Tax Time

Taxes Shmaxes....we owe a boat load of taxes!!!!!
What's up with that?
Where's my tax stimulus rebate?

Wayne worked on our taxes over the weekend and didn't go crazy, and didn't even swear. Of course, he never swears, but still, it was a good sign.

Someone once said, Mark Twain or Ralph Waldo Emerson, or someone, maybe it was.....me, said, "There's nothing for sure except death and taxes." I don't know why I just thought of this, and I have nothing to really add to this, except I hope I don't die at tax time.
Enough said.

It seems like April 15th comes around quicker and quicker each year, and my bank account get's gouged deeper and deeper.

I guess I should be counting my blessings, that we made enough money that we have to pay taxes...that would be a positive spin.

I guess I should be blessed to live in this great country that I get to pay taxes to....another positive argument.

I guess I should be happy that I get to keep all those IRS people in business during this crazy economy.

Laila assures me that taxes are good, "because it makes us so we can go to school for free." I think someone from school has been spinning this tale for her. Free education. Now that's a joke. But I digress..... where was I?

Oh, yes...Taxes, Schmaxes. We owe a boat load of taxes!

A Hairy Krishna?

Ahhh youth!
To be young again and filled with enthusiasm, passion, craziness and chalk?

This is my Truman and some of his friends who attended the Festival of Color in Spanish Fork at the Hare Krishna temple on Saturday. The fesitval was filled with crazy college aged people who like any reason they can find to run around and throw chalk at each other and get messy.
Calling it a ceremony to welcome in Spring...adds to the ritual. The air was filled with chalk dust and chanting music -- "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna."
What an interesting thing to do.
What an interesting way to celebrate.
Landon has been participating in this for the past 3 years....he remembers when it was a small ceremony that not many people attended-- with plenty of chalk left over to share...now it's over 1,000 strong and finding chalk is hard. (Chalk selling would have been a great scout/yw money maker. We'll keep this in mind for next year.)

Tru was a multi color mess.... a mess that only an after hours hot tub party could adequately clean up. He had chalk everywhere... in his ears, in his spit, in his nose-- he'll be blowing in color for awhile-- and in my car.

I'm trying to remember any of my youthful craziness...but I was pretty driven...and focused on growing up and being an adult...
Did I miss out on my chalk throwing youthful fun?

Do I need to try some wild over forty fun instead? Or should I wait and do almost fifty fun?
Hmmm?
I'm in a quandry.

I'm glad T had fun....
I'm getting some chalk.

Thankful Thursday Marches on

1. I'm thankful for Wayne and his frequent flyer miles. Wayne took Truman with him this past weekend to Chicago for a Housewares show. They got to be together to bond and laugh and eat some great deep dish, Chicago style pizza. They also got to sit on the stage for the Broadway musical, XANADU. Truman LOVED it! He laughed and interacted with the actors and did his wild dancing at the end of the show....on stage! Truman also loved traveling in First Class. Nice dad! The picture is of Truman standing by "the bean" in Chicago.

2. I'm thankful for my big sister, Marcie. Today is her birthday! She has always been such a huge part of my life. We are only 16 months apart in age, and really did everything together. We shared a bedroom and bed for many years. We went through school together, did theatre together and both went to WSU. Now, raising families and living just a few blocks apart, are lives are forever entwined. Marcie is an amazing Martha Stewart type of person. She is so great at all of the homemaking skills. She throws a smashing party and is a wonderful cook. She loves to read, travel, is an amazing artist and a fabulous dresser. She has a strong testimony and loves the gospel. She's a great example to me. I'm proud of her new goal to get fit.
I'm so glad that I'm her sister.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCIE!

3. I'm thankful that we are still having snow. I know I can't control the weather, or the snow, so I better just enjoy it. I knew I shouldn't have gotten my patio furniture out and set the trampoline back up....but the sunshine last week was too enticing. Now I get to look at it all with 8 inches of snow on it. It's a beautiful sight. I also get to put off yard work for a few more weeks, or maybe months. Attitude is everything!

