Beauty & the Beast!!!

My three oldest kids auditioned for this show back in December and they were ALL cast!!!  Max was cast as a narrator/wolf/villager.  Ethan was "Monsieur D'Arque" (the looney bin keeper).  And Carlie was cast as "Madame de la Grande Bouche" (the wardrobe).  It took me forever to be able to say Carlie & Ethan's character names:)  But they were ALL 3 casts and ALL 3 had speaking parts so I was thrilled!!!

Eric, Max, & Ethan

Monsieur D'Arque and the common villagers:)

Mrs. Potts (Rebekah) & Madame:)

Little side story.  Carlie was a little disappointed in her character at first--like all the other girls, she wanted to be "Belle."  But as she developed her character, she fell IN LOVE with the Madame.  Carlie has never had a "comedic" role before so this was such a good part for her.  What girl doesn't LOVE a big wig, fake nails, false eye lashes, and CRAZY make-up?  This ended up being one of her most favorite roles of all time:)  I was proud of her for seeing this through and making it a very positive experience.  After EVERY performance there were little girls running out side saying "I WANT TO MEET THE CLOSET!!!"  She had quite the fan club:)

Her drawers really DID open:)

Monsieur D'Arque & Madame de la Grand Bouche

Ethan cracked me up!!!  Always in character:)

Lumiere (Parker) & Cogsworth (Justin)

Eric & Max--best friends!
"What does the wolf say?!"

Seriously, every time I tried to take a picture of just Max
Eric was all over him!

The two "Divas" of the play--Gaston (Sam) & Madame:)

The Beast (Carter) & Madame

SOOO MUCH FUN!!!

In the fight scene at the end, Carlie got to dress
Max up in this dress--he looked down, screamed, & ran off stage:)

Madame & Belle (Sydney)

Madame & Silly Girl (Saylem)

Ethan & his good friend Michael who comes
to all his shows:)

My boys LOVED Gaston:)

Kayleah was too old to be in the play (ages 8-13)
but she rocked the backstage!  Here's their traditional hug:)

It's been an exhausting couple of months to say the least but we have made some amazing memories that will last forever!  After the last performance nearly the entire cast was in tears.  Of my kids, Carlie & Ethan were fine, a little sad but not crying.  Max…..let's just say I pretty much had to carry this super sad kid to the car:(  He just loved it so much and can't wait for the next play he can try out for!!!

Temple Cultural Celebration!

My two oldest kids had the honor of being part of the Gilbert Temple Cultural Celebration that took place on Saturday, March 1, 2014.  Ethan literally made the age cut-off by 4 days.  I was really proud of how Carlie & Ethan handled the stress of both cultural celebration practices--one REALLY long all day one--along with their schedules with their play.  They NEVER complained.  Just did what they were supposed to.  My husband was heavily involved as well as his company handled all of the audio/visual aspects of the entire event.  I pretty much have not seen my husband since January but all for a great cause:)

Now I did not personally take any pictures, not because I didn't want to!  As most know, we experienced heavy rains the night of the actual performance.  I had tickets to be right on the 50 yard line for the performance so Tatum, Max, & I had a great view of the field and when we looked behind us, we could see our Prophet Thomas S. Monson and his counselor Henry B. Eyring sitting under their tent clapping along and giving all the performers thumbs up!  We were S-O-A-K-E-D!  After the performance I took my soaked/freezing kids home but my poor hubby and another 2 hours of work to do soaked and still in the rain!

But it was still awesome to be there.  It was awesome to watch 12,000 youth sing and dance their hearts out like it wasn't raining at all.  The cheers of the youth when the prophet pulled up to the performance warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes.  So here are some pictures that were taken by others:

The Gilbert, AZ Temple

This is what 12,000 Youth look like from the sky:)
Our region is in the dark green:)

Soaked but HAPPY!

Ethan's 12th Birthday!!!

As I said before, I bought my boys out this year:)  Ethan took the $100 instead of a birthday party--smart kid:)  Ethan's birthday kinda happened in stages this year--because of Temple stuff, Beauty & the Beast rehearsals/performances, and my husband's crazier than normal work schedule.  On the Friday before his birthday, we checked everyone out of school early to go and eat at the restaurant of his choice which was "Lolo's Chicken & Waffles."  Ethan two most favorite foods are fried chicken and waffles and so my husband thought this was the perfect place--and it was:)

After lunch, we went to see "The Lego Movie."  And everyone has been singing "Everything is awesome!" ever since:)

On Sunday, we had his cake and ice cream.  We had to do this because on his actual birthday--Tuesday, Feb. 24th--he was in a LONG tech rehearsal for Beauty & the Beast.  We sent cookies up for the whole cast on that day:)

Finally, two weeks later--after the Temple stuff and Beauty & the Beast performances were done, Ethan got his $100 to go where?  The Lego store OF COURSE:)  Not that we need any more Legos in our home but it was HIS money:)

Of course turning 12 is a HUGE deal as Ethan was given the Aaronic Priesthood.  My parents came up for the event.  On his first Sunday passing the sacrament, Chris was out of town and there I was kinda freaking out--I never realized how much I DON'T pay attention to all the little details these boys are in charge of!  Great learning experience for both of us and Ethan was absolutely PERFECT passing his first Sunday.  SUPER proud of my son.  I love you so much Ethan Christopher!  You make me proud every day!

