32 ain't so bad!

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday and it's fair to say that it started out a little un-birthday like with news from the hubby that it would be $800 to get the car fixed. Yikes! I was on my way to go shopping when he called and I turned right around and went home. Amazing how news like that will make you just feel like not spending money. Oh man, right at Christmastime, too.  Anyway, I went home, checked the bank account and started to feel a little better.

After a little shifting around of funds, my headache was starting to dissipate and there was a knock at the door.  Sweet Anne Marie showed up with this little box of deliciousness.  I know, I know. Taking pictures of cupcakes is lame but this one really deserved to have a picture documenting it's existence.  It was packaged up so pretty that it instantly had me feeling like a birthday girl again!  The cupcake itself was yellow cake with a raspberry cream filling and lemon butter cream frosting. I told Anne Marie that it wouldn't last long and she told me I could eat it for lunch because it was my birthday after all. I didn't eat it for lunch but I did share it with the boys as an after-school snack. Yum! Thanks, Anne Marie!

Just after Anne Marie stopped by it was time for me to pick Cooper up from preschool.  The kiddos were all waiting outside on the front porch for their parents and I was treated to the preschoolers singing me the Happy Birthday song. SO CUTE! I wish I had been prepared for it and got it on video. Their sweet little faces were just too precious for words.  Thanks, Sandra, for that little surprise!

My financially-induced tears of the morning were distant memories by this point and I was just ready to spend the rest of the day celebrating.  I was thrilled to have the next couple knocks at my door bring me more birthday goodies.  This from the Relief Society Presidency

and this from my sweet neighbors, the Bartons.

Will made it home at about 4:30 pm and I was just starting to get ready for our night out when Will had the boys give me my gift.  He had taken them to Color Me Mine and had them make me this cute-ified plate for me. It says "Happy Birthday, Mom!" and has their little hand prints on it.  Coleman says that it's blue and red because it's their favorite colors. I think it's perfect! Love these boys!

 

We all got spiffied up and went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory for my birthday dinner. Even on a Tuesday night this place was packed. (Crazy!) It was well worth the wait, though. The food was amazing! We had the avocado egg rolls as an appetizer and I ordered the Chicken Bellagio as my main dish. Pretty sure I didn't even make it halfway through my huge plate of food.  (Lucky for me, I get to have the rest for lunch today!) Will had this jambalaya-type pasta dish and the food was delicious all around. Sadly, I was too full to have cheesecake but I did buy a slice to take home. Red velvet cheesecake, why do you have to be so delicious?  I finished you off for breakfast and already miss you so...

Thanks to the Sisouthams for going out with us! (And for the Cheesecake Factory gift card that was very quickly used!) You guys are awesome! Our birthday dinners are becoming quite the tradition!  And thanks to my mom for the cutest measuring spoons ever!! Can't wait to get them!

After I got home, there were some super sweet messages on the answering machine and some yummy cookies from Smart Cookie waiting on the doorstep from my neighbors, Tiffany and Sandra. The cookies are calling my name but I've told myself I need to drink at least a quart of water before I can have any more sugar. Ha ha! Don't worry they will be savored real soon! I'm sure I'll have some help from Will and the boys, too...

One last surprise from BFF, Jenn. She came by after we got home and brought me a iTunes gift card! Thanks so much, Jenn! I could really use the new tunes for the marathon training. Can't wait to go shopping for some new songs.

Thanks again to everyone who made my birthday so special! 32 ain't so bad! In fact, I think I'm gonna' like it!

We elfed ourselves!

There is Christmas stuff everywhere and yet I was unable to get in the holiday spirit until now!  Funny that it took getting "elfed" to do it! Ha ha!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

www.breakfast-with-alicia.blogspot.com

Mr. McGillicutty?

So, Coleman has now decided he wants to be involved in TV production. He wrote his first script two days ago and we told him that for Family Home Evening he could assign parts and we would record it.  So, without further adieu, here's "Kingdom in the Door." Apparently it's part of a series called Scary Place.  :)

Cast of characters:
Mr. McGillicutty, the teacher- Dad
Tommy- Cooper
Eric- Mom
New kid- Coleman
A kid outside- Coleman




