Finally Some Time to Breath!

Well we made it!! Our musical has closed and I must say it was a decent success!!! We didn't sell out, but we came pretty darn close several nights!! The cast had me crying completely several times, and not necessarily because of what their characters were doing, but because of their amazing talent to pull off such a wonderful performance!  We got some wonderful reviews and hopefully some patron who will come back when they hear it's a production by Spotlight!

Since then our lives have pretty much gone back to normal. 

Ellie has been picking up words left and right.  She's really great at saying "No", "Go", and "Don't"!  She's still signing and learning new signs as well.  It really has been so great communicating with her through sign.  I would suggest it with any and every one!  Her teething has been really difficult.  She still only has 5 teeth.  I'm actually really happy she has at least 5!  And they have been coming in really odd too, she has her 4 front teeth and a molar, and another molar is working it's way out.  My child is already trying to do things in her own way.  She is also very interested in dressing herself these days.  She prefers to go into MY closet and put on any shirt, tank top or dress I have that she seems to like.  It's actually really funny!!

James is starting to get busy at work again, which is always nice for us!  Although when they were slow the did talk about updating our kitchen for us.  We want to remodel our kitchen so bad, and we have so many great ideas for it, I can't wait until we finally can go through with it.

My work has been very up and down.  The holidays have made it pretty slow but we are gearing up for Sundance so I have lots of projects and random issues I have to take care.  It's been quite exciting!

My youngest sister Cheyenne is due to have her daughter January 3rd, but they seem to be wanting to rush having her so badly.  I think they want the tax write off.  Trying to rush delivery always scares me.  She's also so young I know she's healthy enough to let her body do it on her own.  I don't know, every pregnancy is different and she has a right to do it her own way.  I just worry the doctor is trying to rush her into something for his own benefit and she's just going along with it.

I also found out my other younger sister is going to have a baby as well.  She will be due in July and I pray to God it's not messed up.  She hasn't been the nicest to her body so I'm hoping this baby will be a good thing and put her back on track.

Hopefully this weekend we will finally get out Christmas decorations up!  If James would get off the computer for a little while and help me figure out where to put things, I think we may actually do it! Here are some Christmas photo's we took at Target. So that's us so far.  If I remember I will update again soon.  Thanks all!!

Just James and I hanging out by a fake tree....

Our baby girl

She got caught opening presents, just like her Auntie Alexis!

Santa's Helper

They Say You Should Neer Meet Your Idols, well I did!!

This past week I was able to go to two wonderful shows! The first my friend Megan invited me to, Mary Poppins. I'll be honest at first I wasn't so sure. When I first saw previews of the show when it was going up on Broadway, I thought it looked cute, but nothing that seemed interesting. However, I will take just about any off to go see a show if I'm able to. We met up at Stone Ground for dinner. If you haven't been there, you should, it's amazing! Great pizza, wonderful pasta and AMAZING tiramisu. From there we went to the show at Capitol theater.

The show opened very drab, very dreary. Black and white and dark costumes. It felt very much like London! The house was like an old doll house. It opened up to expose the interior, and it was very lively and full of color. The woman that played Mary Poppins was spectacular. She was a perfect replacement for Julie Andrews. And although in my opinion there is no replacement for Dick Van Dyke, our Bert was so full of charm and energy he really brought the heart of the story together. My favorite scene was Step In Time. The Choreography for the entire show was just outstanding. Step In Time was an amazing tap routine, and the intricate "body spelling" they used for Supercalifragilisticexpealidocouse looked as though it would take forever to learn! All in all, I would suggest anyone go see the show if they ever get a chance.

Then on September 7th, I finally got to see my all time favorite Broadway performer of all time! LEA SOLANGA!!! She originated the part of Kim in Miss Saigon at age 18, then was the first Asian to play Eponine in Les Miserables during the 10 year anniversary concert series. Then played Fantine in the 25th anniversary this past year in London. She may be most widely known to the world as the singing voice of Jasime and Mulan. She was charming, and engaging very funny and just insanely talented. I was crying at almost every turn, she was so touching with every note she sang. She sang her Disney songs, she sang her Broadway songs, she sang some Jazz songs, and some pop songs. She's so fully talented I could only wish to be half the talent she is.

So I know they are short, but I am still getting use to writing a blog.

I promise to someday get better at this...

Well hello, I'm sure not many read this, but I thought I'd say hello any way. It's been crazy busy here at the Naylor household. But they are still wonderful! Here's a catch up of all that's been happening.

Parade!

