Lego Summer

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Is it secret? Is it safe?

And elsewhere, "In the not-too-distant future. Somewhere in time and space..."

(LOTR by Will, MST3K by Abby)

Sunset Sound

Sunset Sound is the elite choir group at Sunset Junior High School.

Auditions were two weeks ago.

Only 12 girls and 12 boys make it.

Today, Abigail found out that she made it!

Congratulations, Abby!

Firstborn

Happy birthday, Abigail!

You were not just our firstborn, but the first niece and grandchild for everyone in the family. It's been so fun watching you grow up and embrace life to the fullest!

There's hardly been another girl who is as special as you! I hope you continue to chase your dreams.

You know this poem always reminds me of you. It's one of my favorites!

A poem to dream by:

Power by Carol Lynn Pearson

When she learned that she

Didn't have to plug into

Someone or something

Like a toaster into a wall

When she learned that she

Was a windmill and had only

To raise her arms

To catch the universal whisper

And turn

turn

turn

She moved

Oh, she moved

And her dance was a marvel.

Christmas Concerts

We had Christmas music aplenty with two concerts in one night. We're so proud of our talented girls!

Sarah is sitting fourth from the left on the back row. Isn't she a cutie?

Sneek Peek at Costumes

Since nobody out there but Matt will know who Abby is, she's Jedi Master Luminara Unduli.

Merliah, the Barbie mermaid

Theseus and the Minotaur

Abby's school play, "Theseus and the Minotaur" was a clever mix of comedy and drama. It featured original musical numbers and starred my favorite actress--Abigail!






Theseus and his sidekick Bill. Here, Theseus is singing about how he wishes to be a hero and help people out.






This comedy team is better than George Burns and Gracie Allen!








The heroic duo meet the goddess Athena.

Theseus agrees to take the place of the young Athenians as a sacrifice to the Minotaur.

Crossing the sea, the king's men are about to toss Theseus overboard.

Theseus meets up with his grandfather, Poseidon, under the sea. Serenaded by mermaids, Theseus is able to get back to the ship.

The Minotaur is negotiating about snack food with the princess Ariadne, Bill and Theseus.

The Minotaur reforms, Theseus is a hero and all is well.

Back Onstage

Hi. Abby here. Our class is putting on a play; the musical parody version of Theseus and the Minotaur! Guess who's Theseus? Me! Yes, I'm playing a boy. No, I don't care. My teacher hasn't given a specific date, but she says we'll put it on on the last day of March. You can come if you want, but it's only going to be about forty-five minutes. More details to come!

P.S. I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to that book Mom gave me for my birthday.
I really appreciate it.

Abby Recap

It sure was a nice birthday for Abigail to mark her special 12th birthday. She started the day by taking in treats for her class, and getting birthday cards from her peers.

That night, she had her made-to-order birthday dinner of hamburger noodle casserole, black olives and rolls with jelly. Our dessert was a very small red velvet cake -- I made two 9-inch rounds and dropped one of them all over the counter and floor while assembling. The single layer cake was good, but small.

Friday night, Abby and three of her best friends went to the Off Broadway Theater for hilarious live theater. The show was "The Phantom of the OBT" and it was even funnier than last year's show of "The Wizard of Aaaaahs." I recommend the shows there to everyone!

On Sunday we celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Maughan and the rest of the family with ice cream and cake (not-dropped black-bottom wowie cake).

She went to the first YW activity last Wednesday and went to the YW meeting today. She declared it boring. Of course, Primary is the most fun of church, whether you're a kid or an adult, but I am a little biased.

Abby's going to post about her gifts, but I wanted to thank everyone for their contributions to her book. It ended up at 20 pages and is absolutely wonderful to read. Thanks again!

Whew! No more until May!

One year older...

...and wiser, too!





Happy Birthday to you, Abigail!



Big 1-2!

It's a little late, but anyway, Happy Halloween!

Q. What's better than Halloween pictures at Halloween time?

A. Halloween pictures halfway through November!

Yeeaahh. Sorry, guys, it's totally mom's fault. ;)

Anyway, we had ourselves a fun Halloween. Here are the pix:




Us, the night of.














As said, Jaceson went as Jason.











I was another fairy, Beck. To see what she looks like, click here.













But, as to seeing how I might be mocked like I was last year, for the school party, I was a Jedi Knight , Bultar Swan. (I'm the second one to the right). To see what she looks like, click here.

