School is OUT!

May 28^th

We have endured the last few weeks of school and made it to the end.  I am going to say with out a doubt that MAY is in the running with December for the craziest months of the year.  I’m usually full of happy feelings and ready to start summer with a bang, but this year it comes with mixed feelings.  I’ve thought about why all week long and I think the sad feelings come from a few places.

First, I was not able to spend time in the girl’s classroom this year.  Usually when the year is over, I have logged many hours and made tons of memories with the kids at school.  This year I felt like I struggled to know what was going on, and didn’t have that special connection with the girls.  I didn’t really worry about it all year long because I knew I was doing what I could, but at the end it made me sad to realize I had missed all those days with them.

The second thing on my mind is that we are usually celebrating finishing another year of school with the boys.  Each one until now has been about recognizing their accelerated academic achievements, being proud of many sports and fine art accomplishments.  This year instead of wanting to celebrate a great year in high school, I was left worrying about KC and just how far behind he really is.  Feelings of the painful hard work to accomplish so little toward graduation and still not knowing how he will make up all the credits and if will be able to graduate on time.

Summer will be a welcomed changed from the school year.  Hopefully KC will continue to make progress and be able to handle a full schedule next year.  I'm looking forward to spending one on one time with the kids as well as lots of time together. 

KC's 15th Birthday Party Menu

I can say without a doubt that we are so happy to see KC looking so good to celebrate his birthday this year.  I thought it would be easier to put a link to the blog, instead of texting the details.  And yes, I know I can't ever keep it small. 

So if you bet on the fact that I couldn't keep it to a single dessert and few appetizers, YOU WIN!  

 Here it goes!

Party starts at 5ish......That means arrive sometime after 5pm :)  We will go as long as people last, or until the clock strikes TWELVE (midnight that is).  Please feel free to come and go as you are able.  We'd love to see you all, even if it's just for a few minutes. 

The plan is to talk, chitchat, banter, parley, shoot the bull, kibitz, yak, lecture, negotiate, catch up with each other

AND

play some games! 

THE MENU

KC's Favorite Things . . . To eat!

Grilled Cheeseburgers

 with all the fixing's 

(Dave is anxious to put his his "45" patty grill to the test!)

Harry Carry Fries

(Deep fried goodness - it does start out healthy - fresh potatoes, cut into thin, twirly ribbons, deep fried by the fry master himself CLIFF, smothered in your favorite sauce....BBQ, Ranch, Fry Sauce, Ketchup etc!)

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Hardly counts as a vegetable it's so good, topped with crunchy candied pecans, feta cheese and sweet poppy seed dressing.

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

A torted, rich chocolate cake,  filled with whipped sweet cream and diced strawberries, drizzled with milk chocolate ganache and topped with more strawberries.

ECLAIRS in a PAN

The legendary, feed a thousand, decadent dessert.  Layers of rich vanilla pudding and graham crackers topped with a velvety chocolate icing.  One of our MOST famous crowd pleasers!  

Aunt Kristin's Pretzel Jello

Crunchy, Sweet, Creamy....need I say anything else?

Aunt Elizabeth's Carrot Cake

Grandma Mullen Style - if you haven't tried this one you've been missing out! 

& Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Does anyone else see the strawberry theme happening here?

Grandma's Pie Crust Cookies

Hot from the Oven!

KC requested his favorite ones, the snails!  If your a flat lover, let us know, we'll do some of those too. 

Aunt Wendy's AWESOME POP

In many varieties, and you can request yours on the rocks at our house:)

Aunt Susie's Green Salad

We were hoping for one thing healthy?  This might be it? Maybe?

And . . . . . . anything else I come up with in the next 24 hours!

Love you all -

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

A Quiet Saturday Morning

It's a lovely "spring" morning today.  Really, it's about time to have some good weather.  David and I went and picked up our Bountiful Baskets and then headed home to find the girls eating Lucky Charms on the patio. 
I was greeted by Kiersten who boldly told me,

 "Eating Lucky Charms will make you grow very tall!  You should have eaten more Lucky Charms MOM!" 

