Photos Anyone?

Birdie Performance Photos

2012-02-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

BYE BYE BIRDIE is going FANTASTICALLY!! Here are some photos from dress rehearsal and performances.

I love the twirly skirts in this photo!!! One of the best aspects of the show!

Ed Sullivan Show with live filming!!

Bedroom wall complete with Mickey Mouse Club, Doris Day, North by Northwest, Sleeping Beauty, the Supremes, and of course...Conrad Birdie!!

Bedroom wall complete with Mickey Mantle, Buddy Holly, cars, Batman, and baseball galore!

Birdie Photo Shoot

2012-01-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

Here's the best of the best of my photos from last week's photo shoot. Overall I'm really pleased with the costumes. Some are just plain adorable. Still making a few adjustments!

Kim and Hugo

Teenagers

End of Honestly Sincere

Mae

Some Adults

Mrs. MacAfee-I LOVE her dress and I really love the matching vacuum cleaner I found at DI!!

Conrad with Adoring Fans!

Birdie

Conrad and Kim

Rosie and Albert

Mae and Albert

More Teenagers!

MacAfee Family Photo!

Adults

Notice Birdie's shoe!

Christmas in China!

2012-01-02T13:16:00.001-08:00

Mom and Dad are in China this school year teaching English. What's Christmas without mom and dad? So, Michael and I decided to take a little trip. It was definitely a different experience than sitting on the farm in front of a roaring fire with a snow storm raging outside. I prefer the Idaho Christmas but China was a great experience.

We had 2 traditional Chinese Feasts while we were there. They have a big turn table in the middle of the table and just keep bringing more, and more, and more dishes out to place on it. I had to be brave because there weren't any serving spoons; you just reach in with your chop-sticks and have at it. If you want something that isn't right in front of you all you have to do is turn the table. Most of the traditional foods I tried during the trip were pretty good but I was happy to get home to America. To celebrate I had cold cereal for dinner and ice cream for dessert. Yum!!

What's a trip if you don't find a pig!!

Along the streets they had various exercise "machines" made of steel. We are very serious about staying in shape!

I'm the Great Stone Dragon!!

We went to this really beautiful park (it should be especially fine in the spring and summer) and found this man playing a wooden flute. It sounded really nice!

My favorite day of the entire trip was when we went to the Great Wall. There was NO ONE there except us! The section we went on is mostly rebuilt but there are sections of the original wall. The section we walked took us about 4-5 hours. It was a beautiful, sunny day.

Thing and I walking along the wall

Group photo

Eating good ol' peanut butter and jam on the wall!

There was this museum made out of pottery and shards. The museum itself needs a lot of work but it was pretty cool to see how the building itself was made!

There is No Room for Mediocrity in the Boren Family

2011-12-07T06:42:00.000-08:00

I grew up hearing this quote. In fact, for a while Mom had a cross-stick that Grandma Boren did with this quote hanging in her vanity. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I really came to appreciate what this meant. It means that no matter what task is set before us we should put in our 100% best effort. Mom and Dad raised me to do this in such a way that I didn’t even realize it. Of course there are times when I curse my work ethic; sometimes I don’t WANT to do something, I’m too tired, it’s not top of my list, or it’s just something that interest me. I especially curse them when I’m tired (which happens a lot). But when all is said and done, I’m sooooo grateful for Mom and Dad teaching me this. I’m so grateful that all I put my hands to is well done. I can honestly say there is “no room for mediocrity” in my life.

Why is this on my mind? We’re working on choreography in my Drama II class right now and unfortunately, I keep seeing a vast deal of mediocrity. It happens with a number of my students in other classes as well. I finally had a chat with my Drama II class last week. Not only about giving their best effort in my class but in everything they do in their lives. If they go away from my class with nothing else I will have succeeded. They may curse me in their futures but there is NO ROOM FOR MEDIOCRITY IN LIFE!

Shrew Trailer

2011-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here's the trailer I made to advertise Taming of the Shrew to the general student body. This past weekend went AMAZING-especially Friday night! Come see it if you haven't yet!!!

Shrew Opens Friday!

2011-11-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

I took some photos yesterday during rehearsal. We added costumes. Today we add hair and makeup (full ensemble!). The show visually looks great (almost too good-it looks like a painting everyone blends so much-I need less red and gold!!!)
We open Friday and plan Nov 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 so ALL come!!!

Lucentio sneaks up on Bianca.

Book Merchant

Petruchio's Servants

The Wedding. We added back light to all the arches and it looks really cool!

Servant

Two Townspeople

Servant

Wooing Bianca

Petruchio's Wedding Garb-it's supposed to be clownish-I think I made it look too good. Oh well.

Lucentio preteding to be Cambio

Bianca pleading to Kate to untie her hands.

Wooing (we hung the backdrop this week and I think it looks pretty good!!!)

More Photo Shoot Pictures

2011-10-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here are more photos from Thursday's shoot. I've included many of them for my sisters to look at the costumes and give me feedback!!

TRANIO flirting with HANDMAID

BAPTISTA & ATTENDANT

PEDANT (Pretending to be Vincentia)

LITTLE GIRLS w/ BIONDELLO

Detail of VINCENTIA'S dress

FRUIT MERCHANT with TOWNSMAN & HANDMAID

TOWN SCENE

GREMIO

SCARF MERCHANT & TOWNSMAN

JEWELRY MERCHANT

OFFICERS & LITTLE BOY

LITTLE GIRL

PETRUCHIO throwing food at SERVANTS

TOWN scene

BIONDELLO, TRANIO, BAPTISTA, PETRUCHIO, GREMIO, LUCENTIO

PETRUCHIO'S SERVANTS

KATE & PETRUCHIO

BIANCA & KATE

Shrew Photo Shoot

2011-10-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

We had our photo shoot this morning. The costumes look GREAT (I think!). I wasn't able to get as many shot of the minor characters as I wanted for lack of time but here's a sprinkling of the costumes and some just plain cool shots!

