamb, mashed potatoes, spring pea medley and sweet potato casserole.

Pioneer Woman famous baked ham with Dr. Pepper glaze!

Garlic and Rosemary crusted leg of lamb!

Family!

After dinner we sent the kids down to the cul-de-sac while we hid the eggs for the annual egg hunt.  It was nice to not have to worry about the snow this year and the sun had finally come out so it was a bit warmer than it was earlier in the day.  

Shaun checking out his loot!

Everyone gets one big egg and 10 small eggs

One big egg has $5 inside, David was the lucky winner this year!

My happy family!

Another Holiday celebration success.  I love hosting my family and I am already looking forward to the next one!

365 ~ 2016: Day 87

Happy Easter!

365 ~ 2016: Day 86

Looks like we'll be having visits from two Guardians tonight!  Someone lost his first tooth!

365 ~ 2016: Day 85

Coloring eggs for Easter with Omi!  I'm not sure who had more fun, Omi or the boys!

365 ~ 2016: Day 84

Family Math Night at Shaun and Evan's school tonight!  Shaun was trying to win a jar of candy at the estimation station and Evan was making a "Math Monster" (the number of eyes on each side depended on the roll of the dice).

365 ~ 2016: Day 83

Shenzi: "Well, well, well, Banzai, what have we got here?" 
Banzai: "Hmm, I dunno, Shenzi. Whadda you think, Ed?" 
Ed: "Ooh! *laughs* Ooh! *laughs*"

David nailed his character!  He never practiced in front of us, so it wasn't until the first show that I got to see him in action!  He was so funny and it was a proud moment for me to hear the reaction from the audience.

365 ~ 2016: Day 82

But thick as you are, PAY ATTENTION! 
My words are a matter of pride.

365 ~ 2016: Day 81

Don't like the weather in New England?  Just wait a couple hours!  And add in a little 2.9 earthquake for fun!

Lion King, Jr.

Last year David participated in his school drama club, Kids in Action (KIA) and was excited to audition again this year for the production of Lion King, Jr.  The auditions were on November 12th and he found out right before the Thanksgiving recess that he got in again.  Part auditions happened in December and before Christmas he was cast as the goofball hyena Ed.

He was excited to be cast in this roll, and was called in for a second audition to try out his laugh for his music teacher before the official rolls were announced. He wouldn't practice the laugh for us throughout the 3 months of rehearsals so we were going to be surprised.  It wasn't until the first show when he was mic'd that I heard him and it was perfect and hilarious!  And it was confirmed for me when I heard the audience reactions to him.  My heart swelled with pride!

I thought Seussical, Jr. was amazing last, and the Lion King, Jr. did not disappoint.  The kids were amazing and they completely transformed into these characters.  It got me right in the feels each show.  The amount of hard work that went into this show was astounding.  Not only did the kids work their butts off in rehearsals, but we had an awesome team of parents who stepped up to help with set building, painting, costume design and make-up.  I was honored to be able to capture all these memories for everyone.  Looking forward to seeing what KIA brings for us next year!

Last rehearsal before show week:

Yeah, it's dinner time, and we ain't got no stinkin' entrees. 

Groan!

Show week - Costume rehearsal:

Shenzi: Well, well, well, Banzai, what have we got here? 
Banzai: Hmm, I don't know Shenzi uh, what do you think Ed? 
Ed the Hyena: Oo ehehe, oh hahahaha 

David nailed his facial expressions.  This was right after Mufasa knocks them down.

Banzai: Yeah!  You hear that?  If you ever come back, she'll kill ya!

Groan!

Opening Day:

Thursday morning the kids do a show with full costume and make up for half of the school and then on Friday morning they preform for the other half of the school.  It's a great way to get a practice audience before the real opening.  Once all the kids were costumed and made up, I snapped a portrait so that they could have something that shows their character!  I was so glad to have the chance to capture the hard work the costume design team did!

Ed the Heyena

Full costume!

And because they ask the audience to refrain from photographing during the performance, I snapped images of all the kids for the parents to have during the two morning performances.

Ed the Hyena: Ahahahahahahaha!

Thursday night I sold tickets and worked on editing all the images I had taken during the various rehearsals and shows.  I could hear the laughter from the audience and the clapping!  I knew the show as a hit!

I also had the chance to photograph the Lion King Wall of Fame!  Each year they create a wall showcasing the cast and directors.  It came out awesome!

David's head shot!

After opening night, with his first flower of many!

Friday Morning Show:

On Friday morning, Evan convinced me to sit in the front row and it was a good call, because I was able to get even better pictures for the parents!

Just can't wait to be King!

His famous laugh!

So prepare for the coup of the century!

Long live the King!

Friday night I was in the audience with my parents, aunt and cousins!  It was really the first time I got to see the show without a camera up to my face.  It was just amazing and eyes were definitely a little misty and my heart was full of pride - these THIRD, FOURTH, & FIFTH graders are amazing!

Closing was interesting because Friday night one of our directors who was due to have her baby the following week, started having contractions and was not going to be up for being at the show.  An SOS went out to a few of us who really knew the show, asking if one of us could help with the music cues and I answered the call.  I got a crash course in the system and managed to not totally screw it up.  Only one miscue, and of course I felt awful about it, but considering I hadn't ever practiced before, I was pretty happy with my performance.  It think it really helped that I knew the show so well after all the time I had spent in the Show Week rehearsals.  It made for an interesting day and I was so happy to have been able to help.

Show flowers!