Last curtain call

Friday ended the run of Chess, Mark's last high school production.  Marianne's family and my parents were there which meant a lot to Mark. I had texted them a synopsis prior to the show because it's hard to know what is happening.  I saw it several times and it was still unclear.  

I loved seeing those kids perform their hearts out.  I loved watching their faces and knowing they were giving it their all.  It's easy to root for someone who is bravely being so vulnerable.

I didn't cry except a few little tears, but it took effort.  It feels emotional to be ending this stage of life.  It also is exciting.  I love watching our children move on to their next thing.  It's also scary.  It's a lot.

Saturday Mark went back to help strike the set.

First, they had a chess game with actors as chess pieces.  One of the stage crew took pictures and I had Mark text me the pictures.

They look like they're involved in some sort of ritual, but it's just chess.

I love how some of them, including Mark, are horses with hands posed.

Drama kids.  Whatever they do, they're all in.

 

Grateful Friday

 1. My root canal 2.0 was a success.  The endodontist declared the tooth worth saving.  Janet told me years ago to never get a root canal from a dentist, but to go to an endodontist.  I should have listened.  It was a much different/better experience (and I really like my dentist!).

2. I had to leave school early for the root canal and I had two aides cover my class for me and I REALLY appreciate them.  It's nice leaving my class in familiar and capable hands.

3. When I was leaving my class, my students said, "Good luck!" and "I hope it works this time!" and "We'll miss you!"

4. Last night was opening night of Mark's show.  His last high school performance.  In three weeks, he will have graduated.  The graduation bit makes me feel queasy, but I was happy I got to see his show.  Mark sang a solo and Emma leaned over to me and asked, "Are you crying?"

I said, "A little."

She said, "Me too."

5. I'm looking forward to weekend plans.  I hope yours is a good one!

A fun math problem

We're all about word problems in third grade plus right now we are starting to learn about expressions and equations.

So, what do you get if you have late nights at the theater plus insomnia fueled mornings times too many plus pajama day at school (dress up days are the worst--the kids get so hyped up)?

You get one very short blog post.

I will add a picture though.  These lovely ladies came to Mark's show last night.

Carolina, Desi, Marianne and Mark

I am so grateful to have family come to Mark's show.  For one thing I love to have dinner with them and catch up while we're waiting in the line for the bathroom during the intermission.  Also, it makes me feel loved that they love Mark.

Carolina said, "It was so cute!  I looked down and saw you and my mom wiping your tears."

Hey.  Just wait Lina.  Pretty soon you'll be a shameless crier too.  I think it's your birthright.

Another show

Friday, Braeden, Anna, Emma, Olivia and all her family except Ruben came to Mark's show.

It's one of my favorite shows my kids have been in.  And bonus, I understood more of the story the second time around.

By next Saturday, I'll be an expert.  You can ask me anything.

Omar traded off sitting on Olivia's or Edgar's laps so he could see.  When Marius was singing about being the only one left behind, Omar whispered to Olivia, "I wish Mark had been the one to survive!"

Emma cried when Mark died on the barricade.  I definitely flinch and squeeze Adam's hand, but Emma cried.  She loves her boy.

Some judges from some high school theater association (I don't really understand it) were there so Mark just had a few minutes to greet us then he had to go be "adjudicated" which sounds serious, but drama kids are...well, dramatic.

A few weeks ago, the boys who played the students had a mandatory bonding time that their director insisted on.  They got together and ate pizza and played video games.

I think it worked.

Since we didn't have much time with Mark, we took a quick but requisite picture of Mark and Anna.

Anna reminds me of the lyrics from the kids' song by Justin Roberts Cartwheels and Somersaults.

Well, we never really knew

How much we needed you

We also quickly took this picture and I was fumbling in the weird light and trying to squeeze everyone in and Mark was saying, "I've got to go!"

And his friends were walking by and saying, "We've got to go!"

Some of them are looking at me and some of them are looking at Olivia, but we got them!

Anna, Emma, Mark, Omar, Braeden, Marcos, Liliana and Ammon

Grateful Friday

I am glad for many things.

I'm grateful for my warm house and sturdy car and lack of traffic/recess duty.

