Beauty and the Beast

Today the kids watched the play Beauty and the Beast at the Prado in Balboa Park. It was directed by the most talented Rayme Sciaroni who is a friend of Eunice and Karen. We have seen a couple of plays directed by him and he is amazing!

Both of my kids love plays/musicals and I am so happy. I have many fond memories of watching plays with my mom in Japan as a kid. It was one of our favorite things to do and I am glad I am able to share that with my own kids.

The thing that I love the most about going to see a play with my kids is watching them watch the play. I love to see the expression on their faces and the joy with which they watch the play.

Today as we watched Beauty and the Beast,there is a scene when the Beast lets Belle go back to her father and no longer holds her captive. The Beast needs Belle to love him, but he cares about her so much that he lets her go back to her dad. At that moment Dylan leans into me and very sadly concerned said, "Oh, he never gets to say I'm sorry to Belle." He was so sad - I told him not to worry that she will be back.

Then later on when the spell is finally broken and all of the "things" in the castle are turned human again, Dylan is the first one to clap loudly! He was so excited that it all ended happily. He was grinning from ear to ear and at one point was standing and clapping so loudly with excitement. The look on his face was so sweet! I am so glad that he is a softie with a big heart! He looks tough and all boy - but he has such a sweet spirit! Love him!

When the play was over, Dylan wanted his picture taken with every character he could find!



Dylan and the Beast



Dylan and Gaston


Lumiere and Cogsworth



All of us with Belle and the Director







Babette the Featherduster




Kenzie as Chip




Dylan as Chip

Happy Mother's Day

I got such a creative Mother's Day present this year from Mackenzie. I heard her early this Mother's Day morning rustling in her room as I lay in bed trying to wipe the cobwebs from my eyes. (I stayed up way to late watching Criminal Minds - that is a whole other subject!)

When I rolled out of bed half hour later she brought me this homemade box decorated with cute pictures. When I opened it, it contained the following: a real peanut, a silk flower, and a stick of gum. I smiled and thought it was an odd concoction until she said, "The peanut is because I'm nuts about you. The flower is because I think you are beautiful. And the gum is because I will always stick with you!" I was blown away by her creativity. Will and I looked at each other with amazement.






Mackenzie is constantly creating, drawing, making, writing and doing something crafty. She is happiest in her room with markers, glue, stapler, tape, glitter and crayons. Maybe one day she will make a name for herself! The next Martha Stewart . . . well . . . minus the jail time please!