BAPTISTA

Cool picture of OFFICER

GREMIO

BREAD SELLER & TOWNSWOMAN

KATE & PETRUCHIO

Cool shot of BIANCA

GRUMIO

PEDANT, BAPTISTA, TRANIO

Sitting on VINCENTIA

WIDOW & HORTENSIO

CROWD

PETRUCHIO SERVANTS

TRANIO & GREMIO

BIANCA & HORTENSIO

KATHERINE & BIANCA

KATHERINE

More PETRUCHIO & KATHERINE

Show is Nov 4, 5, 10, 11, 12!!!!!!

More Shrew Rehearsals

2011-10-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

More photos from our rehearsals. Photo shoot is this Thursday so over the weekend I'll post pictures with costumes-my favorite! Some have already come in and they look STUPENDOUS!!!

Hortensio and Lucentio wooing Bianca (played by my assistant director for this rehearsal)

Tranio and Gremio convincing Baptista to let them marry Bianca.

The cast at the wedding.

Vincentia being excited about her son's marriage to Bianca.

Townspeople watching the street fight.

Petruchio wooing Katherine.

One of the best moments in the show. Many productions (including the movie) you can never really tell if Kate and Petruchio end up falling in love. I've blocked the show in such a way that by the end you should be able to tell-I won't say any more; you'll have to decide if they really love each other or not when you come see the performance!!!!

Kate trying on the cap Petruchio won't let her have (this is a practice cap!!)

Kate trying to get Grumio to give her some food.

The Officers taking Vincentia away.

Taming of the Shrew Rehearsals

2011-09-26T14:39:00.001-07:00

Here's a few photos from Taming of the Shrew rehearsal. It's going really well. I have a great cast. They're really focused and quiet at rehearsal!

Random Photos

2011-09-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Now that Shrew auditions are over (which went great!) I can post and not mess up my videos for that!

Matt and Di were in town for a wedding Here's Aunt Mel and Olivia chilling on the floor together.

Meet Frank-he's very handsome. Aunt Mel loves him!!!

This is for Grandma-"I'm starving, feed me!!!" Typical Boren reaction to lack of food!

Mom and I went to St George at the end of summer break to see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn. Over all the trip was a big disappointment (we didn't like the show ((the the theater it's self is really neat)) and the Hotel was AWFUL to the point we left at 4:00 in the morning to escape it.) It was nice to spend time together, though, and we DID enjoy Cove's Fort.

Dad painted these pictures of the Garden of Gethsemane an the Garden Tomb forever ago for a church project. They've been sitting in my closet for...about 7 years. I finally put down the money and got them framed. They look really nice in my living room!!!

Painted Shrew Set

2011-08-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

We painted the set last week! Now I just need to dress it with plants and such. I'm also renting a backdrop so there won't be black curtains behind.
I'm almost done buying all the costume material (I've spent almost $2,000! eek!). There is going to be some beautiful fabric/costumes in the show!

Taming of Shrew Set

2011-08-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Stephen (as crew leader), me, Thing, Dad, and Hank Toon built the Taming of the Shrew set. I still need to face everything, paint, and add a backdrop but here is the basic let. Pretty COOL! The highest level is 10' up (scary). I'm lucky to have so many helpers.

Summer Photos

2011-08-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

I had limited internet access over the summer, but now that I'm back in UT here's some highlights of my past 2 months.

We took a hike to Grouse Creek to see the falls, wade, and roast hot dogs over a fire. It was a lot of fun! Here's Katie.

Olivia being a Polka Dot beauty at the Beach. It was fairly cold this summer so we only went 3 times. :(

Swing, swing, swing!

A summer wouldn't be complete without Nora helping Aunt Mel with the flowers!

"Argh-I be Duck Lips the Pirate!"

Jumping on the tramp with the spinkler.

4th of July Parade. Our tie-dyed shirts were a hit!

Beauty!

Who says the tractor is only for moving dirt!

Lovely again!

We went to the Dover trail at the beginning of summer and the path was flooded-did that stop up? Heck no!

Emy and Aunt Mel on the rope swing-so fun!

Being pulled in the hay field-luckily we don't keep cows there any more. In the "good ol' days" you had to have a shower after this activity!

Clara the model!

Aunt Mel, Scrunchy, and Lump

Christian is handsome! The 2 year olds loved playing with squirt bottles. I had to refill them many times over!

Walking through the tall grass in the dip

It was a great summer. I go a lot done for school but also relaxed and played a lot! I LOVE the farm!

Lehi Jr 2011-2012 Theater Season

2011-06-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

For all those students who keep up with my blog and have been DYING to know what plays we're doing next year-here's the low down:

Straight Play-The Taming of the Shrew (I love Shakespeare!)

Musical-Bye, Bye, Birdie (we're doing the 1 hour version with some revisions! The movie is somewhat different from the play but as far as character development they've done a GREAT job-hint, hint!)

So, I hope you can all sleep now. We're going to have a great year!

House Tour

2011-06-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Aunt Joan requested pictures of my house; I decided to do a virtual tour. So, if you're bored enjoy this EXTREMELY exciting video!!

Shakespeare Trailer

2011-05-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

I made this trailer to show in our lunch room to advertise for my Evening of Shakespeare. I think it's fun-especially some of the cuts and camera angles! It's nice to have Thing around to teach me how to make videos! I'm becoming a Final Cut pro (I wish!).

