Ella Stars in The Knight at Dawn

After juggling 12 hours of gymnastics practice with three play rehearsals every week for the past 2.5 months, Ella's performance weekend finally arrived yesterday.  Ella has worked really hard this fall learning all of her lines, songs, blocking, and choreography on top of school and gymnastics practice.  I have been amazed at her determination, hard work, and endless amounts of energy.  She was surprisingly as cool as a cucumber yesterday morning when I helped her get dressed and did her hair and makeup.  After our neighbor dropped her off 3.5 hours before show time, Lia and I arrived at the theater to meet my parents, Kristina and her girls, and Natalee who had all bought tickets to cheer her on for her first matinee performance.  After starting 40 minutes late, we watched Ella doing an amazing job as the role of Annie, the sister, performing in almost every scene of her 40 minute play, Knight at Dawn, based on the second Magic Treehouse book.  She did an awesome job and nailed all of her lines and solos.  I was just so amazed at her natural acting and singing ability with such limited experience. This musical production was so fun to watch with all of the darling costumes, cute songs, and children actors.  I seriously enjoyed watching every minute of her play.  

After running to Mod Pizza for a quick dinner break with Kristina and her girls, Lia and I dropped Ella back off at the theater to get ready for her evening show that started at 7 pm.  Ron and the boys met up with us at the theater and we enjoyed cheering her on as a family for her second performance.  Since Ella's play is performed as a double feature with the teen play, Freaky Friday, we didn't finish up and get home until after 10 p.m.  I tucked a very tired, yet happy, Ella into bed at 10:30 Saturday night.  She then woke up yesterday to do it all over again.  Ella left at 11 this morning to be at the theater early enough for professional pictures before their 2 pm show.  I opted to go alone this time since everyone in our family had seen the play, but I wanted to see her one more time.  Once again, Ella did a great job and it was so fun to watch her perform in the role of Annie a third and final time.  She finished off this experience with a huge smile on her face, especially since she got to share this experience with three of her closest friends who we recruited--Poppy from next door and Elise and Viviana from school.  We then came home for a few minutes before the girls and I turned around to head to NWTL to help unload the truck and to celebrate with a potluck dinner party with other cast members and their families.  Overall, it was a wonderful, growing experience for Ella and I am so grateful that she was given this opportunity!

Ella and Ben (who played the role of Jack, her brother) in the opening scene.

Ella discovering the book in the magic treehouse.

Realizing that they had been magically transported to the medieval times while inside the magic treehouse.

Ella and Ben spying on the castle guards.

Being caught outside the castle.

Ella and Ben being dragged off to the dungeon by the guards.

Ella talking to one of the prisoners, Poppy, who is one of her bestfriends and next door neighbor in real life.

Ella looking at the knight suits in the armory.

Ella talking to Ben.

Ella singing her solo from the song, "The Light in the Dark," to the other prisoners in the dungeon.  She did such a good job and has such a sweet voice.

Ella "swimming" through the moat (while being carried by one of the older actors) after jumping from the top of the castle.

Ella climbing over the bridge while running away from the castle.

Ella and Ben riding on the horse with the black night at the end of the story.

The black knight "knighting" Ella and her brother.

Ella and Ben in the final scene.

Ella taking a bow at the end of the play.

The entire cast singing at the end of the performance after taking their bows.

Since Ella's play was performed as a double feature with Freaky Friday, her cast was allowed to be in the wedding scene at the end of this second play.  Ella had so much fun wearing a pretty dress and dancing after the wedding ceremony was finished.

Ella dancing her little heart out with all of the other girls in her cast.

The group picture we were able to take after Ella's first show with my parents, Kristina and her girls, and Lia and me.  Unfortunately, Natalee and Ella's gymnastics friend, Avery, and her mom had to leave before we had a chance to take this picture.

Lia and mom posing with our young star.

Ella enjoying dinner at the "little girls" table at Mod Pizza with Mae and Ellis.

The Harland fam all together after Ella's evening show on Saturday.

The picture I managed to take of Ella and her three friends who were in this play with her after their final performance.

From left to right:

Elise, Ella, Viviana, and Poppy

After arriving back at NWTL for the potluck party yesterday evening, we learned that Ella's co-star, Ben, had brought custom-made cupcakes from our local bakery.  They were absolutely amazing looking and tasting!  Here is Ella holding up the box of Knight at Dawn cupcakes that actually had little images of the book cover on the top of every cupcake.