(Admit it; if my hair were black, I'd look just like her.)








Will was a frightening Skull ninja.













And Sarah was a Pretty Kitty.











See you in December when we have the Thanksgiving pictures.

" 'Cause it's a Thriiill-errr!"

Hello, family! Remember how I was talking about that Sixth Grade Halloween Program? And how I had some parts in it? Well, here's the rest of the story.



Here's me before the show. By the way, those other two people in the last post are my friends Kayelyn and Braedon.








Here's the opening number, Micheal Jackson's Thriller. All of us zombies were spread around the auditorium dancing.










The Pumpkin Skit: Starring Me as Pumpkin #11










I was also in the song Witches Brew.







HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Zombie Elementary

Guess who?

Happy Post #100 Day! Part 1

In honor of Post #100 Day, we're having a quiz. So hhheeeeeeeeeerrrreeee is your host once again...

Biggety Bigvoice! Whoever answers these 5 questions will be given a funny e-card! So heeeere they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Who's funeral did we go to when Sarah gave us the story of resurrection?

2. How many Disneyland posts were there?

3. Who did Mom-er, Jennifer, that is- compare Sarah to when she was riding her bike?

4. Who did I...I mean Abby...play in the hit musical When Robin Met Arthur?

5. Who is the Young Speilburg of the family?

Send in your answers!

Snippet

I'm very behind in posting about stuff--Sarah's friend party, Will's baseball and so forth--and I doubt I'll get caught up anytime soon. However, here's a little snippet of Abigail's performance at her singing recital to tide you over. She did a wonderful job.

Lovely Flowers

The Flowers by Robert Louis Stevenson

All the names I know from nurse:
Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,
Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock,
And the Lady Hollyhock.

Fairy places, fairy things,
Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,
Tiny trees for tiny dames--
These must all be fairy names!

Tiny woods below whose boughs
Shady fairies weave a house;
Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme,
Where the braver fairies climb!

Fair are grown-up people's trees,
But the fairest woods are these;
Where, if I were not so tall,
I should live for good and all.

Off Broadway Theater

I know it's annoying for someone to go to a show or movie and then rave about it and go on and on, insisting you must go too--but here I go.

For Abigail's friend birthday party, she wanted to do something different. Being the theater lover she is, we thought it might be fun for the kids to go to a play. After some research, we discovered "The Wicked Wizard of Ahhhhs" was playing at The Off Broadway Theater in SLC. With tickets in hand and five 11-year-olds, I attended the show last night.

Freaking. Hilarious. The kind of funny with tears running down my face. Our cheeks hurt from laughing for two solid hours. The theater puts on a new show every two months or so and it is well worth it. Jokes for the kids, jokes for the grownups--but family friendly. I know we'll be back soon!

Today is Your Day!

Eleven years ago, my life changed forever. Abigail Marie Maughan was born nearly 5 weeks early and weighted 5 lbs. 9 oz. She was the smallest baby with the tallest dad. Abigail was the best baby--eager to please and pleasant. She had quite the responsibility as the first grandchild on both sides of the family and continues to exceed expectations! Abby's loving, passionate, thoughtful, silly, talented, opinionated, sassy, sweet and brilliant.

Happy Birthday, Abigail!

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the [gal] who’ll decide where to go....

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!

Little Einstein

1st place - 5th grade science fair

Bookworm

A snapshot of what Abigail has on her bedside table right now, in a tall towering stack. Recognize any favorites of yours?

Princess Academy
Juggling, Magic Tricks and Illusions
The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Tales
Babysitter Club Mystery #7
Girls to the Rescue, Book #1
Life, Starring Me!
Queen Clarion's Secret
The Wizard of Oz
Calvin and Hobbes/Yukon Ho
Calvin and Hobbes/Snow Goons
Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley/Rock and Roll Mystery
Babysitter's Club Super Special #14
The Complete Guide to the Babysitter's Club
Babysitter's Club Mystery #3
Bummer Summer
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Hokus Jokus/How to do Funny Magic

This doesn't count the two library books in her backpack: Eleanor Roosevelt and Scary States of America. Nor does it include the book she and Will are reading together each night: Half Magic. Also excluded is the giant box of 60+ Animorph books that they must keep all together (thanks for the loaner, Brad and Jeff!).

Eldest Child

Animated
Beautiful
Intelligent
Growing
Achiever
Inquisitive
Loves to laugh