Shakespeare

2011-05-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

My Drama II class did their Evening of Shakespeare performance on Friday. Some of the scenes were truly spectacular!! Here are some photos of of final dress rehearsal. For some plays we did more than one scene-don't let the change of costume style confuse you! I'm officially done with performances for the year. My ballroom kids compete this Saturday but all I have to do is show up!!! It's been a WAY busy year but we've had some great performances!!

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Twelfth Night

Much Ado About Nothing

The Taming of the Shrew

The Winters Tale

Hamlet

The Tempest

A Midsummer Night's Dream

MacBeth

Spring Break

2011-04-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

I began Spring Break in AZ visiting Mare.

We had parties in Aunt Mel's bed many mornings!

A few photos before church

Nora

Emily

Isaac

We went to the park twice-Fun!

On Wed. I left for Cheyenne to visit Dianna. In order to maintain status of "Favorite Aunt" I had to go meet the newest niece Olivia!! She was being naughty and wouldn't smile for the camera!

We went to the Botanical Gardens-it was FREEZING. This is the beginning of a cool walkway that meanders through a pond.

One Acts

2011-03-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

My Drama II class performed One Acts this past weekend. Here's some photos of the fun!

Bull in a China Shop
About a bunch of old ladies who kill each other off to get the handsome detective who lives across the street to come calling!

After Hours
Mannequins come to life at night and take on two burglars who are robbing the clothing shop.

The Pot Boiler
A behind the scenes look at a rehearsal and how a director/writer can really make life tough.

The Ugly Duckling
Princess who is thought to be ugly disguises herself as the maid when her husband to be comes to meet her. Twist-the prince does the same thing so they're both playing servants!

As Promised-More Seussical Photos!

2011-02-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Seussical opens on Friday! Yea! The cast is ready to go. We've had a great tech because the cast was so prepared (despite their constant chatter!).

Horton with his inhaler

Jungle rejecting Horton and the Whos

Who women (Pick-a Little, Talk-a-Little!)

Hippo

Mr and Mrs Mayor lecturing JoJo

The Wickersham Brothers are BEYOND cool!

Maiyzie and Bird Girls

Gertrude and Horton

Who's begging to Horton to protect them

Yertle and Myrtle the Turtles!

Horton with clover

Cat in the Hat

Cat and Little Girl

Come see-it's going to be WAY fun!!!

For Mare and Paint Opinions

2011-02-08T05:51:00.001-08:00

I need to decide what colors to paint the tree for Seussical. I need a color for the canopy/leaves, trunk, bucket, ladder, base. Here it is and a picture of the entire set. Colors used so far in the set:
light purple
dark purple
light blue
dark blue
yellow
green
red

Mare-here's the dress I was talking about.

Seussical Photo Shoot!

2011-01-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

We did a photo shoot this morning. The costumes are AMAYZING (I think!). Here is a selection from my camera. I used Thing's camera 1/2 the time but don't have them on my computer yet; I'll post some of those later.

Bird Girls

Mr., Mrs. Mayor, JoJo

Bird Girls gossiping about Horton with the Sour Kangaroos and Giraffes.

Hippos!

Lionesses

Mayzie and Gertrude

Gertrude and Horton

Snakes

My hippie Giraffes!

Cat in the Hat

Cat in the Hat, Jo Jo, Little Girl (Cat's side kick-kind of!)

Whos (don't you LOVE that hair!)

Mr. and Mrs. Mayor (Holla Hoops are in fashion!)

Seussical Rehearsals

2011-01-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

We are currently working on Seussical. I did it my first year of teaching and LOVED it so decided to do it again-this time we doing bigger and better costumes, makeup, and choreography. The best thing about this round is I have 4 assistant directors/choreographers. I get to sit around and observe a lot. So far I've like most of what they've done! My stress level is WAY lower than it was for Peter Pan. Besides that, the cast is doing a FANTASTIC job. It's going to be one fun show!!

Jungle

Whos

Wickersham Brothers

Opening Number-Oh the Thinks you can Think

Giraffes

JoJo "practicing" music

Jungle

Horton looking for his Who clover

Christmas Break

2010-12-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

Keeping with pig tradition, I bought new Piggy slippers right before the break. The kids loved to steal them and put them on-"So soft and fluffy Aunt Mel!"

Katie, Sage, and I also all got floating piggies for the bathtub from Santa-fun!

My face is not happy with me, I've done a number of conceptual makeup designs on my face trying to finalize the Jungle makeup for our upcoming production of Seussical.

In the old days, we would pull an old wheelbarrow around in the field-tons of fun! The snow was too deep so we just went up and down the driveway. Still fun but lacking some of the daring trill of the field.

I arranged some Christmas songs for Mom's set of play bells for our Nativity play.

Peter Pan Photos

2010-11-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

Here's some photos from last week's dress rehearsal. Performances went Great 2 of the 3 last weekend; this weekend will be AMAZING all three!! I'll post more pictures from the actual performances when I have time to go through them!

Tink dying

What are your feelings for me?

Waiting for a kiss!

Sewing on the shadow.

Taking Tiger Lily to Lagoon Rock

Hook wounded me, I can neither fly nor swim.

Tink told me to shoot the Wendy bird.

Do you want Tiger Lily's redskins to scalp you?

Peter Pan Photo Shoot

2010-10-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

Red Skin

Tink

Pan and Wendy

Hook and Smee

The Pirates

Smee

Pan and Hook's Final Fight

Mermaids

Tiger Lily

Slightly

John and Wendy

Pan Rehearsal

2010-10-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

Here's more photos from rehearsing. Last week was a lot of sword fighting!!!

I made this arm glove for Hook's hook. Unfortunately, the plastic piece still doesn't fit over his hand. Back to the drawing board.

