Halloween

Madeleine had a great Halloween. She decided to dress up as Daisy Duck. She loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney Channel and do the Hot Dog Dance as Daisy, so we found her the costume, and she looked just Ducky!





Can't wait until next year!
She went trick-or-treating in her grandparent's neighborhood. She went with her Mom, Dad and Grandpa. She only went to 5 houses because the duck bill was getting a little annoying and she wanted to take it off her head.



We all came back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for more pictures.
Madeleine and Jason (dressed as Ricky Bobby)


Madeleine and Grandpa (dressed as the devil). Madeleine wasn't too keen about the costume. It freaked her out a little.


Then it was time for a lasagna dinner and yummy pumpkin pie!

Maddie at the Pumpkin Patch

I have looked at a lot of my friend's blogs and their adventures at the Pumpkin Patch, and I see very similar pictures to ours. I think we all went to the same pumpkin patch. But since a lot of us live in Irvine, that seems to make sense. We actually moved to Corona, but drove 45 minutes to the Irvine pumpkin patch because it was such a cool one.

They had a pumpkin graveyard and haunted house that Madeleine and I went into. In fact, Jason took a picture of us that looks like we are "walking into the light". It is quite amusing.



These are some really great pictures of Madeleine waiting for the Great Pumpkin. I hope he rises out of the pumpkin patch for her because honestly, this pumpkin patch was definitely the most sincere.




The best part of the trip was the donkey riding. Well, pony riding. But if anyone knows Madeleine, they would know that her most favorite song in the whole world is a British sailing song called "Donkey Riding". It is often the only song that will get her to calm down and sleep at night. So when we saw pony rides at the pumpkin patch, we told her she would get to go donkey riding for the very first time! I don't think she quite knew the difference. Nevertheless, she was the hit of the donkey/pony riding tent.




She loved the donkey riding so much, she decided she wanted to ride something bigger and did some elephant riding. I don't think she realized that the elephant was not real. She'll have to do real elephant riding when she's a little bigger.

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!