Aladdin- Closing Night

Again I was there 90 mins before the show started to help with the makeup. 

This time we didn't have all 4 moms there from the beginning, so it was a little more stressful getting all the kiddos ready. Yesterday I worked mainly on the kids that just needed regular stage makeup while the other 2 moms did the Tigers and camels. I did do the monkey's face yesterday as well.

So I started on the Tigers going off of what the moms did yesterday. They had taken pictures of what they had done so they could recreate it. But I was having a tough time feeling inspired by it. I did the girl tiger based off of the pictures from yesterday. I just didn't love how she looked because she looked more like a kitty cat instead of a tiger.  I started on the boy tiger and I just wanted to look up something that felt more "TIGER" and I found the perfect thing. So I started on him and it was going so much better, so one of the other moms helped wipe off the other girls makeup off and start over. I showed her the picture that I was going off of and she was able to get the base of it done for me in time that I finished the other tiger and I could do the finishing touches on the girl. 

I think the turned out so awesome. 

Here's Abu. My friend Jenny's girl, Lacey. They live in our ward. Ryker and Lacey are actually good friends in real life. So it was perfect to have them play Aladdin and Abu together. 

Bethany and Ryker as Jasmine and Aladdin. 

Cy the all powerful Palace Guard. 

This show I got to sit on the front row. So the pictures are alot better.  But this picture is great because I could see both of my boys in the same scene. 

One Jump Ahead Scene

Trapped in the cave of wonders and meeting the Gene for the first time...

Escaped out of the cave and working on his 3 wishes....

First wish... To be a prince!

Prince Ali song. Cy did have one line to sing in this one. "Just try your best to stay calm"... 

The whole new world scene was so cute. I wish so bad that you could hear Ryker singing. He was amazing. Also before this scene he was back stage and his mic didn't get turned off and you hear him whisper to all the ensemble who is setting up the lighted balloons..."make it magical..." 

How adorable. I wanted to melt.

And it sure was magical. 

Sultan approves of their "love". Awww.

Time to take their bows!

Oh these 2 were so incredible!!!

Londyn (Genie), Bethany (Jasmine), and Ryker (Prince Ali)

Ryker (Prince Ali) and Lacey (Abu)

Can't pass up a family photo opp...

My favorite little Palace Guard...

ALADDIN!!!

So proud of this kid.

The lady behind it all. She has been in theater for many years and volunteered to do the show. She was amazing with the kids. She was so encouraging to them and directed them brilliantly. She was funny and made the whole thing so fun for everyone. 

While we were taking pictures on the stage there was this little boy that was watching Ryker very close. His mom got my attenion by pointing to me and saying "That's Aladdin's mom, and that's Aladdin's Dad." I waved to them and went over to her and she proceeded to tell me how much her boy was a fan of Aladdin. Ryker had a little fan. So Ryker went over to him and gave him a high-five and was so cute with him. It sure made me smile. 

Proud Grandparents. Mike and Heidi came to both shows. Along with so many family members and friends that supported my boys. I didn't get a chance to thank everyone properly that came. 

These 2 deserve a special shout out for coming because Tayler was there watching Ryker and Cy ON HER DUE DATE! Bless her heart. But it meant so much to me that they came. Especially with the text that Tyson sent me later after sending him this photo of them with Ryker. It made me cry....

"Ryker and Cy did such a good job! I have actually been meaning to text you and Jesse, I did get emotional during the performance and not so much because of the performance itself (although it was amazing) but more so that little Sloane will have such amazing cousins to look up to (when she finally decides to show up!) Ryker breaking character to make sure that girl was okay during the show, and just his overall interaction with everyone, he's a great example! As the eldest cousin in the family I'm glad the rest of the kids have him to look up to."

To celebrate we went to Chik-fil-a. Mike, Heidi, Tyson, Tayler all joined us. While we were there we talked about the show and how great it was. At one point Mike asked Ryker "Ok. What's more exciting? Scoring a touchdown in football? Or performing like you did today?

Ryker really had a hard time deciding. He sat there a moment and couldn't come up with a conclusion. He had that much fun. Even Cy did too. Last night after their first show they couldn't stop beaming and talking about how much fun it was and how they couldn't wait to do it again.  