For Dad-Painting Questions!

2010-09-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

1st Two Weeks of Pan Rehearsal

2010-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

After only 2 weeks we ran Act I yesterday (minus a few small parts). The kids are doing great! The nursery scene is a bit slow but we'll get it. Here's some photos of all the fun we've been having!

Hook, Smee, and Starkey looking for Peter in the Lagoon.

Outside of the Underground House-Wendy has been shot

Wendy and John

Assistant Director and Peter Pan

Hook Costume

2010-09-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

These are for Jess and Mare to look at to see if they approve of Hook (imaging a wig and hat-plus a better hook!)

t

End of Summer Fun

2010-08-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Michael, Sherrie, the kids, and I went to Thanksgiving Point for $2.00 Tuesday this week. It was really hot but the gardens are really nice. The topper (especially for Christian) was the 50 cent ice cream cones they sold at the end!!

My brother David graduated from BYU last week with his PHD. I'm really proud of him. As I've watched him go through school the past few years he's really tried to spend time with his kids and wife by getting up really early to do homework. I'm not sure how he juggled it all. I'm also proud of Sherrie for all the times she had to be alone with the kids while David did homework. It's going to be nice for their family to have this degree done!

The skeletons of the Peter Pan sets are pretty much done. It's kind of hard to see detail because most everything is raw wood. Wait 'til we begin painting, wallpapering, etc!!!! The hardest part will be making everything move and change quickly. So cool that Dad and Michael were able to help me; the hard parts of the set are done and school hasn't even begun yet!
NURSERY

OUTSIDE THE UNDERGROUND HOUSE

BED IN THE UNDERGROUND HOUSE

PIRATE SHIP

THING AT THE HELM (he made the wheel; it looks great!)

Peter Pan Sets

2010-08-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Dad, Michael, and I began building sets this week for Peter Pan. We've gotten a TON done in 3 days. There is still a bunch more to do, though. It's a complex, interchangeable set for 5 different locations (I have to be really creative because I don't have a fly system or much wing space.)

End of Day 1-Nursery

End of Day 2-Nursery

We've also build 3 Neverland trees, a slide, 2 beds (including a ship mast attachment), and a dog/Tinkerbell house.

Under the Sea (Okay, Lake!)

2010-08-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

I never realized underwater cameras could be so much fun!

I leave beautiful ID and head to UT tomorrow-sad day.

Summer is Ending

2010-07-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my last blog, my sisters and I put on a musical theater camp for some of the kids in the wards here. We ended up with 20 participants. It was really fun! Here's some rehearsal photos.

After my niece Emily saw my Joseph play in February she's been planning her own show. So, as part of her birthday party we did a "Joseph and the Colored Coat" show (her title!) The kids were really cute! Aunt Mel brought a few key costume pieces from school!

Snow Creek Falls

My Birthday Luau

Dover Trail

More Summer Fun

2010-07-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Mare, Jess, and I are doing a small Musical Theater class for the youth in the 2 wards. I was choreographing a short section from Singing in the Rain and the kids decided to help!

Mare, Ryan, Dad, and I hiked a mountain one morning. It has a great view of the town and lake. I must be getting old because I felt tired the rest of the day (it's 3 1/2 miles up; not totally steep but definitely not flat!)

The goggle brigade!

Sarah helping Aunt Mel water the flowers. Some of the beds are especially fine this year.

Every 4th of July we make shirts for the day's activities. This year's were pretty cool. Unfortunately, when we went to the parade it was FREEZING so they were all covered with sweatshirts. Sandpoint did the 4th on the 3rd this year.

I've finished my Peter Pan script. Now Jess and I just have to sit down and edit it. I've been designing costumes for it and Seussical like crazy. I've also begun the Peter Pan set design. If it all plays out on stage like I see it in my mind it's going to be a pretty cool/crazy/hard set...we'll see!!

Keeping Busy

2010-06-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping fairly busy this past week. I've gotten a lot of weeding done. Minni (the cat) has obviously been lacking in human love; she likes to jump on my back when I'm bent over- making weeding very difficult. Sometimes she even drapes herself across my neck like a fur stole!

I decided the back beds needed more height so I added an arbor. Dad and Stephen were reticent but they were still very nice and helped me. We gathered wood from the back forest and when we went on a hike last week we brought some wood out with us! I've planted some English Ivy and a Clematis to climb up it.

Mom decided to make the sewing room into a play room (great idea!) and I made some paper flowers to hang from the ceiling-very fun!

Other than that, I ran a 5K up in Bonners Ferry Saturday. I did NOT get my best time (29:59 instead of 22:something). It was still fun, though. The best part was the huckleberry shake on the way home. Mmmm, the Elmira store knows how to make those things! I've been working on creating a Peter Pan script (time consuming but interesting) and...that's about it except the usual-lots of digging in the dirt and reading!!! I love summer!

Summer Break Has Begun!

2010-06-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've been home for almost a week now! There has only been one day I haven't taken a nap-and we're not talking 20 minutes, more like 1-2 hours!! It always amazes me how draining teaching can be. I don't have time during the year to really think about how exhausted I am but when I get home I crash. Luckily I have 2 weeks to recuperate before I have to be Aunt Mel and entertain the kids!

It's been pouring rain ever since I got here but yesterday we had some sun. Dad and I went on a long walk before breakfast. He collected worms for the garden (I helped find but did NOT pick them up-yuck!). He got about 200!

This is me working. Yes, it's true, that is a script in my hands-hard work! I'm still trying to find stellar plays for next school year. I've read about 10 scripts-blah on all of them. So, I've begun to cut The Taming of the Shrew or I may write my own Peter Pan script. We'll see how ambitious I get!!!

