Yippeee Freankin' Skippeee!

YAY for my husband! I'm so excited - so proud!

He was just booked as an entertainer in a Four Season's tribute show on a cruise! He leaves in 3 weeks, and will be gone for 2 weeks while he does 2 cruises back to back. YAYYYYYYYY!

While I'll admit I'm not particularly looking forward to having him gone for 2 weeks, it's such a great opportunity for him that I'm happy to deal with it. He is going to have a wonderful time! YAYYYYY!

What an unexpected surprise!

Well, as you all know if you paid attention to my last blog, I am working on costumes for the theatre company's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Well, I had considered auditioning because there is a part in the show that would be great for me, but I decided against it for a lot of different reasons.

I'll spare you the boring details and cut right to the chase! I'm playing the role of Miss Dorothy Brown in the show! I'm excited because it will be a ton of fun! I will still be working on the costumes. But it's about dang time! I feel really blessed that it has all worked out - I'm excited to work with some of my favorite people.

Here's a rendering one of my costumes. I play a wealthy ingenue who comes to New York to experience the lower class side of life - seeking experiences and romance. I have a couple of great numbers and some fun stage business. It's coolness and I'm excited for the adventure.

Well, ya know!

It's been a really weird week for me, so I'll just give ya a "Loewe List"

1. THANKS Jessica for the whole Pandora thing. (I'm listening to Pink radio right now!) I've never heard of it, but I LOVE it. I've tried a few internet radios and they've all driven me crazy! (Pandora) I just need to introduce it to my cute little sister (in law) McKayla. She likes music. Three songs to be exact. ;) Kayla - you know I love you!

2. Mission! - I will post some photos later because Steve has the camera, but my Brother in law Daniel left on his mission last Wednesday - they day we took Ryder to Disneyland, he entered the MTC. He will be missed - but I'm excited to support him. Now I just need to send him a letter.

3. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - At Disneyland, we took the kids to see Playhouse Disney which features Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - among other things. It was great! Lola was SO excited about Mickey! I've been letting her watch a mix of the theme music (which is by They Might Be Giants, who I LOVE!) on You Tube and now she's saying "Hot Dog" and tries to spell the letters M-I-C-K-E-Y and so on. She gets so excited when I start playing it for her. It's just CUTE!

4. My new Shoppe! I just opened an Etsy shop selling some of my graphic designs. Blog headers, backgrounds, etc....check it out and tell your friends! I have some more great projects in mind, I'll add them. I really like Etsy - they have some cool and amazing stuff. I have a handbag and arm warmers all picked out! I'm also keeping a blog for my designs and costume work now - www.monetrose.blogspot.com. Come visit!

5. Thoroughly Modern Millie - It's the show my theatre company is doing this spring - www.signatureproductions.net. I was hoping to not be too involved, but I am going to be working pretty heavily on costumes. I'm actually doing the men's costumes - I know, crazy, but I should be able to buy most of them. But, it may lead to good things....

6. The Four Seasons - Love them? I do! Steve was hired a year ago to perform as one of them at a Bar Mitzvah!http://sandrahuntsman.com/blog/?paged=3 (It's so funny to me the things we get paid to do sometimes.) Anyway, he was recently hired to perform in a For Season tribute show called "Oh What A Night." He may even get to go on a cruise - the producers say they have a lot of interest in booking the show. So it could be a really good thing. I'm very excited for him - oh, and the producers want to meet me, too. :)

7. LOST - Less than a week until the Season 5 Premier! Oh my gosh, I'm so excited! I re-watched the season finale on Wednesday - I can't believe how much I forgot. Anyway, I am NOT watching any previews or reading anything that might possibly have spoilers. I do wonder how long it will take for the Oceanic 6 plus 2 (Locke and Ben) to make it back. That's my biggest question. Oh, and where the Island "went" and what will become of Penny and Desmond and who will manipulate who for what. Yeah. Anyways, looking forward to it. Don't bug me on Wednesday night, ya'all!

