Arrrrrrg........Pirates!

A few years ago we became aware of & involved with an organization called Prairie Players.  It's a free volunteer led community theater.  I really have no clue how I went so many years & didn't know about this group.  Once we got involved we....ok, maybe more I, became hooked.  The first summer the kids were involved in the production of The Music Man.  Then the last two summers I was involved in The Sound of Music & All Shook Up.  They put on many other smaller productions through out the year, but my schedule does not allow me to be involved.  Summer works best for me to be able to go to evening rehearsals, so for now it's the only time I will even audition to be in a production.

This year I almost didn't try out for the musical.  I knew that it was going to be The Pirates of Penzance and I had watched a movie version of it month previous and was not impressed at all.  I was just put off by it.  As auditions drew near I talked myself into at least trying out.  Never hurts to try, right!?!?!?  I was cast as a governess.  That role doesn't even exist within the script, but the director created it for a select few of us because unless you were late teens/early 20's there was no roles available except for the lone Ruth role.  As the director pointed out, back in the 1800's, no woman of proper upbringing and with a prominent father would ever be out in public without her nanny/governess.  Since he cast 9 daughters he allowed 3 of us old more mature in years women to fill the governess roles.

I was pre-warned about this director.  I knew nothing of him until this musical and what I was warned of didn't bother me at all.  I felt up to the challenge.  It's not that he's all big, bad & scary.  He is just extremely strict & has a very high standard of what he expects from us personally, musically & theatrically.  He was taking on a very challenging musical score and would settle for nothing less than the best this community had to offer.  Challenging is right on when it comes to the music.  My younger years of music training served me well and I, along with the cast, rose to the occasion and we had a fantastic performance of this show.  We have all heard rave reviews about our performances last weekend.  Hailed as one of the best this community has ever seen.  In essence...we were awesome : )

Here is a slideshow of pictures to help capture the show.  Several hundred pictures were taken, but I tried to narrow it down.

Also for those who don't live locally I was able to get some video clips during one of our dress rehearsals.  If you are really interested in seeing the whole show I can loan you a DVD copy of the show that was taped professionally.  However to keep from copyright infringement I was not able to video record the whole show.  Not to mention my camera is not of professional quality so it's not the best video footage, but it gives a good view and an idea of what we put on.  If you want to see those video clips you can go this Youtube account and see what I have posted.  Just remember some songs and dialogue are missing, but what I did get I listed them in order of the show from end to beginning.

I am so glad that I tried out for & was able to be a part on this musical (technically it's an operetta, but we still refer to it as a musical).  The director, cast and crew were phenomenal to work with.  So far, my best experience by far with musical theater.  Next summer they are putting on the King and I....I can't wait!!!!

Birthday Buddies

My birthday was over a week ago.  It was a very busy, crazy weekend for it to fall on.  Then again, my life is always busy, crazy so this is nothing new.  In a nutshell I spent Saturday & the beginning part of  Sunday in Muscatine, my home town.  Saturday was spent visiting with family & friends & was very relaxing.  Sunday I woke up at 4 a.m. so I could meet up with a running friend and we ran 17 miles from Muscatine to West Liberty.  Then (just for the fun of it) we raced a 5k.  Yes, that is my idea of a good time!!!!

Once I got home to Galesburg we went to church and then had to go in many different directions.  Angel had to ready & left for a week of counseling at church camp.  Mandy had a youth group skiing/tubing trip.  Brianna had to babysit.  I had musical rehearsal for the rest of the day.  We barely had time for lunch and even at that we weren't all together for it.  Also had just enough time for Jim to give me my birthday present.  I had no clue he was even getting me something.  He got me a very nice, new camera.  It's not quite the $500 one that I want, but it is certain a step up from the point and shoot the I currently have.  It is VERY nice!  (Score point for the husband!!!!)

