The Hobbit

The Hobbit as a trilogy?! Thank you, Peter Jackson!

United 93

I will never forget September 11, 2001 and what I felt and experienced that day. It's really the monumental/historical event of my lifetime--much like the JFK assassination, men walking on the moon, Titanic of others' memories. I have always been so fascinated with what happened and I've just been drawn to the stories, films, books, and TV programs about that day. I have avoided United 93, written and directed by Paul Greengrass, just because I knew it was going to be a tough film to watch. Finally saw it yesterday and I have to say that it is the best movie you never want to see again. Very powerful. Great, real performances. Things unfold in real time and made me remember my feelings again from that day. Highly recommended.

Kam and Dad

Kam had his state track meet a few weeks back and I forgot to mention how he did: 2nd in the 4x100 relay and 7th in the 100 meter. I think it was good for him to feel loss. He's done so well in the past that losing just hasn't been his thing. He was great about it though. No bad sportsmanship or anything. I'm so proud of my boy. Here's couple photos of us:

Sleeping Beauty

It's time again for my summer show at Hale Center Theater Orem to begin. We have been rehearsing for the past two months and Sleeping Beauty has come together very well. This is my favorite classic Disney film and I selfishly chose it this year to produce for Brynn. She has been dragging Lindsay to rehearsals just about every day this week. Her favorite character is Maleficent. Go figure.

Please come and see it! July 23-August 3. 2:00 p.m. daily. Call 801-226-8600 for reservations.

Pictures of Brynn

We got a new point and shoot camera this past week and Lindsay was testing it out yesterday on Brynn. She got some cute pictures!

Pins!

If you follow my posts you know that we are big fans of Disneyland. We try to get in a trip at least once a year and most Sunday mornings you will find me cuddled in a ball with Max watching one of our Disneyland home movies. A lot of people collect things and here I share my vice: A few years back I bought a Disneyland pin (the one with Mickey and Minnie flanking Walt) and I got myself hooked! The only pins I will really purchase are based on attractions. Just love them. Whenever one of my students go on a Disneyland trip during the school year I tell them they have to get me a pin--and most of them come through! I have taken the pins I've collected over the years and put them on a corkboard that I have in my classroom. My students love looking at it, and they especially love seeing the one they bought me. Make fun if you will, but it's me.

Love the Small World pin. 3rd row down, third from left.

Love the top row, third from right-Mickey at the Main St. train station.

The tickets are representations of passes given to reporters on Opening Day, July 17, 1955.

Both Mad Tea Party pins and the Haunted Mansion with swinging gates are favorites.

You Know It's Summer

You know summer is here when the family heads out to Owlz games! Love it!

11 Questions

My brother-in-law Collin sent me 11 questions that I am required by law to answer. Collin is the funny looking kid in the picture below. Sorry, the taller of the funny looking kids in the picture below. I had a fun time answering these questions. Hope you enjoy!

1. What is your most embarrassing moment?

I tend to stick my foot in my mouth…A LOT. I have had many embarrassing moments because of this. I would be embarrassed to specify.
2. Who is your favorite super hero and why?

John McClane. He was just a regular guy invited to a party on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately for the terrorists who took control of the thirtieth floor at Nakatomi Plaza, McClane just happened to be there. Was he “super?” At age 14 I certainly thought so.
3. If you weren't a school teacher, what would be your next career choice?

Disney Imagineer. I have so many ideas as to how to make Disneyland even more magical.
4. Would you rather have your own cooking show or own your own restaurant?

My own restaurant! The name? Starters. The concept? All menu items are rich and flavorful starters. No full meal menu items. The idea? Come with a group of friends or just as a couple and order a variety of different starters to sample from. The flavors are so creative and simple, but rich and intense. You quickly realize your favorites that keep you coming back, but you keep trying others because everything is just awesome. It would be the best restaurant in Orem. Someone give me the money to “start” this please! **UPDATE-I actually found out that they have restaurants like this in many other places called Tapas. People are stealing my great ideas (even if those restaurants have been around for many years).
5. If you could go back in time and spend a whole day with Walt Disney, what would you do? What questions would you ask him?

This is incredibly tough to answer, because I would have to choose when in the life of Disney to go back and spend some time with him. There are so many great  moments of his life I would like to spend a day with: when he first arrived in California to begin his company with his brother Roy, when he first saw Mickey on screen, when Snow White premiered, when Disneyland opened. But I would have to say a few years after Disneyland opened. He finally created this “empire” that everyone along the way told him would fail. I would love to ask him what he thought of it all. Where did he see it going? Did he see how his legacy would grow and influence families?
6. Favorite movie of all time and why?

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I don’t think any film will ever match it. The scope, the storytelling, the music, the acting, the direction, everything! It was a movie made with real love and passion. Everyone involved seemed to be in love with the LOTR world.
7. You are riding "It's a Small World" at Disneyland when the zombie apocalypse happens. Name steps 1-10 you will take that will ensure you and your family's survival.

Step 1-Don’t panic. Those who panic don’t make it.

Step 2-Know your water sources. You will need water. Available in most lands at Disneyland.

Step 3-Find weapons. Obviously firearms are not available, but all you need is a blunt object. Make way to the “tropical” worlds of Small World and pick up a spear or a boomerang. Make mental note about plethora of additional spears in Adventureland.

Step 4-Use animatronic skills learned at Comedy Sportz. Zombies assume you are Small World child and are temporarily distracted.

Step 5-Guide family out of Small World and through Fantasyland. There are 3 ways in and out of FL. Hard to get cornered.

Step 6-Grab a churro. There’s always time for a churro.

Step 7-Get high. Know your surroundings and how many zombies you are dealing with.

Step 8-Make your way to the top of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. When coast is clear, why not hit Club 33 and the Dream Suite above Pirates? No more security to stop you from enjoying a dream vacation with family.

Step 9-Keep quiet. Fortunately you are at Disneyland during off-season so attendance is not high.

Step 10-Unfortunately you have to kill Lindsay. She was bit near Pinocchio.
8. What is your biggest pet peeve?

When a musical artist creates a sound different from their original work. I understand branching out as an artist, but please don’t do this. It very rarely works. I give as examples: Indigo Girls, Keane, Barcelona, U2, Joshua Radin, and many others. Oh, and people who complain about pet peeves.
9. If you could go back in time and change 3 things, what would those 3 things be. How would the present day be different because of the things you changed?

Peter Jackson chooses me to be Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings. Consequence: The films are that much better.

Walt Disney stops smoking in early twenties and lives much longer. Consequence: I don’t know. But can you imagine?

Lindsay decides not to marry me. Consequence: Collin never asks me to answer these lame questions.
10. What is your first memory of me?

When we went with the Bark family to Disneyland shortly after Lindsay and I married. We were on Peter Pan and you burped and blew it in my face. I have slightly hated you ever since.

11. Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

Still bemoaning the fact that Kam and Adam don’t get along.