Singing at Graduation

Julia has been selected to sing at her High School graduation commencement!  

Graduation is just over a month away!

Modest-ifying ... again

I'm grateful that my girls don't complain when it comes to being modest in the way they dress.  They know that when we try on dresses or skirts that it has to go to their knee or below.  We have the kneeling down test to see if it is long enough.  Frustrating for Julia as she has very long legs.  Jenna is right there as well.

Prom season is upon us.  I wish the dresses came modest without coming across as grandmother-of-the-bride dress.  I have had to "modest-ify" all of the dresses.  I don't mind, but I admit it is stressful and has become even more stressful as the girls become more and more beautiful and with an idea in mind - and I have no pattern!

Here is Julia's prom dress in 2009.  We added a white shrug and I had to add a couple of inches to the length of the dress because she is so tall!

 Homecoming 2009 I had to add sleeves and lengthen the dress so it would go to her knees.

Prom 2010 I had to add sleeves and a back.

I just finished modest-ifying Julia's 2011 prom dress.  I must say I am amazed at how well it turned out.  In fact it looks even better than before I started.  I am also pretty proud of myself that I wasn't finishing it up the day of Prom ... I am a couple of weeks ahead of the game!

Here is a teaser ... the color is charcoal/dark gray with light yellow as the accent color.  Note - Julia is not into a lot of fluff and beading.  This is simple, elegant and beautiful.  You'll have to wait a couple of weeks to see her in the dress ...

Julia's last prom ...

Jenna is next ...

Pesky lil' buggers

John came home from work early on Wednesday - sick.    He rested ... and then the wood peckers got to work.

Yes, we have wood peckers here. They LOVE the stucco on our house. There was extensive repair work done before we closed on this house last summer.


John would chase them away and then they would come back.  So much for resting.  He ran to the hardware store and picked up foam, stucco mix and paint.  By nightfall the wood peckers left and John went to bed early.  Really early.  7:00 early.  We have several holes started.

John stayed home from work yesterday - sick. First time in forever that he took a sick day.  He rested and then the peckers came again.  He was fed up.  He grabbed his ladder, cut out the damaged stucco, patched it up, painted it and hung up cut up plastic trash bags.  So much for resting.  He did rest in between hole patches and the patching process.

Holes are fixed.  No woodpeckers today.  John is back to work ... feeling a little better.

Laundry expert in training

Kerst has been doing his own laundry since he was 5. 

Kendall thinks he is old enough.  He loves to help and he is a great helper.

Today the boys did their laundry.

Kendall took care of his laundry all by himself.  Matched his socks.  Folded his clothes.  Put them away ... and he hung up all of his shirts and pants!  ALL BY HIMSELF!

This is my favorite.  Notice the orientation of the shirt on the hanger (upside down).  He even climbed onto a storage bucket and hung his clothing up in his closet (and this shirt stayed on the hanger through all of that!)

What to do all day ...

It's a special day.  So what should Julia do all day? 

We thought about doing a marathon of watching infomercials in honor of her. 

 I made homemade snuggies for the kids for their birthdays last year ... and they love them!

 (I actually bought this at a local store and love the slap chop!)

 

After all, she is old enough to buy things off of infomercials starting today!

Happy 18th Birthday Jules!

So ... what is she really doing?  She is going to a local homeless shelter and serving in the kitchen during dinner hour.

For Mindy ... and any of you other fans ;o)

You requested it Mindy!

Enjoy!!!

I miss it.  Really I do - even though it was a busy time.  What an amazing experience ...

Side note - the "Belting" style in the last song was difficult for Julia to do.  She did an amazing job and it probably helped that this was the final performance and her voice was tired which allowed for the belting to come out even more.  Julia's voice has been classified as a Coloratura Soprano (not very many of them out there) and a sound that I love.

A couple of more singing solo clips

Julia was worn out after the musical.  In fact, the week after the musical, she made it to school 1 1/2 days (sent home sick after attempting to go back to school thinking she was "better").

The following week she lost her voice ... and had 2 solos in her concerts.  She still nailed them!

Here is a video clip that has her 2 solos from her concerts (at 0:18 seconds she steps forward and 1:31 she is in the middle of the group - you should be able to pick her out).

(Mindy ... stay tuned for your request ... tomorrow)

Enchords sing Adiemus

Julia's choir group she formed and currently directs performed Adiemus at the concert on Wednesday.   This song was on Avatar.

These girls are amazing!  They practice only once a week before school.  This semester they were only able to get together 3 times due to snow days, All State Concerts, CSAP testing, etc. 