4. I'm thankful for Laila and her explanations.
This is what I overheard her say to her cousin while playing MarioKart.
"If you keep saying, I'm always in first! I'm the best! The wii game can hear you and make it so you take 12th place the next time. It's called showing off and the game doesn't like that. "
I love this reasoning.

5. I'm thankful!

Badonkadonk

My friend has quite "the badonkadonk."
She's got some " junk in her trunk."
Atleast that is according to her hair dresser. Her insane hair dresser. Her big chested, opinionated and controlling hair dresser. I get a big kick out of her stories and wonder why she keeps going back, but her hair looks GREAT! I guess it's worth it, even if you have to be told about your badonkadonk.

I don't have a badonkadonk.

And if anyone says I do, I would just call them a badonkadink!

I've got some "junk" in my .....hood? You know, the front part of my body?
I have a luvatub ( just made that up) belly. It's full like a tub and happened because of love. Love of food and love of Wayne. My belly looks like this because of housing and bearing four boys. It's rubbery and filled with stretch marks. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my luvatub.

I call the upper parts of my body "the girls" and the belly part, "the boys."

Now, when I say I'm taking the theatre popcorn home to "the boys," you know my secret. .... I'm just going to eat it later.

Monday's random ramblings...

We celebrated out 26th Anniversary on Saturday. We slept in, took a long walk in the glorious weather and went to a matinee movie. We ate popcorn for lunch. Not very dazzling....but romantic, nonetheless. I pondered on 26 years of marriage plus 5 dating years with my Wayne. We have gone through ups and downs and circles ( that's because he is dizzy) and still love each other deeply. I am hopelessly devoted to my Wayne and he adores me. We've been a good fit. I always tease him that we are about the same height, so we fit just like a puzzle piece. Our noses touch, our hands clasp and our parts line up.
Wayne showed up at my closing night with a dozen long stemmed red roses "on the fat side..plump." He was very impressive to all of the girls in the cast, and especially to me.


The Draper Temple dedication was lovely. So happy to be there with my Monson and Addison. I have to confess, we got there an hour early to get a soft seat, and by the time it started I was so sleepy, I pretty much snapped, napped and gapped through the first two speakers. I enjoyed Elder Nelson's and Pres. Monson's talks immensely though. I was touched with the thoughts of how immense the sealing powers of the temple are.... I cried through their talks. Then...closed my eyes for the dedicatory prayer and , you guessed it, nodded off and about fell off the bench..Monson saved me though and nudged me to wake up. I'm glad I participated in this great event. 129 Temples and counting.


Millie is officially over and Muzzy has been put away. Another diva down. It was so fun and such a blessing to be on stage again. I enjoyed putting on the blond wig and looking like my mother every night. Her sparkly jewelry helped the transformation. I was so touched by all of the family , friends and neighbors who came to see the show. I even got a prize from the theatre for the cast member with the most mentions when customers bought tickets. I am popular.
It will be good to have my evenings back and maybe even finish the painting project I started in February. It was good to prove to myself that I could be on stage and not be the "thin" one. Even though I drove myself nuts. I know, you are all getting sick of my "crazy", but I really haven't gotten on a scale since opening night. I didn't want to break my fake reality and acknowledge that I never did lose that 15 pounds I promised myself I would from the beginning of Jan. One day I won't even mention my chub...but that's not today. One day I will keep the promises I make to myself too.


Landon moved out last Friday. I helped him haul all of his stuff and some of my old stuff too, in to Salt Lake and up three flights of stairs. I am proud of him for taking this step. I was proud of me for walking up all those steps. I miss him already. By Sunday he was sick and missing his mommy. We got Addison a new mattress set and Landon took his bed. It was a compromise. Addison's room is clean without all of Landon's stuff hanging around. Now onto my next set of projects, this time in the basement...oh, wait, that's right. I need to FINISH PAINTING THE ENTRY FIRST!!!

Guess what I'll be doing today?

Play Mess-ups

My friend, Just-Linda ( this is what Laila called Linda to separate her name from mine, Melinda-- but there is no Just about Linda, just to clarify) , reminded me of more theater bloopers after reading my blog; one she was actually in attendance at, that I must share.