 Mom - "How do you know Lucky Charms will make you tall?"

Kiersten - "It says so right here on the box!"

Mom - "Let me see that box."

The box says - "Grow up strong with Big G kids Cereals."  (With a picture of a boy next to a measuring tape showing how tall he is.) 

Alexis - "It even has whole grain, it's guaranteed!"

Dad - "Your right!  If Grandma had let mom have more sugar cereal, she would have been taller!"

You've got to love marketing!  I purchased 6 boxes of Lucky Charms yesterday at Winco.  They were a great deal so I couldn't resist (less than $1.50/box).  There is only ONE box left.  I guess when it's gone, it's gone!  The good news is, they still love cracked wheat, steel cut oats, germade and lots of other healthy things for breakfast.  I won't complain too much about cold cereal because it's something they can get on their own when we don't feel like getting up to fix them breakfast. I figure it's enriched and a good thing to have for food storage. 

While the girls were eating their whole grain guaranteed breakfast, I enjoyed checking my flower beds and new plants.  I've been panicking that I had planted too early, but all the little ones check out just fine.  David had slit the tops of the little greenhouse caps we put over the plants yesterday and everything looks very healthy.  I did a little research this morning on the Internet about how to care for my Daisy's and begonias.  I've never planted them before and didn't know how to dead head them.  While I was looking at the U of U extension site I also discovered that they should only be irrigated not sprayed.  Who knew?  Dave was going to change out the drip system that exists in that flower bed for sprinklers.  I guess I can take one more thing off his hunny-do list. 

Last week while Dave was out of town, I finished changing out the perennials in the front two beds.  I planted several colors of day-Lilly's, some cat mint, candy tuft, poppies, and a couple others I can't remember the names of.  It took all I had to pull out the decorative grass and shrubs.  My little neighbor kept telling me to take it easy.  In the back I planted butterfly bushes along the garage, Gerbera Daisy's and begonias with wave petunias along the back fence with some tomatoes and peppers.  I planted two hanging baskets for the back patio (Dave put up some hangers for me) with shade plants.  My Grandmother always had impatients in hanging baskets on her back patio.  They look bleak, but hopefully will grow quickly.  The garden is simple this year.  I only planted what I really want to eat/can/freeze.  We are trying little watermelons, pumpkins, zucchini, butternut squash, cucumbers and peppers.  I planted wave petunias all along the front of the garden so it looks pretty.  We spread a new layer of bark around and it's looking pretty good.   I'll post some of the pictures KC took of my flowers.  They are awesome.  I'll try and take more pictures of the yard as it grows and blooms.  

I still have to re-plant one of the butterfly bushes that bit the dust.  No one will admit to trampling it, but asking the boys who crushed it reminded me of how my Grandpa Rex used to grill everyone when one of his baby fruit trees would die.  He was known for planting several baby trees each spring.  Most of them looked like a weed in the middle of the grass.  He got smarter as he aged, and he would stake out around it and put up string.  They still usually didn't make it very long.  My boys answer to the butterfly bush, "Hmmmm?  What?  There was something there?"  I guess you have to post a sign to inform everyone where you plant your new baby plants!

Today I'm going to try and catch up on house work since the yard is mostly done now.   I don't expect to see any of the boys emerge from bed anytime soon.  I bailed on the card game last night and went to bed at about 1:30.  Apparently they stayed up and played four more rounds (one entire game of hand and foot) after I went to bed. 

The girls room is a disaster.  I'm really not sure how to keep it clean at this point.  Three girls can destroy a space faster than . . . . . . well, I can't think of anything that fast.  Taking more stuff out of their room it is the key.  But somehow, STUFF migrates back in there.  Someday they will each have their own room and there won't be so much arguing about who left what on the floor. 

