The Importance of Being Earnest by Orson Wilder

If you haven't seen this play, or the movie or read the play you're missing out. It is hilarious. I read the play and laughed the whole time I read it. It's all about appearances vs. reality and the importance of being earnest or truthful (because no one in the play is). Anyway, funny, funny, funny!

And the most recent film adaptation is great. The main character Earnest/Jack is played by Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy in A&E's Pride and Prejudice). He's great as always and his sidekick Earnest/Algy is played by Rupert Everett (the gay friend in My Best Friend's Wedding). It's hilarious. Definitely worth getting from Netflix. I'm considering buying it just to have around when I need a good laugh.

The Little Princess by Francess Hodgson Burnett

Great book. Better than the movie. I think I'm going to read it to the girls. It's all about a little girl imagining she's a princess when she's not and then becoming one in the end. Right up my girls' alley.

The many faces of Emma Rose

John got 2 roles of film developed today and interesting enough we had taken the most pictures of Emma. These pictures captured the many faces, moods and reasons why sometimes John and I want to pull out our hair and sometimes we just about roll on the floor laughing. I guess there has to be opposition in all things or people--the funny with the out of control. We love her a lot and some day we'll look back and everything really will be funny.

Book Report: Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

This was a pretty good children's book. It follows the lives of 3 orphans throughout childhood. They join a dance/theater school and one becomes a ballet dancer, one a stage actress, and one a pilot (she didn't enjoy the whole performing thing as much as her sisters). Anyway, I think the girls would probably like it, but it was not as on the edge of your seat engaging as some other things I've read. I listened to it while I was doing the "gazelle"(an exercise machine) and sometimes it seemed a little long. I plan on reading it to the girls though and they may find it fascinating. We'll see.

Kate's performing career continues

Last night Kate appeared in the Wasatch Elementary Kindergarten Program. She danced the wiggly wiggles dance with a few other kids and was great. She sang like 10 songs and had a grand old time. I wasn't expecting much when I went, but this was a fairly elaborate "musical". It seemed like just about all of the 100 kids got a small part to shine in, either speaking, singing or dancing. It was very impressive and Mary and Emma thought it was great. I thought it was so good that I went to both performances. I wish I had pictures but I figured pictures/video from those things never turn out as good as the real thing. Just imagine Kate in her Fiona dress with her hair braided singing and dancing her heart out. I'm sure she'll reenact it for anyone that asks. Anyway she was great!!

Book Report: Watership Down by Richard Adams

This was a book about rabbits. That said, it was a good book about rabbits. It tells the story of a group of rabbits that strike out on their own and try to make a new home for themselves. Along the way they make their way through groups that sacrifice others for their prosperity and military dictatorships, along with the occasional tussle with a fox or dog.

I liked the book although it got a little long at times (I was listening so I couldn't exactly just skip ahead). Throughout the story, myths of the first rabbit Elararah are told. I really liked these. They kind of sounded like native american creation myths. They were fun. Anyway, you might think this book about rabbits is for kids, but it's really not. They tackle a lot of interesting human issues and it is written kind of like an allegory. Anyway it's worth reading once. And by the end you really like rabbits.

Book Report: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

This is a great short book. Last Christmas we read it to the girls in about a week, and even though they didn't get all of it, they still thought it was super funny. It is. And then for about a week Kate kept asking to read more of it and I had to keep telling her, "That's it. We read it all." Everytime I hear it or read it, I laugh. It also helps put the Christmas story in perspective. Anyway I listened to it in an hour and a half while I was doing housework today and I loved it.