A Star is Born

Well, for fun, Annika and I went to auditions for a radio program. Sort of. It's a radio adaptation of Miracle on 34th Street, but it won't actually be on the radio. Not that I can tell, anyway. It's going to be performed in one of the restored historic buildings here in Fairmont in front of a live audience.

So we got there on time (a first!) and got our mug shots taken so the director could remember which name went with which face. The director was kind of a jolly looking fellow himself, only without the white beard.

We then proceeded to the main room where the "radio program" will take place. The director first had all the young girls stand in front and introduce themselves and say part of the Pledge of Allegiance. The girls ranged in ages from nine to about 14. One of them was an exchange student from Italy--so you even had a mix of voices and accents!

At this point, the director said the kids could go home if they wanted. A handful did, and a handful stayed.

Then he had the women introduce themselves, and lastly the men. Then he had people volunteer to do readings of the script. Annika volunteered for the part of Suzie, the nine-year-old who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. While Annika's introduction was a bit soft and her Pledge unconvincing, her reading of the script was completely believable and easy to hear from the back. I was really impressed!

After she finished, the director mentioned she was a tough act to follow. A few other girls read the part, but Annika ended up being awarded the lead role! Very exciting! The director only had roles for three other kids, but because four of them stayed the whole time, he awarded each of them a role. One of these girls is a classmate of Annika. It was so much fun to see her face light up when she heard she'd get to read lines!

Then the director began filling out the rest of the cast. He said, really, that since I was related to Annika I could be in it too. Backhanded compliment. If it was a compliment! Oh, well. I'm in it! And Annika and I will have fun!

The show is December 2, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Red Rock Center in Fairmont, Minn. Hope we break some legs! Or something...

Kid quotes:
A friend of ours was diagnosed with shingles, poor lady. Once she heard this, one of our daughter's responded, "Did she get that because she helped Daddy with our roof?"

Meg many times refers to Dan's Apple tablet as his iPatch. Love it!

Listening to Meg sing--amazing repertoire. Goes from "Jake the Halls" (a version of Deck the Halls from Annika's choir concert last Christmas) to "Fruit Salad," to classic 80s tunes.

I swear my kids are the only k-garteners, 2nd graders, and 4th graders who understand the literary device "puns" and can use them humorously. I so appreciate this!

Meg chilling at Grandma Yvonne's while her hair dries

What my daughter takes pictures of at family gatherings--not the family

Annika looking tough with a toy policeman set

My bro John has this look on his face in every family pic, it seems.

My brother-in-law and his fam on Veterans Day--Steve is a "lite" colonel. Very cool.

Johnny Boy, Rob and Steve

A lot of the grands...good pic. Love Meg's "smile"

My sis-in-law (Johnny Boy's bride) is obviously expecting twins,
hence the two outfits. My Gramma Pat is to her right.

Johnny Boy went to London and so far all I got was
this not-so-lousy pic of St. Paul's Cathedral (and 40 other pics)

John's pic of the Tower of London, I think.

The girls at the Walk for Pets to benefit the Animal Shelter.
We borrowed a dog for the occasion! (I may have posted this already...)