I respectfully call the pile in my laundry room "MOUNT-LAUNDRY-MOORE".  And it's in fine form today.  My sister Megan calls the clean laundry that is in a pile something else, but I can't remember what it is.  I'll have to ask her today.  Since there really are two distinct mountain ranges, one clean - one dirty, I really do need to name the clean pile something different.  The boys (mostly Dave and KC) are great about tossing in a load or two, but it usually waits in a clean pile until I get down there to fold it and put it away.  I'm also picky about ironing, when I can be, so I like to iron stuff before I put it away (A habit I must thank my mother for).  Anyhow, that sometimes delays the putting away phase and just allows more to pile up.  For the past week, the entire ping pong table has been covered.  The sock basket is heaping, and I noticed that the girls just grabbed two socks that didn't even match yesterday and today.   When I asked them why they said that my sock drawer was empty too.  Hmmmm?  I wondered why all my socks were dirty?

I ought to photograph the laundry for posterity, but don't know if I dare.  I'm sure it would make someone else out there feel better about their own laundry room.

Well, better run and get going before the day is gone. 

KC Update

I figured I better post an update on KC before his story hits the news. 

A few weeks ago we were approached by the concussion clinic and asked if we would do an interview with Mary Nichols from Channel 2.  A little hesitant, we checked with KC's therapist and after a few days decided that we would go ahead with the interview.

The first day we filmed at the Concussion Clinic.  I was nervous, just not knowing what to expect.  The "CREW" was late because of traffic.  I laughed because the crew was only Mary and one camera guy.  Once they arrived and were set up, it was not that bad.  We filmed an office visit with the doctors and KC taking the Impact test.  We've had multiple visits with Dr. Rich so it was pretty easy.  The funny times were when the camera guy wanted something specific.  He would have us do it over and over again.  A few days later we filmed at the school and at our home.   We are not sure when it will air, but we will let everyone know when it does.  I'll try to put a link here on the blog.  I'm pretty nervous not knowing what they will edit out and what they will air.  It will probably be the two or three things I wish I hadn't said.  After all, with hours of video, you could say anything you want in 4 or 5 minutes. 

So, back to an update.  KC is doing well and makes continual progress, just that progress is very slow.  I keep track of a lot of things (due to my OCD Nurse behavior) and that actually helps me see the little things progress along.  If it didn't, I'd always be questioning if things are really getting better.

He still had a hard time just with four classes.  The teachers have been wonderful in working with him, and helping him with what he needs.  I've noticed on his great days he can get tons of school work done and it almost seems effortless like it used to be.  Unfortunately, we don't have very many of those.  Most days are somewhere in between really good days and really bad days.  We are starting to figure out what some of the triggers to his severe migraines are and try to avoid those.  It doesn't always work, but we try.  At this point, we have limited the amount of therapy we are doing.  The biggest reason is the benefit doesn't out weigh missing days at school.  I think we have all the "strategic" moves down, its just waiting for the body to completely heal itself. 

Most days KC's routine just seems normal now.  I've cried lots of tears over the fact that this has gone on long enough to be "NORMAL" for us.   I don't think about how long it will take for him to get better anymore because I don't think life will ever be like it was.  I think about how we can optimize what has returned and about how we can shape his future to be the most successful with what ever abilities he regains.  It's easy to see all of the doors that have closed for him because of this experience, but I will tell you that there are many doors that have opened to take the place of those that have closed.  As adults, it's hard to change where you think you are going in life, and it's hard for KC too.  I think he is finally starting to get used to his new future and now sees it as bright as the old one. 

KC continues to be very successful with his music studies.  While I don't think he will be memorizing anything soon, he has been able to capitalize on the increased hearing abilities he developed while he was without his sight.  Reading is the most frustrating thing for him.  It takes multiple times through a passage in order to comprehend something.  Even reading easy things like recipes, or a list of groceries can be difficult.  He often only remembers the first or last thing on the list.  We have found that if he reads out loud, or involves another one of his senses that the recall is much better.   It is really as if sometimes what comes in from his eyes just doesn't go anywhere. 

We are still very protective of what activities he is involved in.  All the doctors agree than any kind of a head trauma (even a very little bump) could still mean disaster.  Even still, he is getting out more and enjoying the outdoors.  He loves to play basketball on the back patio and is walking/jogging a bit.  The week we advanced him to running set off an un-usual string of severe migraines and the doctors felt it was exercise related, so for now we are back to just walking. 

