Pier and Park with the Boys

Tracy was directing nursery activities at the church, Nana and Serafina were prepping for an afternoon birthday party, so what were the boys left to do?... Field trip!

Photos: http://jf2.com/130721/

Shan't Shirk Shrek

Oh. My. Goodness! Kelrick Productions created a Shrekdom like no other. From Princess Fiona, quite the spitfire, to an outrageous Donkey and oh-so-lovable Shrek, the stage was alive with endearing characters. And the Dragon. The Dragon. Don't miss seeing the Dragon. Oh yeah, and Lord Farquaad; I've not laughed that hard or long (in "short" bursts!) for quite some time. Today (Sunday) at 2pm is your last chance to see it.

This was the culminating activity of Serafina's birthday weekend, so of course we went to Madonna Inn for dinner on the way. Pink Champagne Cake, baby!

Birthday Sleepover

Nothing like a sleepover with a great friend. And on your birthday! I saw major squirt gunning, dirty faces, spinning on the gymnastics bar, movies, popcorn, cupcake minions, presents, candles, games being played - and that was in the first minutes of being home. Happy Birthday, Serafina!

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'...

Serafina got a new bike for her birthday, and Matteo got a new bike for her birthday, too! If that isn't sisterly love I don't know what is! So off to a nearby parking lot to give all the wheels a workout.

All the photos: http://jf2.com/130713/

Matteo's Corn Bush

What do you get when you plant an acre's worth of corn seeds in one hole? A corn bush! Hey, don't laugh, there are ears taking shape...

Oh deer, homemade apple pie!

No wonder we can't grow anything in the garden... Mom and two fawns.

No wonder we can't stop growing our tummies...

Closing Today: Sound of Music and Another Chapter

Our last Sound of Music performance is today, 2pm. With that, the show closes. And so does a remarkable chapter in my life. Serafina is resting this morning, playing a video game and watching the DVD of the show videoed earlier in the run. I'm  messing around over at the computer, finding myself turning often to watch the show, and pretending not to watch when things well up. It may be harder to get through the day than I ever imagined...

Two firsts today for both Serafina and me: striking the show and a cast party. The strike is basically putting the theatre back the way we found it three months ago before all this started (auditions were mid-March and the first reading was March 25). On our way out the door from last night's show, Serafina cleared her dressing room desk of all the "decorations" she had brought from home. It was no big deal to her. It was all I could do to hold it together. It's been such a great experience.

There is no way we can say thank you enough to the SLO Little Theatre and all the people who made this show happen. Accu-awesome bunch, they are! Lynn and I have enjoyed theatre all our lives, and Lynn has had her share of on-stage experiences (though, interestingly enough, I never saw any of them). Until now, I had no idea what it took to put on a production. Oh sure, we can all imagine what it takes, enjoying theatre from the seats and knowing that somehow you owe a debt of gratitude to the folks who brought you this look into the human experience. I submit, however, that until you do it, until you become a member of a family hell-bent on putting up the best show possible and working tirelessly for months to do just that, you just don't get it. I get it now.

Well, I get some of it. We may never know just how far our show family went out of their way to guide and assist their 7-year-old Gretl and their novice geezer, Franz. They've had to cope with all manner of happenings, from mic transmitters being dropped in the toilet to "what's a spike?".

I'm not sure how saying auf wiedersehen tonight will go.

Circle up one last time, on three... "Sound of Music!"

Later, after the closing show:

Striking... with light sabers?!

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good-bye...