Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving was spent at Landon and Alex Buzelli's home.  They are so lovely to have us all there for the past three years.  We had the COLE side with 26 people: Landon and Alex, Alex’s parents, A friend- Matt, Wayne and I, Truman,  Monson and girls ( We missed Lexi and Tayla because of sickness)  Addison and Bre and kids, Adam and Christine and Jenna, Liz and Al, Gary and Megan and Mary Call.   Dinner was delicious - we had all of the usual suspects... turkey two ways, stuffing, Sweet potato stacks, mashed potatoes, hot rolls, creamed corn, appetizers and a smorgasbord of desserts. Sonia Buzelli made flan just for Wayne. Landon and Alex always set a beautiful table. We laughed and enjoyed our time together. 

I made 2 cran Apple pies and 2 Banana Cream pies - my favorite and Wayne’s favorite. 

Jenna trying on the chair covers.

Adam and I photoshopped ourselves to look like our parents..so they joined us as well.

We then ran to the new movie “Wish” with Monson and Addison’s families, and Tru.  It was an okay movie– it’s actually an origin story of many of the Disney characters–Fairy Godmother, Magic Mirror, 7 dwarves etc.... so it’s fun to watch just for that.  I didn’t really love the old-school animation and the songs were mostly forgettable– but trying to find all of the 100 “easter eggs” throughout the movie is enjoyable. 

 

A Christmas Carol

One of my besties Maure Tarbox directed this beautiful show.

 

We opened A Christmas Carol Monday Nov. 20th.. And it’s been a fun project to be a part of. I have really enjoyed playing the Blind old hag – and the very dramatic, yet silent, Ghost of Christmas Future with my extra long pointy fingers and lights. In this version the blind old hag turns into the Ghost of Future. The Lamplighter turns into the Ghost of Past and the Sandwich board man turns into the Ghost of Present. By the end of the show when Scrooge shows kindness to all of us- we know our job is done and I'm miraculously healed-- no more Blind or old... just a hag ( haha)Many people can’t find me on stage because I’m so disguised.    I love that this Christmas Carol version is mostly music and comparatively short – 90 minutes! I like performing on the Egyption Theatre stage.  The cast is very talented- and after a slow start we finally gelled and really like each other. AND I like that now I live in Layton it’s only 16 minutes away.  We  are only single cast and we have had sickness go through the cast, flu, covid, colds– we are all masked up off stage.  We had 8 shows total.   I have had a lot of family and friend support– which is so nice.  

The kids made the longest chain during th shows that they presented to Nick Cash- he plays Marley.

Lady and Elsie

This is my Fezziwig outfit.  We learned the whole Fezziwig dance with Nick Cash as my partner then realized that Nick needed to be getting back into his Marley ghost costume for the next scene-- so we only did the beginning and then bugged out.  Marley was woven in and out of the whole show which was a cool idea.   

Me, Darin Beardal and Maren Messerly as the GHOSTS

John Philpott played a great Scrooge.  This was his first time playing this part and he was determined to get it right.  

As the ghost of Christmas Future I didn't say anything but I swished and swooshed around the stage and made things appear and disappear. It was a fun part.

Wanee, Me, Nick Cash, Bret Garlick and Holly

Linda Wangsgaard, Me, Janet Webster, Leslie Leger and Angela.

What else is up...

We have had the most glorious fall. The colors of the leaves were intense.  It was so incredible to see and be in.   

Wayne has loved UTAh football.  He got to use Belnaps tickets and take friend Dave Stuart to a game and Alfie was their with the Inkleys and he came down to the front row to watch with Papa.

I helped my Si Foster friend at Pinners conference. Si is amini celebrity and it's a joy to see how many people she has influenced with her cook book and cooking skills as she shared her talents.  I got to spend a day with my other frinds Kathleen Blake and Mel Evans...so that's nice too.

Met up for brunch with cousins Krystin and Cindy  to catch up on all the family things.

Wayne has started to make Sour dough bread.  He's bough ALL the things, took lessons from Eric Belnap, read all of the articles and seen the youtube videos and he is becoming an expert.... seriously so delicious!

The Ed Sheeran concert in Las Vegas was fun... we went with the Belnaps and the Farleys and ran ito our frinds Lexi and Sami Edgar...

We were freezing, so we all bought Ed Sheeran Sweatshirts before the concert-this turned out to be a good decision.

Laila and Markus had the marine ball.  All dressed up and looking fine.  Laila got braids put ack into her 3-inch hair-- it took 12 hours!!  she was tired for the ball, but looked gorgeous.

Andrew finished up band season.  Viewmont does a decent job and Andrew loves playing his trumpet in it.  They took 5th out of 13 5A schools at state.  

I had teacher meetings in St. George.  Once again so grateful to be with this team of educators.  We are missing one ( Andrew Charleton) ... Front row: Pauls Finlinson, Julie Morales, Tara Criddle, Annett Eiting, Summer Johnson, Laura Belnap.  Back row:  Marianne Shaheen, Jessica Everett, Jen Larsen, Julie Baggaley, Brooke Brown, Mindee Taylor, Deanne Stratton, Me, Megan Johnston and Hollie Bybee.

Tayla was in her first Centerpoint Academy production.  It was a musical review and she sang and danced her heart out.  She's only in 2nd grade and she's in the 3-6 class....so she's the youngest on stage and she does great!  Tayla had to try out to be with this group and she was very practiced and confident.  She is really tall-- 4'7"-- so everyone thinks she is older.   I loved the family support for this event.

Halloween

 Halloween was different this year.  Different house. Plus I wasn't around much in October to do any party or really think about my costumes.

I got dressed up as the Great Pumpkin in the morning – went to band practice in that outfit.  Wayne put a red wig on and wore his Ed Sheeran hoodie and he was Ed Sheeran!   

 We had all of three trick or treaters.  One came at 10 pm because Wayne left the front porch on.  Mom was in the driveway in a car and kid at our door.  Weird.  IT’s weird in a new area.  My block is pretty lame.. So many dark doors. Monson came with his girls to go around with me and we just walked and walked to find people home.  We had one guy come to the door-look shocked – say I’ll be right back  - When he finally came back it’s like he just scavenged in his cupboard and he brought back an old style granola bar, a packet of cranberries and nuts and a 5 ingredient protein bar and he just kind of cracks his door 4 inches and sneaks this stuff into the girls baskets and then he shuts the door really fast. The girls faces were just like this is the worst Halloween candy ever!   I was just glad it wasn’t old soy sauce or ketchup packets. It’s like this guy had forgotten it was Halloween.  And then we took a few steps and he turned his light off!!!  We did find one townhome that went all out with decorations and KING size candy.  The girls were thrilled and it made up for all the walking with nothing to show for it.

Add and Bre Pics did Halloween pics in their garage with scones earlier in the afternoon so that was nice and generous on their parts.  

Hedwig from Harry Potter

Lorna Lovegood from Harry Potter

Griffindor celebrated and Glitter Bow is Neville Longbottom

Poppy as the White Queen.

Alf as Nightmare before Christmas - Jack Skellington, George is Oogie Boogie.  

I did get some grand kid time with Halloween cookie decorating and building a haunted house.

It seems by the time Halloween is actually here the kids have worn their costumes so many times and they are over it.