Les Miserables Pictures

Here are some of the pics from the last two dress rehearsals.  I'll try and post pics after opening night tonight!

The girls have been having a blast.  I finally remembered the camera today so I could capture some of the back stage moments. 

Trying to get the camera to take good pictures in the dark is not easy.  If anyone has anymore tips, that would be great.  It's great to have a good camera and David and I have been learning lots of new "stuff"!  BUT, it's obvious that sometimes we just get good pictures by luck.  Hopefully we'll get better as we go.

Getting ready in the dressing room.  All I have to say is the lights are very HOT!  One of the girls asked me today why all mom's think that bathroom lights are hot.  I told her I used to think my mom was crazy too! 

Kiersten is ALL READY TO GO!  Waiting for her turn on stage.  She brought her book today.  She wanted to read SCARY STORIES to the big kids.

They put this sign on the door to the stage.  It doesn't work very well.

The girls!

I was trying to take a few pics from on stage.  I like the way this one turned out.  This is when they bring Valjean back to the bishop after steeling the candlesticks. 

Stage right - hanging out with Andrea before going on stage. 

This is Ryan, Lilly (young cosettes) big sister.  She also is Alexis's mom on stage.  She is pregnant for the first half of the show.  We decided we should photograph how stage babies are made.  Here is it........Wasn't that easy!  Too bad it doesn't happen this way in real life.   

Jessica and Kiersten working out some blocking in the back hallway before going on stage. 

I took these pictures from stage right.  You can't see young cosette, but this is right when Madame notices she is still there and they both turn to look at her.

Kiersten just after coming off stage for the first time with a real audience.  She was stoked!  I asked her how it was with "real" people and her reply was there have always been "real" people in the house.  Pam, Noralee, the kids in the cast, stage crew etc.  How silly am I?

Alexis hanging with her new best friends back stage. 

This is Kiersten walking up the back set of stairs on the set just before entering with her dad.  It's grainy, because it was pitch black when I took this shot.   

You can barely see Kiersten's head beyond the platform.  This is in the beggars seen.  I couldn't see Madi or Lexi with the camera today.  I'll have to position myself in a better spot tonight. 

This is Ryan.  It's looking like that baby is coming soon!

Kiersten after her costume change.  She is trying to hide her pretty curls with a shawl for the next few scenes.

Alexis, ready to go back on stage.

Madi and Lilly!

The lights are red back stage so the pictures looked horrible, till I discovered how to change them to black and white.  This one is so cute!  It captures their darling little faces.  They have become great friends.

Kiersten back in the dressing room sharing treats with her friends.

The baracade!  One of my favorite scenes, when Gavroche gets shot.  I walked out into the house to shoot these.  When I was walking back around someone asked me if I had been crying......yes.  It made me cry today and that darn mascara gave me away!  This scene is amazing.

This is the end of the scene!  They are all dead.

This is the wedding scene.

They are fabulous.

The epilogue and finale.  Kiersten comes down from the top with the bishop, and Madi and Alexis come in stage right and go half way up the stairs.  I couldn't get a good pic of the lower ones today, I'll keep trying.

After the show the cast greets their guests.  Believe it or not, the girls were shy for just a second!

Kiersten and Lilly

Alexis and Nathan

Alexis and Nathan

Joseph (Gavroche) and Nathan

Dave took a few pictures on Wednesday Night.  Here is Little Eponine when she enters the stage. 

After Jean Valjean comes back to get Cosette, they bargain.  This is Lil Eponine watching them.

Cosette and Eponine

The beggar scene.   Alexis is right in the middle.

Kiersten in the beggar scene.

Alexis in One day more.

So you are all asking........were are all the picture of Madi?  There are very few so far.  I promise, she is in there, just haven't caught her on camera yet.  I'm not sure why, because she is usually the one in every picture.  That's the benefit of taking a good inventory of the pictures as you go......

I'll try and post more after tonight!

Mom said, "You all need a BATH and a NAP!

We just got back home from the final dress rehearsal/matinee for the elementary school kids.  Everything really pulled together!  It's a magical moment when it all WORKS!  As promised, I'll post pictures as soon as the camera finishes downloading.  In the meantime, a few thoughts about this incredible experience. 

I was trying to get the girls to hurry up and take off their costumes and eat their lunch so we could get home and rest before we have to be back at 5pm. 

They kept saying, "WHY?" 

My answer, "You need a BATH and a NAP before tonight!"

The girls insisted that they didn't need either. 

THEN, the "big" kids all said, "We wish our mom's told us we HAD to go home and take a bath and a nap!" 

This brings up the age old question - why is it difficult to enjoy some things in life when you have the opportunity to do so.  Too often we wish away our time instead of treasuring the moments in life as they come to us.  The high school kids were all saying how they wish they were little again and could take the time to have a nap or a nice bath.

I think it takes a lot of life experience to learn to enjoy where you are at, and treasure the moments that you do have, because tomorrow it can (and probably will) all be different. 

Triplets debut in Les Miserables

The triplets debut stage performance will be this Thursday night in Orem High School's production of Les Miserables. 

Alexis, Kiersten and Madilynn are thrilled for their theater debut!  Let us know if you are coming and we will look for you in the lobby area after the show where the cast will greet their guests. 