SHOW:Steel Magnolias

Part: Truvy the hair dresser ( Dolly Parton part)

We were at the point in the play where we are hearing about Shelby's death and how sad and mad her mother, M'Lin is. It's all very dramatic and quite a tear jerker-- or it should be. I had been sitting on a table that had a spiral bound notebook on it listening. As I stood up to go over and comfort M'lin, this same notebook got hooked onto my silky leopard pants, and was swinging off of my bu tt. I was like a dog chasing it's tail. The more I turned to see what was on my behind, the more it evaded me. I looked between my legs just as the notebook came swinging through I said,
"Hey I have a notebook stuck on my butt!" And I did.
I couldn't get it off myself-- I had to have another character help me. It was so funny and so memorable.
I had someone else remind me of this same blooper after a Millie performance. I guess really good gaffes never fade from our collective memories.

Thanks Linda.

Thankful Thursday

I'm counting my blessings once more.

1. I am thankful for Spring.
I love this spring weather we are having. I actually went on TWO long walks yesterday, because I just wanted to be outside. I didn't want to be outside doing yard work--- no, that can wait til May.

2. I am thankful that I talked my kids ( Addison, Truman and Lindsey) into painting railings with me. Of course, I had to promise hourly pay, but I always say, " paid help is better than no help at all." The painting saga continues. The new yellow in the entry way is lovely though.

3. I am thankful that Laila WON her school class "who can wear the most green" contest. She got a big sack of Laffy taffy and bragging rights. She was almost beat out by a boy who painted his face green and had on a green shirt.
"He only had on 2 things, mom, and I had on 12."
We have an entire year to prep for this again.

4. I am thankful Landon is moving out. It's been two long years, with his health and personal issues, but he has his "act" together and is ready to take it on the road. He is excited about living in SLC-- closer to his work. I'm excited that he can take this step and the next step is back into school to finish his education. He really is a sweetheart, and a wonderful friend to me. I will miss his singing around the house. I will miss his sweet ways with Laila. I will miss his willingness to help. I will miss his crazy stories. I will miss his long body sleeping on the family room couch.
I will miss him.

5. I am thankful.

Muzzy, Millie, Muzzy

Things said to me after a Millie Performance....
... or why this show is so good for my self esteem.

"If I didn't know how old your kids are I could have sworn you were 25."

"You have the best legs on stage!"

"They should call this show,Thoroughly Modern Muzzy."

"Your New York Song is worth the price of admission."

"You can totally wear black!" (Yes, if I wear lots of stage makeup and have blond hair.)

"I didn't know you could do that."

"You look like a young girl up there."

"I could listen to you sing all night."

"You have such a great voice."

"How old are you? 30?"

"You are so fun to watch on stage."

"I can tell you are loving this, so I love it too."

"You were the best part of the show."

"You needed to come on stage much sooner in the show."

"You are like a burst of energy."

"Mom, you need to sing it this way....." ( from Laila)


It's the last week for this show...and I'm sad.
It's fun to have total strangers pay me compliments. It's more fun to have loved ones in the audience supporting my "crazy."
I have two more performances then back into everyday anonymity.
I told Wayne, if he and the boys would just compliment me profusely, laugh at my jokes and applaud when I leave the room, or sing....that might suffice.

Wearin' o' the green

HAPPY ST.PATRICK'S DAY

Laila is in the green today. There is a competition in her class to wear the most green, so she has 12 green things on from her colored green sandals to the top of her ribbon banded head...she is ecstatic! We'll see if she has the most green on in her class and if she wins the prize. She was wanting to paint her skin green, like the witch in WICKED and then she would win for sure...I had to draw the line somewhere. Green Contacts?-- I said, "no."

She wrote a letter this week to
"Dear Leprechaun,
Happy St. Pat's Day.
I would like a new DS game and my Dad needs a new DS too, because he is always using mine. Thanks, Laila."
I don't know where she got the idea that a Leprechaun leaves gifts like Santa...but she does.
I've told her it's not happening. We are making green cookies to give away when she gets home from school today-- but that's about as much holiday happiness that I can muster.

