4H -- A Kid's Life Musical

The beginning of the year is always a busy one for us getting ready for the 4H Music and Drama festival. There are two things that I really appreciate about being involved: It builds confidence in the kids that I see grow each year and they have so much fun getting to know everyone. My children have made really good friends through this portion of 4H.

This year we performed the musical A Kid's Life by John Jacobson. Our club typically purchases a script with CD and the only problem we have is our 15 minute time limit. There are many songs and lines cut all while keeping the story intact. One of our long-time 4H moms takes on the job of directing while the rest of us assist in any way we can. As always a week before the performance we were really concerned that it wouldn't come together but of course after much work the kids did great!

This is a picture from one of our final practices with George as a bingo caller during a lively game song. You can see Zippy in the background. He enjoyed wandering in and out at each practice and when the kids were up on stage he had a hard time not being up there with them. If you listen to the YouTube video you can hear him screaming at the beginning. At one of the practices Re-Pete, who plays the dad, comes back in the door with his wife. Zippy came walking in right along with them as if nothing was out of the ordinary. That made us laugh as it looked as if Dad and Mom went out on a date and came back with a baby! Ha!

The Willing Workers performed mid-February and we enjoyed a fun day at the festival both watching and performing. 

The opening scene. A typical day in the life of a family. Pete is playing a video game. Missy is on her iPad. The other boys are part of the chorus. George and Tank really wanted more lines but there weren't enough parts for this big group.

We made all of the gadgets over-sized out of cardboard to emphasize them.

This was from the stage practice so "Grandma" doesn't have her wig on but I liked this shot of Pete and Missy wondering what kind of games they can play without their gadgets.

Here Missy is telling Grandma that jumping rope is for little kids.

Re-Pete had fun with the mic. His brothers thought he looked like a motivational speaker.

Dad (Re-Pete) and Mom came home and Missy went to give him a hug.

A portion of the kick-line on the family band song.



One of my favorite parts is when the narrator/brother is speaking and all of the kids freeze in some form. You can see Pete frozen ready to give a high five to his "sister". The choir was always supposed to have their head down.

Having fun dancing around on the closing song.

You can watch the video of the performance one of the parents put on YouTube below. It isn't the best quality but you get the idea. During the game song Re-Pete and Tank are in a group playing charades off to the left so you can hear Tank guessing. He also says the line -- "table football" and during that same song Missy is off to the right playing Go Fish with her "grandparents" and says "It's easy!"

The Willing Workers performance was simply amazing! Especially since they only practiced twice a week for a little over a month. At the end tears were streaming down my face as I was SO proud of them! The judges really enjoyed the performance and had to work to find a constructive criticism and in the end found none. Our group WON!!!! So, we may be headed back to the State Fair in August yet again!

Part 1 of A Kid's Life

Part 2 of A Kid's Life

Practice, Practice, Practice

It's that time of year again where we learn lines and memorize songs and cram in long practices twice and sometimes three times a week. The kids are getting ready for this year's 4H Music and Drama Festival which is held mid-February. This year we are doing a fast-paced musical called "A Kid's Life". It is about kids in a tech-savy family who find themselves without power and nothing works. No cell phones, no computers, no video games. They have no idea what to do with themselves until their grandparents show up and show them how to play and have fun together.

The only thing my kids don't like about it is there aren't any fun costumes. In past years we have dressed as a King's Court, figures from American history and last year circus performers. A lot of fun. This time it is everyday clothes. And too we have a lot of kids in this play and there aren't enough lines to go around so the parts are quite small. But they all said they are having a lot of fun with it.

Pete and Missy are kids in the family. There are 9 children in this family which is actually how it was written and Re-Pete is their Dad. George and Tank are part of the chorus. George doesn't have many lines but being that he is also involved in a homeschool production coming up in April he was reluctantly okay with that.

Here they are singing a song about games. George is a bingo caller. Tank and Re-Pete play charades during a brief time during the song. You cannot see Missy but she is playing cards at a table on the other side of the chorus.

