Metaphasia a radically updated retelling of the 12 DANCING PRINCESSES

Last week Kara performed in her musical/play.  She did a wonderful job.  I really want to thank everyone that supported her and came to her play.  It was so sweet to have friends, piano students,  and a lot of the children in the neighborhood come to support her.  I only took some random pictures and some of them didn't turn out too well since I am a poor photographer, but here are a few.   Sorry, I didn't get any of my children or hubby that were there.

In case I didn't tell you, Kara was the villain in the play.  She was the evil one.  It was strange to watch her do so well at being so bad. 

Also, I have three links that show her performing in her play.  Again, I find it difficult to hold a camera and watch the play at the same time.   Sadly, Matt was out of town some of week so he didn't get to go with me to all of the performances.  But he left early Saturday morning so he could come in time for her last performance.   Kara and I are both glad that play is over.


http://youtu.be/Jj1E9-2wpLc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET4kebY-pw0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C1mWsDqJSA

 Kara and some of her cute cousins

 Julie brought Kara some pretty flowers.  These two are pretty good friends, being carpool dance buddies each week.

 Above is Kara opening the necklace that Ally (sp) made for her.  So sweet of her.

Some of the cast above.  

Happy Things.....

I love  the month of February!!!!! Even though it is winter, I love that so many people I love have birthdays in February and Valentine's day is one of my favorite holidays.  I love putting up Valentine decorations.  I LOVE hearts, like, crazy love them. 

 I love going to lunch with friends.  Last week I met Julie at the temple and then we went to lunch. I love talking to Julie and even though I moved, I am so grateful we are able to get together so frequently.  In case anyone didn't know they remodeled the  Jordan temple and they did it QUICK!!!

Last weekend, Kara spent it at the Utah Theater Association.  She loved it.  She saw a few musicals, she went to many classes and had a wonderful time.  She went for three solid days and came back renewed. 

 Also, last weekend we had planned to go to Coby's girlfriend Colleen's mission farewell, but the weather was HORRIBLE.  Coby's car was broken and they had a lot of people who wanted to go to Las Vegas for it.  So Matt rented a car for Coby, that was 4 wheel drive and was an SUV.  The ride home was a little scary, my words not Coby's, but it took a lot longer.  There were accidents everywhere.  I was worried sick.   And over the weekend, Matt fixed Coby's car.  He was pretty happy that he was able to fix it for Coby.  He is a great dad!

 I have been worried about Coby. I feel grateful his girlfriend is serving a mission, but it is hard on Coby to be away from her for 18  months.  I hate seeing my kids suffer.   She leaves this Wednesday, February 6th, and she is going to Thailand.  She will be a phenomenal missionary!!!  I really adore this girl and I am crossing my fingers that things will work out, and I am praying really hard too.

 On Tuesday night Kara, Coby and I went to see the Phantom of the Opera.  My friend Mindy got our tickets for us and I gave them to my two children who would enjoy it as a Christmas present. 

 The weather was so bad, that I was worried about driving there. So Kara and I drove to Provo with Mindy and family. Luckily, Brent, is an excellent driver and their Suburban does really well on the roads. 

 Above is a picture of Coby, Kara and Tianna. After we left him at 10pm, he was going to the library to study.  He usually stays until midnight and then walks all the way home, in the freezing, dark weather.  It makes me sad, that he does this practically every night, but he is a very dedicated student and he says if he drives it takes him almost as long to find a parking space.

It took us forever to come home from Phantom, but it was AMAZING!!!  The freeway was an ice rink.  It took us so long I was seriously worried, I wouldn't get my 7 hours for my fitness challenge and I didn't, but I came home from work on Wednesday and took a nap for less than an hour, even though I didn't have time, crazy, what a contest will do.

Yesterday I went to lunch with one of my best friends, Diane.  She is lives in Layton and we usually see each other at least every 3 months.  It was great to catch up with her.  Love her.

Friday night,  Matt planned our date. We went and saw Warm Bodies.  There really isn't any words I can use to describe it.  Very strange.  But he liked it.

On Friday afternoon I had a great visit with my friend Ann.  Even though we live in the same neighborhood, I hadn't talked to her like, I like.   She also let me borrow her Downton Abbey Season 3.  I have almost finished watching it. Thank you Ann, you are always so generous!!!  I won't even comment on my thoughts on Seasons 3.

 We planned a family activity for today with everyone, but plans changed.  Spencer had to work, Kara was sick with a bad sore throat and felt miserable, so it was just  the rest of our family.  We went up to the ski resorts, that Coby or Colton  had never been too. It was so yummy.  Coby and I both had the fish tacos and they were delicious and I probably used most of my calories for today, but it was worth it.

