J.R. from Dallas...

I think Lyle could play J.R. from Dallas!

Meet Me In St. Louis

Last week Lyle played the role of Mr. Smith in Meet Me In St. Louis. It was bittersweet because it was Lyle's last performance at Redding Christian School; his final RCS bow. Lyle has participated in many musicals and dramas in his RCS days:

Fall Musicals
School House Rock
Anne of Green Gables
Alice in Wonderland
Music Man
Beauty and the Beast
Oliver
White Christmas


Spring Dramas
The Wind in the Willows
Gooney Bird Greene
The Prince and the Pauper
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Meet Me in St. Louis

Oh how grateful I am for Redding Christian School and their fantastic fine arts program. It has allowed kids like Lyle, who are not interested in sports, to have an opportunity to grow their artistic abilities, social skills, and self-esteem. I'm so thankful for Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Henry who believed in Lyle and helped awaken his passion for drama and theatre. I cannot say enough about those two ladies. They spend countless hours after school and on weekends working with the students for these various productions. But, it goes further. They LOVE each student and care about them deeply, both on the stage and off stage.

There were nine seniors in this production. Quoting from the program, "From the 'small stage' of elementary Christian programs, all-school musicals, and class chapels, to the bright lights of the Cascade Theatre, and in all the drama in between (on and off stage), this unforgettable group of seniors have entertained and endeared thousands with their joy, their enthusiasm, and their incredible talent." Here's a picture of those seniors with Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Henry...

Thank you to all of you who came to see the play -- Kim, Susie, Gramz, Paige, Ross, Donnel, Travis, Aunt Monda, Mrs. Kinnier, Anne, and whoever else I forgot. Thank you, Donnel, for bringing Lyle flowers!!!!! You sweetie!!!!!

Some other pictures:

Now graduation is right around the corner! I'm excited to see the great and mighty things God has planned for "Act II" of Lyle's life.

Dishin' Up The Details

“We have to talk. You are going to freak out!” Bob announced when I arrived home from the Enterprise Starship Variety Hour on Friday, February 24th. We couldn’t “talk” until Lyle went to bed, and it was Friday night so he was staying up late. Finally at 11:30, I insisted he go to bed since I couldn’t stand it one more minute. Of course, being the pessimist I am (and not thinking it had to do with Hilary and Ethan), my mind was reeling with all kinds of “worst case scenarios”.

Ethan and Hilary had come to Redding late that afternoon for a quick trip to the doctor (unfortunately), dinner with us and then they drove straight back to the coast. While Hilary was in the bathroom, Ethan told Bob he would like to talk to us next weekend about asking Hilary to marry him. Bob told me this later that night and anxiously awaited my reaction. I had two emotions: relief that it wasn’t one of my “worst case scenarios” and then total SHOCK! I thought the plan was always to wait until they had graduated. Well, plans change! :0)

The next weekend, the kids were coming for a Jones Family Reunion. We talked with Ethan while Hilary was in the shower and getting ready. Side note: Guess I finally found a reason to be thankful that Hilary takes the longggggeeeeesssssttttt showers in the world! Even though Ethan did not have a goat to offer us (inside joke), we still said yes.


On Saturday, March 10th, Ethan and Hilary hiked to Canyon Creek Falls in Trinity County. When they arrived at the falls, Ethan sang to Hilary and they slow danced (I know! Pretty romantic! Way to go, Ethan!). Afterwards, he pulled the ring box out of his backpack and got down on one knee and proposed. Side note from me: Hiking four miles uphill is not my idea of fun, but Ethan and Hilary LOVE it!

Flat rock overlooking the falls where he proposed:

The ring...

The happy couple...


When they arrived back at Ethan’s parent’s house, Hilary immediately called her brother (since we already knew) and then us, Gramz, and Uncle Wes. The rest of the phone calls were made when they came to Redding on Wednesday and had cell phone reception.

I promised Hilary I wouldn’t tell anyone until Wednesday night (after they had told some more people). Can you believe I was able to keep a secret from February 24th to March 14th? I am pretty proud of myself! It was killing Bob not to tell anyone, so when he went to get his haircut, he told the barber. Figured he was pretty safe! :0)

So, my daughter is engaged. I am a “Mother of the Bride”. I am experiencing all kinds of emotions: excited, thrilled, panic over the cost and work of a wedding, and of course, a little twinge of sadness because this was just yesterday (wasn’t it??????)…

Yes!

Hilary said "Yes!"

More details to follow!

Hilary At Age 31

This weekend, as I was looking through a box of school papers, I found this little guy:

I wish I knew how old Hilary was or what grade she was in when she colored this little astronaut and wrote about her future plans (at age 31). She thought her family would consist of "too many pets to name". She said her jobs would be: "vet, animal trainer, asternaought and mairen biolegest". Well, this semester she changed her major to Zoology/Marine Biology. Interesting!

P.S. She also said her greatest success in life would be: "first girl on the moon." :0)

Spirit Week 2012 -- Homecoming & Spirit Trophy

The last post of Spirit Week...some of you are probably breathing a sign of relief. But, Hilary always loved Spirit Week, and one of the disadvantages of being away at college is missing out on her brother's participation in things like this. So, these posts have been at Hilary's request. :0)

Sorry for the picture overload!! At Redding Christian High School, each class picks a prince and princess to represent their class. The senior class choses four guys and four girls who are the king and queen candidates. Here is the whole high school homecoming court:

And just the girls...

And just the boys...

Here are the seniors that were chosen. Back Row: Cassie, Ben, Hannah, Lyle, Trygg, Emilee Front Row: Brennen and Korina

Lyle escorted Korina:

The pictures I took in the Gym did not turn out well because it was sooo dark, but the Gym looked beautiful. The committee in charge of Homecoming did a great job:

Here is the 2012 Homecoming King and Queen - Brennen and Korina:

Lyle and Queen Korina:

Lyle and King Brennen:

Lyle and his BFF, Hannah:

Before they announced the King and Queen, they announced the winner of the coveted Spirit Trophy. Lyle's class won it last year when they were Juniors, and they were soooooo hoping to win it again this year. They add up all the points from the week (games, dress up, spirit change, float, etc.) and that determines who will win the overall trophy. OH YES, THE SENIORS WON!!!!

After the activities, we took this family picture. Sad that we were missing Hilary and Ethan.

And, just for fun, this is the family picture we took in February 2008 when Hilary was a senior princess at RCHS homecoming:

Spirit Week 2012 -- Float Competition

During Spirit Week at Redding Christian High School, each class builds a float based on a chosen theme. The floats are on display at the Homecoming Basketball Game on Friday night and pulled into the Gym after the game.

This year's theme was Dr. Seuss. The seniors chose the book, Oh, The Places You'll Go.

They worked on their float every Saturday in Hannah's parent's garage. Mrs. Williamson (bless her heart) fed them each week! Thank you, Donna!

Here's a picture of the senior's float. They got second place.

I didn't get a picture of the freshman and sophomore floats, but here's a picture of the junior's float. They won first prize.