La bohème

Abe was in the children's chorus for Utah Lyric Opera's production of La bohème last week. He did so well. I loved the performances and I was so impressed with the children, running around acting onstage while singing (the quick-tempo Italian lyrics) so beautifully! I was in the children's chorus for Carmen at BYU when I was about his age, and it was such a great experience. I can still remember how exciting it was, dyeing my hair black and getting dressed in my costume, carrying around the little snacks my mom packed for me in my tiny coin purse backstage, and being lifted onto the shoulders of one of the nice BYU students in the last scene. Abraham was really sad to have this be over, and said he hopes he can be in another production soon! I could do without the late nights dragging all the kids down to Provo and back, but I'm so glad he got to participate.

It was cute to see how excited the younger children were to see Abe (Seb went to a performance and Malachi and Daisy saw the dress rehearsal). They're already familiar with much of the music, and even though they probably didn't get half of what was going on, they watched the acting with great interest and laughed sociably at all the jokes. (I asked Seb if he cried when Mimi died, but he said he didn't.) Sebby made his own stage and set with blocks at home later, though he told me his La bohème ended with "everyone going to Disneyland." Sounds good to me!

They are so cute! I love the girls in their ringlets.

Lately

Junie loves to walk around the house in Daisy's boots. She is not the first to have this predilection.

Now that they can go by themselves, the boys go sledding about 90% more often than they went when they had to wait for me (and the small ones) to go with them. They looooove sledding.

The girls usually have to be content with pretending to sled.

Junie always has her Baby with her.

Daisy's been wearing some of the dresses I wore when I was a little girl. She looks so cute!

Here's me in that same blue dress (on my birthday?)

Ferris wheel, etc.

We went to the new Scheel's store near us on a cold grey day recently. There was hardly anyone there, so we had the Ferris Wheel all to ourselves. It was great fun. I think there are other things to do there also, but we just rode the Ferris Wheel and then walked around and looked at things---big fish tanks, and stuffed elk and moose, and so forth.

Junie was open-mouthed with excitement about the fish