Halloween Night 2015.

Halloween day was Tony playing soccer.  We had thought about going to a carnival; but Tony would rather play with friends.  So I went to the store and got Sheri's list.  When I got home it was about time to meet the Petersen's for trick or treating.  Miranda stayed home to pass out candy.  Tony was dressed as a Ninja.  I don't know if Caleb dressed up or not.  They had gone to a baptism--Caleb performed the ordinance as it was someone he had been fellowshipping.  He then was off this evening for a party or a get together of some kind.  Some of his friends are home from school for the weekend.

Tony as a ninja

Tony the Goal Scorer

Tony got the ball in his own half and most of the other team in front of him (no off sides.)  He then made a clever self pass, He may have done that twice, passing past most of the defenders, and then running to get the ball himself behind them.  Tony can run really fast.  He then had only the keeper to beat, and did the same thing again, kicking the ball past the keeper when he tried to get it, and then running past the keeper, and he had an empty net into which he kicked the goal.  Tony has assisted in the past, but this is his first goal.

Northland Ward Halloween Party

I guess this is a shout out for Sheri more than for me.  The primary was over the event this year so Sheri was very busy.  I guess she was at the church from about 11 on.  Caleb made the throwing boad for the sponges and Sister Robbins painted.  I attended, ate a hot dog and chili nachos, and put my head in the board so kids could throw wet sponges at me.  Some of those kids threw really hard, and stood too close.  I got to ride the hay wagon, which was my goal.  However I felt guilty as our patriarch had his head in the board while I was away.  I didn't get a lot of pictures, Sheri got more and I will add them eventually.  Caleb and Kayla and boys were there as were Charity and Anthony and girls.  Caleb and Annie came, but I didn't get a picture of them.  They arrived late.  However Sister Bauer gave out pomegranates and I got a few as did Annie to take home.

Sheri and Primary Presidency getting award form Cub Scouts

Charity, Hayley, Camberly and Anthony

Jeremy and Skylar and below Kayla and Bronnie.  The boys didn't care for the hay ride.

Manteca Stake Broadway Review: When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground, Ev...

This is the evening performance.  I was a bit off rhythmically, but the energy was better performing for an all adult audience, especially at the duet part.

You're Just in Love: Dance and Song: Manteca Broadway Review

I asked Sheri to dance with me and she turned me down.  However, Sister Papworth said she would get her to do it, and she did.  Caleb and Annie, Brother and Sister Booher, Brother and Sister Clark, Brother and Sister Tyler Papworth, Brother and Sister Hoban, and Mike Dye and Amanda Porter make out the other couples.  Amanda was sort of our ringer as we would watch her to stay in the right place.  She was also in front of us all.  If you look you see an inverted V sort of by age, but not totally.

Manteca Stake Cover of "One More Angel in Heaven" by: Andrew Lloyd Weber

This is our version of Andrew Lloyd Weber's One more Angel in Heaven.  It is hard to remember all the words when you are having so much fun; but at least we stayed in character.  Caleb and Jeremy are both in this song, Caleb singing the first duet, and Jeremy carrying the coat of many colors.  Choreographed by Chris Papworth.

When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground: Cover Caleb and I

Caleb and I have lived and breathed this song the last couple of months, and this is what came out of that.  This is from "Finding Neverland" and is a representation of J.M. Barrie's helping the Llewelyn boys, in this case Peter, deal with the death of their father, and the terminal illness of their mother.  We get to hug at the end which is good.

Something to Believe In: Manteca Stake Broadway Review

Annie and Caleb bring down the house.  This is my favorite from the review, and during the p.m. performance they provided some extra spark.

Northland Ward Fall Festival

Come join us this next Friday (day before Halloween) for some early trunk-or-treating and a generally great time.  This is a Northland Ward Event and is traditionally very fun.  I am still mulling over our decorating arrangements, and it may be what the dollar store has available.  Primary puts this on so Sheri will be very much involved.

Morning After Broadway Review

No much time to write before church, but suffice it to say that my brain is full of music.  There are so many songs going through my head, and they keep changing up.  Right now it is "Modern Millie" and in a few moment is will be something else.  These songs were all son at the Manteca Stake Broadway Review.  (Now "Be Our Guest" is creeping through.)
It was an incredible night.  It was tribute to Jeremy's artistic talent, as well as Kayla's who did most of the painting.  Jeremy had a pirate ship on stage which was beautiful.  There were also a cabin, castle, orphanage, and sea scene all made from cardboard.  He also fashioned a scrim from a couple of sheets sewn together.  This allowed for lighting in the back.  They did a terrific job and it was a very fun show.  (Now a brain is going over the Ursula song.)  I am sure I will be stuck here for a while.
The evening gave an opportunity to see some old friends from Stevens Creek Ward, Bill Hammond and Carmen and Luis Carreno.  (Now I am hearing "Something to Believe In" which Annie and Caleb sang beautifully.)