Funny/Sick Story:)

This past Thursday, Friday, & Saturday I was CRAZY SICK!  I don't get sick often and boy I was knocked down for 3 days with some of the worst allergies I have ever experienced.  No pill was helping me--and I tried lots of them.  So despite my sickness, we had a crazy Saturday.  My husband had to leave at 5 am for the day and my 2 older kid's had all day Temple Cultural Celebration practice, Max had play rehearsals, and Tatum had a birthday party and then softball practice.  So I forced myself out of bed, showered, dressed, put on make-up and everything just as I would on any normal day.  I just "put on my big girl panties" and went about my day:)

I got everyone where they needed to go and I finally sat down for the first time at Tatum's softball practice--box of tissue in hand.  Some good friends of mine were there and said, "Buffie!  You sound HORRIBLE!!!  PLEASE go home and we will take Tatum to lunch and then bring her home to you--just PLEASE go home."  Alright, that was VERY nice of them so I took them up on their offer.  I was headed home when I decided I wanted a soda from Circle K.  So I get out the exact change I needed, went inside and got my soda.  I was just standing there in line totally oblivious to anyone or anything around me, just standing there waiting to pay.  The man in front of me turned around and said, "Ma'am….I would REALLY like to buy your soda for you.  I can't help but notice that you sound terrible."  Me:  "What?!  Oh no!  I am fine really!  Look!  I have my money right here in hand!"  I looked up at the store clerk and he said, "Sorry ma'am, but he's in front of you so you have to do what he says."  Totally shocked/sick/dumbfounded/embarrassed/flattered all at the same time and with nothing funny or witty coming to my mind, I just said "Thank you!" and ran out the door!

So apparently, my pathetic-ness was extremely evident to everyone around me!  So at that point I went straight home to hide for the rest of the day!

But I am VERY grateful for the kind people Heavenly Father sent to me on Saturday.  I was definitely in need and I know my prayers were answered that day--definitely NOT like I wanted them answered--I really just wanted to be healed--but I was grateful for the random acts of kindness even more.

Mother/Son Dance!

So I have joked for years with my son Ethan about how I would totally embarrass him at a Mother/Son dance.  I would practice my dance moves in the kitchen--mostly the robot--to demonstrate just how I would take over the dance floor:)  So finally my time came and MUCH to my surprise, my son was actually VERY excited for us to go!  We danced (and sometimes we BOTH danced the robot) and we ate yummy treats!  Ethan mostly wanted to hang out with his good friends--which was fine with me because I really enjoyed catching up with the other moms.  I just LOVE this little group Ethan has.  They are the sweetest and kindest kids.  I've always worried about this kid of mine, but he sure knows how to surround himself with great friends.  

Autumn, Saar, Ethan, & Nikolas

These 4 were seriously unseparable ALL night:)

Max's 9th Birthday:)

So I have a confession….I bought my boys out this year:(  Between my niece's wedding, the temple open house, and the kid's rehearsal schedule for their upcoming show, and then the actual showtime, we did not have a single free weekend.  So I offered them $100 to NOT have a party and they both took me up on it:)

So with that $100, Max really wanted a guitar--very cool and something I was definitely supportive of.  (I would have had a HARD time letting him blow the $ on Legos:)  So we got him all hooked up with everything he needed and now big sister Carlie gets paid (in Thirstbusters from Circle K) to teach him.

We still celebrated with dinner out at a restaurant of their choice.  Max chose Village Inn this year.  Yes!  Finally moving on from McDonald's:)

He even got his own slice of birthday pie!

So Happy 9th Birthday to my little guy Max.  I just love this kid more than I can say.  He brings so much joy and laughter into our home and it would be just plain boring without him.  Love you Maxwell Gordon!

Gilbert Temple!

Exciting times here in AZ with the new Gilbert Temple close to opening!  My husband's company has been in charge of all the audio/visual/everything technical for this event so because of this, my husband's busy season started earlier this year:)  But all for a good cause so I'm not complaining.  Our family actually had the chance to walk through the temple a week before the open house began--again because of my hubby's hard work--then we went through again on Martin Luther King Day with my mom and dad.  So here we are with Papa Frank (the favorite) and oh yeah…the lady he's married to:)