Logan's Last Soccer Game of the Season

After playing in nine out of ten soccer games this fall, Logan wrapped up his season this afternoon by playing at Fort Steilacoom in Tacoma.  Since Emmett's game was early in the morning, I was able to drive out there with Emmett to meet Ron after dropping Ella off at play practice.  Although the field was wet from a downpour this morning and the air temperature was very cold, I was just grateful that he didn't have to play in the rain.  The three of us cheered Logan and his team on to victory as they battled against a pretty strong team.  Although I have only been able to attend a few of Logan's games this fall due to Lia's XC meets and Emmett's soccer games, I have enjoyed watching him play whenever I have had the chance.  Logan has played mainly defense this entire season with a new coach.  He hasn't complained and has done a great job defending his goal.  Although I think that we will be transitioning him to a running club next fall (since our school district unfortunately only offers XC for girls in 7th and 8th grade), I am grateful for the exercise, skill building, and socializing that he has gotten during his years playing soccer.

Logan going after the ball.

Chasing it down with another teammate.

Lining up at the goal with the rest of his team for a penalty kick.

Kicking the ball away from an opponent.

Logan giving me a smile from the field after spotting me with my camera.

Going in for a kick...

Getting closer...

And kicking it!  

This is my favorite picture of him playing soccer this season.

Although they lost their beloved Coach Ben this past summer, their team got a fabulous replacement, Coach Mike.  Here is Logan with the rest of the Goal Hunters team who he has played with for three years in a row.

Silly pose!

Another silly pose with Emmett after the game was over.

And that's a wrap!  Good job, Logan!  I have loved watching you play and can't wait to see where running takes you in the years to come.

Emmett's Last Soccer Game of the Season

After six games, six Saturdays in a row, Emmett wrapped up his first soccer season of his life this morning.  Overall, I would say that his first season was a total success as Emmett just loved every minute of it.  In addition, he is a bit of a natural player with his fast speed, aggressive nature, and natural coordination which made him one of the strongest players on his team of Kindergarten and 1st grade players.  Emmett would count down the days every week until his next game and just gave it his all every Saturday morning.  He would finish each game with a red face dripping with sweat, but never seemed to mind.  And although he made attempt after attempt to score a goal in his first five games, he didn't make a goal until the first minute of his last game today.  This was such great timing as Ron had to miss his first five games to watch Logan play at his soccer games.  But, as luck would have it, Logan's game was late enough in the day that it allowed both Ron and Logan to come cheer him on with me.  It was so fun to watch Emmett race out onto the court and kick that ball all the way to the goal like he was on a mission.  I have absolutely loved watching Emmett play this fall, and will definitely miss seeing him play every week.  If I wasn't so overwhelmed by his three older siblings' activities, I might have actually tried to find a winter or soccer league for him to play in, but since that is not going to happen, Emmett will just have to wait until next fall to start playing soccer again.

Emmett racing down the court.

Emmett going after the ball.

Talking to Coach Heather while taking a break on the sidelines.

Emmett dribbling the ball down the court.

Trying to kick it into the goal.

Giving me a cute look as he walked towards the center of the court.

Making a funny pose while playing goalie.

Emmett receiving his certificate and trophy from his coaches after the game was over.

Emmett proudly holding up his certificate and trophy.

Celebrating Ron's Belated Birthday

Since our evening schedule is so crazy busy these days, we decided to celebrate Ron's birthday three days late on Sunday, November 5th, so that all six members of our family could be there.  However, after I passed out and was unconscious for several minutes on Sunday morning, it was quite obvious that I would not be feeling up to throwing Ron's little birthday party that evening.  After spending all day Sunday in bed, and barely surviving Monday and Tuesday, I managed to summon the energy to make his birthday dinner almost a week late on the evening of November 8th when all four kids were home and available.  I made a Filipino dinner of rice, lumpia, and sinigang and we enjoyed a quiet evening together as a family.  We ate dinner in the dining room, watched Ron open a few gifts and cards, and then finished off with some banana cream pie (for the kids and me) and a bowl of cheese wisps for Ron.  I even managed to put a candle inside the wisps so that we could sing "Happy Birthday" to him before he blew it out.  As simple as the evening was, I know that this is exactly how Ron prefers it.  Happy belated Birthday, papa!

Ron reading the family card with all four of his children surrounding him.

Ron opening up the new Diesel heater that he requested for his camper.

Ron showing off the darling curtains that my mom sewed for him to put in his camper.

Ron waiting to blow out his one and only candle!