I love that she loves all holidays.
I know there will come a day when she doesn't want to wear green on St. Patrick's because it's not cool. So I'll just enjoy her childish enthusiasm on this day.

Think Thin

THINKING THIN
I pulled this from a magazine article and have thought a lot about it. It's exactly where I'm at with regards to my body....it's my MIND that gets me in trouble.
The article gives me 9 rules to live by. Since I keep rolling this article over in my wee brain, it must mean I'm meant to take some action.... the article said:

Think how a thin person thinks...rules to live by...overcoming the final fat frontier
MY MIND!!
1. When eating focus on the food.
2. Let hunger happen
3. indulge-- deliberately
4. Slow down
5. Exercise every day
6. Socialize on your feet
7. Give yourself a break
8. Exercise for fun!
9. Create a space in your mind where negative fat-think thoughts used to be.

So I've decided to set up 2 rules a week and post them on my fridge and focus on these in an effort to THINK THIN

#1. When eating focus on the food...... ( I am a multi tasker, so this can be difficult for me. I read, talk, organize, clean, talk on the phone, text etc......all while eating. This is my week to think about the taste and texture and decide if I love it or if I am just eating to eat. This is my week to sit down and savor.)

#2. Let Hunger Happen ( I pretty much eat with the clock. Breakfast time, lunch time, dinner time, and many snack times inbetween. This week I'm going to wait for hunger to happen, have a drink of water and then wait some more to see if I'm really hungry.)

Wish me luck

Costco

I've actually been a bit depressed every time I walk into Costco and pass the food court. About 6 months ago they got rid of my favorite, Ice Cream bar freshly dipped in chocolate and rolled in almonds. I loved these. I couldn't believe they were going away.....
Well yesterday my heart was soaring. I passed the food court and a sign announced the ice cream bars are BACK!!
I couldn't believe it.
I jumped for joy and immediately got in the long food line to purchase one.

My heart was beating fast as I ordered one..... extra nuts please.
My mouth was salivating just thinking about the taste.
My spirits were lifted....spring is definitely on it's way.

I sat in my car and ate the evidence.

Yesterday was a great day. I got a pedicure, wore sandals and had my chocolate covered, rolled in almonds ice cream bar from Costco.
Life is sweet!

Thin Mints....a diet fiood?

Girl scout cookies are the devil!

I did my obligatory purchasing of 6 boxes of Thin Mints this month. I always like to help out a good cause....plus Thin Mints are my favorite! It's like a two-fer--- I help the girl scouts win their cookie goal and the girl scouts help me lose my weight goal. (Actually, I lost my girlish figure so long ago...that I'm not even looking for that figure-- I'd just settle for a nice long figure 8, instead.) But I digress.

Girl Scout Cookies are the devil!
The cookie itself sounds like a diet food....THIN MINTS... Come on!?! Talk about good marketing.

If I could eat just one, it would be different, but I CAN'T!
The thin mint is the perfect size. It's not too big, not too small. It's crunchy and chocolaty, not too minty. A single one fits perfectly in my big mouth. I love them. I love ALL of them. One serving for me is not a cookie but a sleeve of cookies. It's not right. I'm trying to stop-- but they call to me.

This year I made a new commitment when the girl scouts came a calling-- just say NO, but my Landon called from his school and said there was a teacher's daughter who needed to meet her "goal"-- so my NO turned into a N-YES, and I bought 6 boxes to help out.

I try not to think about all of the chocolaty calories I'm consuming.
I try to hide the evidence of my gluttony, by getting rid of the boxes to the outside garbage cans.
I try not to smile right after eating one, in an effort to hide my black lined toothy grin.
I try.

Girl scout cookies are the devil!

It's happy bunny?

Bad Bunny notes to live by--

The world does not revolve around me.
It's the whole dumb universe that revolves around me.

There's no "I" in team.
But there's a "me."

Love makes the world go 'round.
But I'm pretty sure money has something to do with it too.

Work hard and the world is your oyster.
Yup, you get a big, snotty oyster scented world.

You can help anyone turn a frown upside down!
Just pull off their head and flip it over.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Unless, of course, they did unto you first, and now you have to totally open a can of "unto" on them.