Last Day of School!

2010-05-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Summer break is here!! It was a GREAT school year but I sure am ready for the break!!
I have some 9th graders I'll sure miss next year.
Here are some highlight photos from the year.

DRAMA II

Drama I

Beginning Drama

A Midsummer Night's Dream

-

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Quilt Making

2010-05-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Mark is a maniac! His mind is always thinking-going one million miles an hour. He constantly has some scheme or plan to make the world a better place. A couple of months ago he decided to make 30 quilts for the United Way and then we were going to get free tickets to Disney Land. Well, nothing happened for a while but then one day he called and said, "Mel, let's make those quilts!" So we did! We bought all the stuff, gathered at my house, invited people over, and began sewing. We did 15 on that Saturday and then he finished the rest the next day at his house-30 lap quilts! Great project-the only downside is it was too late to get tickets to Disneyland (sad day; I haven't been since I was 8 year old).

Cutting out

Teaching Mark how to use the sewing machine to bind

Tying

Finished quilts

Shakespeare

2010-05-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Evening of Shakespeare is this Friday. I have a good group of 9th graders this year!!!
These are from our run-through this morning.

12th Night

Much Ado About Nothing

Hamlet

Hamlet

Two Gentlemen of Verona

Book Recomendation

2010-04-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've decided I'm not very good at dating. In my every day life I'm kind of anti-social and it affects how I interact with people. This can't go on-I need to learn some skills so I don't loose another rare, awesome gem like Joseph (boy mentioned in my previous post).

With this in mind I decided to buy the book The Five Languages of Love-Singles Edition by Gary Chapman. It's been a very interesting read. It teaches you the importance of identifying how those around you perceive you care about them and love them so you can best speak their "love language." It doesn't talk only about romantic relationships but co-workers, family, and friends. The five languages are:
Words of Affirmation
Gifts
Acts of Service
Quality Time
Physical Touch
Usually the way we give love is the way we prefer to receive it (but not always). Chapman says that many of us speak all 5 languages but one is usually our predominant one. I'm still trying to figure out if Quality Time or Acts of Service is my main one-I think I lean more towards Quality Time. Those who know me well would probably guess the one I use the least to show my love would be Physical Touch-wrong. I've discovered it's Words of Affirmation. I am TERRIBLE at giving compliments. This is very unfortunate because when I was dating Joseph I noticed he likes to compliment a lot. I thought, "I need to find ways to compliment him." I appreciated him, who he was, and the things he did-I was just bad at vocalizing them. I really need to work on this love language. You would think as a teacher I would be amazing at it...but I don't compliment my students much either.

This is one of my new goals: Learn to speak the Love language of Words of Affirmation.

Chapman has a number of variations of his book-one for teens, married couples...I would highly recommend it to anyone. It gets the wheels turning.

If anyone has other books to recommend me to help improve my people skills (especially in the dating dept) I'm rip, roaring ready to read, contemplate, and implement some changes in my life!

Joy in the Small Things

2010-04-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

I was feeling very unhappy yesterday. I had an extremely disappointing rejection from a boy who I was kind of dating and had high hopes for. I was finding it difficult to enjoy life and could only see the mundane and monotony. So I decided to spend some time walking around my condo complex with my camera to look for the small joys in life and to remind myself to look at life with different perspectives. I played with different lenses, lighting, and filters. It was a very nice activity and helped, among other things I did, to calm my spirit. I'm grateful the Lord provides beauty and if we take time to look we can find Joy in the Small Things.

Dumspter Diving, Piggies, Zion, and Coke

2010-04-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

DUMSTER DIVING AND PIGGIES
I don't know what you all did this past Sabbath, but I decided to go dumpster diving in my pj's!

Explanation (in case you're wondering, "WHAT?")

My family has been obsessed with Pigs for a loonnngggg time. It all began when Stephen and I were in high school. He would drive me crazy but my parents wouldn't let us call each other names so, I called him a pig. Over the years it became a term of endearment. I even built a snow pig one winter for him in the back yard. I've now trained a number of my nieces and nephews to give piggy noses (since Aunt Mel doesn't do kisses), oink, read piggy books, and they even kiss my piggy slippers, steal them, and just over all-love them.
On Saturday my friend Mark decided to make 30 lap quilts for United Way. My house was the scene of the fun (I'll give more details on this project another time). Anyhow, my piggy slippers ended up at the bottom of a scrap material pile and were thrown away. I didn't realize this until I was trying to get to sleep that night and thought, "Hmm, when I vacumed I don't recall moving my pigs. My Pigs!" I immediatly looked over the side of the bed and they weren't there. Sad day. I thought, "Oh well, I needed to buy new ones anyway (which you'll see from the photo) but I really don't want to buy them until the Fall. And what will everyone do without Aunt Mel's Piggy Slippers?" So, the next morning I went out to the dumster and rescued them! Yea Aunt Mel!!!

My slipper in their current condition

Sage wearing Aunt Mel's Piggies

A visit to the neighbor's farm last summer to see the pigs.

Our family made a: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years card for Michael when he was on his mission. Diana and I were in charge of the "New". Notice the piggy noses!

Looking for Pigs with Aunt Mel in a Richard Scarry book. One of our favorites!

Sage giving Aunt Mel a Piggy Nose!

If I weren't lazy I could scan a bunch of non digital piggy photos but...you get the drift!

ZION
For Spring Break last week Jess invited me to go with her family to St. George and Zion National Park (no S on Zion!). Here are some highlight photos!

Brain and Sage

Scrunchy (ie Katie) on a cool rock on our Emerald Pools hike. Katie was a GREAT hiker this day. On the last leg of the hike going up (the hardest section) she didn't want help-AT ALL. She did it all by herself!