Our 4H Cornfield Comedy Skit

Last weekend our children (minus Seppy and Zippy) performed a 3 minute skit along with a number of other kids from our 4H club. They presented it during the "Enchanted Forest" a fun time for kids to dress up, play games, walk through the woods listening to skits, and get candy. This was our first time being involved but the kids had so much fun! Their good friends were also in the skit which is part of why it was so fun.

Cowboy Seppy enjoyed watching over and over again and still found it funny!

When tossing around ideas my friend Barb came up with doing a cornfield comedy similar to what they did in the show Hee Haw. Do you remember that show? Well, in viewing them online now we realize many are not appropriate for children to watch. But the idea was fun. And so here is our presentation of a "Cornfield Comedy". Keep in mind that by this time the kids had been performing this over and over again for almost 2 hours, so they may lag a bit. And there is a bit of background noise of children in the audience.

George Plays Tackle Football

George really enjoys football. When he was little I wondered if he would be as interested in watching a game as his Daddy as he was really oblivious to what was going on. But gradually over time he became more and more interested and now he seems to know everything there is to know about the game of football. What does he want to be when he grows up? A football player of course. :) Now, John and I are realistic about that but a boy can dream can't he? But to do that he needed to actually play the game and not just toss the ball around with his Dad and brothers. He waited patiently until the day that John decided he could give it a shot in a free tackle league for his age.

The season is only 6 weeks long with two practices each week. I am growing a bit weary of it as supper is always rushed and too John goes to kickboxing immediately after with any of the kids that go along to watch practice. But, the season is almost over with two more games left to play and I have really enjoyed watching George grow in many areas.

He did not know anyone on the team he was "drafted" to and in the past that might have bothered him but he has become much more confident and has easily made new friends.

George works hard each week. John told him with this being his first year playing if he didn't want to sit on the sidelines he needed to prove himself. And that he has. His coach has asked where he has played football before but he never has apart from a touch game at home.

He pushes himself giving it his all and is gradually learning how to take constructive criticism because it makes him a better player when he heads that advice, especially when it comes from Daddy.

George is physically stronger too and doesn't give up. The teams are small and so he plays both a defensive end and a center on offense. He is up against some big guys but can hold his own for the most part.

We'll see how this all plays out as I know now that he has the bug to play he will want to continue next year. And of course he has a few brothers who are watching and waiting as well. But for now we'll enjoy cheering for our up and coming football player.

George plays center and has the ball in hand.

Passing the ball to the quarterback

Headed toward the linebacker

My Two Cake Decorators

This is a month behind but I wanted to post pictures of the birthday cake George and Pete made for me this year. Usually my Mom or sister will decorate one but since the boys have had a few cake decorating lessons as a project for 4H I thought they could handle it.

At their last lesson they learned how to make flowers which is something I have never done! The flowers turned out so nicely, that although tempted to eat them, they decided to freeze them to save to put on my birthday cake. I thought they might as well make the cake for me too. To make it a bit easier for them I caved and bought a cake mix. I helped with the raspberry whipped cream frosting but they put it all together. 

It turned out even better than I imagined!

I love to see how far the boys have come in decorating cakes. It wasn't too long ago they "assisted" my Mom in putting fruit on a cake only a mother could love. (I think I need to dig out that picture!)

 

Face Painting

One part I played in the kids 4H production of "Circus Circus" was painting faces. I love art -- drawing, painting, you name it but I rarely have time for it. I have never painted faces but figured it was much like any other painting just on a different canvas.

Re-Pete and Tank were lions and Missy was a tight-rope walker. I found ideas on the internet and kind of went with it. I had a lot of fun using a bit of my creative side in that way. A friend told me I could go into business painting faces. One more thing to add to my list of "things to do when my children are grown".

My lions, Re-Pete and Tank with their friend whose face I also painted. George their lion tamer also wanted his face painted.