Laughter is the best medicine.
So if you meet somebody with broken ribs, make sure to tickle them.

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Unless it's about somebody who can't hear you.

When life gives you lemons....use them to squirt lemon juice into the eyes of your enemies.

I was sad because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.
And I said, "Hey, footless dude guess you won't mind if I take your shoes."

Anybody who says you only have yourself to blame...
...is just not very good at blaming other people.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.
But you can have your cake and eat someone else's cake, too, and that's kind of better, anyway.

We're not cheating ( said at a basketball game)
You're really that bad.

A good loser is still a loser.

Wow, you dance dumb.

You stink so bad ( said to a basketball player)
We should wash the ball.

Thankful Thursday

I can't believe this week has flown by and I'm back to counting my blessings!

1. I am thankful for my Mom. We went on a field trip yesterday with our school and it was great just to be with her and go to lunch and shop. She is an amazing, uplifting woman. So talented, wise, giving and wonderful to my boys. I don't know why I was lucky enough to hit the mother jack pot-- but I did. She is speaking at the American Mothers Conference on Saturday, up in Brigham City, and I get to be her special musical number. I'm really looking forward to this.

2. I am thankful to get up and go to the gym with Si. It's great to move and to have it all done before 7 am.

3. I am thankful for the Wii-- it's fun and all ages can play together. In my house this is a requirement-- 2 forty somethings, 2 twenty somethings, 2 teenagers and a 7 year old....see what I mean? We love Mario Cart!

4. I am thankful for one more week of Millie shows. I love going to " play" every other night. Time just floats by and I am feeling good. Too bad my hobby requires an audience, but I'm thankful an audience shows up every night.

5. I am thankful for laughter, humor and fun. I try to keep a smile on my face and joy in my heart as I move throughout my day finding little things to laugh about and people to laugh with.

6. I am thankful for vine ripe tomatoes, in winter even... amazing!

7. I am thankful

Book Reviews

I've been reading a lot lately..... .
mostly Junie B Jones and Rainbow Magic books, but these definitely count as books.
Inbetween all of this fine reading, I just finished a little book by Chris Stewart called, "Redefining Joy In the Last Days." My mom hooked me up with it. It talks about the scripture, "Men are that they might have joy..." so why are we whining so much? We live in a world of abundance and yet if our cell phone doesn't have a signal...it's a bad minute which turns into a bad day. It's all about choosing and learning to be happy. "Learning to measure our lives by a realistic yard stick is critical to finding peace. "
It's a very good, thought provoking read. It makes me happier for my challenges.
There are some great quotes throughout. This one is by Elder Richard G. Scott:
"The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointments are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life."

I'm in the middle of reading another book called, "A Whole New Mind; Why right-brainers will rule the future" by Daniel Pink.
I picked it up at Barnes and Noble, while shopping for reading books for Laila.
I had read a little blurb about it in an Oprah magazine a few months ago, and just stumbled upon it on Saturday.
It's intriguing. I liked the title right off, because it validates my right-braininess, and I need validation.
The ideas it sets forth are so interesting. It talks about how Left-brain dominance is over and now we need to accept both the analytical and the creative/emotional parts of our selves to be able to survive and thrive in the future. Drawing on research, Mr. Pink sets forth the need for designers, inventors, teachers, social workers, storytellers, care givers and creative people that can do things that computers and outsourcing can't. I just keep thinking about it and can't wait to read it all over again. It's given me new insight when it comes to advice on career choices for my boys and my Lindsey. I feel better about Addison's college choices now as well.
It's given me a new way to look at my work, my talent and my future.
Maybe this is exactly what I needed right now.

It's interesting how things/books just fall into our lives.
Answer to prayer?

YES

Basket Ball is Over

I am basketballed out.
4 games in 4 days....that's a lot to ask of me.
We had the 4A state playoff games this week-- and a Jazz game on Friday night. It takes a lot out of me. I have to sit and try not to scream, and then scream any way at the dumb calls from the guy in stripes. I have to try and not embarrass my Wayne and my dad-- and the people I'm sitting around by my screaming and cheering. I have to try not to get emotionally involved so I don't end up with a stomach ache. I have to watch Truman-- the Brave Super Fan with his red painted face try to keep the student section cheering. I have to not feel bad for the Sr/Jr boys who are sitting on the bench and getting no playing time, ( I' m not talking about my Sophomore son here, he'll get his turn) and I have to hear the other team's fans screaming things. It wears me out. The noise, the emotions, the refs, the rude fans, and coaches questionable coaching......see what I mean?

