Lights on Broadway 2008

So I know it was two weeks ago, but we have been a little busy moving into our new house and all, but Jason and I were involved in our stake production of a musical revue called "Lights on Broadway". Most people would think a church production would be amateurish at best, but not in Irvine! We had quite a professional production. I was fortunate enough to be the assistant musical director for the production and appear in 7 musical numbers! It was nice to perform again since I have not done a whole lot since having Madeleine. I got to sing a great solo "Everybody Says Don't" - a Sondheim favorite. I also got to sing with 6 other amazing women the Bernstein tune "I Can Cook Too" - and awesome 40's/50's swing number. The highlight was Jason and I on stage opposite each other in as Gaston and Belle in "Me" from "Beauty and the Beast". We have not played opposite each other in over 3 years. Although it was only a 3 minute song, we had a blast. I loved it especially because I got to do something I would never ordinarily do - play Belle. That role is my sister's department.

The show is not going to Broadway, but there is something special about performing with your fellow brothers and sisters in the church. It brings you so much closer together in such a fun activity. I will miss the Irvine Stake because of this. But I have been assured that Jason and I are invited as Irvine Stake alumni artists in the next Lights on Broadway production. I can't wait!

Picture from the OC Register of me and Leilani Sofuia and Bridgette Briggs singing "I Can Cook Too"


Jason and I posing for "Me" from Beauty and the Beast


Me singing "Everybody Says Don't" from the backstage viewpoint.


Backstage pictures of our Irvine Stake peeps

Miller family - Amber, Marin, Nicole, and Ben


Katie Luther and Bridgette Briggs


Music Man Barbershop Quartet - Ben Morgen, Bruce Loosli, Mark Mortensen, Glenn Patchell


"I Can Cook Too" Girls - Bridgette, Leilani, Jen, Heidi, and Jolie


The men singing "Into the Fire" as pirates (for you musical theater geeks...I know there shouldn't be pirates, but pirate costumes are cheaper than 18th century ones.)


Sandi Burgess and Lesley Stout


The Dancing Queens? - Nicole Miller, Jen Izu and Luci Ainsworth


Dreamgirls Kari Goodman and Andrea Robertson


Angela and Eddie Villa, our "go to Mimi's Cafe after the show friends"

Our fearless leaders Linda Simmons and Sandi Burgess


We have so many more friends not pictured here. Just know that we love you and had a fabulous time performing with you!

Look who's got teeth!

Madeleine now has 6 teeth...and she knows how to use them!

My sister is awesome!

I just want to declare to the world that my sister Sarah is awesome! She ran the Toronto Marathon on Sunday, October 19th. This was her first marathon. I can't believe it, but she ran it in under 4 hours, something like 3:45. Amazing! On top of that, she had bronchitis at the time. And, on top of that, she placed 20th in her class! I am so proud of her. I wish I had some pictures of her, but I'm sure I will get some soon.

Congratulations Sarah! You rock!

We Bought a House!

Today we closed escrow on our new house we bought! We are just thrilled. It has been an enormously stressful process, but it is all worth it. We are sad that we will be leaving Irvine. We absolutely love it here. However, we knew that the window of opportunity for us to buy a home was now, and so we jumped at it. We are moving to a community in Corona called Eastvale. Our home is a one-story, three bedroom plus an office house with real hardwood floors and great upgrades. We are so excited to move in. However, we now have a lot more work to do getting our house ready to move in and of course packing up our things. We will be completely in our new house by Halloween!







Madeleine just loves her new house. So much more room to spread out and explore!

Madeleine's First Trip to the Beach

On August 22, we went to our church ward's corn roast bonfire at Corona Del Mar beach. This was Madeleine's first trip to the beach and she had a great time. She just loves the water.





After munching on some watermelon, the three of us took a trip down to the water so Madeleine could get her feet wet. We weren't sure how she would react because the ocean water is so much colder than her bath water and even the water in the pool. Well, I think the pictures say it all.











Just as the sun set and darkness fell, Madeleine got sleepy and fell asleep peacefully in the sand near the warmth of the bonfire, even with all the hubbub of the others at the party. She is just so cute!

Trip to June Lake

The Green family has been very busy the last few weeks. I will try to catch us up.

We took a trip to June Lake in the Sierra Nevadas the last week of August and Labor Day Weekend. We went with my parents. This was Madeleine's first vacation with Grandma and Grandpa Pfeifer and her first long road trip. She did really great! She slept quite a bit.



She also ate and pooped and cried...all the things babies do. But we did get to see some really fabulous scenery.



This is June Lake seen from the car.



While we were there, we stayed in a 3 bedroom condo that would seem so comfy and cozy...in the winter. We happened to arrive during the hottest week of the year. The temperature lingered around 85-90 degrees...and we were at about 7500 feet elevation! No buildings in June Lake had air conditioning, so we were all a little uncomfortable. None of the restaurants had air conditioning either. The heat during the day and the lingering heat at night was the most difficult part of the trip.

The view from our sweltering condo.




We still had fun. Jason caught his first fish. Madeleine got to go fishing too. Jason and I took a trip to Yosemite. We all got to eat at a gourmet restaurant inside a Mobil station. Jason saw a bear. We went to a film museum. All in all, it was a great time.




Us at the Mobil Station gourmet restaurant. We ate lobster taquitos with a spring greens salad with raspberry vinaigrette and barbeque chicken pizza. Yes, I'm serious. Maddie also met Squiggy the Raccoon, her new friend she took home with her.




Us in Yosemite and Madeleine goin' fishin'








Madeleine on a horse at the film museum for the Eastern Sierras.