 Yesterday Coby told us that he got offered a job.   He told us about the opportunity a few weeks ago, but we didn't  know for sure if he would get it or not.  Well, he found out yesterday that he did.  He is moving to  ISTANBUL, Turkey. 

It is a wonderful opportunity and he is getting paid very well.  The company he is working with is providing free housing and several of his friends are going to work there too.  I think it is a good opportunity for him.  I am excited for him.  He is such a hard worker.   CONGRATS  Coby!!!!!!   We love you, and we will miss you terribly!  He will leave right after he graduates from college this April.  

I am so grateful for MUSIC---Post 19

Last night I was able to attend, The Messiah in my old Sandy Central Stake. They did an amazing job!   I am so grateful for music!!! 

.Music can move me to tears or bring a big smile on my face.  I have so many memories that are tied to music.  A certain song can start playing and it brings back feelings or remembrance of an experience.

I like all sorts of music.  I love classical, opera, soft rock,  and top 40.  Honestly,  I LOVE most music.   I love how music can change the mood.  I love how music can bring the spirit so strong, so quickly. 

 

 I love beautiful hymns.  I love how  music can constantly change the tempo and the rhythm.  

I love all the happy memories I remember when I hear beautiful music.  It reminds me so much of people, places, events and so many other things.   I am so grateful to all of the musicians for their dedication and hard work to bring so much beauty to others.  I am grateful I have several musicians in my family!!!  Thank you for  helping me feel greater happiness in my life!!!

Last day in Seattle

On Thursday Matt went boat shopping with his dad.   I went to a funeral for George Hanson. My sister Katie said she would drive me there, because I really wanted to be able to go. Thank you Katie!!!!
 When I was eight years old George and Erma Hanson started  coming over to our home where my father and mother taught them the gospel.  My mom was such a natural missionary and she asked them if they would like to come over to our home for FHE.  Six months later the Hanson's were baptized by my Dad.  We developed a close relationship with them and spent a lot of time in each others homes.  Erma was my first young women's president and then became the stake young women's president.  I use to baby sit her children a lot and we would just visit.  She was such a strength to me after my mom died too.   Then after I was married and I moved back into the ward I was the cub scout leader and we held cub scouts at her home.  It was so nice to reconnect with her then too.  

It was a beautiful service. My step mom, Sheryl was asked to read a beautiful poem too.  It was so nice to see people I hadn't seen for so many years.  So many people from the ward I grew up from were there and I loved visiting with them. 

After the funeral Katie took me to one of my mom's Laurels she taught.  When she was a Laurel my mom had given her a beautiful  statue.  She asked me to stop by her home as she had a gift to give Kara.  I thought it was so touching that she had saved it for my daughter.  What a sweetheart she is.

When I got back to Matt's parents home Matt and Kara were working in the his parents yard with them.  It looked great.  Then we went to the beach that is practically in their back yard. 

 Then we left to go to Matt's sister, Melissa's home.  Her husband Herb had made us a very delicious dinner.  If only I could make spaghetti like him.

 We had a wonderful time visiting with their family. 

 Matt's parents with Kara in the back ground.   While we are there Kara sang a solo and tried to play the piano on a miniature piano.  And then Dylan and Michael played their trumpet and french horn (I think that is what they played) for us.  It was amazing. 

As we were leaving Matt's sister Melissa asked Herb to take some pictures of us. Here is one of them. 

Pirates of Penzance---Kara got a part in her school play!

This week Kara tried out for the play of Pirates of Penzance.  She and over a 100 of her closest friends. There were only 5 main girl parts and as  you can image most of the people who tried out were girls. She made it back for callbacks yesterday so we were kind of hopeful.  I told her we would have a pity party or a celebration party!   Well, it turned out to be a celebration party.  She got the part as Edith!!!  I am really excited for her and so glad that her practices are close to our home!  We just finished with Cinderalla less than a week ago and it took me forever to drive her to practices so this is a welcome relief. Also, it is great that she gets to do the play with some of her friends from school!!!! Yay!!!!!   Here is the list of parts!!!!!! 

• Major-General Stanley (comic baritone)
• The Pirate King (bass-baritone)^[22]
• Samuel, his Lieutenant (baritone)
• Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice (tenor)
• Sergeant of Police (bass)^[22]

General Stanley's daughters:

Mabel (soprano)

Edith (mezzo-soprano)  Kara's part!!!!! 

Kate (mezzo-soprano)

Isabel (speaking role)

• Ruth, a Piratical Maid of all work (contralto)

• Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters

3-30-10 Spring Recital

Spring Piano/voice recital came and Kara sang two numbers for it and played two songs on the piano. Matt, Colton and I were all there to hear her perform. She did a wonderful job! We were very proud of her and she also found out that she made it into Concert Choir which she was very happy about!