Katie and Sage on a tire swing outside our Zion hotel.

Katie playing in the River

David and Josh in the mud (which you can't see but trust me, their legs are deep into it)

There was an avalanche/rock fall as we hiked out. David and Josh were right under it but luckily, their guardian angels were on duty that day and they didn't get hit (except for shrapnel from bursting rocks). This is the aftermath.

A ranger wrapped Josh's ankle. He fell as he ran off the path away from the avalanche and slightly twisted his ankle.

All in all, a good trip. Even though the boys were traumatized from the avalanche they will remember it in the future as a spiritual learning experience (I think) and we have lots of other good memories! I'm glad my family invites Aunt Mel to participate in things!

COKE
I went to get my oil changed the other day-they said there was corrosion on my battery and asked if I wanted to pay for them to clean it. I said, "No, I'll do it myself." I know of 2 ways of accomplishing this: baking soda w/ water and coca-cola. I've done the baking soda before and it worked pretty well so this time I though I would try the coke. AMAZING! Wow did it clean my battery!! And some people put this stuff in their stomachs....

Disney on Ice

2010-03-12T06:44:00.001-08:00

I took my niece, Clara, to see Disney on Ice Wednesday.

We began by getting some food (she just woke up from sleeping in the car and would only eat the French Fries!)

Before the show we saw some dresses on display plus the REAL Cinderalla and Tiana!

Wilda beast attack during the Lion King section. The puppetry was cooler on ice than in the Broadway show because they glided so nicely!

Intermission

Pixie Hollow (Tinker Belle). This was my favorite segment because the colors were so fun and they, once again, had cool theatrical effects (puppet butterflies and these cool flower umbrellas). Clara like the Little Mermaid section the best.

Final Joseph

2010-03-02T08:37:00.001-08:00

Joseph is over but here are some photos from dress rehearsals and the performances. The kids did GREAT!!!

Joseph!!! Opens in 5 More Days!

2010-02-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

We painted the STAGE today and did other odds and ends. It was very helpful having my cast show up and help-and so many of them too; for Midsummer I only had one kids show up!!

Cutting and Numbering Tickets

More Rehearsal Photos!! (some taken by a very nice mom with a very nice camera!)

Narrator and Potiphar's Wife

Me talking to the cast

End of Go, Go, Go Joseph

Go, Go, Go Joseph

Go, Go, Go Joseph

Go, Go, Go Joseph

One More Angel

Brother's ripping Joseph's Coat

Plotting

Poor Poor Joseph

Brother's Angry Dance

Joseph was sick one day so my assistant director became him. No clue what he's doing!

One More Angel. We have a teacher playing Jacob-way fun!

Boys!

Stone the Crows-Joseph being attacked

I ran our Baker through some vigorous faces one day, this is the result!

Joseph in jail

Our Jail-it's 10' tall. I had though of cutting it down to 8' but...too much work. A guy in Logan made it for me based off of one he made for a theater up there!

More Joseph Rehearsals

2010-02-03T10:59:00.001-08:00

Rehearsals and going FANTASTIC. These kids are great! We've been able to really start working some character stuff this week.

A Pharaoh Story

One More Angel

Narrators

Song of the King

Finale

We finally got our jail!!!

Finale: Coat...or Brothers?

Grovel

Yesterday I took my Drama II class and they became my Tech Class. I don't have one this semester and it's been KILLING me. 4:30 wake up call most mornings and full Saturdays for the past month is beginning to wear me down. So, it was really nice to have their help. We got the backdrop hung, jail made, and lots of other little things. Yipeee!!! This is the aftermath of our mess. My student teacher (shown) and I had to throw the stage back together before the FLEX movie.

More Photots

2010-01-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

Per request, here's some more photos from the shoot. A parent took these. I don't know why other people's pictures always turn out better looking than mine. I need to take a class.

Joseph Costumes

2010-01-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

We had our photo shoot for Joseph this morning. Here's a taste of the costumes!

Joseph Rehearsals!

2010-01-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Here's a picture of the Egypt Set (not painted of course) and a taste of what's been going in in rehearsals. The kids are doing GREAT! We've learned about 1/2 the dances in the show in 1 1/2 weeks! Lots of polishing needs to occur but they are really working hard!

Notice one side has 3 pillars and one has only 2. Any opinions on which looks best? I'm planning on putting sphinx, vases, or something Egyptianish on them.

End of "Joseph's Dreams"

Brothers doing some Haka in "Joseph's Dreams"

End of "Close Every Door"

End of "Joseph's Coat"

Naming of the coat colors

Cool stage picture in "Pharaoh's Story"-one of my assistants choreographed this number, she did a GREAT job!!!

My Quilt

2010-01-12T16:44:00.000-08:00

I began making a quilt my 1st year of teaching (4 years ago). I finished the top in about 2 years and it's just been sitting around. When Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year I said, "Quilt to top of my quilt and bind it." She did! Yeah Mommy!! She even quilted my name into it. The closeup is of the "Boren." I don't have a frame for my mattress so it drags on the floor-some day. The stuffed walrus is Wally; Jessica gave him to me the Christmas when I was 8 years old. He's still with me!!

JOSEPH Begins!

2010-01-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted but since we're getting ready to begin Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat it's time to get busy with pictures again.
We "learned" the music the week before Christmas break. The kids actually did really well! It helps that the music is easier than any of the other shows we've done! If they've been listening to their music like they were supposed to over the break we'll be good to go.
On Tuesday we'll being dancing-get ready to dance your guts out kids! There is some cool choreography and it will take a lot of work to learn it all. I haven't had a chance to work on the dances over the break (unfortunately because I still have 2 dances to choreograph and 1-2 songs to block). I also haven't reviewed the stuff I choreographed over the summer so I need to get on that so our reversals run smoothly-else wise we'll never learn it all. I've been too busy sewing. The first samples are below. They'll look cooler on the kids!