He doesn't go out with friends much, but seems to enjoy family functions and just hanging with mom and dad.  I was teasing him the other day about the good "husband" skills he was learning.  He was with me on some errands and we stopped at Sally's to pick up a few things.  I realized he was beet red after I asked him a string of questions about which shampoo, color and brush he thought I should pick up.  I guess not all errands are created equal. 

I want everyone to know how blessed we have been as a family over the past nine months.  The miracles that we continue to see on a daily basis are wonderful gifts from our loving Father in Heaven who knows and loves each one of us.  We know that we are being watched over and guided by many angels (on earth and in the heavens) during this difficult time.  We are grateful for your continued prayers in KC's behalf.  He feels of your love each and every day. 

The "FLOOD"

I think the OHS Les Mis Flood will be an event that will go down in OHS history.  Here is my version of what happened!  (I love the version in the paper - it makes you never want to believe anything you read.)

After the Matinee on Saturday that cast greeted their guests as usual.  We gathered them all back on stage for a Cast,Crew and Orchestra picture.  Getting almost 100 kids into place takes a while.  They were tired, hungry and HOT under the stage lights.  The kids were finally all on stage and a few pictures were snapped when.......

The front row was wiggling and then one of the girls shouted out, "He's out, He is really out!" They rolled a limp body down onto the black stage floor in front of them.  I hesitated for a moment or two and then made my way from the house chairs up onto the stage.  I could see his chest rising with each breath so I wasn't panicked, but he was not coming around on his own.  He looked pale and shocky, but had good pulses (although he was very tachycardic). 

There were some good quotes with this incident, one of which occurred when I checked his pulses.  One of the girls cried, "Is he dead?"   

After giving him almost 30 seconds after I approached, and trying to gently bring him around I gave him a nice sternal rub.  He gasped as he opened his eyes.  I sat with him while some high school girls "petted" him with all of their genuine love and concern.   I waited for him to pull it together, but he wasn't coming around.  He continually hyperventilated himself until he started to exhibit physical symptoms of that as well.  After being unable to obtain any medical history or contact a family member I suggested to the directors that we should be cautious and call for some back up.  (For the record, I really hate being without monitors and all of the nice equipment I'm used to at the hospital.) I hoped along with everyone else that it was nothing more than a fainting episode, but you can never be sure.  I was able to keep him oriented to person, but he stated he could not move or feel his arms or legs.  I was not able to establish any cause for a head injury, but anything could have happened back stage.  So, we kept him still an awaited the arrival of the paramedics.

I was relieved to see his strip and vs.  BP normal, glucose normal, etc etc.  The paramedics dismissed the girls at his side (much to their dismay) and eventually sat him up after a full physical assessment.  We were eventually able to contact family and established nothing in his medical history to be of concern.  I asked the paramedics if they needed anything else from me and went to leave the stage. 

As I approached the stage door, there was a scream and someone yelling, "There is water everywhere!"  The door opened and sound of rushing water, along with the visual of inches of water in the hall, now flooding onto the stage made my heart sink to the tips of my toes.  I yelled for Pam and for more help.  The firemen/paramedics that were on the stage quickly aided us in establishing dams, and moving electrical cords, lights, costumes and the set out of the way of the flowing water. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the water was eventually turned off.  The assessment of what was damaged started.  What could be done to save the show?  It was decided that the show could not go on at 7pm.  The announcement was made to hundreds waiting to see the show.  The cast went up to the balcony and sang a few numbers to their disappointed fans.  It was a bitter/sweet moment.

The cleanup started, hauling out soaking wet piles of belongings and costumes out of the dressing rooms.  The sight was something that you would think of seeing after a natural disaster.  The kids combed through the rubble trying to piece their costumes back together.  Cell phone batteries were laid out with dripping phones and IPODS.  The kids were stoic, but the sadness hovered like a dense fog. 