Winter has us in its grip.  I am protected from the worst of it and I appreciate that.  We had both recesses inside yesterday which is kind of the worst, but I'm also glad to keep the kiddos warm and safe.  (I just wish we only had inside recess on days we have PE.  Can that be a new rule?)

I'm grateful for modern medicine.

Wow.  Mark was super sick and he took some antibiotics and improved dramatically.  I'm also grateful for doctors who listen to me when the rapid strep test comes back negative but I say, "I think he has strep."

Because my kids have had strep one or twelve times.

I'm grateful I've been able to stay healthy despite spending my days with coughing sniffling children.

I credit Wellness Formula which is this supplement I take and it wards off illness.  I would be in a multilevel marketing scheme for this stuff.  (Not really.  I will never have a money making opportunity for you.)

I don't know if it is the placebo effect or what and I don't really care, because I'm here for it.

I'm grateful for my students that laugh at my dumb jokes, hug me, doggedly try to pass off their multiplication facts, demand answers when they don't understand, and remind me to send someone for the lunch crate.  (Every day.  I seriously forget every day.)

I'm grateful for one sweet girl who drew Lehi's vision when I had them draw a picture to illustrate our vocabulary word, realized.  These kids are the best.  The best.

I'm grateful we picked Pleasant Grove High School.  We mostly picked it for the performing arts and we weren't wrong.

Les Miserables knocked my socks off.   It was just well done.  Opening night was thrilling and I was for sure wiping my tears when the lights came up but I think most of the audience was also wiping their tears so I was not alone.

When Mark was up on the top of the barricade fighting for the revolution, I kept thinking he should get down and hide behind it.  Another boy was down there handing up rifles.  Why didn't Mark get down and do that?

It didn't matter that my brain 100% knew it was a play.  My motherly instincts wanted him to stop being foolhardy.

I'm grateful for the support of family for Mark.  Last night my parents came to the show, tonight Olivia's family and our college kids are coming.  Monday, Marianne and Carolina and Desi are coming and next week Geri will be here.  The wreath of love that surrounds Mark via his family matters to him and to me.

I fumbled for my phone and was too slow so I only got this one picture. If you're only going to get one picture, one of the two Marks isn't bad.

He hasn't been allowed to cut his hair.  Adam said we'll cut it after the last show.  I said I don't have the upper body strength for that.  That kid has a lot of hair.

Finally, I'm grateful Les Mis has good music.  Because that stuff is in my brain and I still have 5 shows to go.

Leaked footage

Mark texted me the first video and Nola airdropped the second one to me in the hall while we were walking from sacrament meeting to Relief Society (her kids are playing Cosette and Enjolras).  Mark is on the pile of rubble as one of the dead students (I don't want to watch that part every night) and he comes in during One Day More and stands in the back.  Unlike his brother, that's his preferred spot.

Excitement is building.

I already have these songs in my head.

The news

Both Emma and Mark asked me if this time change was, "the good one."

No time change is a good one when you have a wall of clocks, but I have only myself to blame for that.

***

My girl updated her blog.

In related news, her life is way more magical than mine.

***

Our weekend wasn't without a little mysticism though.  We met with a color expert from Sherwin Williams to advise us on paint color.  Adam referred to her as our color witch.

She did work some magic.  She guided us to some perfect paint colors and when we finally bite the bullet, I feel more confident than I did before.

***

Sunday I asked Braeden if he wanted his:  fur coat, leather coat with fur trim, powder blue suit, etc.  (The child has costumes.)

We decided to save them for dress ups for grandkids.  I imagine my weird kids will have weird kids that will like that sort of thing.

We showed Anna the music video at Glacier Peak that showed Braeden in the fur coat.  Then we had to show her T Bizzle and the Funks (the exercise video Braeden and his friends made for health class).  Braeden said, "Let's just have our Come Follow Me lesson."

I argued it would put us in the mood for Come Follow Me.

Mark said, "We should have showed it to Anna before she said yes."

Anna said, "Would it have changed my mind?"

Mark said, "It would have made you say yes sooner."

That is a loyal brother for you.

After watching I asked, "How did we get such weird kids?"

The boys said I was the one who home schooled them.

I said, "Desi was home schooled and she isn't weird."

Desi said, "Kind of."

***

Later when everyone had gone home, Mark texted this from the basement.