Egyptian belts for the Butler and Potiphar. Belt and Collar for Joseph-Pharaoh's Number Two

Joseph's Colored Coat
It needs one more layer of trim on the bottom layer of the waist. As I was making it I thought it was pretty cool; unfortunately I'm not as pleased with the final product.

Midsummer Opens Tonight!

2009-11-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from dress rehearsal on Tuesday!

Midsummer's is Next Week!

2009-10-31T14:22:00.001-07:00

Here's a few highlight photos from rehearsal yesterday. I was testing my new camera in the dark theater. There are some glitches I need to figure out before next time which is a full dress rehearsal with makeup and hair-oohhhh!! I painted the stage this morning.

A New Rhyme

2009-10-29T04:09:00.000-07:00

Early to Bed
Early to Rise
Allows me to be
At work by Five!!

Definition of Stress

2009-10-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sets
Toole
Repeating Directions
Effects (ie. Christmas Lights)
Source 4 Lights (or the lack of)
Slow Workers

I'm sure I don't get paid enough for what I do.

Journals

2009-10-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

So, I officially finished my 11th journal yesterday! Even though for the most part the entries are boring from throughout my life (especially in jr. high when for days I wrote "nothing special happened today") there are a few great ones. I'm glad I've written for so many years. Perhaps someday someone, besides Jessica, will find joy in reading them!

On another note, over the summer I decided I needed to start my food storage in earnest. Here is the current result (I LOVE cereal!!)

2009-10-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

The Players

My assistant director sleeping on the job!!

Puck and Oberon

My four leads with the finished trees in the background!!

Demetrius and Lysander woo Helena

Midsummer Trees

2009-10-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

Preparing to Paint the Trees

The Trees Painted (I think I added too much green-blah)

More Midsummer Photos

2009-10-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Midsummer Photo Shoot

2009-10-13T17:27:00.001-07:00

Here's a few photos from today's shoot (taken with my new camera!!). I'll post more tomorrow when dinner isn't calling me home!!!

Midsummer Rehearsals

2009-09-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream are going GREAT! I was laughing so hard on Thursday that I was crying!!! This is a great group of kids to work with. They are very dedicated and professional. Here's some highlights of what's been going on.

Puck bewitching Bottom

Scripts are the perfect addition to a romantic scene-don't you think!

Titania and Bottom

Lysander banning Hermia from the woods

The Players find Bottom

Fairies

Oberon releasing Titania from the Love Juice

The Players enjoying themselves

2009-09-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

The cool trees Piggy, Dad, David, and Nathan made for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Now we just need to cover them in burlap and paint them! They're strong enough the kids can climb up on the roots!!!

Faries for Midsummer

2009-09-11T15:54:00.001-07:00

Jess designed my fairy makeup for A Midsummer Night's Dream. These are the actors for her to look at (cast list went up today)to make sure she thinks the designs will go with the actors. She has come up with some cool stuff!

Peasbloosm

Moth

Mustardseed

Cobweb

Puck

Oberon

Titania

Summer Break on the Farm

2009-07-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Isaac and Aunt Mel jumping from behind trees scaring people on a hike

Aunt Mel's birthday party!!

Cooking with Aunt Mel

Working with Aunt Mel-see how hard the little ones are working!!

The grass down by the pond is TAAALLLLL!!!! Way fun!!

Aunt Mel and Nora dead heading Geraniums. She is SUCH a BIG helper. We weed together, pick berries (straw, rasp, and huckle) plus cherries!

Calling Cowboy David

Playing on the Tramp

Aunt Mel and Scrunchy

We're a bit obsessed with PIGS at our house!!

Baby Sage giving Aunt Mel her very first Piggy Nose-she's learning the important things in life!!

Nora looking at the neighbor's pig

Looking for PIGGIES in a Richard Scarry book

The Big Pig (Stephen) designing a 4th of July t-shirt with Isaac (notice it has a PIG on it!!)

Nathan and Aunt Mel building a sand castle at city beach-fun!

London and Scotland!

2009-06-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

After spending 15 hours on airplanes (not to mention about 6 in airports from delayed flights) Anna and I arrived in London running. We went to Regents Park the first day. It was beautiful (as everything in London and Scotland were).

We went to the British Museum after Regent's Park and by then we were getting kind of goofy (no sleep not to mention the Underground was on strike-rude-so we were having to walk everywhere!)

We decided a quick trip to the Ministry of Magic would be a fun way to spend an hour. Going down!!

This a cool door leading into Westminster Abbey.

Anna and I on the battlement of the Tower of London. Tower Bridge is behind us.

2009-06-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

Once a year the Queen inspects the troops and then they do a parade from the inspection grounds to Buckingham Palace. That Saturday happened to be the day. It was cool!

Our first day in Scotland it POURED rain big time. I was soaking wet as was everything in my backpack. FUN! This is Holyrood Palace-the Queen's castle in Scotland.

This is a really cool ruined abbey off of Holyrood Palace.

"Please don't cook me!!!" Talk about a BIG kitchen fireplace! This is Linlithingow Castle.

We didn't get to go into the Highlands (no time-sad) but we took a really cool hike where we could see the boarders where they started. Beautiful!!

2009-06-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

The forest is very mystical fairy-like (think JRR Tolkien). Not your average USA shrubbery!

RAIN again-two out of three days in Scotland! We had to take a boat to get to Lock Leven castle. Mary Queen of Scots was a prisoner here for 8 months-fun for her!