Initially, it was speculated that there might not even be school on Monday, unless the water to the school could be turned back on.  This would have meant total devastation for this cast that had worked so hard.  There were so many dedicated people working on the problem, that by the time we were leaving, they had discovered the problem in the pipes and were turning the water on to the other parts of the school.  We received word on Sunday that the "SHOW WOULD GO ON"!

There are many things I'm grateful for, but most of all that the paramedics and firemen were right there on stage with us when this happened.  I can only imagine the extent of the damage that could have occurred had they not been so efficient in securing the area and getting the water turned off as quickly as they did. The cast pulled together and really helped each other stay positive and get things done.  It took many hours of work to repair and wash costumes and put the set back together.  I was touched by their integrity and powerful spirits as they made sure that everyone around them was OK.  There was a group of girls who stopped in the middle of the chaos and offered a prayer of gratitude for what was un-harmed in the incident.  What amazing kids who chose to focus on what they are grateful for, instead of what has been lost.   

I was mostly touched by the tender feelings expressed by the directors of the show.  Their concern and love for the students and families that they work with was intense and displayed openly to the school administration and the parents.  Their passion for the arts and their commitment to the kids is evident in all that they do.

Not only did the show go on Monday night, but the kids were able to perform an additional matinee Monday afternoon.  The respond was astounding!  The Monday night sold out completely!  The energy from the cast is at an all time high!

Tonight is closing night and we are expecting a sold out house again!   

I didn't have my camera with me when all of this occurred.  Dave had taken it home to download.  By the time I started taking pictures we were well into the cleanup.  Here are a few pics that we took that evening.

I would like to say that these are the experiences in life that helped me name my blog - You really CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!

Les Miserables Opening Night and Friday Night

WOW!  is all I can say. 

Renee asked me to put in a blurb about how we got involved with this production. 

As most people know, we don't go to Orem High, we go to Timpview.  One day I got a call at work.  My niece who does go to Orem High, Andrea, asked if the girls could audition.....I paused.....she said, "right now, the auditions are in less than an hour".    I had no time to think so I  said OK, never dreaming that they would realistically be cast in the show.  Dave agreed to run them over to the high school.  How do you go to your very first audition, no preparation, no coaching, no nothing.  I was told when they got there, they hopped up on stage and sang their little hearts out.  They didn't know the words because they had no warning.  I figured there was no chance of getting casted and it would just be a good experience.  Well, wasn't I wrong.  Skip to the end......we were going to let the girls rotate and take turns being Eponine.  I just had a feeling several weeks ago that it wouldn't be a good idea and decided that I need to just choose one.  It was a very difficult decision to make.  I talked it over with the director and decided that Kiersten should be Eponine.   I sat the girls down and we had a "CHAT" and it all seemed OK and had been from that time forward.  It was a very difficult mommy moment for me because I hate having to choose.  But we all know, that it will probably happen a lot in their little lives.  It actually has surprised me how well it's gone, and tells me that I might care more about trying to keep things fair than they do sometimes.  We have focused alot on taking turns in the spot light (literally this time) and look for positive opportunities for each of them to shine.  So far, it's working. 

BACK TO THE SHOW

You would never believe some of these kids are high school students.  The show is going well.  The girls are having a blast!  I spent last night back stage with the cast and it was very emotional.  The tears from the girls on stage were real, the feeling was awesome.  All of that emotion made it out to the audience.  Even the men were teary.

There have been the usual "hiccups" as there are in any production, but for the most part it has been amazing.  The mics have been troublesome and last night it was very sad when little Cosette's mic didn't work for the first part of castle on a cloud.  Hopefully tonight they will have most of that fixed.

"CAUTION This next part is a Mom's NOTE" 

The high school DRAMA (not the stage kind of drama, but the DRAMA, drama) is fabulous to watch from our MOM point of view.  We just look at each other and smile.  Mostly because I think we are so glad to be 20+ years away from it all. What is it about growing up and the DRAMA that seems to be necessary to get through your teenage years?   I have to tell you that the kids in the cast have shown that they have solid values and are strong in character and spirit.  It has been a pleasure to get to know them.  There are many who will go someplace very big in their lives. 

