Olivia (to Seth): Your tummy is squishy like a pillow.
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Sam: Remember you're supposed to give me a big ol' hug?
Livi: Oh, yeah!
Elena: Hey, where's my hug?
Livi: (heading into the bathroom) I'll check in here!
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Livi was going from person to person in the house asking what we were thankful for. She had pre-made drawings, mostly of our family and Coco and Jesus, so when someone said "I'm thankful for our family," she would hand them a picture of our family (it was initially missing all of the boys but she added them once Elena pointed that out). When she got to Frank, this was their conversation:
Livi: What are you thankful for?
Frank: I don't know....the whole world, I guess.
Livi: Hmmmm...I don't have that one. Here. You're thankful for your sister.
Our fall was, as usual, filled with football games and hunting. We will be eating pheasant stew leftovers for supper tonight after Seth and the boys got 13 pheasants on Saturday with more to come. Sam and Charlie both shot a buck on the same night this year. It was Charlie's first so he was very excited.
Also as usual, the Minneota Vikings Football teams had a great run this year. The varsity took first in the state championship for the 3rd year in a row. Sam was able to play in the championship game at US Bank Stadium.
Charlie's team after their last game
Section champs (Ian, RJ, Sam)
State champs!
Sophomore Football players after their win!
We were able to catch one of our nephew Alex's games when he played in Marshall. The kids had more fun playing with the steep slope of the visitors side than watching the game!
These last two are sort of random pictures. Charlie was put in charge of racking up all the pine needles under the pine tree, and (true to Charlie fashion) instead of making a traditional hay-stack like pile, he created a nest!
And last but not least, here is a picture of me and the group of of pre-teen boys I joined for the Haunted Pathway this fall. Elena's class put on a fundraiser by creating a Haunted Trail along the walking path. They really went all out and did a great job! The main downfall was how good the turnout was, which made the line incredibly long. Charlie and his friends had room for an extra in their group so I was able to jump up closer to the front of the line. It was quite entertaining to watch these boys go down the path - they didn't get too scared until the chainsaws (one of which was run by Elena) surprised them at the very end.
The fall musical is (finally) done! We put on Bye Bye Birdie, which I failed to notice is about 50% longer than last year's musical, Grease. Meaning it was about 50% more work. Like last year, there were times I swore I would never direct a musical at Minneota again given the challenges of directing amidst football and volleyball playoffs and hunting season.
Our football players especially did not like the rehearsals and also claimed they would never do a play again. And then we performed. And it was a hit. And the day after our last performance several of the football players were stopping by my room, texting and emailing, begging to do another show as soon as possible. I was reminded of having a baby - months of misery and exhaustion, followed by the undeniable reality that it all really was worth it in the end!
Elena played the same role that I did (Rosie) when I was in the show 23 years ago. She did an awesome job and was perfect in the role. Her only disappointment was that I wouldn't let her actually slap Albert as I had done in my performances.
Our nephew RJ played the same part as Seth (bartender). Sam was Hugo, a usually boring role that he turned into one if the funniest and most popular characters in the show. When he had to play drunk, he git as close to method acting as he could get without getting drunk by spinning in circles offstage for a minute or so before walking onstage. It was very effective. I stood in for him at rehearsal once and was nauseous for 3 hours.
We had some very talented newcomers, including our nephew, Reed. Ian took a tiny, but fun part and our niece, Laney was in the orchestra. Charlie can't wait to join next year. It's becoming quite the family affair!
The video link is at the bottom.
We had to recreate one picture! It's even the same dress.