Ryker finally replyed " I don't know, that's hard. I definetely found a new interest."

I have a feeling this wont be the last time we do this. And I cant wait to see what other plays we will be watching him perform in. 

Back in November when the signups started, I never imagined what this weekend would feel like. I watched Ryker and Cyrus grow so much from their first rehearsal to their final performance. I am positive this will be an experience they will always remember! I love that elementary schools put on plays because this wasn't something that happened when I was their age. And to be honest I'm not sure I would have been brave enough at their age to participate in something like this. These boys really have more going for them then I ever did in elementary school or even Jr. High. It was so incredible to watch them as a cast learn their individual parts and put it all together as a whole show. It's a big task and they did a great job!

After lunch we stopped by the salon because Ryker was so eager to cut his hair. He's been growing it out for the past 3 months. He's used to getting a haircut every 3-4 weeks so going 3 months was pretty painful for him. 

He was much happier about his short hair. 

Cy kinda suffered too. He didn't have to grow his hair out, but because I hadn't cut Ryker's hair, Cy got one hair cut in those 3 months. Se he was feeling ready for a haircut too.

Awww, so much better. 

WPA ALADDIN!!!!

Back in November when the signups came out for Wasatch Peak Academy's Play, Ryker came to me and told me that he wanted to do it. I thought "Ok, ya. This will be fun and new for you." Cyrus also wanted to do it and I was pleased to see them both willing to try out a new experience. I liked the idea that it wasn't sports and could give them more of a well rounded experience for the both of them. Also that they would get to do it together. 

When we went to the first parent meeting for the play to get an idea of what things would look like for the next 3 months. We found out that everyone who signed up for the play would get to participate. Students got to choose between ensemble, dance troupe and lead/speaking roles. If they wanted a speaking role they had to try out. The others were just by signup only. 3rd to 6th grade were aloud to be in the show. 3rd graders were limited to ensemble, but that was perfect for Cy because that's all that he wanted to do anyway. 

Ryker on the other hand came to me and said "I want to try out for a speaking role and I really hope that I get a lead." 

Woah. Ok. Lets do it. 

To try out for a speaking role the students were required to sing a song acapella and a poem from memory. Ryker right away wanted to sing "You're Welcome" from the movie Moana. And he already had a poem memorized about a builder (I'm not recalling the name of it right now). For a week or so he worked on giving soul and character to the poem and working on the song.  I have a client who teaches choir to a Catholic Elementary and used to give private lessons. I shot her a text asking if she would be willing to work with Ryker on his song for this tryout. She was so happy to help out. We worked out a little trade to compensate her for her time. She worked with him for 90 mins. When I picked him up she told me that she was really quite impressed with Ryker. She told me that he could actually stay on the pitch when she would stop playing the piano and he'd stay on the pitch. She told me he's really good. 

Day of the tryouts came, and of course he was nervous but did amazing. We waited a whole week to find out what they had decided. Ryker was so anxious to find out what role he was going to be given. And so when he found out he was cast as Aladdin he was beyond thrilled! I wasn't surprised because he's such a charming kid and he kinda looks like Aladdin. 

I had a conversation with the director a month before production. She told me that when Ryker came in for his tryout he said "I'm not very good" and they reassured him to do his best. But that he ended up NAILING IT. She told me that right after he left they all instantly agreed that he was going to be Aladdin. 

Honestly I was so happy that Ryker had the bravery to do a tryout at his age. I sure as heck wouldn't have had the gumption at the age of 12 to do anything like that. And then to take on the role of Aladdin was impressive. 

Rehearsals started after Thanksgiving Break and I remember them coming home and telling me how awkward and weird it felt to act in front of their peers. But over time they grew out of that awkwardness and became so comfortable on the stage. 

When we got the script Ryker went through and highlighted all of his parts. It was then he realized how much he needed to memorize. He seemed overwhelmed at first, but he stuck with it. And eventually got his lines down. I don't want to forget the times when I was working on his lines with him at home and he'd get all squeamish every time he had to say the cheesy "I love you" or "oh those eyes were amazing". It would make me laugh. Cuz I know one day that won't be the case. 