I wanted to talk to him about it but I didn't want to go find him or even walk to the top of the stairs and call down.

I'm not about that life.

It was exciting news though.  They were one of only four schools selected to perform and they will perform in front of 4,000 people.  Because he is "a legend" as Mark says, Mrs. Rhodes' husband is driving a big truck containing all their costumes and set for the show.  I wish we could go!

***

The final bit of good news was when I woke up this morning and realized my dream wasn't real.

I usually don't remember my dreams but after a fitful night, I woke up in the midst of a vivid one.  I was at school and I had a tiny African American baby that I was fostering.  He was adorable and so tiny and I was trying to get him to sleep before I had to start teaching and a lot of my cousins were there for no comprehensible reason.  I finally walked through this beautiful garden (that doesn't exist) and he started to fall asleep but I was super stressed about getting back to teach on time.

Remind me in case I forget that I don't have time for a foster baby right now....

Theatrics

Last night we went to the debut of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which is the show Mark has been a part of this year.  The actual opening night is next week but this was a preview they were recording to send to a competition in Texas.

It was a lot of fun.

They are hugely talented kids and the costumes and sets always impress.  I love being a drama mama.  I was tired (since I'm basically a toddler) and although it was freezing cold outside, the theater was way overheated.  Next week I'm wearing a t-shirt.

Still, I loved watching Mark and his friends on stage.  They were having a great time.  I know how hard they've worked and it is nice to see them getting cheers and standing ovations.

So much positivity makes the world a better place.

After the show, Braeden waved his long arm above the crowd to let Mark know where we were.  Because Mark has been working crowds since he was a toddler, we had to wait while he stopped and hugged and greeted people before I finally got my drama mama hug.

I love these three (and the missing sister--sniff):

Mark and Anna performed their "traditional pose" for the camera:

Anna is a terrific bonus sister!

(Adam was there too--he took the pictures.)

Happiness is...

...seeing one of my students and his mom at Costco.  She thanked me for helping him into the school the other day.  For one thing, I'm surprised she recognized me since I wasn't wearing a million layers and for another thing, it made me realize that I'm not just helping a student into the school, I'm also reassuring his mom that there are people who care about her son.  I'm glad I have the job I do.

...sitting next to Adam during Mark's show (three down, three to go!).  He makes me laugh with his wry comments.

...having the Activity Day girls deliver treats for Adam.  They were giggling and thrilled to be on their errand.

...getting a Provo library card because I pay the fee to have an Orem library card.  Having fun isn't hard when you have a library card. (That's from Arthur; can't take credit.)

...no cavities at the dentist.

...not having to go to the dentist for another 6 months.

...having our upstairs furnace working 100% of the time now and we had new smart thermostats installed.  They are currently "learning" our schedule and I turned the heat up on my phone before I got out of bed.  It's reassuring to get out of bed when the heat is already blasting.

...errands with Mark and interesting discussions.  His brain is unique.  He told me he had been thinking about what he would take with him that would ensure him supreme power if he time traveled to the Stone Age.  We talked at length about it because there are a lot of things that would wow them. Matches, a pocketknife, solar panel, a pencil.

...knowing we have Emma's choir concert tonight.

...seeing birds outside.  It's still cold but birds mean it won't last forever.

Priorities

Mark's show opens tomorrow night!  I'm always excited to see my kids in shows.  It's fun to see their hard work pay off and to see them so happy.

Between Mark's show and Emma's concert, if you need me, I'll be in a theater.  (Except Saturday afternoon will find me at the Marriott Center watching Paisley, which is also fun.)

Mark has had a busy rehearsal schedule with long days and late nights.  Last night Adam and I went in the Subaru to get him because there was so much snow.  Adam made it home in the van and I followed behind in the Subaru.  It was dicey but he made it.

Between school and rehearsal yesterday I outlined the chores Mark needed to do.  "But," I said, "your homework is the first priority, so do that first."

"No," Mark said, "eating is the first priority."

So he ate a snack.  Then he ate right before rehearsal.  And he ate at 9:30 when he got home from rehearsal.

When nothing adds up to something

The other day Mark and I were talking about my blog.  He doesn't often read it, but he knows it's there.  And I think he thinks he is the star of the show over here on my blog.

