Dorothy & Alan

March 9, 2008

Dear Family,

We’ve had a very white and snowy winter all through January and February, just as many of you have experienced. It was actually kind of nice to have winter do what winter is supposed to do, SNOW!! I was amazed that with all the snow, school was never cancelled, but almost. The morning of Valentines Day, school was delayed two hours to allow the snowplows to catch up and make a path for the busses. I’m glad the kids didn’t have to go to school on Presidents Day or a Saturday to make up for a lost day. Marcus and Ariane piled up snow in our front yard by shoveling lots more snow on to it one very snowy day in January and then again in February. They worked on their sculpture for hours, but never finished. It has slowly been melting away, but with that we may be the last house on the block with snow still in their front yard when the tulips are in bloom.

Marcus submitted a drawing in the PTA Reflections contest this year for fun. Even though he didn’t place, his art work was displayed at Alta High School and then at the Riverton Museum. Speaking of art, with his computer graphics class he’s had the assignment to help illustrate the large weekly school calendar displayed in the commons area of Copper Hills High School that includes all of the school’s activities as well as the lunch menu. The students enjoy seeing the fun cartoon characters and scenes that he draws to help catch their attention to the happenings of the week (however, they are more interested in the drawings than the activities themselves).

I’m happy to see Ariane enjoying her clothing class. She sewed a pair of cute pillowcases with cats pictured all over them. She does a good job. She’d like to sew a kimono for herself as well as a velvet renaissance dress. She has also been in the process of rearranging her room, which has led to some other decorating ideas, like painting. She can sure come up with some big projects that take more time than we have!

For Christmas Alan bought us season tickets to the Hale Centre Theatre. In January we saw the comedy, “Lend Me a Tenor,” and then yesterday we saw the serious musical, the “Civil War.” They always do such a fabulous job and we always enjoy any play they put on. We were slightly disappointed that Merrill Osmond’s understudy took his place at the matinee that we went to, but didn’t feel cheated in the least with his understudy and the entire cast’s superb performance. I was just as gratified to see that the other main character was played by Joseph Paur (the star in the movie “Rigoletto”) who is also a celebrity in my mind. He played the part of Arthur when we saw “Camelot” there a while back.

It was fun for our family to help Jason and Becky move into their new house, just north of Logan in the town of Hyde Park, on President’s Day. Jason’s birthday wish was granted and it was the perfect gift in celebration of their “wood” 6th wedding anniversary. We are so happy for them. Of all the houses they looked at and of all the ones they put offers on in the past, this was the best.

Our theater-bitten children continue to cram their “extra” time with lots of rehearsals and performances during this month of March. Heather is helping with her elementary school’s production of “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Jason and Becky are in “Beauty and the Beast” at the BARN, and Daniel is in “Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat” at Center Street Musical Theater in Provo. Busy, busy, but very happy.

Penny is changing her major focus a little by going into “Community Health” instead of nursing… not quite as stressful. Marcus has been accepted to Salt Lake Community College and will begin in the fall as an art major.

I was a poll worker at the Western States Presidential Primary Elections in February. It helped increase my knowledge about party elections, plus it was enjoyable meeting new people as well as friends that came to vote. The next primaries are in June… so I’ll see you at the polls then. Be sure to exercise your right and privilege to vote.

Well, those are a few of the highlights from the Tomlinsons. I look forward to reading the news about your family.

Love, Dorothy and all