Drama

A couple of months ago, Henry was able to participate in his school's production of "Into the Woods."  He was Rapunzel's prince and got to sing the duet "Agony." The other prince was played by an 8th grader, and his voice has already changed.  Henry, on the other hand, can still sing pretty high and sang an octave above the other prince :)

My elementary school was part of the first group to see the full production as North Middle School put on the play for the 5th graders of North's feeder elementary schools.  I was one proud mama watching my 11 year old sing and act... appearing fearless in front of a big crowd of his peers.  After the production the cast and crew held a question/answer session for the 5th graders.  Mrs. Ghumm (my teaching partner and good friend) asked Henry where he got his amazing talent.  Henry didn't skip a beat and replied, "from my mom."  Okay, we all know that isn't true, but it just made my heart smile.

That evening was their next performance.  Mike, Ilah, and I went to support our little actor where Henry rocked it again.  I almost didn't go to their last performance on Friday night since I had already seen it twice, and the night was packed with several activities to choose from.  Mike's boys basketball team was at a tournament...I think it was the last game of their season.  It was also the homecoming basketball game for the highschool so I thought about going to watch Tucker play, but for some reason, I ended up over at North.  Ilah was having a friend spend the night, so they both came too. 

When the curtains opened for the opening scene, Henry was on stage dressed as Jack (from Jack and the beanstalk fame).  My heart started pounding.  I began to sweat.  Why was he there???  Henry looked nervous as he started singing one of his several solos, but he worked the nerves out and pulled off two characters easily.  After the play, I found out that the boy who played Jack started throwing up about 1 hour before Friday's performance.  The director asked Henry if he thought he could fill in.  Henry said that at first he was really excited, but that he did get a little nervous.  Can you imagine??? 

His "Giants in the Sky" number was fabulous!!  I am still in awe.  I liked it even better than "Agony."  I never would have had the guts to be in a school play let alone take on a major part an hour before show time. 

Ilah's school play is this Thursday.  It is the musical "Cinderella."  Ilah gets to play Drizella (one of Cinderella's step sisters).  Henry says she was made for that role.  I can't wait!!

Easter 2012

Someone is missing...

Tucker with his big cheesy grin

Henry looking suave

Beautiful Ilah

We sure missed having Taysom with us.  What a blessing to know that she was with Rachel, Richie, Miles and Gwen.  She colored Easter eggs, got an Easter basket, and went on an egg hunt.  She also  enjoyed an Easter Cantata and said that Richie's solo was the best.  Thank you Garners for everything you do for Tay!

A few weeks ago, I asked the kids what they were hoping for in their Easter baskets.  Ilah said she wanted a cell phone, Tucker said all he wanted was money for his HEFY trip, Henry said he wanted candy.  (Thankfully, one of our children had reasonable expectations.)  On Saturday evening I had to break it to them that there wouldn't be any cell phones or money in their baskets, but there would be candy.  (Insert Henry cheering here.)  The Easter bunny had a request from Henry to hide his basket really well.  The Easter bunny obliged by hiding it in the fireplace... but not in plain sight.  It was hanging by a rope with the bottom of the basket barely visible.  After about an hour of searching, Henry asked for a clue... and then another clue... and eventually found it.  There was boisterous laughter all around until Henry noticed that soot was on his Peeps.  (Insert Henry's angry face here.)  And it all went downhill from there.  A breakfast of biscuits and gravy couldn't lift his spirits.  (Insert pouty, moping Henry here - not eating any breakfast.)  Neither could Ilah giving him two of her Peeps.  (Insert Henry chucking the two Peeps onto the table here.)  Easter was basically ruined.

Fortunately by the time we arrived at church his mood had lifted.  That is the good thing about mood swingers like Henry and I.  We eventually bounce back.

After church we had a delicious Easter dinner complete with ham, green bean casserole, jello salad, and resurrection rolls (that I made the kids come make).  During dinner Mike asked the kids if they wanted a 'true' egg hunt this year.  Tucker and Ilah readily agreed.  Henry needed some clarification on what a 'true' egg hunt was.  After Mike explained that it was where everyone just got as many eggs as they found instead of each person getting x amount, Henry vehemently objected.  So then Mike came up with plan B... what about if everyone is guaranteed 5 eggs, but after the initial 5 it becomes a 'true' egg hunt.  Henry wouldn't go for it.  Not wanting another 'soot on the Peeps' episode, we decided that Henry wasn't ready for any kind of 'true' egg hunt.

Ready for the egg hunt

Ironically enough, Henry was the first to find all of his eggs.  There were several references to Taysom during the egg hunt and basket finding earlier that morning.  She doesn't like help or clues and is always the last to find both her Easter basket and her eggs.  We sure missed her!