We were talking about what it would be like for his children (and grandchildren?) to some day be able to read about him when he was five or twelve or sixteen.  Blogs are great because there isn't just one copy of the record and even if the house burns down, the blog is intact.  It's our family history and it's kind of dumb sometimes and wouldn't be interesting to anyone sometimes, but sometimes, it captures a moment in time that needed capturing.  Someday my children's children will know a little bit about their parents.

Mark said, "It's writing about nothing but it's something."

To that end, here are some pictures of Mark in his play.

Mark played Jerome, the lawyer of the lead, Frank

This is the shirt Braeden wanted to claim as his own. 

Here's Jerome, accosted by the press outside the courthouse

Here they're sending Frank on a cruise to get away from his rotten life (that he is responsible for making rotten)

During the finale, the cast was scattered in the audience, watching the sky for Sputnik.  Mark happened to be right by us.

A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.

 Honore de Balzac

Grateful Friday

Mark's play:

I loved watching him onstage.  He is having a fun time.  Braeden, Emma, my parents and my grandma all came to opening night.  Adam saw the last part because he was on a business trip and slipped in late.

Braeden wanted the 70's era orange polyester shirt Mark was sporting.

Freja's play:

Friday afternoon, I went to Provo and met up with Janet to watch Freja in a Mask Club play.  How fun to hug Janet and sit next to her during a show!  More talented kids and then Janet, David, Shari, Leif and Freja and Braeden and Emma and I all went to an early dinner.  Us and the Jorgensens and the Jorgensens and us.

I'll never get tired of it.

Mark's play, again:

I high tailed it back to Pleasant Grove to watch Mark's play again.  Adam met me there.  I saw Nola in the hall and she said, "We saved you seats."

So we sat by the Porters.  Nola nudged me in the ribs when Mark sang his first little solo line and I did the same when Louisa sang hers.  We laughed together at the intermission and Dave went on a fruitful search for M & Ms because the show is quite long and he needed sustenance.

After the show we met Mark in the lobby.  Dave and Nola hugged him before I got to him.  Is there anything better than other people being kind to your kids?

Tonight is closing night for Mark's show.  Marianne and Carolina are coming.  It's been a tiring week but also a happy one.

I'm grateful for family and friends and joyful kids.

Merrily we roll along, roll along... (songs from musicals you see repeatedly really get in your head).

Opening night

I've been here before; I recognize the scenery.

Mark's show opens tonight.

I feel the familiar mix of excited to watch/ nervous for him/ worried about him.  It's a grueling week for him so that's why I worry.  He's had late rehearsals and will now have late performances and meanwhile he has to stay on top of homework.

He's happy though.

He's with his friends and doing something he loves doing.

And that makes me happy.

(And also nervous and worried.)

Annie!

It's fun watching my kids in shows.  It just is.  Here is Mark as FDR:

One thing I also love about my kids in shows is feeling the love from people that come to watch.  My parents and grandma came on Thursday, Geri's been here since Friday, and Saturday afternoon Robert came.  It was lots of fun to sit and talk with Robert after.  At some point over the years I think he crossed from brother-in-law to brother.

I like going to every performance but ended up with a migraine on Saturday night and a terrible neck pain that makes me extremely happy that I have a chiropractic appointment today.  So I didn't go Saturday night.

I love drama kids in general and I am grateful for the associations my kids have had with them.  In Washington, I knew most of the kids pretty well because I was so involved with the drama booster club.  I miss that involvement, but it did kind of take over my life so this isn't terrible either.

I asked Braeden to take a picture for me of Mark and his friends, after the show.

Braeden delivered:

Jensen (who shaved his head to be Daddy Warbucks!) and Rachel and Mark

Same group but with the addition of Gage.

Josie, Mark and Gene

Andrew, who played Sandy (on a tricycle, it was cute!)

Savannah, who was Eleanor Roosevelt and valiantly put her back into pushing Mark across the stage and Allesandro who took Mark's dare to eat jalapeños after one show and took Mark's dare to drink Tabasco after another show.  I'm amazed he is still friends with Mark.

Friends who came to watch the show:  Brandon and Kaden

Grateful Friday

Yesterday I just walked around all morning with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  I realized it was because I was getting my girl back.

