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.)

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.

Caleb's Trip to the Temple

Caleb, and his friend Matt Elliott went through the temple yesterday.  Scott Dye also went through the session.  We saw so many friends I am sure I will miss some, but wanted to make a list all the same.   Family Sheri, I, Charity and Anthony and Natalia.  From Stevens Creek Ward: Stan and Kathy Dye, Janet Cyphers,  Bishop Sheldon and Nancy Orton, Bishop Ted Dorff, Brian and Susan McGhie (live in Utah now), Sterling Davis (was at the temple doing a wedding).  From Northland Ward, Richard Bair (Young Men president and wife had baby four days ago), Jim Carter (Young Men's) and Debra Carr (Sunday school).  We also saw Brother Hugh Brown (temple worker and Manteca Stake Sunday school presidency).  Jens Karren from our old stake was getting married at the same time.  We saw Amelia Karren McGuire who did dance with the kids, and President Hodgman.
We also ended our day with Stake Temple Day.  It was crowded.  The room was entirely full, and the Monte Vista (Spanish) Ward went to a separate room.  Bishop and his wife were there, Brother Rice and his wife, Sister Papworth and Brother Hokanson.
I am sure I missed some, so if you know of more let me know. 

Christmas Trip to San Jose: Creche and Starzz on Stage

ineSheri is helping out as assistant costume mistress for Starzz on Stage, a group the kids use to dance with.  Terry Slaugh conducts the dance class, and is a good friend along with her parents Karen and Vern Wardle.  Sheri helps with costume changes, and five and six-year-olds do need help.  There are older groups, but keeping the kids on stage in costume takes some work.

As a result we were in San Jose this week.  Sheri and I went to the Creche Exhibit in Palo Alto.  As usual it was super-fantastic, with so many different depictions of the birth of our Savior.  They didn't allow pictures, so you will just have to go.  There is a village scene with the nativity that is incredible with all the pieces.  There are artist depictions, creches from all over the world, with different ethnic differences coming out in the depictions of the Holy Family.  Small nativities, and large ones.  And different mediums from ceramic, to origami, soap stone, pewter, and marble.  There is just everything.  They also have a children's activity area.  While we were there there was music, via flute, piano and harpsichord.  It was enjoyable.  As always we run into people we know, Jill Grover and Nancy Orton with her mother-in-law.  We also waved to Stephanie, Nancy's daughter.

I sat and enjoyed the Starzz on stage, while Sheri was busy back stage.  I really like the Hawaiian dance.  On of the girls really had the hula down, and would make a good student of Polynesian dance. There was a small group of boys he kept the show more humorous with their hot chocolate  Jingle Bells.  The younger girls were very well done, for such young girls, and the taller girls also did well with their lines.  The last dance had the girls going in a circle which they did with lots of enthusiasm.  They finished by singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" with lots of gusto.  One small girl became nervous for a second, and wanted to run off, but when everyone applauded for her she overcame her shyness.

Saw many past friends, too many to name them all.  Howe vef they includ Ron and Linda Pepperman, past home teachers, the Figgats, Sheffields, Baliguats, Chris Capener, President Hodgman and his wife, and many more.
Sheri and I, while in Cupertino, visited ***Panera Bread, a soup and sandwich restaurant.  They were quick; it was mostly like a fast food place.  I had tomato soup and cheese sandwich.  Sheri had French onion soup.  The cheese sandwich was excellent, but my tomato soup was too much like spaghetti sauce.  However it grew on me.  They should have had some Saltines or some kind of cracker.

October 2004: Stevens Creek Party; Birthdays

October presents with three birthdays, including Charity Nov. 1; and Halloween activities.  The party at the ward (Stevens Creek) was documented by our camera.

Vern as a pirate

Caleb as Jedi Knight

Moriah as Dorothy

Mark as Sailor, Jeremy as Pirate

Kaylee as the Lion

Charity the maid

Jeremy, Tyler Gardner, Alex Struck

A hearty song

Caleb, Natalia

Charity, Jeremy, Caleb

Caleb, Charity and Pati

Miranda

Natalia turned19, first year at West Valley
The next day Jeremy turned 16
And a couple weeks later Charity turned 14.

Stevens Creek Ward 50th Anniversary

http://50thwardreunion.shutterfly.com/

The Church unit that is now the Stevens Creek Ward had its 50th anniversary.  Sheri, I and family went to celebrate with them.  We were part of that organization for almost 19 years, which is about 75 percent of our married life.  We started in the San Jose 9th Ward, and became part of the Stevens Creek Ward with the reorganization in 1992, six months after were moved into the ward.   To be honest, we spent a great deal of our lives in the ward, and associating with the good members of the Stevens Creek Ward.  I can't say they are all perfect.  We aren't that is for sure.  But is a good group of people doing their best to serve God and worship Jesus. 

The above link will get you to some professional pictures.  I am including a few of my pictures.

EASTER 2011

Our Easter celebration started a couple weeks before Easter, as Natalia wanted to dye eggs while she was out.  Charity and Anthony were out as well.  This was the day we had our Easter dinner, spiraled ham with all the trimmings.  Alyssa was here for dinner, but not for the egg dying, which took place after choir practice.  Tony loved the dying.

Easter Saturday we had visitors, Vern and Karen Wardle.  We then went to my sister's for barbecue, egg dying again, and egg hunt.  We had a god time, and sat around chatting, until Tony let us know he was tired and needed to got to bed.  Tony came home with a big bucket of candy.

Sunday was a more mellow day.  Sheri woke up sick (I guess she had been sick during the night) and didn't go to church.  Caleb and I went early to rehearse with the choir.  During the meeting we sand, "I Stand All Amazed" and "This is the Christ."  Caleb talked.  He told the story of Billy Boy, which made me cry.  I had big tears rolling down my face, and didn't even bother to wipe them off. 

With Sheri being sick, dinner was corn dogs.  I love corn dogs with the dipping sauce I make so that is OK.  We also had leftover potato salad.

Caleb and I kept up a tradition, and drove over the hills for the Easter fireside.  I should have remembered traffic would be bad going into town on Easter Sunday.  We got there late, but the fireside was great.  We heard Zion choir sing twice.  Caleb was really impressed with the choir he use to sing with before we moved.  We also heard other performers. We listened to the Easter message by President Jackson of the San Jose Mission.  It was packed.  It is now a stake wide fireside which helps with attendance.  We also had the chance to see many old friends.  Alyssa went with us so we showed her Caleb's old school and our old house.

Oh, I almost forgot.  We did an Easter basket for Tony.  Everyone else is too old; but there was plenty of candy around..  I got him a plastic bat and ball, as well as a soccer ball.  He made me pitch to him much of the afternoon.

PS  Although Miranda and Natalia were here for the egg dying two weeks before Easter, I missed not having them here Easter weekend.  This is the first time Miranda has not been with us Easter weekend.

Tony's pictures of Stevens Creek Primary

Primary friends and John Fishbein ( bishopric)

Tony took a camera with him the last primary day in Stevens Creek Ward, before we moved.

Capris

Cambria

Kathy Dye Primary president

Evelyn Roberts, Steve Hessel

Mommy and Tony and I love you (spider man webs)