Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Remember how I mentored a Shakespeare class in our homeschool commonwealth this year? Well, our play was the first weekend in May. It has been a WILD ride, but I have learned so much and feel so proud of our final product. 

I served as the producer while my co-mentor Britney directed the play. We knew going in to the play that Walter was due just a few weeks before rehearsals started, so I'd planned as many things as possible in advance and had a great assistant producer helping out. What we didn't anticipate was that Britney's mother, who had been battling cancer, would take a turn for the worst and pass away just a few weeks before the show. After missing a few rehearsals (which other mom's stepped up to run), Britney was determined to finish what she'd started as a tribute to her mom. It was hard, but the kids stepped up, and we gave it all we had. By tech week, things we just barely starting to come together. But even dress rehearsal was ROUGH with some kids still struggling with lines, missing cues, and forgetting blocking. 

Magically, things came together during a last rehearsal before opening night. The kids found their groove and felt ready to give it their all!

Five minutes to showtime, the heavens opening and it started POURING! Without time to move to a backup location, we set up canopies over the audience and went ahead with the show. Somehow that rain unified the cast in a way we'd been trying all year to achieve. As they were huddled under a canopy backstage, singing "Rain, rain go away" and having the time of their lives, something magical happened! They went on to give the most incredible performance (and the rain stopped about 15 minutes in).

And can we talk about Hazel??? She played Olivia, and was incredible! It was so much fun to watch her grow in her acting ability this year. She went from nervously talking way too fast and without much emotion during her audition, to creating and presenting an incredible Olivia. 

In one scene, she was supposed to come in screaming to break up a fight. She struggled to let go of her inhibition and really scream during all of our rehearsals. But on closing night, she finally nailed it! She screamed so loud her fellow cast members were genuinely shocked and had the best reactions. 

I am so proud of her! She's always been an actress at heart, and it was incredible to get her up on stage and watch her thrive. Watch their performance here - IMA Twelfth Night 2023

A few more action shots... It really was such a fun show! 

A funny aside not to be forgotten... With all the rain during opening night, my stroller with the master keys that unlocked everything was slid in to the tower and locked inside. Miraculously, Ken managed to jerry-rig a hanger on the end of a pole and scoop the keys up and through the window. Good times! 

Some of the things I want to take away from this experience: 

-  Hard things are not only doable, but worth the effort

- If you want to do something incredible, surround yourself with amazing people. We could not have done it without the support of some amazing moms! (I mean, just look at those costumes)

- Teenagers can by prickly. They can be hard to love, make choices that seem so ridiculous, and let you down at times. BUT, teenagers are also so much fun, have huge hearts, and are capable of doing so much! Give them the benefit of lots of love, patient coaching, and some time - they will amazing you! 

That's a wrap on Twelfth Night, but my Shakespeare days aren't numbered yet. This fall I'll be mentoring Shakespeare again, and next spring it will be my turn to direct. I'm sure it will be a wild ride again, but I'm excited (and so nervous haha!) 

Five Things for Friday: Big Kid Catch Up

While Walter is definitely the star of the show right now, we still love these big kids and the crazy things they get up to including: 

- 1- 

Chair of Death! 

We showed up at Forest School one week to find the amazing "Chair of Death" waiting for us. A lovely, ugly-brown recliner mounted to skis from the 80s. What could be better?!? The flames they spray-painted on the sides of course! The kids had SO MUCH FUN riding this thing down the sledding hill (pushing it up was another story haha). Dylan, Tate, and Jakey - you will forever be legends in our Forest School. Thanks for the thrills! 

-2- 

Easter

At the encouragement of Elder Stevenson in General Conference, our family worked to be more intentional in focusing our Easter celebrations on the Savior. Each day of holy week we took a bit longer to study the scriptures and discuss the events leading up to the Savior's Atonement and resurrection. It was a beautiful week! 

-3-

Science Fair

After several school years of not doing science fair projects, we were back at it this year for the IMA science fair. Hazel presented findings about why canyon maple leaves all change different colors, even on the same tree (leaves exposed to the most sunlight turn red while leaves exposed to the least sunlight turn yellow). 

Eliza tested to see if she could train a chicken to peck a xylophone (yes - you can!)

Lenora extracted DNA from a strawberry and a kiwi and compared which had more genetic material. 

Orson texted to see if helium balloons could actually lift a child (they could, but you'd need 30,000!)

And Conrad did a balloon rocket project with his IMA class. 

-4- 

Tulip Festival and Butterflies

The pictures speak for themselves on this one - the tulip festival is ALWAYS a joy! 

After the tulips, we stopped by the butterfly biosphere for a quick visit. We ended up getting up close to lots of butterflies this visit. 

Where's Eliza in these pictures?? Well, she decided she's creeped out by butterflies and their "flappy wings." In fact, when she was prompted to write a poem a few days later, this is what she penned: 

Butterflies Are A NO 

By: Eliza Ballard 

They say, 

Oh so pretty, 

Gorgeous display.

I say, NO 

Butterflies are a no. 

They're just too gross. 

They've got to go. 

They say,

See their wings

Straight out of dreams. 

I say NO

Their crawly and flappy

You guys are getting sappy. 

Butterflies are a NO!

Haha, who would have thought?!? 

-5-

Random Moments of Excitement for 500

Conrad still enjoys watching drum lessons on YouTube with his drum mat from Jamie. 

How to make PBJ discussions have been circulating (in case you're wondering PB on BOTH slices of bread is the best). Orson decided to take his sandwich making one step further... the monster! 

Lenora made these super cute playdough fairies that remind me of the fairies from Sleeping Beauty. 

Eliza has been perfecting a new skill - making sourdough bread! She's getting really good at it, and her bread is SO yummy! 

And, Hazel became a meme! Someone created it for the Heroic Youth's Facebook announcement about registration opening. It's SO perfect!