Fixing Star Wars at the Park

The kids had a day off school and the weather was sunny . . .

. . . so we headed to the park.

As I watched the younger kids dash toward the crowded playground,

I thought of the time we went to this same park a few months into the pandemic

and found it silent and deserted.

COVID hasn't gone away, but I'm glad we've learned how to live with it.

I'm also glad the older kids and I had a great time discussing

a bunch of revisions to Star Wars 8 and 9.  Highlights include:

1) Ditch the Casino Planet side quest in 8

2) Holdo tells everybody her plan up front (= no mutiny!)

3) When Leia dies, Finn becomes the new Charismatic Resistance Leader

so he actually has a purpose in the trilogy

4) Palpatine stays dead; Episode 9 is a struggle for power between Hux and Kylo Ren.

(If you really want to give a cameo, make it a flashback or something.)

5) Hire a writer who is better at depicting conflicted romance,

so that smooch at the end doesn't feel so random

6) Ditch the Tattoine scene at the end.  Finish the movie with everybody celebrating at the base,

with Luke, Leia, AND Ben Solo looking on as Force ghosts.

Now, if we could just invent time travel and have a talk with the folks at Disney

circa 2016. :)

Cinderella

A few days ago . . .

. . . the three older kids and I went to see our local high school's production of

Rodger's and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" (the 2013 Broadway version).

We knew a few of the students in the cast and crew,

and it was fun to see them shine.

The stage looks a little simplistic, but the performers did a great job . . .

. . . and I thought it was cool that they had

musicians performing live music.

A good time was had by all!

Our Palm Sunday Tradition

 Traditions are funny things,

because you never know which ones are going to stick.

When our family started celebrating Holy Week five years ago,

we didn't have any palm fronds to wave,

so we used big kale leaves from my garden

to act out Jesus's Triumphal Entry.

The "donkey" had a grand time eating the "palm fronds" . . .

. . . and ever since then, the kids have always asked me to buy (or grow) kale for Palm Sunday . . .

. . . so the donkeys can have a snack.

I never would have imagined that this annual kale-munching 

would become such a beloved family tradition.

Welcome to Holy Week!

A Drizzly Egg Hunt

Our ward planned to have an Easter egg hunt at a local park today,

but rain drove the activity indoors.

We set up tables in the gym, and the bishop asked Todd 

to offer an opening prayer on our "picnic" lunches . . .

. . . the kids did an Easter art project (while singing "We Don't Talk about Bruno") . . .

. . . then everyone with an Easter basket headed out into the drizzly rain to hunt eggs.

If I had to choose between staying dry and getting free jelly beans,

I think I'd opt to stay dry.

I guess that's why no one plans egg hunts for grown-ups.

Let the candy trading commence!

The Pinewood Derby Lives On

Our church doesn't have cub scout troops anymore . . .

. . . but there's still an old pinewood derby track at our building,

so the leaders of Todd's activity group decided to help the boys build and race

pinewood derby cars.

Daddy helped line up and release the boys' cars . . .

. . . while parents and siblings cheered for the racers.

One of the dads took photos at the finish line 

to determine which car won each race.

Todd's car won this heat!

Time for the final race!

The suspense is terrible!

Todd won!  Woo hoo!

Chalk Art

This year's batch of General Conference rewards included some sidewalk chalk

which Joy used to create literal street art

celebrating spontaneity, impermanence, and subtle wit.

Identifying our suburban lawn ornament

Is this a commentary on the pungency of cheese

or a jab at those who haven't yet learned to love it?

 I don't know about you,

but I kinda wanna mess with this dapper chicken,

just to see what'll happen.

Conference Rewards

 It's General Conference weekend!

Time to listen to inspiring messages from living prophets and apostles!

(I especially liked Elder Soares' encouragement

to take time to feel awe about Christ and His Gospel.)

As usual, I invited the kids to earn rewards

by listening for Gospel topics in the talks . . .

. . . or taking notes on what the speakers said.

I think I may have gone a little overboard on the rewards this time.

I'd rather have too many than too few, though!

By the last session, we're usually pretty worn out.

It's always hard for me to pay much attention in that final session, but that's OK

because I'll be listening to the talks in my car for the next few months. 

That habit helps me write the speakers' lessons in my heart, 

and puts me in a better mood than listening to the radio. :)