I helped a few times during rehearsals and the first time they were running through the "Whole New World" scene it was my first time seeing Ryker do it. It was casual, but he was singing to the music on a phone that he could barely hear, But he was hitting the notes and projecting. I was so happy to see his confidence. Singing in front of your peers didn't seem like that a big deal at all. So cool. 

The week of the show they had 2 final rehearsals. Long rehearsals. I went to go help. While I was there I helped paint some of the set and hang up some curtains on the openings of the set. While a few other moms and I worked on this, we got to listen to the kids run through the whole show start to finish.  By the time they made it to "A whole New World" scene I was done with the set and so I got to just watch. Ryker and Bethany(who was playing Jasmine) were doing well taking critique so well. It was cute because the 2 of them were doing a good job, but they were having a hard time being "romantic" with each other. The director (Hillary McChesney) was so good with them. She told Bethany that she loved how she was such a strong and confident woman because of the way she was on stage, but she needed to help Ryker not look so desperate by following her around on the stage like a puppy dog. Haha. She showed them how to connect, hold he others hands, look into each others eyes, maybe give her a twirl. They listened and started to the scene from the top. 

I was standing next to the mom of "Jafar" and we were watching Ryker and Bethany as they both nailed the new critique with the song. They did so well that the both of us started to get choked up. And then Ryker twirled Bethany and I lost it. I was just blown away. They were both so adorable. 

Today was their first show and I volunteered to help with Makeup on the kids 90 mins before showtime. Before we went down to the school I helped my boys get their makeup all done. Ryker was NOT happy about wearing makeup. Haha. Especially when I put a little bit of mascara on him. 

We got to the school and  everyone was in the Library getting ready while the Cast A was doing their show. So we had to be so quiet. Once the Cast A was over and they handed over their costumes to Cast B. 

The next step was for the leads to get their mics on....

Cy was haning out with us while Ryker got his mic secured on his face and down his back. Cy was in the ensamble but he got assigned to be a Palace Guard. 

The show started and I just couldn't stop smiling the whole time. He was brilliant during"One Jump Ahead" song. He owned the whole stage with is huge smile. 

The Prince Ali hat was hilariously large....

There's Cy on the right with all the other Palace Guards.

Stage Bow!

Big smiles for their first successful show. 

Hilary McChesney told me after the show that she was impressed to tell me that there were moments that other kids were missing their cues, but Ryker was improvising and filling in the gaps so their never felt like a dead space. She told me, you can't teach that. He just is a natural up there. Even at rehearsals I heard her several times tell me how much Ryker has been impressing her. She told me that it was hard to believe that this was the first time that Ryker had ever doing a play. He had a natural presence on stage, he has an infectious  personality, an ability to take direction, can interact with the other characters naturally AND he can SING really well. Who knew?

We got home late and Fynn fell asleep so fast while I was reading him bedtime stories. 

Fynn the Builder/Helper

Jesse needed some nails removed form a beam, so he put Fynn to work. I recorded him pounding out the nails to opposite way to get them out of the wood and I just giggled the whole time because Fynn gets the lip and tongue going and it reminds me of Jesse when he's concentrating on something as well. 

He's cute. 

Also things are starting to pick back up on the house project again. So we get to close soon on the construction loan and we will get the funding we need to get this all finished. Heaven help Jesse because he has alot on his upcoming plate. 

Murphy's First Haircut

I know how to cut human hair, so why not dog hair? I did learn that my clippers from the salon WILL NOT cut his hair. So I talked to a groomer over at Petsmart and he helped me figure out which clippers and blade I would need for his hair. The clippers were $200, the blade was $40,  the attachments were $20 and the clipper coolant was $7. Thankfully they gave me 15% off. But sheesh, I swear they cost more than my own clippers at work. But I figured to get him groomed it would cost $85 and those clippers will eventually pay for themselves after 3 haircuts.

It did take me 2.5hrs to cut his hair. And it was amazing how he sat their the whole time untied.  Only one time he jumped off to the couch. 

All done! I would say it was a successful first time. 

So much hair on the ground and he's still so fuzzy!

Love this pup so much!