Better Late Than Never Christmas Pics

Joplin Snowpocalypse 2011

Back in February we were treated to another "winter break" after mother nature decided to dump 18+ inches of snow followed by sub zero temperatures then dump another 7 or 8 a few days later followed by more freezing temperatures.  We were out of school for 9 school days... 

How did we spend our time???

Bundling up to play in the snow, preparing mentally for the frigid temperatures, and formulating the perfect plan to dominate the snow ball fight...

 

(This smile was short lived... Tears will be freezing on his face in a matter of time.)

Just waking up, but ready for some fun!

Who needs a coat anyway?

Play time...

10 minutes later...

 

 10 minutes after that...

Baby, it's cold outside!

Out Wit, Out Play, Out Last

 Besides playing in the snow, we also roasted marshmallows in our fireplace and made smores,

 watched A LOT of Netflix

Henry and best buddy Ian playing computer games

 spent A LOT of time on the computer (Henry playing games; Taysom, Tucker and Mom on Facebook; Daddy doing homework; Ilah, Mom, and Taysom checking email; 

Mom working on her website~

made delicious goodies

 read

 read some more

 painted

painted some more

And ventured outside now and then...

(Roads were awful!  Our road never did get plowed. Thankfully we didn't lose power.  I think our biggest mishap was the bumper getting ripped off of the Cruiser.)

December Performances 2010

For the past two years Ilah has participated in the Joplin All City Singers.  The All City Singers' Concert has been the place where I first start feeling the Christmas spirit.  Thankfully, Henry made the cut this year so we were able to kick off the 2010 Christmas season correctly!  The concert was beautiful and included two of my favorites from previous years, "Bethlehem Boy" and "Winter Fantasy"  Henry is always very entertaining to watch plus there were about five of my 5th graders participating as well. 

Henry is the second row from the top third from the right

Mike, Taysom and Henry

Henry and his buddy Michael

 We also got to attend Ilah's beginning band Christmas concert at North Middle School before rushing off to Taysom's "Touch of Class" concert over at the highschool.  Ilah is really enjoying the flute thus far!

Ilah is the gorgeous one front and center!

At Taysom's "Touch of Class" concert it was Senior night - meaning that any senior who participates in choir walks across the stage with their parents while their names are read.  Then the senior receives a rose and has a photo taken.  Luckily both Mike and I had a lot of former students out in the audience or in other choirs, and they cheered loudly as we walked across the stage with Taysom.   This is Taysom's first year doing choir.  Previously, she always participated in orchestra, but at the end of her junior year she decided to try out for show choir.  She made the all girls group called "Touch of Class".  When they first got their dresses Taysom was very concerned with how low cut they were.  We were going to get her a flesh colored body suit to wear with it, but ran out of time so Taysom decided to wear a black cami instead.  Slowly all of the girls stated wearing black camis undear their dresses.  I just wish more of them had done so when they came to our elementary school to perform before Christmas break.  Yikes!  Before their last two competitions the director made it a costume requirement.  Way to go Taysom for setting the modesty trend:)

Ole'  (Tucker was too lazy to come with us!)

I was able to go to her final competition about a month ago, and they were phenomenal!  Even though I couldn't stay all day, I was able to watch several schools perform.  Some of them went all out with several costume changes and a fog machine and extensive props.  I felt like I was watching a performance from Glee.  Touch of Class definitely had the best blending vocals and harmonies.  Their mixed choir group called "Sound Dimension" also did a great job.  At their final competition Touch of Class got second in their division and received "best vocals" out of ALL divisions (over 24 schools).

Annie Jr. the Musical

March 3rd and 4th found us at the new North Middle School auditorium watching our little orphan,  Ilah.  She did an amazing job!  Over 100 students were a part of Annie Jr. in some way- either building and decorating the set, sewing costumes, operating the sound/lights, and/or acting.  I was completely blown away!  Tucker even thought that it was better than the high school plays he's attended. 

Henry was able to see the 1st performance on Wednesday when they performed it for all of the incoming 5th graders.  He was fun to sit next to at Thursday night's performance (opening night) pointing out where Ilah was on the stage each time she was in a scene.  It was sooooo good that Taysom and I decided to go again Friday night while the boys were gone camping.

Although we were asked not to record anything, I couldn't help getting a couple of clips of the orphans singing.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other...

   

Tucker hurt his finger the first day of open basketball prior to basketball tryouts.  In fact you can see it wrapped in the splint in his football picture.  The trainer said that it would be swollen for 8-10 weeks.  Well, it has now been over 4 months.  We decided to have a doctor look at it.  She told us that it could remain like this for a year to a year and a half.  I guess his CTR ring is going to be lonely for a long while!

Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jelly!

Ever since the Annie Jr. play, Ilah has caught the acting bug.  She went to her first casting call (if that is what it is called) for a movie about Bonnie and Clyde.  I guess some of it is going to be shot here in Joplin, and they need extras.  Ilah convinced me to take her a few Saturdays ago.  We had no idea what to expect.  We found a super long winding line that luckily kept moving.  Unfortunately we didn't realize that she needed to bring a photo of herself (head shot?) so we got to pay a young man $5 to take a snap shot of her.  Then we filled out a short form and left it in the box marked for girls 10-12.   Sadly, she hasn't heard anything.

A couple of Sundays ago, Ilah and Henry spent all afternoon - while Mike and I napped - choreographing, practicing, and then performing, complete with costumes, "Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jelly". (They have made some minor changes in the lyrics so that both Peanut Butter AND Jelly are singing ;)  Ilah said that she was going to show it to Mrs. Reidiger (the director of Annie Jr.) in hopes of making a lasting impression.  Henry and Ilah are both planning on trying out for next year's play.  I think Mrs. Reidiger would be a fool not to cast them for some major roles!




This reminds me of the many times I would try to get my brothers and sisters to pratice a song/dance with me so that we could perform it for Mom and Dad and/or Grandma and Grandpa Hinckley out on their back lawn.  Too bad we don't have some old videos of that! 

I wish I would have had the guts to participate in a play or musical in highschool.  For some reason I was petrified of trying anything extra curricular.  I don't think I would have admitted it then.  I probably would have just said I wasn't interested or that I was too busy with homework and later on work.  And it is almost impossible to have a job and participate in extra curricular activities.  Taysom and Tucker can attest to that.  (We're keeping our fingers crossed that they get to shuck some corn this summer in Iowa! )  Speaking of Taysom, she tried out for the highschool's spring musical.  It is called "The Drowsy Chaperone" - has anyone ever heard of it?  She is a showgirl and an extra in most of the scenes.  Performances are coming up in May!