It's always great when we win, after all of this, but when we lose....it's a wipe out.

Bountiful played great-- but with a few things not going in their favor, player suspensions, and player injuries -- we lost to Provo in the semi finals. It's amazing we went as far as we did in the state tourney.

I did have a run in with some Davis High students while at the state games-- They were there to watch the game after ours, and for some reason decided our row looked like a good one to cut through. The real walk ways were below and above us. They kept saying, " excuse me can I get through?" They were just vying for good seats for the next game. Well after too many of these to count, I was through, and I informed the next set of students to , "please go around-- this isn't a cut through and we are trying to watch the game." They couldn't believe me and one boy actually swore at me! This raised Wayne's dander and we almost had an old fashioned fist-to-cuffs going on.
The things I do.
But-- man-- I thought it was rude. They asked a question and I gave them the answer of - NO. They could care less about the BHS game-- but I was trying to watch it and I wasn't going to take it any more.
So there.
Be warned: If you are a high school student--I'm not afraid of you!

Later that night, I actually sat down to watch the Jazz game with Wayne, and in the first half, the JAZZ were stinking it up big time...I thought I was watching high school ball again, so I promptly fell asleep and evidently missed a rip roaring second half where the JAZZ came back from a 20 point deficit. The TV camera even cut to my cheering Mother in law with her JAZZ fan sign-- I missed it.
Basket ball season is officially over at our house.
Now we have a break until spring ball begins in April.... here we go again!

Thankful Thursday

I love taking the time to count up my blessings.....
1. I'm thankful for Wayne's computer abilities. He was able to de-virus my school lap top after Addison infected it by watching Animaniacs. This took Wayne hours, but it's all good now.
2. I'm thankful for State Basketball playoffs.... Braves are doing great. We love watching and supporting them. Monson loves playing basketball, and Truman is a super fan.
3. I'm thankful for Laughter. I laughed myself silly while watching Addsion's Musical of Musicals- the Musical show, last night. It's really sick and wrong that I get every reference, double entendre and groaner through all five mini-musicals. It was fun watching it with Angela and Landon-- we were a great, noisy audience. Musical theatre is my hobby and guilty pleasure!
4. I'm thankful that Laila is so determined to participate in turn off the tv and all screens week and read. Actually two weeks of parent torture. It's been a huge pain for me, but I admire her perseverance and dedication and hope some day this will translate into really good grades.
5. I'm thankful for friends who will run away to matinee movies with me...just because.
6. I'm thankful.

Musical Bloopers

Landon went on stage the other night in Millie, without his black wig on...for his Chinese boy part, he also tripped and fell down on stage and he went to lift a girl out of a laundry cart and didn't clear it, and hit her knees instead....he didn't have a great show... funny show, but not great.

It's amazing what can happen during a live theatrical production.. I think that's why I like theatre so much, it's fluid, ever changing, never the same show twice no matter how much you rehearse. Stuff happens.

It would be great if I had a blooper film to show for all of my on stage mishaps. I have had quite a few.
Let's reminisce.

SHOW: Snow White
Part: Wicked Queen/hag-apple seller
I was the hag, celebrating the fact that Snow White had eaten the poisoned apple. I cackled and turned to run off the stage and ran right into the house set piece ..wham!. Instead of a seriously creepy- sad part -"poor Snow White. "..... It was totally laughable. I hit the wall hard and fell back and almost had to crawl off the stage.