8. Knitting - I was inspired by all the cute wrist warmers on Etsy so I picked up some yarn and some knitting needles and started to knit again. I've completed 1 pair of arm warmers which were to small so I gave them to Piper. I did finally master the rib stitch, so that's cool. I'm working on some for me now - if they turn out well, I'll post a photo!

Anyway, that's me for today.

Happy Birthday, Ryder!

Yesterday - Januray 7th, was Ryder's 3rd birthday. I'm just posting about it now because we surprised him with a trip to DISNEYLAND! Here's a photo-documentary of our trip!

Here he is, all ready to go! He fell asleep the night before at about 10pm, then woke up at about 1am full of life! I only slept for the duration of Peter Pan and then woke up to leave at 5:30 am. Good times! But it explains whey he was awake and chipper - ready to go at 5:30 am! Lucky for him, he fell asleep in the car and slept straight through to Anaheim.

It took him a while to figure out we were in Disneyland, but he got really excited when he saw the castle. Like his cool, blue shades? Good. You should. He never took them off - all day. Not on dark rides like Pirates of the Carribean, not even when it got dark outside. He loved his blue glasses. Who knew he would talk more about his $1 bin glasses than his whole trip.

On the tea cups. We avoided the Fantasyland dark rides - Lola was not a fan. Oh, I should mention - we left the Chloe and Piper at home. It was Ryder's special day. Well, Lola tagged along, but her opinions on rides aren't that strong - yet.

Hey - it's Pluto! See - the kids were thrilled.

At Playhouse Disney - one of the few photos without his blue glasses, but they are in his hand.

It's Lola's favorite - Wall-E!

Sippin'n on that Bottle with some 'tude. I know, I know. Trust me, we're trying.

On the King Arthur's Carousel on "Nemo"

With Mater and Lightning McQueen. Oh yes, he was also thrilled about meeting these guys. What is it with my kids and characters!

It was a long day! They both konked out around 6pm, so we headed out. Stopped for some dinner - which Ryder slept through, and then home! We made it home around 12:30 pm - a long day, but so worth it! They did sleep the whole way home, which was nice.

Special thanks to Hillary and Valinda for tag team watching Chloe and Piper, who will be getting a trip with just mom and dad later this spring for their birthdays!

Happy New Years!

I've been trying to post this for a few days now, but I've had weird internet issues when I've had the chance to do it. Anyway, I actually completed this project a few months ago, but it was a Christmas gift for my family so I didn't want to spoil the surprise! (Don't worry, mom and dad, yours is on it's way!)

Anyway, I made a calender of my family! It was a lot of fun, each of us have our own birth month so we had our very own calender pages and then lots of fun other stuff along the way!!!! Don't forget that you can click on the images to see them larger. All of the family photography and most of the portraits are by my sister in law, Sheree Flick! (Her blog is to your right)

January - Ryder's B-day is January 7th. He'll be 3 this year.

February

March - Steve and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this year!

April - Chloe's Birthday is April 8th and she'll be 9 this year

May - My birthday is May 4th.

June

July - Piper's Birthday is July 25th and she'll be 7 this year.

August - Lola's Birthday is August 6th and she'll be 2 this year!

September

October

November

December - Steve's Birthday is December 23

I just have to take a moment to say that although this past year wasn't the year I had hoped it would be, I am so grateful for my beautiful family. No matter what is going on, Chloe is always there with a witty remark and a playful suggestion, Piper is there with a quiet concern and comfort, Ryder gives the best hugs and kisses ever and you just can't help but be happy aroud the perpetually smiling Lola. I am truly blest to be married to a man who is everything I need him to be even when I really think I want him to be something different. I'm especially grateful for his patience this year.

I don't have any grand hopes or plans for this year. As long as I have my family close to me, thats all I really, truly need.