March 2017

Well, now that it is JUNE, I thought I'd better get our MARCH newsletter out!  LOL!  Sigh...  Someday I'll get caught up!

In March we did our typical stuff.  Dan was working on his show for Peter's Alley, I Oughta Be in Pictures, Margie was working and managing the AirbBnB, as well as serving as the Cubmaster at church and the drama boosters treasurer at school, Lyn was rehearsing for Honk!, and John was busy with piano and scouts.

In addition to that, though, there were some pretty significant highlights.

On March 5, John performed in the annual Pre-Festival Recital at the home of his piano teacher, Susan Maher.  This is a recital that the kids play in as preparation for their playing before the judges the following weekend.  After he played, Dan and Margie rushed off to the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) awards, where Dan was nominated for both Outstanding Set Design in a Musical and Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical for LTA's West Side Story last year. (He didn't win.)  The kids stayed behind and helped Susan with the dinner she hosts after the recital.

Susan presents John with a certificate of achieving a Superior (highest) rating for 5 consecutive years.

On Thursday, March 9, Margie attended a special dinner to celebrate the birthday of the Relief Society, which is the women's service arm of the church and the largest service organization in the world.  She and a friend were asked to decorate a table, and they picked a beach theme.  They were pretty proud of the result.

Margie's friend made chocolate shells, and rather than just using them to decorate the table, Margie decided to make little "beach cups" for each place setting.  There was sugar "sand" at the bottom, topped with the chocolate shells, jelly bean "sea glass", and a Sixlet "pearl".  They were a huge hit!

We put a colored table cloth under a lace one to make a pretty beach effect.  The perfect napkins we found read, "Friends are like seashells we collect along the way."

Friday, March 10 was John's presentation on the greenhouses they made in his STEM class.  They had built them outside in the courtyard, and it was snowing! It was pretty miserable for both the presenters and the visitors!

Each team was assigned a different plant and had to build their greenhouse based on its special needs.  John's team was assigned swiss chard rhubarb, so their greenhouse was relatively small and was house-shaped, unlike, for example, the team that had tomatoes and had to build theirs very tall. 

That night we hosted a Game Night with a few other couples from church.  Unfortunately, John got sick from being out in the snow, so he wasn't able to participate.  Besides, he needed to save his strength for Festival the next day!  Luckily, his time slot was in the afternoon, so he could rest in the morning.

This year for Festival we decided to do something a little different.  Previously, John had been participating in Piano Solo, so he had perfected pieces you might expect to hear in a recital.  This year, however, we decided to enter him in the Hymn Playing category.  Margie was really wanting him to start focusing on hymns, since that's likely what we'll be playing throughout his life (if anything--there's a good chance that once he stops taking lessons he'll never look back!).  He played simplified versions (since this was his first year in the category) of Holy, Holy, Holy and Nearer my God to Thee.  He received a Superior (highest) rating, with judges commenting that he was "very confident" and "nearly flawless".  Woo hoo!  We were also grateful that Dan's dad go to join us, as none of the grandparents have ever heard John play in a formal setting.

That evening, Lyn and John attended a regional fireside held up near the temple.  They got to hear from Al Carraway, who had joined the church as a young adult, after getting several tattoos, and is sometimes referred to as "the tattooed Mormon."  She spoke about being non-judgmental, open-minded, and the blessings that come from making good choices even in the face of discrimination.  Afterwards, there was a dance.

Tuesday, March 14 was, of course, Pi Day.  Unfortunately, there was a snow storm, so we had a pretty low turn out.  But that's the great thing about the Pi Party--it doesn't matter how many people come, there is always pie and we always have a great time.

Last year we put up pi all around the room because we didn't have any decorations or furniture.  This year, we decided to just keep it above the kitchen.

On March 18, Margie hosted her first "Declutter Party."  This is a brainchild she had some time ago.  It's like a Tupperware party, but instead of buying stuff, you get rid of stuff!  She has scheduled a couple over the last few years.  Some she had to cancel, some no one showed up to, but this time it worked out great.  She hopes to make it a regular thing.

On March 22, Margie attended her very first professional audition.  For many years she has dreamed of working at Signature, one of the nation's premier regional theaters located right here in Arlington, but she never knew when the season auditions were.  Well, for the first time, she found out!  She just couldn't pass up the opportunity.  She was super nervous as she waited for hours and hours with people half her age, but then she had her moment.  She sung "Goodbye Emil" from Romance, Romance, and the table seemed impressed.  The pianist had a huge smile on his face, and as she left the room, she thought she heard the casting director say, "Well, circle that one!"  Nothing has come of it, but at least she can say she did it.  After all that nervousness, it turns out that professional auditions are just like any other audition.  Maybe she won't be scared of them anymore and will do a few more.

Dan went in late to work so he could help Margie take a head shot.  In the end the best one was a selfie, so Dan wasn't need at all.  Ha ha!

Speaking of professional theatre, Lyn and John spent Saturday, March 25 in New York City!  This was a trip sponsored by the drama boosters. We are lucky to have a mom who has led many tours up there, and our kids got the benefit of her experience.  They attended an acting workshop, had lunch, saw a matinee performance of The Lion King, then had free time in Times Square to look around and find a place to eat before attending an evening performance of School of Rock.  They had a great time!

Group picture in Times Square.

Each team during the workshop was tasked with creating three scenes of a Disney movie with their bodies. John's team got The Little Mermaid.  In this scene, he is being the ocean while Ariel rescues the Prince. In the other two (not shown), Ariel loses her voice, and then gets married.

Lyn's team was assigned Aladdin.  In this picture, she is being a sand dune while Aladdin and Jasmine go on the magic carpet ride.

The Wednesday after they got back, we attended a Court of Honor where John was awarded the rank of Life Scout. He had earned it in January, but this was the first opportunity to participate in the ceremony. This is important because he has to be a Life Scout for at least 6 months before he can earn his Eagle. This means he's almost here!  Which is a good thing, because just recently the church announced that beginning January 1, they will no longer be sponsoring scouts past the age of 14.  He has until December 31 to get it all done.  Guess what he'll be busy with this summer???

We finished out the month by attending the annual Youth Service Auction.  This is where all the teenagers at church auction off goods and services in order to raise money for summer camp.  Lyn offered a homemade pull-apart delivered fresh and hot, babysitting, and drawing lessons.  John made his famous "Kookie Cookies" (with four different types of chocolate chips) and two rounds of carpet shampooing.  This year the girls are doing two trips--a challenge trip that includes rock climbing, as well as the usual, more spiritual week of camping.  The boys are going caving in Kentucky.  These kids sure do lead exciting lives!

Well, that's it for March.  April news coming soon...