After volunteering, I headed straight to Emma's dorm.  Braeden and his roommate Ben were there waiting for us so they could help carry boxes.  We filled the van and Emma hugged her friends good-bye (except her roommate, Vanessa, who lives in Pleasant Grove...that good-bye was more of a "see ya").

Emma inherited a beta fish from her friend Bella who lives in Texas.  I may have said something about pouring the fish out before we left which caused Emma to be scandalized.  I said, "It's going to die anyway."

Emma said, "Well not yet!"

There's a reason we're not pet people and that reason is me.  (And Adam)

Bella had named the fish Bruiser but we quickly switched the name to Brucie and spoke to him in encouraging tones as we traversed the terrible roads in Pleasant Grove.  "Hang in there, Brucie!" as water sloshed on Emma's hands.

We got home and had Mark help unload boxes. (brothers!  a great invention!)  We just had everything somewhat sorted when my parents and grandma came.  I was so happy to see them.

We visited awhile then took Mark to get ready for his opening night, Emma went to work, and the four of us went to dinner at Chubby's.  I love the scones there even though they are probably only making me more like the name.

Adam joined us in the nick of time.  (Emma had enlisted Adam's help in stopping at the store to pick up a fish net on his way home from work.)

Braeden and his date, Lia, joined us too.

We enjoyed Annie and look forward to more performances (where I will try to sit closer and take pictures).

The girl who played Annie wore a wig so that her hair would somewhat resemble Mark's.  Too bad that kid isn't a much smaller girl....

(Not really, I like him Mark-sized and all boy.)

After the show, I watched Lia put on lipstick and then as we walked into the lobby to greet Mark, Braeden said, "OK, here we go, the moment of truth."

Then Lia (who knows Mark pretty well) hugged him and kissed his cheek and then Mark had a lipstick mark on his face and Braeden and Lia thought that was hilarious and Mark didn't seem to mind in the least.

I don't know about these kids, but that is usually the case.

When we got home, Emma was home from work and it is a delight to have her home.  Brucie's water was dark and nasty so Emma googled how to change water in a fish bowl and carefully followed the directions.  She was scared to hurt Brucie with the net and was just holding it there so he would decide to swim into it.  I told her she had to scoop but she was worried about "stressing" him.

I grabbed the net and scooped the fish and dumped him into the fresh water.  Emma carefully cleaned the dirty bowl and rinsed the rocks and fake plant and I couldn't help but realize with dejection that we have a pet.  I had to scoop him back into the clean bowl, due to Emma's timidity.

Who knows, maybe I'll start to feel affection for the little guy?

Emma joined us for scriptures and prayer before bed and that, my friends, is a wonderful thing.

Braeden and Geri and Ben (the roommate) come today.

And all of that makes me grateful this Friday morning!

Tomorrow!

It's opening night

Tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar

That tomorrow

The show will open

Just thinkin' about 

Tomorrow 

Clears away the cobwebs, 

And the sorrow 

'Til there's none

Mark donned his show t-shirt this morning which has hair that mimics his current tower of curls.  I said, "Let me take a picture."

And this is what I got:

Drama kids, am I right?

I'll always have a fond place in my heart for Jack

Mark's play was this last weekend.  The Importance of Being Earnest.  I loved the show when Braeden played Jack four years ago and I love the show still.

And now for the zealous drop of cell phone pictures I took.  I make up for the poor quality by the sheer volume.

The play was double cast so here is Mark with each of the Algernon's (although most of my pictures are with the second cast because my seats were better):

I loved that they were both ginger.

I loved that this Algernon reminded me a little of Jaden who was the Algernon to Braeden's Jack.

They had all the romantic partners the same throughout all the shows.  They were matched for height.  Here's Jack proposing to Gwendolyn:

Mark had the same Lady Bracknell too.  She was played by Braeden's friend Nate's younger sister and she was AWESOME.

Here's Mark in his garb of mourning announcing the death of his poor brother Ernest:

And here he is refusing to shake hands:

During the muffin eating scene, the muffins were so dry the boys really struggled to keep talking.  Braeden was sitting next to me and kept laughing so loud that Mark fought hard to not laugh himself. I kept poking Braeden and telling him he had to be quiet.

I've included this picture mostly because I was so enamored with Lady Bracknell's dress!