Mr. McGillicutty- "Today's lunch menu is meatlarf.  Let's sing a song about it. Meatlarf, yummy, yummy,
                             yummy!"
Tommy (raising his hand)- "Mr. McGillicutty?"
Mr. McGillicutty- "Yes? Uh, not good. Not good."
Tommy (still raising his hand)- "Mr. McGillicutty?! Does 2+10=19?"
Mr. McGillicutty- "No."
Tommy- "Oh."
Mr. McGullicutty- "What's this?"
Eric- "Huh?"
Tommy- "Hi!"
Mr. McGillicutty- "A new student? I should have known."
Eric- "Who is he?"
Mr. McGillicutty- "I don't know."
[New kid walks in to classroom.]
New kid- "Hello!"
Mr. McGillicutty (angrily)- "You broke the door!!!"
New kid- "Sorry."
Mr. McGillicutty- "Why don't you sit..."
Tommy and Eric (bamming the desk next to them)- "Over here! Over here!"
Mr. McGillicutty (pointing)- "...with those two."
New kid- "Okay."
Tommy and Eric- "Tee, hee, hee."
Mr. McGillicutty (angrily)- "Boys!"
New kid- "Hi guys!"
Tommy and Eric- "Ha, hee!"
Mr. McGillicutty (angrily)- "What are you doin'?!"
All 3 boys- "HA!HA!HA!"
Mr. McGillicutty- "Now..."
Eric (looking at Mr. McGillicutty)- "Is he dead?"
Tommy- "No, why would he?"
Mr. McGillicutty- "...and..."
All 3 boys- "HA!HA!HA!HA!"
Mr. McGillicutty (angrily)- "STOP!!!"
New kid- "What? Hee, hee!"
Mr. McGillicutty- "...so..."
All 3 boys- "HA!HA!HA!"
Mr. McGillicutty- "What the heck?!"
New kid- "La-l-la!"
Tommy and Eric- "HA!HA!HA!"
[School bell rings.]
A kid outside- "Come on out!"
All 3 boys- "Hooray!"
[All 3 boys run over Mr. McGillicutty.]
Mr. McGillicutty- "Ow!"
[The boys are playing ball outside.]
Eric- "Downsy! Downsy!"
New kid- "Upsy-daisy!"
Mr. McGillicutty- "Oh come on!!! Man, man!!!"
THE END

Obviously, we didn't practice it much at all before recording but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have mattered. :) The important thing is- Coleman couldn't have been more excited to have it all acted out.  I'm sharing it here not because of our magnificent acting (although, it is!) but because Coleman wants everyone to see it. Hope you enjoy!

Coleman's big stage debut!

Coleman has been interested in movies for a long time.  He's like a walking calendar for movie premiere dates. A couple of months ago he began asking me how movies were made and what he needed to do to make his own movie. Sufficeth to say, I really had no idea what to tell him. I only got as far as telling him to write a screenplay. And he did write a couple "screenplays" and then when I told him that we could video he and his friends acting it out he asked, "Then they will play it at the movie theater?" Uh, not exactly, bub.  He's so not interested in making movies unless it's going to play at the local Cinemark. :)

So, in order for him to learn exactly how much work goes into a real production we signed him up for his first musical theater production.  We told him that he could learn things that will help him when he goes on to make movies- stuff about sets and stage direction, etc. He was all about it.

The local arts council does a couple of plays a year for 4-8 yr olds to star in.  This go round they were putting on 101 Dalmatians.  Coleman auditioned (every kid was awarded a role) and got the part of Chihuahua #4, perfect part for a first-timer! He continued to go to practice every Mon and Wed from 4-5pm for 7 weeks. He learned all the songs and dances and was ready for his debut performance last Thursday.  He was a little nervous the first night but it played to his advantage because it helped him to be more focused.  (Well, as focused as Coleman gets anyway.) Coleman did his very best that night and the two subsequent nights and we couldn't have been any more proud. Go Coleman! Our very own li'l actor.

Here's part of the song "Twilight Bark" where the Chihuahuas were center stage.  He may have been a bit off-beat but we think he stole the show! I say he just added his own flare to his character. :)

Here's Coleman posing by the truck on set.

Getting our photo-op with the star.

I also want to mention that Coleman had great support in the audience every night as well. June and the kids came on Thursday night. Jenn, Madi and Jackson came on Friday night and Jenny, La and Talon came to see him on Saturday night.  We love and appreciate all of our supportive friends and family. You guys are the best! Coleman is so lucky to have such wonderful people in his life.

Here's a bit of the final number.

By the way, Coleman says he never, ever wants to do another play. Too much practice, he says. Ha, ha! Next up for Coleman? He wants drawing and writing classes. That sounds about right.