In the mean time a good friend of mine went into labor and  her baby was born that evening....on MY birthday.  Having a birthday buddy is no new concept for me.  I've had once since the day I was born.  Elaine Stewart was a lady in my church who also has a birthday on July 15.  For as long as I can remember I was always her birthday buddy.  We've always remembered and celebrated this great day that we share.  I remember as a kid it being such a big deal that I was lucky enough to have the same birthday as this fine lady.  Once I was married there was a family in my church who had their daughter born on July 15.  Fast forward several years later & my cousin gave birth to her daughter on July 15.  I'm telling ya, I know I'm a little biased, but July 15 is a GREAT day to be born.  I was beyond excited to have baby Liam born on this great day as well.

Here is a picture of Elaine & I, my original birthday buddy.  This is actually a very recent picture.  I had been back home the week before our birthday to visit my home church and made sure we had our picture taken together.  It's actually the only picture I have of us together.

Here is a picture of Liam & I.  He's less than 24 hours old in this picture.  I couldn't be there when we was born, but I got up there as soon as possible.  The fact that I am actually good, close friends with his parents makes it more exciting.  I get to see & be a part of this little guys life!  I want to have that same special bond with him that I had with my birthday buddy!

Camp pictures

Here are just a "few" of the pictures we have. I had to split it into 2 shows because it only allows 100 pictures per show. Most are self explanatory. Enjoy!

Home sweet home

Vacation was WONDERFUL!!!!  I have much to tell you and much more to be done here at home, not on a computer.  For now I'm working on a slideshow as I type to post for you all to see.  I have so many pictures to show everyone that I can't possibly post them all.  So be patient, I will get it posted soon!  In the mean time, one very special event that happened is that Andrew went off the zipline for the first time in his life.  It has been the talk of the YEAR about him finally being able to ride down this rite of passage for camp.  You'll see some pictures, but here is the video of him going off.

Vacation

We head out this morning for our annual Peterson vacation.  For the 11th year in a row we are heading to the shores of Clear Lake, IA where we'll spend the week at IRBC.  This is our favorite place to go as a family.  We used to take other vacations through out the year, but when life got busy and the money tighter to spend this was our one staple that we refused to let go.

Since I really need to finish packing and get us out the door I will leave you with this cute video of Carmen & Andrew.  I love that we've created this tradition that our kids are excited about.  For Carmen & Andrew this is the only vacation they have ever know.  We started going there as a family in 2002 (I grew up there spending many previous summers there as well) so for all of our kids this has been a huge part of their life.

Enjoy the video & have a great week!

VBS

This week our church is having vacation bible school.  They are using the Go Fish theme, which means it is without a doubt awesome!  My big kids are all helpers, while the little ones attend.  Here is some video of Angel helping with the music:

Here is Mandy, Nina & John in one of the skits (they don't come in until after a minute or so):

Friday's Food

I wanted to post some food related items that we enjoyed this week.  I was going to post this on my personal blog, but I thought the post was going to be too long so I nixed it.  Heaven forbid I go too long or talk too much on a blog post ; )

 I've wanted to post my cookie recipe for sometime.  I had talked about it on facebook one day.  It drew a lot of attention.  I even had a mini giveaway & the person who correctly guessed my secret ingredient received a package of said cookies.  I always get great comments when I make these cookies.  They are so soft & moist.  They just fall apart in your mouth.  I'm a fan of oatmeal raisin anyway, but this special ingredient makes it all that more yummy!  Want to know what it is?  Tomato soup!  Here is the recipe.
 
OATMEAL RAISIN TOMATO SOUP COOKIES

~1 egg
~2 sticks of butter
~1 ½ C. sugar
~2 tsp. vanilla
~½  tsp. baking soda
~1 tsp. baking powder
~2 tsp. cinnamon
~1 small can tomato soup
~1 ½ C. flour
~2 C. oatmeal
~1 C. raisins

~Combine ingredients, spoon onto cookie sheet.

~Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

Also this week we made mini personal pizzas.  My kids love to make them because it's easy for them to do themselves and they can personalize their own to their taste.  I don't have an exact recipe for them, but the idea is very simple.  Take an english muffin & slice it in half.  Add pizza or spaghetti sauce & your toppings.  Top it off with cheese & bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted.  I meant to take pictures of each step, but forgot a few along the way.  Here are the ones I did get.

John thinks its so funny when he photo bombs my pictures.

What are some fun & yummy things you are making this summer?  Let me know : )