One more concert before Julia graduates.  I can't wait to hear their beautiful voices! 

Sleep ... a must listen

Julia and Jenna had a choir concert on Wednesday.

Julia's Jazz Choir sang Sleep by Eric Whitacre.  Julia developed a passion for this composer long before the other students in her choir ... it is fun to see them develop an appreciation/love/infactuation for this music (although I don't know who loves Eric Whitacre more than my own Julia).  The beginning of this clip the choir director shares some background to this song selection.  It really helps you as an audience to connect to this beautiful piece.  The choir dedicated this song performance to the victims in Japan from the tsunami.

Side note:  If you are an audience member who needs to leave during a musical number, please make sure the door does not slam behind you!  I was able to edit out one of the door slams, but not the other.  Sigh ...

Pro airplane folder

Kendall has been into making paper airplanes lately.  He also loves to write words and names.  My front room is scattered with bananagram letters and words that Kendall has been forming.

Yesterday he busied himself for a long time folding airplanes.  Tons of them.

He told me he wanted to give them to his friends.  Friends?  Yes, the High School friends.  He was going to see them at the choir concert and wanted to give them something special.

He put a paper airplane in brown paper lunch bags and wrote the names of the high school kids on them.

After the concert he handed out his paper airplanes.  The high school kids were so appreciative and excited about Kendall's little gift.  Kendall felt so proud.  It was a sweet moment.  These kids are so kind.

I wish I had my camera to capture the moment, instead my heart did.

T-Rex .... Kendall

In preschool Kendall has been studying all about dinosaurs.  I know the boys are loving it ... just wonder what the girly girls think.

It is fun to hear Kendall tell us about the dinosaurs.   They are "stinct".  They are in the "mizeeum".

He loves to draw them too ... John took this masterpiece to hang in his office.

T-Rex  by Kendall

Remake of the musical Grease poster

Julia wanted to recreate the original Grease poster of Olivia Newton John and John Travolta from 1978.

Presenting Sandy and Danny (Julia and TJ)

I think it turned out great!!!

She has another fun photo idea ... we just have to find the time, place and put her back in some costumes.

For Deon ... a musical request

Because Deon requested it ... and since Deon couldn't be here ... here is the picture she has been waiting for.


Julia punching ...



What?  Not this photo?  Oh.

How about one of Danny trying to make a move while at the drive-in?  (I love Julia's facial expressions while she is "watching the movie")

So this one ... slamming the car door on your date after he tried to get fresh.  Way to go girl!

No?  How's this?  Almost a kiss ...



Ok ok ok.   Here's a picture of the Thunderbird

Julia aka Sandy learns how to fight

Yep.  Julia learned how to throw some punches on stage.  She has become very good at it too!

Take a look.  I combined 4 of the 5 performance punches into this one clip.  My favorite clip is the last one ... listen for Julia's Dad's reaction - classic ... (at 11 seconds).

Disclaimer - No one was injured while on stage during Julia's punches.

Goodbye to Sandra Dee

Sandy just arrived home after an evening of hanging out with the T-birds and Pink Ladies.  She is in her room and decides it is time for a change.

Goodbye to Sandra Dee ...

How to dump your date .... (musical)

I couldn't help it ... I had to take clips from all 5 shows of Sandy leaving her date ... stranded him at the drive-in theater.

Julia said that each night, TJ would crack up (his face was away from the audience so he could get away with it) which made it very difficult for her to stay in character - but she did!

Way to go Sandy ... leave your date if he gets fresh!  (And that was a real Thunderbird on stage!!!)

And another favorite from the musical

To set up this scene ... Close to the end of intermission, the curtains are open and the cast starts to meander in on stage at the HS Prom Dance.  There are some fun interactions (punch table is set up, someone spikes the punch, nerds ask beautiful girls to dance, etc).  Julia is the cue of when Act 2 starts.  When she walks into her bedroom (Stage Left) and poses on her bed, the house lights go off, the stage lights go on and the scene begins - all in a split second!  Julia sits like a statue (a beautiful one at that) gazing into the audience up the aisle for the first 5 minutes of the scene.  The dance begins ... and then Julia sings a song.

This clip begins with Julia turning on her radio.  Her friend, Madeline G., is the "radio announcer" and sings the duet portion.  Julia is at home on prom night (nothing like the movie where Sandy is at the school dance "hand jive contest").  To the left of Julia, the prom is going on while she is singing It's Raining On Prom Night.

If you ever wondered what an angel sounds like .... you just heard one.

One of my favorites - from the musical

Here is one of my favorite songs from the musical ... Summer Nights.