NEW GLASS

David and I decided to splurge for new glass for the camera after talking with the guys at Allen's.  We stopped by on Thursday afternoon to see if they could help us with our settings and teach us a little bit more about the camera.  They are always wonderful to us.......we really don't have a clue what we are doing with the camera, but learn little by little as we go.  Maybe some day we will really understand what the darn thing is doing.  Anyhow, we bought a fixed focus lens that has a lower F stop.  I just said that like I really understand what it means :)   The bottom line, it lets in more light and so our pictures turned out much clearer.  Since you can't zoom with it, I had to do some quick cropping on the computer, but it was pretty easy.  There are still many pictures we want to get over the next few shows, but David captured some unbelievable moments!

Today we are renting some really awesome glass (renting because it's like $3000 to buy this lens) so that we can do some close ups.  Hopefully it will be great!

Well, I better run and get stuff ready for Easter while I have a few minutes.  This morning we already held our practice for the Sunday program and the kids are with Grandma and Great-Grandma Jo at the Easter Egg Hunt at Jamestown.  I was really grateful that Mom (Grandma Barb) said she would just take them so I had a few minutes here at the house.

LOVE YOU ALL!
Becky

Here are a few pics of us getting ready, and greeting guest after the show

We have decided that Kiersten's hair doesn't curl well unless it's clean.  SO, she is trying to be happy about washing and drying her hair every day this week. 

Double curling irons......She holds one, while I curl the other.  This way, it only takes about 30 minutes to do her hair :)

Alexis & Uncle MIKEY!

McKenzie and Kiersten

Alexis, Andrea, Kiersten, Nathan & Madilynn

We added Lily to this one - she makes them QUADS back stage.  They are getting along great. 

Kiersten and Grandma Barb.  Isn't getting hugs after the show the BEST!!!!!!

The chain gang.  I love these costumes.  I had a lot of fun helping Noralee make them.  The scrubs were dyed, then shredded.  Sprayed with more dye to make them look dirty and worn.   I used the cricut to make stencils for their "numbers", then we spray painted them on.  It was fun to pick the numbers.  I made the first round (we were only originally going to do a few), but the boys loved them so much I came back with more custom numbers the second day.  My favorite numbers are 3.145, 90210, 8675309 & 2012. 

Nathan (cousin) is second one in from the left.

The bishop's scene.

At the end of the day.  Alexis is in the dark purple dress in the middle. 

This is Andrea cutting off Fantine's hair.

Nathan is dancing with the girl in the green skirt.

Fantine dies.

Last night the chair break was awesome.  It was the first time it waited to fall apart until it hit Javert.

Lil Eponine entering.  This dress has so much fabric in it, but doesn't it twirl great. 

Ma Ma!  her only line in the show.  She does it perfectly.

She dances with her mother and she spins her around.

What a darling little girl is she. 

I'll have to remember to blog about the day that one of the directors was trying to explain to the little girls that they were actually both abused and not treated very well.  Just that Eponine was still treated just a little bit better than Cosette. 

Master of the House

Lil Eponine and Thenardier come back to see what's going on. They find Jean Valjean asking Madam for Cosette.

After he hands Eponine the sponge, and tell her to start scubbing the floor instead of Cosette, she just looks at it like "really" and then tosses it aside and tries to listen to what is going on.  Her curls keep getting in the way, but she does the "really" face very well.  She has had lots of practice.

At the end of the scene, before Cosette leaves with Jean Valjean, she give Eponine her rag doll.  It's a very sweet moment. 

The beggers in the street.

The little girls ask their mom's if they can follow Gavroche.

Do you hear the people sing?

The Barricade

A little fall of rain, Eponine's death.

Bring him home

Javert's suicide

Turning

The wedding

The Epilogue.  Vanlean's death.

"It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes!"

The alumni cast from 2002 joined the current cast on stage for a reunion after the show.  They sang together a few of the songs.  It was great!