Re-Pete as a lion. Being in a hurry this day and painting three -- it didn't turn out as nicely as it had in my practice run. I also was painting from memory and I do better with an example to follow. Next try I would use orange and yellow paint to make it more bold. Here I used some foundation I had that was too orange for my face which gave it a more subtle look. I also forgot a line under their eyes.

Missy's was fun to do. I also liked her practice run better but I was trying to change this up a bit as I hoped to get more red in to match her outfit. She is also kind of particular and has ideas of her own. But this was nice and colorful.

4H Musical -- Circus Circus

Last weekend our children performed in the 4H Music and Drama festival which is one of my favorite activities being in 4H. This year's musical was called "Circus Circus" about a circus whose ringmaster is sick and they need to figure out who will take his place. It is cute and colorful with very catchy music and lines.

I don't know why but each time they perform I get more nervous then the kids do. They did a great job and I was so proud of them as always. It is fun to see how far they have come since our first production two years ago and how each in their own way have gotten more comfortable on stage.

I can especially see it in Pete, my sword swallower/fire eater, as he so easily takes his role and becomes that character. His voice carries so well and he says his lines with feeling. And even when he was in the background he was acting every step of the way.

And my little Miss, a tightrope walker, was excited to say a line this year. She was so cute and spoke louder than I thought she would.

George had a smaller speaking role as a lion tamer this year but he took command of his lions which was a favorite part for many. His lions like M&M's.

Re-Pete and Tank as lions were fun to watch as they prowled around.

All of our hard work paid off as we won the competition for the second year in a row! That means we have the option of performing again at State Fair in the hot month of August. Re-Pete already is dreading the possibility of wearing his hot lion costume and face paint.

One of the parents posted a video on YouTube if you would like to watch it. I embedding part 1 but if you want to view part two click HERE.

Busy Days

It has been quiet here on my blog I know but it hasn't been quiet here at home. We have been getting ready the past few weeks for our 4H Music and Drama festival. That means two hour practices twice a week and running to various stores every chance I get when in town to find odds and ends for costumes, backgrounds, props, etc. all in addition to our normal routine. I don't know about you but when I am not home for chunks of time like that I get so behind on keeping the house in order (not that I am good at it to begin with). We all have been going in various directions lately and eating on the run and I really miss sitting around the table together. And so, I am thankful that we are in the final week of preparation with our first performance tonight for our club and the Festival performance this coming Saturday.

We will be performing Circus Circus and it has been a fun one to prepare for. The songs are catchy, the characters are fun and who doesn't like to wear a fun costume?

The past weeks have also been crazy for John as issues came up at work with the project he is in charge of which meant he worked all last weekend causing him to miss a winter men's retreat that he desperately needed but we did make it relaxing for him when he was home. And this past week he has been the chauffeur for one of the Koreans visiting from Hyundai taking him out eat from time to time with a few late nights and working again part of Sunday. John takes it all in stride as always and makes the best of what he is given and I love that quality in him!

So, off to a busy day of painting children's faces to look like lions, finding the right size tights for my tight rope walker and making sure we have everything in place for tonight. As George my lion tamer says -- "So on with the show to the main event". 

I'm still here...

I have so many things I could post about but really, have no time to accomplish that. I have loads of pictures to crop and resize so you can see what we did with our summer (it was busy!) but I am getting ready for a new life to join our family in 2 days!!!

The summer has flown by but thankfully will not be over quite yet. I checked the forecast and am very pleased to see that the day baby and I come home from the hospital summer will still be here! I was afraid it might be as last year at this time when we were wearing jeans and sweatshirts. So not ready for that! The boys are ready for the County Fair and my Mom took George and Pete to help setup the 4H building which is one of my favorite things to do. I have finally realized I can't do it all but I hope I remember that after the baby is born.

I am very excited but a bit nervous too. I hope to post from the hospital with pictures of our little one.