I'm Backcckkkkkk!!!

2009-06-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the UK!! It was a great trip but I'm happy to be home. I'll post photos as soon as I get them developed (yes, I'm still in the dark ages of cameras-but I like it!). I took 10 rolls of film so hopefully there will be some winners!

2009-05-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago a fellow drama teacher said, "Any desire to go to New York of London?" I said, "New York, heck no! But London...SURE!!!" So, on June 9th I'm hopping on a plane and heading to London! I'll be there for 5 days and then we're going to Scotland for 3 days! The trip should be fun! Look for photos at the end of June!

Ellis and Mark

2009-05-12T10:55:00.001-07:00

Mark, Ellis, and Hannah (Ellis's girl!) came to dinner on Sunday. Mark had just returned from a humanitarian trip in Guatemala (doing teeth. Here's some photos of us looking at his photos and playing with jade knifes. Both Ellis and Mark have been GREAT friends over the past years (we all met doing Pirates of Penzance back in 2004). I'm lucky to have them around!!

Ballroom

2009-05-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

The past 2 months I've been teaching a ballroom class Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This past Saturday I took 22 couples to a Jr. High Ballroom competition. I was apprehensive because my students would be competing against kids who took ballroom as an actual class for a year or semester and were competing for a grade. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. There were about 30 couples who competed in Cha-Cha. When it got down to the final 6 couples 1/2 of them were mine!!! We ended up with 6th, 4th, and 2nd in that dance! WOW!! In Fox Trot there were about 15 couples competing. We took 8th and 6th. I was proud of the kids! It's been a fun experience (though I am glad I get to sleep in an extra 1/2 hour again!!!).

Sleepover and Play

2009-04-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

Nathan and Clara had a sleepover at Aunt Mel's this Friday night. We have pizza for dinner, read books, and watched Cinderella while eating brownies. Mmmm, mmmm!!!

I emailed the Children of Eden director this morning and told him I needed to go to my parent's farm so I wouldn't be able to do the show. It was my big dilemma this weekend because I REALLLYYYYYY want to be in a play. So, the plan is to work really hard this summer prepping for my Musical Review and 2 plays so I'll have time to do a show during the next school year.

THE THEATER!!

2009-04-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

I auditioned for Children of Eden on Tuesday. It went well-"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is always a good one!! I'll keep you all posted. Part of me REALLY wants to make it in because it would be F-U-N FUN...but part of me doesn't want to make it because it means giving up one month on the farm. Once again, I'm leaving it in the Lord's hands!!
I did find out that the Beauty and the Beast cast is only 56 people and they had 150 at call backs-not good odds. None of the Silly Girl finalist got cast AT ALL-weird!

Chocolate Protien Anyone?

2009-04-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

One of the science teachers at my school brought us cupcakes on Monday. They were quite tasty! It wasn't until after we ate them that he informed us we had just had our protein fix for the day-yep, that's right-protein!!
He took a can of black beans. You drain and rinse them. Then, you put them back in the can and fill the can with water. Pour the beans and water into the blender and blend. Pour that tasty looking mixture in with a box of chocolate cake mix and bake. NO oil, No eggs-that's it. Beans, water, and mix. He said he did add about 3/4 tsp of baking powder but that it's not necessary. Cool huh!!!
You can supposedly do this with brownies, white cake, cookies, etc. You just choose a bean that is the same color as your mix so your kids won't know the difference!
Yeah for BEANS!!!

2009-04-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally found out about Beauty and the Beast. I didn't make it in. I'm disappointed because I was excited for a social life and looking forward to dancing again. But, at the same time, I asked the Lord to guide the directors in regards to casting me or not so I can't complain that he let them know this wasn't what I needed to be doing at this time. I really feel He did guide them because this has been my strongest audition and call back that I've ever done. So Sandpoint, Here I Come!!

2009-04-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hmpf-as mentioned in my last post, I auditioned for Beauty and the Beast. Callbacks ended on Monday and still no cast list. I'm trying to be patient. They said probably sometime next week. Blah! I am one of six finalist for a Silly Girl. There are 3 of them so 1/2 of us will get cut.
School is blah so I'm taking tomorrow off. No special plan, just not coming to school!! Yippeeee!!!

2009-03-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm auditioning for Beauty and the Beast this Friday.
I needed some Acting Head Shots so my roomie took
some for me on Saturday. Here are the best four.

2009-03-23T14:48:00.001-07:00

Mom gave me these masks (I think Sis. Fur brought them from Ireland or something). We used them today in my Drama II class to do improv scenes!!

2009-01-31T12:33:00.000-08:00

My Drama II Class went to the Utah Theater Assosiation Conference Yesterday. We got to go to Five different workshops (there were many choices for each student) and see a play. The kids (and me!!) really had a great day!

Some proffesional Acrobats came and some of us took a
Partner Acrobat Class. It was WAY cool!!

2009-01-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

At the Theater

2009-01-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

2009-01-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

Our Costumes are Done for Pirates and We're Getting Ready to Start Advertising!!
Aren't they ALLLLLL SOOOOO Cute!!

2009-01-31T11:47:00.000-08:00

2009-01-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

2009-01-31T11:41:00.000-08:00

2009-01-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

2009-01-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

We had a 3 hour rehearsal this morning and it was FANTASTIC!!! We were able to learn the rest of the show and run the 2nd half of Act 1 a couple of times! It's coming along nicely and the students have worked especially hard this past week!!!

Frederic reconsidering his options!

The Pirate King vs. the Major General

Dancing, dancing, dancing!!!

2009-01-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Pirates of Penzance rehersals are in full swing! The kids are doing great!!