Broadway Magic Peak

I have an inside peak at the show from rehearsal last night.  This is something you do not want to miss.  It is going to be fantastic.  The theme is centered around Disney Musicals, but it is much broader than that.  There is "Tangled," "Adams Family," "Millie," "Finding Neverland,' "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," "The Little Mermaid," "Into the Woods" and so much more.  Jeremy has been doing set, and it is worthy coming just to see what he has done.  There are pirate ship with mast and rope ladders, a backdrop of New York, a castle, under the sea, an orphanage, a scrim for reflecting lights, a fogger and much more.
It is going to be great, today at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m.  If there is anyway to be there I encourage you to do so.

Mormon Music Review: Echoes of the Sabbath: Brigham Young University

This is an anthology of BYU choruses, singing music appropriate for a Sunday.  Most of it is church hymns, but not all.  Young Ambassadors and a soloist sing "Let Him Heal Your Heart" and the concert choir and philharmonic orchestra perform "Death Shall Not Destroy my Comfort."  The philharmonic also accompany the combined chorus in "Praise to the Lord the Almighty."  Another favorite is performed by the women's chorus, "Simple Gifts."  There is plenty to like in this collection.

Meeting Old Friends in Nauvoo: Dave and Sherry Curtis

 We made it a point to see the Curtis' who are serving a mission in Nauvoo.  Sister Curtis is over the senior performing arts group and has an office in the visitor's center.  Brother Curtis this day was hosting in the Browning home and rifle shop.

Sheri asked at the visitors center, and discovered Sherry was in the office.  We also discovered that Dave was at the Browning home so made it a point to visit him.  He taught us about the first rifling, which was quite a process.  Sherry insisted we stay for the performance at the Seventies Hall which is presented by the older missionary couples.  We had seen it 20 years before, but still enjoyed it, and I am sure much of it is new.  It is incredible that older people would step outside of the boxes and do such a thing; and there was a place for the really older missionaries as well as those not so old.  It was fun.  Sherry said it was a requirement that they all participate at least three nights per week.  You could tell there was different levels of enthusiasm, but some really enjoyed it and had good energy.  We had a time to reminisce about doing Annie in the Stevens Creek Ward.

Meeting Family in Nauvoo: Elizabeth and Family

Elizabeth, Troy, Gabe, Emmaline (grandaughter), Elizabeth, my Natalia

Sheri's sister met us in Nauvoo, and we had a good time.  We met at the Kimball home, and then went to Carthage together, had lunch at Dairy Queen and a picnic dinner, toured a few homes, rifles and bricks, went on an ox ride and saw the musical.  It was a fun time.

Sisters

Sisters and cousins

Northland Ward Party: Happy 100th Sister Cortez

I wore a mustache for the mariachi reenactment

Chips in your hat, which I won for answering the most trivia questions correctly at our table.  Tony won the Mexican leteria game.

Sister Cortez in blue

Tony and his balloons.  He had two special ones, and they were great for fighting.  He even put a mustache on one.  However when he put them down to go play, and I couldn't watch them as I was cleaning, the wondered away.  He did bring a couple balloons but not the ones he liked so much.

Cortez family picture

Happy Birthday to Bronston, and Natalia, and Jeremy. and Skylar

Birthday celebration at Jeremy and Kayla's yesterday afternoon.  Kayla folks and Lora Ly were there.  Also some friends from their ward.  We had barbecue burgers and dogs and pulled pork.  Sheri took the macaroni salad.  There were also beans.  We did the traditional cake, Miranda made balloons; and finally the opening of presents.  Fun!!!!!

 We called Natalia from rehearsal and wished her a happy birthday.

Weekend review: Rehearsal and Set

I was up early gathering set pieces from Jeremy's house and taking them to the stake center.  Then rehearsal for the rest of the morning and some of the afternoon--which resulted in my missing Tony's soccer game.  Miranda and Mom were able to get away for the game.  I was really tired when I got home, and fell asleep.  Then we headed to Jeremy's for birthdays.  I was really tired and fell asleep when we got home.  However Jeremy showed up at 8, ready to work on set.  To me it felt like 10, but Tony said it was only 8.  So he went with us and helped as well.  Caleb met us there and helped as well and gave us a ride home.

working on set, pirate ship here.

Sunday was a bit more rehearsing, along with church; our neighbor came, teaching primary which was very fun, and home teaching.

Broadway Review: Manteca Stake

Come share next Saturday with me, either at 7 p.m. for the adult performance or 2 p.m. for the performance inviting kids.  Lots of Disney songs this year.  You'll love it.

Mormon Book Review: My First Church History Stories

My First Church History Stories, retold by: Deanna Draper Buck, Illustrated by Jerry Harston and Leslie Harston, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1999.
The brief stories in this book are well told, and include many tidbits about church history.  Of course included are some of the major events such as Joseph Smith's first vision, the visit of the Angel Moroni, and the restoration of the church and the priesthood.  Lesser known stories that are also included are: the healing of a boys hip after he was shot by a member of a mob, two young women who gathered and saved many pages of the Book of Commandments.  They hid in a cornfield.  The martyrdom of the prophet, and exodus form Nauvoo are included.  The pioneers moving west, and the story of the seagulls eating the crickets are exciting stories.  The book also includes a look at the present-day church with temples and prophets.

Ace Train 58: Sunset on the Bay

I guess you can call this the Bay, or at least the Salt Ponds of the Bay.  I have been taking the late train and catching the sunset at a nice time.

And a selfie on the light rail