ToNIGht

was the last night. Mom got Danie a Nutcracker book and the pleasure was mine to help Danie get the autographs. me being the biggest dork that i am, we got a lot and even got photos

with the ballet master and artistic director: Peter Pawlyshyn. i think he was one of the most humble, un-snooty professional ballet teacher and not to mention one of the gorgeous elderly male figure i've encountered: i'm just saying

and these following principal dancers like Phyllis Affrunti:



and some of the principal dancers: Yun-Kyung Kim; Suzanne Haag and Elizabeth Belyea: no doubt these guys were so exhausted yet they were just very gracious and totally invested time for everyone who asked their autographs and pictures taken with them.


with the help of Mr. Peter we were able to get most of the autographs at the tour bus. and when i didn't feel like such an idiot which was most of the time, i asked for their picture and really they were pretty cool about it.

thank you Rider Vierling:

the last but not the least, the talented: Dubraskha Arrivillaga



i hope this was something Danie will always remember during her childhood. i know for sure she enjoyed it. i must not forget to mention that i could have not done all of it if weren't because of my two well behaved children: Kuya Maikee and Bunso Gabby. the two made it possible, Gabby was such a flirt: nobody could resist her.

NUtcraCKEr:

for the first time. i had no idea what i gotten myself into until the real deal of rehearsals started, yesterday to be specific. i told myself NeveR again will i do this: to have the church's christmas choir and nutcracker at the same time in the calendar. however, i take that back after seeing the fruit of Danie's (.......and all the staff from Eugene Ballet company and all the casts') labor tonight. it was absolutely entertaining. if i have the money to do it, i would love to make it as one of our thanksgiving tradition, even if Danie isn't in it. i enjoyed the fact that the whole family was there and we were joined with a great friend of ours: Laurie and her mom. it was cool. ultra cool.

Gabby was clued to the show.... but yes she did went back and forth between me and mom BUT she was totally entertained. i sat on the edge of our row so, she had the chance to twirl on the steps and mimic the ballet dancers, she was bowing when she sees the performers bow on the stage, she clapped when the audiences applauded, she was beginning to left her legs like the Sugar Plum dancer, and she even checked out the performers after the show when Danie went to get their autographs.

Alberta Bair Theater was packed. i didn't realized how much of a big deal it was for the community here in my town. i wouldn't have consider it if Danie wasn't in it. wouldn't consider purchasing such semi outrageous tickets for it. but knowing your kid's in it, made the difference. this was Danie's first Nutcracker. i'm glad she tried out the audition. i was proud of her. though her part was brief and short, it was still cool. ultra cool.


they did let me take pictures during the rehearsal. the rope across the stage was pretty annoying. for the time being it was just there during the rehearsal since part of the floor was opened for the live symphony and of course they didn't want any of the performers to fall into the pit


here's the dragon. the dragon kind of moved a lot but thanks to my NeW LeNs that can take on any situations like this and takes care of any low light problems. one of the smartest investments i've done.



see her? she's the first spike of the dragon~ if you will:


it was such a great show. i totally relished it. EVeN Maikee wanted to watch it again. imagine that. so hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving. we did :)

TOnIGht

.......... was a jungle out there, i'm talking about my church's annual Turkey Bingo. it's so crazy, all we can afford to do was laugh our little tushies off. Danie was the first Bingo ice breaker. she picked a great prize too. Maikee won and so did Joe. i didn't bother to get Bingofied: i was busy taking pictures and running after Gabby. i was so psyched that the Farr's sat with us on our side of the building. they were so much fun, i hope they'll sit again with us next Bingo Night>>>> next year that would be.

there's a Bingo.......all jeweled up:



then, there's a Bingo, you know what i mean? if you are gonna play it, show me the money, HUH!?!


we had a winner: Kathy picked this DVD for a prize


then another winner. Maikee was really eyeing this one.


i fess' up, Bingo night is something i look forward to although the truth of the matter is, at the end of the night, the kids would have it up to here and cry in unison that you wouldn't know which end is up anymore. oh well, it's still fun and there's no other way to describe it:

TOdAY:

i got to endorsed the requested mass produced cards to my friend Pam E. she asked me to create her Christmas cards for this year. she must have really loved the first ones i made a couple of years ago for her to trust me again. crazy. though i must admit, i was pretty happy with it and the fact that it was an original: defined as a notion straight from my little noggin, yea, it's a wonderful feeling. simply fabulous. though i don't think the picture will do justice. really i think they are much better in person>>> you can feel the textures, see every details and it gives you the sense that it's beginning to feel a lot like christmas.

here's some photos taken last Sunday, during our Thanksgiving potluck, ready?

i just had to get these for Gabby: the matching outfit from head to toe:

love Lane's I'm starving look. i asked what was the matter with him because he looked so quiet and lethargic, his mom replied: his blood sugar was low. i thought that was funny.


Christian is cute. did i mention he's cute?


that's about what i can afford to share. yes, i am very stingy. i don't really like sharing my pictures, because really, who gives the crap?

right at this very moment we are watching Saving Private Ryan. sometimes once in awhile we like to watch movies like this. i'm not going spill out my political opinion to every war and to every soldiers who sacrifice a lot so we can have the freedom and liberty that we all enjoy EveryDAy and seemingly take for granted everyday, i may add.

but THANK YOU..... to all the veterans, Thank you to those who serve, and to the families who support those who serve. thank you for all the sacrifices.

TwO DAys aGO

....... was an extra special day> Steve hung out with us. joe and him went through his online refresher thingy and laughed through it. then we ate lunch. and laughed some more. he had to go of course and gabby wouldn't let go of him: literally.

it's been awhile since i press my shutter for pictures. since halloween to be exact. i felt the need to document tHe TodaY with Steve since it'll be awhile until we'll can have him around here again> here as in here in The States. he's the kid's only uncle if you will.

i had fun taking their photos. Gabby was obviously consumed by his presence.



and like i've said: Gabby wouldn't let go of him: literally. she held him anyway she can: single handedwrapped him up with all of her little might with matching please-don't-go look.


even cooler, he came again the next day: unscripted. had lunch with us. it wasn't even good lunch i'm sure. i wasn't really serious of what i made, i would have made it more exciting if i knew that he was coming again. i'm sure Joe was delighted to help him pack his new IPod with you know what.

doesn't matter whether he hung out with us or told us any information about his ins and outs, the bottom line is i'm just proud of him and want him to be safe. we'll be praying and thinking of him a lot while he's in Fort Benning or overseas. must admit, it is never easy to see him go for the 3rd time as his 2nd round, but i refuse to disgrace what he does and his service. like O'Reiley would say:

there's a war in terror.
we are fighting it.
and if you don't acknowledge it.
YOU ARE A MORON!

i know i'm not a moron and i know this for sure, God will be before and behind him all the way through. Bless going in and bless going out. i think we've found our first and new adopted soldier.


....... as Steve was waving, we had to tell him to run since Gabby was kicking and screaming at the top of her lungs. awkward.