Wednesday, July 23, 2008

byu dance workshop




While visiting Utah, I went down to the 'dance end' of the Richardson Building at BYU to observe some classes to help in my development as a teacher. It is always a bit strange to visit because I used to basically live in that building- eating, sleeping, studying and most of all dancing. I was able to watch one day of a modern workshop taught by Karl Fink, a professional from Minnesota. He taught a sweepingly energetic across-the-floor combination with side leaps, a cartwheel and knee slides. Many of the dancers in his workshop were actually professors and I think Dancer's Company members and so the level of dance quality was quite high and especially lovely to watch. I got to chat with my old Dancensemble director, Pat Debenham, he was a great teacher and director. And I got some solid ideas to help formulate my modern class at the YMCA starting in September!

heath ledger's 'joker'



(Yikes! Like clown make-up applied in a windstorm!)

I was able to see a few movies while on vacation: Hellboy II, Mama Mia and Batman- The Dark Night. They were all fun to sit through. But, I must admit, I was anticipating watching Heath Ledger as the maniacal, anarchic villain in Christopher Nolan's newest Batman. And Ledger DELIVERED. It was mesmerizing to watch his ferocious, sarcastic and unrelenting character fester and ooze all over the screen. Ledger steals absolutely every scene he is in.

It wasn't until about a month ago when I saw him in Brokeback Mountain that I realized how well he absorbs and disappears into his characters. Heath Ledger's performance in what I would call a love story and not a 'gay cowboy movie', was exactingly superb. What a tragedy to have lost this young, handsome talent so relatively early in his career- and also that he left behind a sweet, little daughter!

He is a must see in Batman! The movie is a gritty, dark, psychological crime thriller-so proceed with caution, especially with younger teens. But it is also fast-paced, witty, funny and well worth your money. (Christian Bale is plenty lovely as the awesome, brooding, caped crusader along with one of my all time favorite actors, Gary Oldman, as the hard-working and honest Commissioner Gordon).

Monday, July 21, 2008

the party

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Myka's Auntie Meikel helped make her b-day party sooooo fun! (For better pics of the party check out M's blog, REECE, she's got the fancy cam).

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Aaron strung the cafe lights (note: cafe lights @ Pottery Barn=$20 a box, same cute lights @ Target=$9.99 a box, hmmm.)

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Homemade strawberry cupcakes w/ pink buttercream frosting- yum.

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These dipped cones held Myka's favorite flavor of ice cream, strawberry.


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Pretty over-the-table center piece.


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I helped blow up the pink balloons. What? What?! I'm just holding pink balloons! Geez!


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Ariel mermaid costume!


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Family.


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It was a lovely evening party with our relatives up in Grandma Carol's beautiful backyard. Here is Myka with her beloved great- grandmother, my mom's mother, Carol Lambert.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

our beauty

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Myka K. turned five today. Our beautiful child- we love her so much! We made sure to recount the story of her birth and to help her feel like the princess she truly is on this special day.

saltwater sandals

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Hot pink, patent leather Saltwater Sandals for little girl feet! There couldn't be better summertime footwear. No blisters, simple buckle, classic and cute!

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(Here are my Saltwater girlies at Provo's Hot Air Balloon event on the 4th. It was supposed to be this fun and exciting experience, but Haily was terrified and Myka didn't like the noise. Oh well!)

Monday, July 14, 2008

on vacation

On vacation...
loving it...
girls loving it...
couldn't be closer to perfect,
except for this blasted morning sickness!

(hee hee! yay!)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

small clip

Here is a small clip from our dance film, entitled 'Incongruent Atrabilious'.

Dancers: Caitlin Shea and Kelly Zeiler

Film by: MG & MH Arts