My friend Brighton is going to school to become a stage director. She's wonderful, we first met when we performed Fiddler on the Roof together. The first show I was in that she directed was Pride and Prejudice which James and I were both in. Her next show was Jane Eyre the musical, which I was unable to be in since I had a baby right before they performed! Now she is on her third main stage production and she chose to do Parade. For those who are not familiar with it, it was written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. It is the historical telling of a Jewish man in 1913 falsely accused of murdering a 13 year old girl in the pencil factory he managed in Marietta Georgia.

James and I were both planning on auditioning for the show, when Brighton asked if I wouldn't mind assistant directing it with her. I was really torn because I LOVE this show and I really wanted to be in it. But I was greatly flattered when Brighton asked me to help her put the show up. Even though I've had hardly any schooling, and it's all based on a little bit of experience in shows, she still had confidence enough in me to want me to help direct!

We had auditions, and as much as I hate auditions, I love them at the same time. We were a little nervous the first day. We had quit a lot of people show up, but not many with crazy talent that we knew we could cast for sure. The second day, we had a lot less people come in but they were all insanely talented!!

Callbacks were ridiculous, everyone was sitting there with nervous anticipation, all trying to do their best and show everything they had. When the night was over we weren't any better off. We knew we had the people to cast the show, but who to put where?? We had several people that we could easily put in several roles, and then we had several people who were obviously perfect for one roll only! Then we had to FIND someone to play a key role! There were debates, and arguments, and pro's and con's thrown about the room. but after several days, and a second call back for specific people we knew we had our cast....

James is playing Frankie, a friend of the young girl who gets murdered. He's really amazing. I watch him in rehearsals and I'm reminded again of when he was in The Crucible, and he was 17. He has such great stage presence I'm so happy to be able to call him mine. We have an insanely talented young woman playing Lucille Frank. She has been in many shows in Utah, and has tapped into the role perfectly! We get chills just watching her rehears all her scenes. The guy playing Leo is one of those rare finds. He hasn't done any theater since high school, and came to audition on an a whim. He was a God send! His voice is so clear and wonderful, with an amazing tone he will melt your heart when he sings at the trial. Our Mary is best known for playing Mary in Secret Garden at the Shakespearean Festival as well as at Hale. She's adorable, sweet, and perfectly endearing. Our Factory girls are wonderful! One of them is our Mary's real sister, and it's so touching to hear her sing about her. Our Watson is wonderfully creepy, with a singing voice like no other. You can't help but believe everything he sings he's so captivating. Dorsey has such stature and compels you to believe what he believes. Everyone else is just inspiring, and I really get chills as the scenes start pulling together. I know we are going to have one AMAZING show!!

Elijiah is growing like crazy, she's 17 months now. She's talking all the time. Her favorite word as of recently is "ouch" and "shoe". She runs around like crazy it's quit the work out keeping up with her. It's so wonderful to look into her eyes and see so much of myself, and even more of James. She will get upset with me and pretend to ignore me, and it's like I'm staring at James! It's so funny though. She is my world and I wouldn't change any part of her.

I'm working at Diamond Limousine now. I love it, the company is great and reliable, the people I work with are so great! The hours aren't too bad. I had a hard time adjusting being away from Ellie for so long, but I think I've finally come to a place where I'm ok. She stays with my friend Jennifer during the day, she has a little boy names Ryker who is 6 months younger then her. They don't always get along but they love each other, and she loves Jenny a lot! She has great toys to play with and she eats such great food with Jenn. I know she's being well taken care of and that helps me feel better. I'm hoping to become office manager as soon as I'm done getting trained on a few more things. That way my manager might actually be able to take a few days off! Lord knows he needs it.

James' brother Mike comes home from Afghanistan soon, actually I think he IS home, he's just in Texas being debriefed as of now. It's been a year, and it's definitely time for him to be home. His whole family missed him, and James need some brotherly gaming nights.

Well I think that's all I have to write as of now. I'm going to see Lea Solanga tonight, and I went to Mary Poppins last night. SO I will write about those tomorrow. Thanks for taking the time to read!

Dawn Nichols

I know I don't blog, I've realized that my time is taken up by running around town, running after a baby, and taking time to enjoy moments with my husband. But something made me stop dead in my tracks, examine my life and take a breath. Then all I wanted to do was write. I wanted to share this flood of emotion that started pouring out of me.

I found out today that a woman that has always been this huge influence of feminine strength was taken down by a stroke. She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, she's always been super active and always on the go. She ate right and was so intelligent. Then BAM a stroke, a brain hemorrhage takes her down puts her in ICU on a ventilator. And then this evening her daughters had to decide to take her off the machine and sit and wait. They watch her fight because Dawn is a fighter! She's fighting this moment for her life that she will more then likely loose. Even if she were able to breath on her own and come around, she will never be the same Dawn that she once was. She won't be able to go running, or go on cruises, take her dogs out for walks and play with them. Will she be able to do her magicks? Will she be able to tell her girls how much she loves them? Will she be able to hold her grandchildren that will be here so soon?

