February Odds and Ends

I got some pics of a snuggly, smiley buddy that cuddled up to me one day.

Matt had his end of trimester choir concert.

I took Ben since everyone else was unable to attend.  He was a loud buddy which always makes me really self conscious at public performances.  I worry that we are annoying people.

We had Elder Andersen visit to speak to the Young Adults in the valley.

He met with the Institute Student Council beforehand and spoke with them and answered questions.  All the YSA stake presidents and their companions came as well to the pre meeting.  I had some awkward moments as Elder Andersen kept insisting that I walk in front of them along with Andy.  I felt like I should be behind.  Also,  I wasn't told where to sit for the pre meeting so I stood in the back and then Elder Andersen said in front of everyone that "Aimee needs to join us up here" and Andy responded that I liked to hide at these events.  I don't like to hide (apparently I had done the same thing before with one of the other apostles) but I also don't like to presume.  Having not been initially invited to sit up front with Elder and Sister Andersen, Elder and Sister Checketts and Brother and Sister Mortenson and Andy, I felt funny presuming that's where I belonged.

Sister Andersen is such a small woman :)

Since Andy has been the Institute director we have had Elders Gong, Rasband, Cook, Soares and now Andersen.  It hasn't been until this past fall though that the church news has started being interested in covering these events.

Josh didn't make it in the choir pics this time but my other favorite choir member did :)

February Creations

I had such a rough time making these cookies :(

I wanted to do one for everyone that was involved in the musical again but kept  having icing issues.

I ended up trimming down my approx. 8 designs to just 2 to ultimately, (mostly) just 1 to work with what I WAS able to do.

I did about 120 of these...

...and just 5 or 6 of these.  This design ended up harder and more time intensive than I was expecting so I  decided to give the few that I was able to do to the adults involved.

There were enough for everyone (including back stage, orchestra, light and sound and all of the cast) to have one.  I took them on Saturday along with a sign asking them to take ONE (I knew last year that people took multiple) and yet Matt said he didn't even get one this time (which was fine for him because he had had plenty of my mess ups)   However, I was sad wondering how many others didn't get one.

I also had trouble packaging them.  The umbrellas were transfers that I guess I didn't attach securely.  When I started bagging them they started snapping off.  I was so frustrated because I didn't want to give away broken cookies and yet I had spent all this time and effort on them.  I literally was considering not giving them to the kids but Andy helped me see an alternative option of delivering them on the cookie sheets.  I was a little worried about them drying out and the kids not being able to take them and save them for later but it definitely seemed like the best option all things considering.

A few days after closing night it was Valentine's Day.

I, along with several other ladies had been helping Laura in the studio all week.

This one is a favorite that I did...

Laura also had me recreate 2 or 3 heart shaped bouquets that had happened accidentally last year.

And then I also loved the colors of this sweet little one...

Oh, and speaking of flowers, I had gone to Smith's to grab some flowers for Matt for closing night.  They had some incredible Astronovas!  So pretty!  I loved putting them in combination with the carns and orange daisies.

Singin in the Rain (Act II :)

 I just threw all the pics from after each show into one post.

Matt had so much support and love from family, friends and wonderful neighbors and ward members.  I wish I would have been able to get pictures of everyone that came to see Matt but here's a handful of them.

Carol, Scott and Dallin are always so good to come and support Matt in his shows.

Maggie, Matt and Naomi

Keri and Lily Swink with the Young girls

This pic is one for the books.

On the left, we have Uncle Jo Olsen who played the lead, Curly, in his high school musical, Oklahoma Matt Bryan who played the lead, Don Lockwood in his high school musical, Singin' in the Rain,

and Grandpa Greg Olsen who played the lead, Tevya in his high school musical, Fiddler on the Roof.

3 generations of leads :)

Olsen Fam

Sister Julie Delgado (former seminary teacher and loyal supporter of studenets)

Turns out, Matt, Sam and Kathryn all had sisters that live in Provo.  Sam and Kathryn's sisters are former mission companions.  They served together in France.

We had to get a pic with the 6 of them (cute Maggie snuck in there too)

Then a pic with more siblings...

Then we realized Abby had been off socializing when we got our family picture so we gathered again.

The funny thing was that it was Kathryn and Maggie taking the pictures for us and Kathryn's grandma and mom didn't realize what the girls were doing and kept taking pictures of them while they were trying to  take our picture.  They kept getting in front of us, again, not realizing we were trying to take a picture.  Kathryn finally had to tell them to move out of the way.  It was pretty funny :)

Cute Logan came to the matinee with his family and was eager to go find Matt afterward :)

Merill and Nancy were so kind to come to the matinee as well.

Dan and Becky came closing night.   

5 hours of driving for only about 3 hours in town.  It meant a lot that they made that effort!

This is Michelle  Palmer, the prop and costume lady.  She has always been so sweet to me.

Chasen Quilter and Psadi Takis.  Sasha Takis came twice and was so complimentary.

Hope Spaulding and Chasen (they are a couple and according to Matt, the best high school couple ever because there is no PDA :)

Abby had been able to come to every show but had go back to school before closing night.

I think she was feeling sad to not be there so she got on FaceTime with Josh to say hi to everyone.

Gabe Fenton and Tavis

Things were wrapping up and everyone was going to the dressing rooms to change but I wanted a shot of just Matt and Sam.   Even with a 2 year age difference, they had become really good friends through this experience.  When I asked them to pose for me this is what they did :)

Some social media posts...

What a time!  I seriously enjoyed every minute of it!

All the weeks (2.5 months) of running lines and practicing with Matt were so much fun.  He worked super hard and seriously did such an amazing job!  I couldn't have been prouder! 

Sad to see it come to a close.