SHOW:Somethings Afoot
Part: Lady Manly Prowe
This is a murder mystery spoof where, while trying to solve a murder, everyone dies.
I was a buxom, big hipped woman in a padded costume. I didn't know where my body stopped and started. There is a "seduction" scene, where I start up on the 2nd story and walk down onto the stage as I sing to the Colonel. I tripped on my dress, my hip hit the break away railing on the upper balcony . I was hooked on to that railing and began swinging out over the stage about 10 feet up. I was screaming....trying not to, but what else could I do? It was crazy. The Colonel was stunned. I was shocked. I wanted to yell, "stop the show... crazy lady is injured up here..." But I didn't. I flung myself back onto the stage....hitting the back wall, all the while trying to keep my composure and go back into my seduction phase. It was memorable.

SHOW: King and I
Part: Anna
I was dancing the famous polka scene...."Shall We Dance....ba, dum, dum, dum." I had a gigantic hoop skirt on . It was so big and bell like that I had to have straps tied around my legs to keep it from floating up. During the dance, these same straps came untied. I slipped and tripped and landed right on my bu t t, with my legs and underwear flashing the audience. The King was shocked. He looked down at me and said, "Why, Mrs. Anna..." I was mortified, but struggled to my feet and kept on going.

SHOW: Student Prince
Part: Chorus girl
This was my first College show. I was trying to make a good first impression and totally succeeded by having my skirt fall to the floor while singing a drinking song. I was just standing there in my nylons-- I quickly reacted and grabbed the skirt and ran off stage, but not quick enough.

As I get older not as many bloopers happen, or I don't dwell on them as much...I just think oh well. Between being on stage and child birth, It's really hard for me to be embarrassed.

When I was on stage on another Millie night, I started singing my New York song-- I have a spotlight on my head. ...the set piece out of the corner of my eye starts to fall down....I reach my hand out to stop it and try one handed to set it up right-- I'm kind of successful after 3 tries.... I just keep singing. Then, as I walked across the stage singing, the spotlight in my eyes, I walked right into this pouffe at the center of the stage.. bump.... I just stopped walking and kept singing, and kind of laughed to myself.
Atleast I didn't fall off the edge of the stage and into someone in the first row's lap.... that's my real fear. Now that would be embarrassing!

PMM

PROUD MOTHER MOMENT
We were watching Madagascar 2 and there is a part where there are two gangs that look like they are going to start fighting . Music underscores it and they begin snapping instead, and Laila pipes up, "Hey, it's just like WEST SIDE STORY." (I was swelling with justifiable pride!)
If you ask Laila what her favorite video is, she will tell you, "West Side Story." She goes around the house singing and snapping like a Shark or a Jett.
These are moments that make me realize what a big impact I have on her , and on all of my children.
I love Musical theatre... I have passed this love (Addison, Landon, Laila) and sometimes only like ( Truman) and sometimes toleration ( Monson) down to them. It's really the only music I listen to.... except for on the Sabbath, then it's MoTab for me--but I do sneak in the MoTab sings Musical theatre CD as often as I can.

Laila embraces this genre. She has sat through Thoroughly Modern Millie rehearsals and shows, so much, that she has the entire show memorized and can run lines with me.

She has been like this since she was born.... It's never a problem to take her to a full length musical. She will be good, entranced and entertained even if she has seen the show a bazillion times. She knows Footloose, Les Mis, Hello Dolly, How to Succeed in Business..., Joseph, Little Shop of Horrors, Once Upon a Mattress, Peter Pan, Bye Bye Birdie, Into the Woods, Annie, UrineTown and Millie.
Why not?

We were watching Wall-E...the PUT ON YOUR SUNDAY CLOTHES music begins and Laila looks at me and announces to the entire theatre.. .. "This is from HELLO DOLLY." (My buttons were popping!)

She brings kids home to play with, from school, and insists that they watch PHANTOM OF THE OPERA with her. She loves this show. She has come up from the basement numerous times totally teary and va-clempt--- she is so touched.

Last night was a Sound of Music Night. I had to hear about " Nuns and having no children and how sad that is and what if I sneaked out of the house and went to a park to sing with a boy...would you be mad? " Laila was full of observations and questions. She is trying to make sense of her musical theatre world.
I love it!
I don't know if my family will end of up on an OPRAH, in the future, for Musical Theatre Child Abuse, but if there is such a thing, I'm guilty. Lock me up and throw away the key!