Only 2 more days!!!  :)

George learning to sew

My parents brought over my Grandma's sewing machine for me so I can relearn to sew in my spare time. :) I sewed a rice pillow for a gift along with a cover after a bit of instruction from my Mom and thought maybe I could do this. Most likely all I will get done is hemming some pants and such. George has wanted to learn to sew for awhile. We saw a book that has patterns for boy things to sew and so he has been asking for quite awhile.

George cutting apart old jeans.

My Mom gave George a brief instruction of how to use the machine and got him sewing straight lines. Next he began sewing large squares together. Then he cut them into small squares, sewing them together and made a doll pillow for Missy and a small blanket for Seppy. I had given him a few pointers but other than that he has taken off on his own. After picking out some remnants at the fabric store he came home and in no time at all he had made a shirt. He has to tweak it a bit yet but I couldn't believe he figured out how to sew a little shirt for a stuffed bear.

Shirt George whipped up. He then made a bag for Seppy out of scraps of denim from his latest project.

Shirts and pillows were not enough and so now George has a big project he is working on. I remembered seeing a quilt made out of denim and knowing we had a pile of jeans with holes waiting to be made into shorts thought George could maybe tackle that. He is doing a rag quilt with denim and then flannel that he picked out on the back so that he doesn't have to be perfect with it and then there is no stuffing it or finishing off edges. It will have frayed edges all around (my Mom makes flannel blankets like this). Now all of his brothers want him to make them a quilt also.

Here are two finished strips showing the front and then the flannel back.

I am sure excited about the prospect of this. George learning to sew can save me so much time and he can do all of my projects! He already knows how to operate the machine better than I do. I told him he can take in all of Missy's pants that fall off of her. He wondered how to do that and I told him to which he replied, "that doesn't sound comfortable." He suggested that we put in the elastic with buttons as the pants I typically try to buy for her. Sure George, you figure that out for me!

4H Musical -- American Dream

We had an exciting day Saturday! Five of our children participated in the 4H Music & Drama festival with our club the Willing Workers. They put on a condensed version of "American Dream" telling America's history through song.

George as Leif Erikson looking over his map. He had one of the biggest parts (which he requested)

Parts were assigned mid-January and then the work began meeting twice a week for practices. At first we weren't sure how this was going to come together but slowly and surely they improved. Although last week a few of us moms looked at each other when the kids forgot the first verse of the first song wondering how well they really would do. The ages of our group ranged from 5 - 18 but they work well together with the older ones helping the younger.

I painted the backdrop (which didn't turn out exactly as I envisioned but I did it in a day) and also the letters for America. We each found costumes from various sources but they turned out great as we got an award for best costumes.

During one of our practices. Missy has her exclamation upside down. Tank holds the letter R (for the right to pray as you please)

The day of the performance I think I was more nervous than my children were. We had hoped to get a practice in before going on stage but there were so many other groups trying to practice that it was just hilarious trying to sing our songs. I was behind the backdrop helping with costume changes so I didn't even see the actual performance but it sure sounded good.

Afterwards we went to hear the judges comments and I had a hard time not letting my tears fall as I heard so much praise for our group. I cannot even express in words how proud I was of our children for all the effort they put into this and they gave it their all. Even my little Missy Blue sang and danced along with the rest and the judges were amazed that she didn't get lost in the crowd but kept up with everyone else.

The end of the day brought the judges results and we were hopeful but didn't know what to think. In the end our group won for best musical!!! Which means they will now go to the state fair and perform again competing against other 4H groups from around the state. Very exciting!!!

Pete is on the far left cut off a bit, Re-Pete is in the middle with Tank in front of him and Missy up front. George is on the right.

George played -- Leif Erikson and then changed into a Thomas Jefferson costume for a song

Pete played -- a pilgrim man and then had a larger part when he was Tecumseh (he makes me smile with his bold voice and actions he puts with it)

Re-Pete -- reluctantly participated but ended up enjoying playing Vasco Balboa and then a Colonist

Tank -- really liked being Daniel Boone.