The show runs through Tuesday night.  The show starts at 7pm nightly, and there will be an additional matinee performance on Saturday at 2pm. 

For tickets call (801) 610-8165.

Orem High School is located at 175 S. 400 E. in Orem, Utah.

I'll try and get some pics posted today or tomorrow.  They are darling and having the time of their lives!

Monday Morning and Exhausted!

It's Monday morning and I feel like I got run over by a bus!  This past week was spring break.  (Need I say more?)  Dave had taken the week off work and we had a great time together.  I'll post more about spring break later.

This week starts the final dress rehearsals for Les Mis.  Since I'm already tired, I wonder what I'll feel like by opening night on Thursday?  Who knows!  (For the record, I fell asleep after church for my Sunday nap, and didn't wake up until this morning - Dave is a great husband isn't he!)

Well, I better run and get things moving.  There will be time to blog later. 

Trafalga at night

We made our first trip to the Orem Trafalga.  It was a weeknight evening, and it was not very crowded.  The boys wanted to play mini-golf outside, but the girls gave up after 2 holes.  Our feminine side didn't see the adventure in the added snow traps and puddles.  I took the girls inside and we play the glow in the dark course.  We ended the evening with the 4D theater.  It was great!  We'll be back often for more trafalga fun.

BYU game night at Uncle Don's

We love to spend time with Uncle Don and Aunt Melonie.....especially when it involves a BYU game!  Last night was no exception.  We had a decent spread of the 4 food groups.......salty, sweet, crunchy and carbonated! 

Dave mentioned to me while we were at Costco yesterday afternoon that we were supposed to bring smokies and crescent dough.  Well, Costco didn't have either.  So we decided on taquitos and a vege tray.  I made a quick salsa with corn and black beans, guacamole, add a bag of chips and "VOILA" we had food.  Melonie provided smokies, wings and brownies.

It's a good thing we had good company and good food because BYU lost the game and we are done!  It was too intense at the end in overtime.....so I gave up and cheated with my phone and googled the score. 

I'm always amazed at the media BYU receives and lasts nights game was no exception.  The commentators frequently bring up the honor code situation and multiple other unique things about BYU.  It good to see people taking note of our values and providing some positive press about them. 

SISTERS

I found out a little over a week ago that Megan was going to make a trip with the boys.  I can't describe how excited I am to see her and spend some time with her.  When I heard about her trip initially from mom, I thought she was coming last weekend and I was scheduled to work.  I was soooo bummed.  But then, like a miracle, she had the dates wrong for spring break.  I was delighted that I would be able to spend more time with her while she was here.

I was able to chat with her on the phone yesterday while she drove to Boise, and then spoke with her again this morning as she hit the road.  I would love to blog more today, but I've got to go and get my chores done so I can spend every moment I have with her while she is here.

When I told the girls this morning that she was on her way, there was a triple "SQUEEL"!  (That's not really a pretty sound BTW)  They are as excited as I am. 

Can't wait to see you SIS!

CJ's Birthday ...... more fun!

MORE PRESENTS FOR CJ

CJ's birthday just keeps going.......at Dave's party Grandma had a few more gifts for him.  He loves his new shoes and has worn them everyday since!  The jeans and shorts are perfect for his wardrobe (I think I appreciate them more than he does.) Thanks Grandma & Grandpa.  You're the best!

David's Birthday

Yesterday was Dave's 42nd birthday.  Dave figured out that sometime this year (maybe by our anniversary) that we will have been married for half of his life!

We celebrated by working hard all morning, running errands and doing yard work.  Then in the afternoon Cliff and Elizabeth came down and helped us put in a new toilet in the hall bath!  (OK, Liz and I didn't REALLY help put in the toilet.)

 Jerry has always LOVED boxes.  Today was no exception.  The good news is a toilet box is very sturdy and just the perfect size for a college student.

Dave's birthday present from the kids and I was a new BBQ.  It's a 45 burger grill.  I think that's like saying I'm a 10 cow woman.   It has four regular burners with a 5th burner that is a searing burner.  It also has a side burner for pots (corn on the cob here we come!) At the last minute we decided to have the family over for a little BBQ and made shish-kabobs.   Liz and Cliff gave Dave the coolest skewers for his birthday gift.  They are for serious BBQ chefs!

While the "BOYS" were grilling and having some male bonding time, I decided to snap a few pictures.  They are all getting a little self conscious in their old age, and so they wanted a new picture taken while they all "sucked" in their guts.  I was worried they might pass out.

David's favorite cake is the German chocolate with coconut frosting - NO nuts!  So that's what he gets every year.  This year, we were doing yard work and got started on the cake late.  Aunt Liz did the baking and she did a great job.  We were running out of time and I stacked the cake a little too early.  But, I don't think anyone minded that it was a little crooked and tipping.

The candles were difficult to make fit.  He may need to find a new favorite as he gets older - one that will hold more candles.   I found these cool tall candles at the store and was so excited to use them.  When Matt and I went to light them, one of the lighters wouldn't work.  I ended up using a candle instead.  Before we finishing lighting them, they were melting because of the heat!  It was awesome!

The cake and ice cream were devoured in our normal style.  My moment of sadness only lasted a few minutes when I realized there wasn't even a small piece left for my breakfast.  I'd rather share the calories with everybody else.....really!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart - I love you!