I love the saddle shoes.  I wish you could see Julia's facial expressions - they are priceless.  I love seeing her twirl around (the cotton fabric I used was perfect for this effect!).  Her voice.  I love how the girls drag Julia back to the lunch table to have her tell them more about her Summer (2:44).  And the fun ending note (3:41).

Musical thank you's ...

Closing night at the musical was amazing.  Sold out.  The kids were energized.  I had tears in my eyes during the last performance of Summer Nights (my favorite song with the leads all together).

It came to an end so quickly. 

Curtain Call. 

Standing Ovation. 

The audience finally sat down as the kids called our amazing choir/musical director on stage to present her flowers - she came out and hugged Julia (2 second marking).  Mikaela (Jan in the musical) gave her flowers (16 second marking).  Maddi (understudy for Sandy, Chorus Member and Student Councel President) gave the drama teacher flowers (18 second marking).  TJ (Danny in the musical) gave Ellen (25 second marking), the student director flowers .... and then the best part (35 seconds) .... you just have to watch ... and keep watching.

These kids are amazing.  They give one hope in the future because they are considerate, kind, respectful and grateful.  They were worth every moment of time the volunteers gave.

Personal Ads in the Musical Program

You can purchase ads for the musical program - it helps pay for the cost of printing.  We sold Business Ads.  There were also Personal Ads parents could put in the program as well.  One student put an ad in for puppies he was trying to sell.

I put this business ad together for our orthodontist.  He purchased a full page ad after I told him of my idea for the layout. (The ads all ended up being black and white).

I put these ads in the musical program for Julia (my sister, Kelly took the first two groups of photos for Julia's Sr Pictures).

If you are a fan of the tv show Psych (a comedy mystery television series), you would understand Boom Boom Boom Muffins.

More musical to come ...

First time in history

The first time in our high school history ... ALL 5 MUSICAL SHOWS WERE SOLD OUT!  Even the matinee show today!  Little girls were showing up in poodle skirts and cat glasses ... and waited in line for autographs!

Amazing.  Amazing show.  Amazing cast.  Amazing Julia.

I'll share more later.

Musical update

The Wednesday and Thursday night performances were both sold out!  Amazing for the middle of the week and also for state testing in the schools.

Tonight (Friday), I arrived at 6:00 to help Julia with her microphone.  That is when I learned that only 17 tickets were left - and a line was already forming to purchase tickets.  The show didn't start for another hour.  WOW.

There were quite a few little girls at the performance last night and tonight - and they stood in line for Julia's autograph!  It was so cute!  They were so excited to see her up close and personal.

Rumor is that Saturday night is almost sold out ... and Saturday matinee will most likely sell out.

Musical "Rock" and "Records"

The HS has a rock in the commons area outside that is contantly painted for upcoming events ... so we painted it for advertising the musical!  Julia and a couple of her friends headed out with some paint to cover the rock.  I followed up and added the words to the front of the rock.

It turned out really cute!

Kendall, Aimee (Patty), Austin (Doody), Tyler (T-bird), Julia (Sandy) ... painting the HS rock

I followed up and painted the front.  The kids in the musical painted their names on the back side.

The director also wanted to do something different with the biographies of the cast, pit and technical crew this year.  She didn't want to print the bios in the program but instead wanted to display them.  I came up with an idea and put it together.  Records and pictures.  My friend Emily found some records that were donated.  I selected and assembled pictures from the dress rehearsals of each cast member, head shots and bios and printed them as pictures and cut them out.  The kids assembled their own bio during their rehearsal dinner on Monday (and saved me a lot of time!).  I think they turned out great!

All of the cast, pit and technical crew have a record with a bio.  The cast members have "action shots" from their dress rehearsals.

Here is Julia's bio.  Signed.  Fun!  Danny's bio (TJ) is up to the top right of Julia's.

Grease .... Opening Night!!!

Hope you are planning on coming!  It is going to be amazing!

Here are a few of the millions of photos I took of the cast - If you want to see the kissing scene, you have to come see the show ;o)

Lunch Room scene - Sandy meets the Pink Ladies and Patty (the cheer leader)

Summer Nights song - one of my favorites!  I love Julia's actions and facial expressions during this song ... well, during the entire show!

Summer Nights song

Sandy is on the cheer squad ... Julia had to learn how to do the splits!

Danny and Sandy (Danny dyed his hair brown yesterday!)



Sandy and Patty

It's Raining on Prom Night ....







Drive-in Movie Scene - Sandy slams the door on Danny (I LOVE the facial expressions!)

You're the one that I want ...

I hope you plan on coming!