Dawn is only a few months younger then my mother. I don't know how I could handle loosing my mom right now. Frances has always been my support, I've turned to her so many times for so many things, and now I need to be there for her. I wish I could be there next to her, holding her hand letting her know I'm always there for her. I can only hope she knows I'm there in spirit. I know she knows that. I know she does.

I can't get my thoughts straight, they are all running through me, I can't keep them straight long enough to get them out on here. I want to scream, I want to cry, I want to laugh. I want everything to go back to how it was. I want Frances to be happy in her news about her pregnancy with her mother. During my pregnancy my mom was the best thing to help through all the anxiety. She has all the advice, and memories. How is she going to get through this all with out Dawn?

It will be fine, God will take care of us all, and answers will be given. I pray it will all be ok.....

Tiem to play catch up!

OK I'm going to try and be a much better blogger this year. So here's what's been going on in our life so far.

James:
Work has been extremely busy lately. The shop has had a lot of work come in and he's been going in early and staying late. As much as it sucks not seeing him, paying our bills feels much better. He has been dealing with clients more and more which is just another step closer to taking over the whole thing. We think that we are finally going to be able to remodel our bathroom. With all the Home Depot gift cards we got for Christmas we can finally get it done. I can't wait. I will post pictures of before and after once it gets taken care of.
James is also excited because he got World of Warcraft: Cataclysm for Christmas. He's already up to level 85 and is raiding with his friends like crazy. I myself have a character started, and it's a lot more fun then I thought it would be. James is really good at playing only when I'm at work, or have something else to do. Other then that it's all about family time.

Carleigh:
Well I finally did it, I quit Roadhouse. It was hard, and very sad for me but it was something I had to do. I wasn't getting the respect or the opportunities I deserved there so it was time to say goodbye. I found a great part time job though. Working at the Gold's Gym Daycare! I get to bring Ellie with me and spend time with her and I don't have to pay for it in any way. I love it so much!!! I'm just waiting for the right time though and I'm going to go to the Elase Academy school and learn to be a medical esthetician. I'm shooting for this summer!

Elijiah:
She's 9 months now and she seems so grown up!! She stands on her own and is even starting to take steps. She just seems too young to start walking, I just got use to chasing after her crawling everywhere! She's not a huge fan of baby food, she would much rather eat whatever we are eating. She has also started waving bye-bye to everyone. It's so cute even on movies if they say goodbye or anything she starts waving to them. She was very very spoiled during Christmas. I guess that's just what happens when you're the only grandchild on one whole side of your family. She got cute clothes and lots of toys. I feel extremely lucky because we haven't had to go to the doctor or hospital at all, except to get her normal check up. She's extremely healthy and I think she got that from James. All in all it's a complete joy to have her in my life.

King's and Butlers:
Mom and Jim went to Italy again for New Year's Eve. This is the second time they've gone and I swear if it weren't' for Elle I think they would move there. They also went and saw the Green Day Musical in NY 6 different times, oh wait maybe it was 8... Either way, they are really living up their time together these days.
Alexis is now working with Starbucks. He location of Lone Star closed and she decided to just move on with a different company. She seems to like it so far, and since she's a coffee fiend I think this will work very well.
Annika is working in the fraud department at Wells Fargo and likes that quit a lot. She's been dating Adam for over a year now and I'm just waiting for the day she comes home with a ring on her finger. But for now they are moving in with each other at least.

Naylors:
Steve and Sheri have been very busy with the refugee's. Steve is still the President of the Karen branch, and Sheri is just as involved as if she were president too.
Mike is in Afghanistan... we all miss him like crazy but at least we know he's coming home to visit this month for 2 weeks. Then we won't see him until he comes home again in September. Hayden will be baptized this month when Mike gets home. Hailee is cute and calls Mike on her cell phone all the time.
Dawna and he family are always so busy I don't know what exactly is going on with them. Tahnie is due February 18th and she's having a little girl. The adoptive family named her some unique B name that's really cute I just can't remember. She seems good though, having trouble sleeping but she's still very active in school.
Caroline is still in North Carolina. The girls seem to be doing really well, Natalie and Katy are in school so Caroline only has Lauren and Summer at home with her.
Teresa came out to visit right after Christmas and it was soooo great to see her! She brought baby Glenn and he is just adorable! Elle absolutely adored him. I wish he lived in Utah so they could play more. She and Big Glenn are busy with their sign company and seem to be doing really well.

So that's the quick over all of what's been going on lately. I will add pictures later, and maybe even a video!!