She also got her 3rd quarter report card which was a 4.0 and she will be in the only two honors classes offered, Honors U.S. History, and Honors English. The competition is so tough to get in these classes that it is unbelievable. All I can say is~~~Utah. She also got the Reading class waived for next year because of her score, so she gets to take a foreign language class next year instead. So guess what she has chosen to take, Mandarin Chinese, why of course. Could it be that I forgot that she was adopted after all of these years? You know that seems to be the only explanation right now that seems to work!

12 Dancing Princess Pictures and other favorites!

Kara was in the play the "12 Dancing Princesses". Her middle school does one musical once a year and this year they did the 12 dancing princesses. Over 300 hundred students tried out. The director had a tough job picking parts so Kara knew that being a 7th grader meant that the 8th and 9th grader would get most of the parts. She still was very optimistic and held hope. There was 12 main roles for the princesses and all of the princesses went to 8 and 9th grade girls except for 1 princess which was her friend and then the next main roles were the 12 ladies in waiting and most of them went to 8 grade girls except for 3 seventh grade girls and one of them happened to be Kara. She was thrilled and she did an amazing job!

There was 198 students involved in the play and they did such a great job. It was fun to also be involved in the play behind the scenes because the youth were so excited to be a part of it. There costumes were so colorful and they had worked so hard!

Matt's office wall; don't the ladies do a great job of decorating for goals?
One of my sons wearing pink~~~~~Spencer ----I LOVE it!
Kara after her play with her brother Coby who came to see her play!!!!

A scene during the play!
Back stage with another fellow lady in waiting

My decorations for our R.S. Birthday dinner centerpiece, at home. On the birthday presents I put cupcakes on them on the cupcake wrapping paper.
Matt holding my newest nephew Jett who is 4 months. Isn't he a cutie?!
Ms. Kimball our wonderful Director as patient as can be!!! She deserves a very big 1st place gold medal for all of her hard work!

Kara with more of her friends!!!!
I had lunch with two of my girls friends from high school and one of their daughters. Heidi and I were in the same ward since we were in 1st grade and we grew up right up the street from one another. Melanie and I were in the same class together starting in 2nd grade and shared the same teachers a lot. She joined our ward, the Federal 1st ward when Heidi and I were moved to the Federal Way Stake from the Renton Stake and Melanie was moved into our ward. It was pretty remarkable how they formed our ward then. But when they did we had around 10 to 12 active girls in our age group. We had so much fun growing up together as young women and we were all very close. One of those young women became my sister in law, Annette Anderson,now Mackey. I hung out a lot with her too so that was pretty sweet to have her in the family now!

Pictures from the last couple of weeks!

Colton has been very busy working at cub scout day camp six days a week. He leaves at 6:30 am (we are in a great car pool with a total of six scouts) every morning and gets home around
4:00 pm each afternoon. He likes working with the 8 and 9 year old cub scouts. The only problem is that it has been having thunder storms, but he is such a trooper. The picture above is one of him drenched and how I have found him the afternoons I pick him up and lets not forget the mud too.
Memorial Day Weekend Camping Trip--Kara and Matt posing for a picture. And it was raining a little bit too, but the smores were yummy.
6th Grade Party Celebration Party that was loads of fun! After wards the teacher and students gave us a wonderful program. I have really enjoyed working with Mrs. Robison this year. She was an amazing teacher.
After the program we took pictures. What cute 6th graders!

Matt cooking hot dogs and hamburgers with a grill that didn't want to cooperate.
A funeral/graveside service for my former stake president in my youth President Charles Terry Graff. He had nine children 8 boys and 1 daughter. One of my good friends, J'aime Jones Graff married one of the brothers. I was the same age as one of his children. I love his wife Virginia and they are a remarkable family. What a sad day for his children and wife.
Kara performing at the the School Talent Show singing, "Freckles." She did amazing.
The back drop from the Draper temple Celebration. In the final number the Draper Temple comes out of the Mountain at the very top.
Kara in her costume with other girls from our stake in their costumes. Pretty cool.
At home before we left posing in her costume. Lindsay and Spencer off to the left getting ready to go to her performance too.
A blurry picture of Kara in her student council dance performance at the School Talent Show.
Kara on the last day of school. I think in this picture Kara and Coby kind of look like each other. Coby kind of makes that look too.
These pictures are totally out of order. This is Colton before the Draper Temple Celebration. The youth in the Choir were to wear a black tie, and black pants and wear a long shirt (he had to change, but we didn't have time once he did).
Edgemont Elementary mascot the eagle and Miss Brinton one of our favorite teachers at the school. Pretty fitting for the last day of school.
Colton's birthday cake. He wanted a baseball or soccer ball cake. So here was my best attempt.


All he wanted was money for his birthday and he is planning on saving it for something big and for college. We are glad we have Colton in our family.