Pasek & Paul

At UTA, I had the chance to meet and work with songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul!  These guys are incredible, and are up-and-coming in the theatre world, developing music for tv shows, and being commissioned to create musical adaptations of stories like James and the Giant Peach for Broadway.  They were SO great with the kids, and were so fun to work with!

I am now borderline obsessed with their music which can be found and downloaded HERE or watched HERE!

Warning: Some of their lyrics would need to be edited before you sing them.

But the melodies and stories behind their songs are SO refreshing and alive, it's hard not to enjoy them!  And it's such an opportunity to meet with people like this who really are making it in the theatre industry, and who in five or ten years will be world-reknown!  SO much potential!  SO much talent!  SO much fun!

And how lucky are these Utah high school students who get to have these experiences as teenagers?!?  JEALOUS!!!

Students, Teachers... Student-Teacher.

I also had the chance to see several of my students from when I student taught at Lehi High School a year ago (I can't believe it's been that long!!)  It was SO good to see them, although it made me miss working with them and made me miss my other students who graduated last year and weren't at the conference!  How great to see these ones, though!  They made such a mark on my heart and in my life, and it was wonderful to relive some old memories and make new ones too!

My mentor teacher, Mindy, and I

My old students!

Paul & I

Mason & Kayli

Favorite Boys!!!

I also got the chance to see some of my old professors... It was wonderful to have the chance to thank them for the many things they taught me... as well as to ask their advice and opinions on some things I'm facing now as a real teacher!

Megan, George, Me, and Shawnda

Amy, Me, and Rodger

If anyone who ever reads this is considering studying Theatre and BYU, I would say DO IT!  These wonderful teachers will mentor, support, and enlighten you!  They will change your life as they have mine, and you will be so much the better for it!

In short... it was fantastic to see the people who have helped me become the teacher that I am!  I love them!  And am happy to have worked with them!

Conference & Cousins!

I just got home to St. George from my trip up to Provo for the Utah Theatre Association Conference this weekend!  The 3 day event was WONDERFUL!  I learned SO much and feel so re-energized to go back to school and work with my students!  I also feel so grateful for a job I don't just like, but am passionate about!

I will share some thoughts about things I learned at the conference once I can locate my notes and such... but for now I'll share some pictures!

In addition to learning about theatre and seeing many old friends/students/professors this weekend, I got to spend time with MANY family members!  HOW FUN!  I stayed with the Haynie girls (I guess Kendra is the only Haynie and the only one I'm actually related to by blood... the other ones just feel like family).  But somehow, Kendra, Francie, Star, Taryn, and I did NOT get a single picture this weekend!  BOO!!!  Don't know how that happened, but I find it completely unacceptable!  I am considering turning back around to remedy the situation!  Regardless, though, I can't thank you enough for sharing your apartment, beds, shampoo, and even pajamas with me!

I did, however, get to see Glen, Connie, and Cailey, who I love SO SO SO much!  I lived with them last Winter and Summer, and I have missed them VERY much!  It was great to visit them, and especially to chat it up with Cailey (who will be 16 in about 2 months... anyone have a cute little brother?!?!?)

Have I mentioned that I love and miss this girl?!?  We got so close in the 8 months we shared a bathroom... it's like having another little sister!  SO glad we got to catch up!

Last night, I also had a chance to catch up with my Cappellucci cousins, plus Ashlee Prisbrey (who designed my new-and-improved blog, remember?!?)  It was a busy night at the Cappellucci house... Kendall was at college, so I did NOT get to see her... Chase took off for Jr. Prom (looking studly, of course), Laurel went to go babysit... Quinn took a long bath and an early bedtime... and Cole & I went on a little date!  After the big kids split for their activities, Kathy, Steve, Ashlee, the little boys, and I played a game, and then Cole & I went out!  We got home and fell asleep on the Love Sac before nine!  How lame of me!

Look how handsome these boys are!  Am I lucky or what!?!?!

Laurel just keeps getting more beautiful!

Just LOVE these wonderful role models!

Cole & I ate Chipotle!!  YUMMM!!!

I feel so blessed to be part of a tight-knit extended family!  I can't imagine not knowing and loving these wonderful people, and I am SO grateful for the support and I love I feel from them on a regular basis!  Thank you girls, Haynies, Cappelluccis, and Ashlee, for letting me spend time with you this weekend!  I love you!

CrEdiT fOr CuTeNeSs!!!

Special thanks to my cousin, Ashlee Prisbrey, for designing and creating my new blog template!!  Ashlee is SO talented and so generous!  And SOOO crafty... check out her cuteness HERE and HERE!  I know she spent hours this week doing it for me, on top of an incredibly busy schedule... being a mom, cooking delicious food, adopting a pig, making adorable cakes, etc... I don't know how she does it all and manages to maintain her sanity!  I hope I can achieve that same level of generous multi-tasking one day!  But in the meantime, I just wanted to thank her, and make sure credit for the new-and-improved cuteness around here goes where it's due!





P.S.  Did you notice how cute that signature is?!?  Guess who made it...  Yep!  Ashlee!!

How Did I Not Post This?

I was editing my school blog this morning and saw this old post and laughed really hard while watching it!  I was shocked when I realized I never posted it on my personal blog.  So here it is, 5 months late...

This was a suprise performance at our school's opening assembly... my one and only chance to make it in a boy band! 

It was AWESOME!!!  Coolest moment of my life!  Enjoy!