Here Mark thinks he's discovered his mother, Miss Prism:

And here is the conclusion where Lady Bracknell accuses  Jack of triviality but he declares, "I've now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being earnest."

And they take their bows:

It was great fun to watch.

I love that Braeden and Mark have had this experience to share.

Braeden helped some with the rehearsals because he needed to volunteer for his theater class.  I loved seeing the junior high boys excited to see Braeden and giving him high fives.

Friday night my parents and Tabor's family came to watch.  I'm really terrible at getting good pictures after the show but I did manage to capture Mark with Tabor's girls:

We were grateful they came to watch.  (Tabor and family stayed with us that night.  Tabor and I stayed up way, way, way too late talking.  I'm grateful for brothers and sisters who love me.  Talking to them always heals something in me a little bit.)

Mark, more introverted than Braeden (everyone is more introverted than Braeden), is not sad that the show is over.  He enjoyed it but he's glad to "get his after school" back.

And I'll be happy to see more of him too.

Grateful Friday

Six Things I'm Grateful for Today

1) Mother Cannon

(We got the name from Desi.)  Emma has extra money on her meal card so we all had dinner at the Cannon Center last night.  Even though it's vastly different than when Adam and Robbie and Erin and Rachel and I ate dinner every night together at the Cannon Center, the fond memories persist.  Love me some Mother Cannon.

2) College

I love that it is hard for our kids.  That's good for them.  Also, they are lit from within sometimes with excitement about this or that.  BYU is pretty much dripping with opportunities and I'm grateful every day they are able to go there.

3) Junior High Drama

Maybe I should say theater.  There's always drama in junior high.  Mark is doggedly working on his lines.  It's great for him to also have something hard to do in his life.  Also, he and Braeden and Emma are scheming Mark's costume for his upcoming Midsummer's Night Dream performance which will be set in the 50s.  There's possibly a baby blue suit involved.

4) Plants

Yesterday I moved plants around.  I brought some inside, I threw some away, I repotted some pothos which I'm constantly in a state of regenerating (I may have too many but I can't stop myself).  I repotted my outdoor geraniums and decided Emma's room with it's lovely amount of winter sunshine was a perfect home for them.

I can even wheel the wagon out if she ever deigns to stay here overnight.

5) The library

I get giddy sometimes when I go there.  I leave with my bag overflowing with books I may or may not read but that's the best part.  Yesterday I found a modern retelling of Emma by Alexander McCall Smith.  Jane Austen and Alexander McCall Smith?  Literary dream team.

6) Adam

The more time I spend with him, the more I like him.  This strikes me as a good thing when I'm married to the guy.  We discuss current events and our children and what's going on in our world.  He encourages me when I'm discouraged and I try to do the same.  I also read aloud to him from Alexander McCall Smith.

7) My parents

Today they'll be around so we're going to lunch and to the temple.  Proximity for the win.

Two Jacks

Monday Mark built a fort.  He just does that occasionally. 

Also, Mark has been cast as Jack in The Importance of Being Earnest and coincidentally Braeden played Jack four years ago at Glacier Peak High School.  He was quite the dandy:

For the theater class Braeden is currently enrolled in at BYU, he has to volunteer 10 hours with a theater program.  Mark's school seemed like the obvious choice.  Last night at rehearsal, Braeden was tasked with helping the cast with their accents.

Braeden came here after and Mark wanted to show him the fort, of course he did.  They took Mark's script and Braeden's old script inside.

My two boys, in a blanket fort, speaking in British accents.

I love my two Jacks.  I just wish my Jill had been here too.  (She stays on campus more than her brother does....)

Singin In the Rain!

I loved the show Mark was in last weekend.  So did he!  I love seeing my children enjoy good opportunities.

Friday night my parents and Liliana and Carolina came to the show.  I got a picture of him with my mom but not with anyone else.

I did however eat part of Lili's and Lina's milkshakes.  I'm not sure that's relevant but just to let you know, I was glad they were there.

Here's a picture of Mark with his good friend who came to watch him.

Friends are worth a lot.

Here are some of my favorite shots of him dancing and singing:

He's the one with suspenders in most of the pictures. 

Geri came Friday too and was here for the weekend.

I am grateful for supportive family, time together and seeing my children happy.  I like drama kids.