Missy -- dressed as a pioneer girl but didn't have any lines. She did sing and dance very well.

I am still here...

**Updated with pictures 9/22 --Are you shocked Heidi? :)-

Wow, it has been almost a month since my last post! Yes, I am still here just busy. I should post without waiting to download, edit, upload pictures and then maybe you'd know what is going on in our lives. And so I will start from where I left off.

My last post was getting projects ready for the County Fair. That included me. I have been entering my photography for more years than I can remember, always trying for that elusive first place ribbon. I suppose I should be happy to place at all as I do each year out of many entries. This year I was very picky in my selections. I have learned a few things after talking with judges in the past and going with George to his 4H photography class have learned what they are picky about. My favorite photo of all that I thought might have a chance came in the mail and I was disappointed in the printing but had no time to have it reprinted. I debated entering it at all but I didn't have anything else ready. I also entered one of Tank outside in the snow but I thought his face was a bit blurry. My favorite was a grouping of 4 shots of Missy blue jumping in the lake and then falling down. That ended up getting a second place and when I walked into the building where the photos are kept I saw that I had gotten a 1st place on not one but both of the photos I thought wouldn't make the cut. I was thrilled! After all these years of trying  -- I met my goal. :)

[caption id="attachment_782427" align="aligncenter" width="324" caption="Me with one of my 1st place pictures"][/caption]

We were busy fair week. The boys and I helped setup displays in the 4H building twice that week which was fun as we get to see all the different projects. This is the first year we have been able to be at the fair more than one day as we would normally be racing on Labor day weekend so we enjoyed going most every day for a little while rather than spend an entire day and be worn out. John and George helped serve food at the 4H food stand for 3 hours one day and George loved it, although his Daddy was a bit tired out. It was a good learning experience though and I so enjoyed watching the two of them working together waiting on people.

[caption id="attachment_782426" align="aligncenter" width="324" caption="John and George serving "cold foods" to customers"][/caption]

So that is about all from that week. Labor Day we began our vacation and headed on a week long trip. I will talk about that in the next post. (Hope I didn't bore you with this one!)

County Fair -- Judging Day

The boys have been working on projects to enter in the county fair and yesterday was judging day. Pete, Re-Pete and Tank are all "Cloverbuds" which means they aren't officially in 4H but enter for the fun of it. Tank was excited as it was his first year and he wanted to enter a painting. We finished his project but then his nerves got the better of him and he wanted to back out. I convinced him to stick with it and he did make it through. He was worried about talking to the judge all by himself about his project but I stood next to him to give him moral support. The younger kids all get participation ribbons and it is all fun with helpful hints to get them ready for the "real" judging in future years. Pete and Re-Pete are old pros and enjoyed talking about their photo posters they made and their legos. They can't wait until next year when they can actually get a 1st or 2nd place ribbon.



George was excited about his projects this year. He entered photography and legos again but this time decided to try decorating cupcakes. We found the idea to make corn on the cob cupcakes and they turned out really nice. Although trying to make them hold up to transport was a little difficult. Thankfully it wasn't an entire cake! Noah got a 1st place on them but as it turned out the judge really liked the cupcakes too and held onto them for later judging for higher awards. We went back to see if he could possibly receive a  higher award and unfortunately he did not, but we are so proud of him for his hard work and creativity. We later found out that there were 600 some entries in the food category and out of that his was put aside for special consideration which is an honor in itself! He already is planning to decorate a cake for next year.

[caption id="attachment_782412" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="George and Corn On the Cob Cupcakes"][/caption]



For anyone in the area look for the boys projects in the 4H building when you are at the fair. (Cupcakes won't be there due to the fact that they would be a spoiled mess). They all entered photos -- George took his own and the other boys made posters with photos I took but most have people you recognize in them. Our club is Willing Workers so you can visit our booth too for more pictures of them.