2010: It's SHOWTIME!

The year kicked off with Momma directing "Vaudeville 2010" at the Summit Players Theatre in Bluefield, WV. "V2010" (pronounced V twenty ten), was a variety show featuring local talent. This endeavor quickly became a community event with folks volunteering to act, sing, decorate, publicize, donate door prizes and more.

The show consisted of more than 15 individual acts. At the core of the show - the glue if you will - was the house band: KB & the DJs. Also known as Katy, Bob, Dan, Jack and Shawn.

This is Shawn and me cheesin'. In addition to singing with the band, Shawn produced the show. We worked our patooties off - her producing and me directing. But it was well worth the pain and suffering. She is one of my dearest compadres. Love this woman!

Another pal and band director, Bob. He is amazing - can play any instrument with strings. Although he's rooted in rock, he can sing or play anything!

And here is the showman - Dan. I love Dan. He was a member in the band and opened Act II with his version of "I'm Still Standing," by Elton John. He rocked it every night!

KB and the DJs ... Jack and Katy are in this photo. They are a father and daughter duo. I just love that. I hope my kids will want to hang out with me when they are in college like Katy. I ADORE these people!

All in all, I would have to admit "V2010" was a success for all included. The show ended with audiences wanting more ... exactly where every director wants to be! The Summit Players have committed to open each season with a variety show. I agreed to direct next year's production. I already have my think tank churning. It could get scary up in here. I'll keep you posted.

Since I've Been Gone ... 2009

It's been almost a year since I've updated my blog. I have no excuses except I have three young children ... need I say more? I thought I would try to present a quick family year in review.

July

Uhhh ... can't remember. I'm sure it was hot.

August

Kiddos went back to school in August. Oldest started Pre-K class, Middle started going five days a week and Youngest stayed home with Momma. Doesn't she look thrilled?

Oldest with his teacher, Ms. Linda.

Middle with her teacher, Ms. Susan.

Youngest ready to head home with Momma!

September

The family vacationed at Emerald Isle, N.C. Fun in the sun with discount out-of-season rates. Can't beat it with a stick. Oldest will start Kindergarten in 2010, so 2009 was the last year of September vacations. Good stuff.

Middle liked to play in the sand, splash in the waves, swim in the pool and take walks with D and Momma ...

and the Oldest did too.

Youngest preferred to hang out and play with Paw.

October

Halloween!

Oldest dressed up as Peter Pan. His natural strawberry blonde hair was a nice touch.

Middle dressed up as a fairy. Seriously, have you ever seen a prettier fairy?

Youngest dressed up as a bumble bee and was the cutest, cuddliest baby EVER. Really wish I would have taken her picture. Hmmm ...

November

Thanksgiving!

This year we decorated our house for Christmas during the week before Thanksgiving. It was a stroke of genius on my part I believe. Both sides of the family met at Momma's house to celebrate Thanksgiving, and we enjoyed a cheerful and festive house. The day after Thanksgiving was spent shopping for the perfect Christmas tree at a local tree farm. It was snowing and cold. It could not have been scripted better! The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent decorating the tree, wrapping gifts and preparing for the Advent season. Joyful time.

December

Christmas!

A big time snow storm hit the east coast a few weeks before Christmas. Our annual family Christmas party was cancelled because of the terrible conditions. We were disappointed but enjoyed the enormous amount of snow. My parents lost electricity and water because of the storm and they came to camp out with us. Tremendous fun ensued. We watched movies, cooked, wrapped presents, cooked, played with kiddos, cooked and then we ate all that stuff we cooked. Very memorable days. A few days before Christmas their power and water was restored. They scooted home to prepare for Christmas at their house.

Christmas Eve at our house went as such:

• Dinner that included homemade manicotti (we're not Italian, we just like their food), salad, bread, and of course, desesrt.
• Lighting the Advent candle and listening to D share the devotion from our family Advent book. We sang a couple of carols around the Advent wreath and D shared some scripture. (Sounds a lot more Norman Rockwell than it really is.)
• Visited with Santa. Yes all you naysayers ... the REAL Santa who came right to our door, delivered the kids a gift, ate his cookies and milk, and left to deliver more gifts and earn another $50. President Obama could have been standing and my living room and the kiddos would not have been more impressed. Neither would I come to think of it.
• Opened gifts to and from each other one at a time! I didn't (and still don't) care if it's a pain in the rear or if the kids didn't like it. Opening gifts one at a time allowed us to share the experience for more than just 15 minutes.
• Changed into new pjs.
• Played with new stuff.
• D tucked kiddos in bed after reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas for the umpteenth time. Momma cleaned up before "Santa" returned.
• After ample time passed, D and Momma start carrying Santa's loot from the garage. Then the real work began.
• A few short hours later, D and Momma crashed. Well sort of. Had to keep one ear sharp - it's Christmas Eve! Didn't know if a kiddo would try to sneak downstairs. After all, it's all about that first look on their faces. You miss that, you might as well miss it all. As it turned out, we did see their little faces light up and hear the squeals and witness the sheer excitement little ones have on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day was spent with family at my parent's house. As I long as I live, I think I'll always want to be at Mom and Dad's on Christmas.

New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful. I don't even think I saw the ball drop. Think I was sound asleep.

So that pretty much wraps up our fall of 2009. The new year brought about a lot of work at the Summit Players Theater. But I'll save that for my 2010 update.

Shew!