A Star is Born

 High School musicals sure have come a long way since my directing days in Nebraska at St. Agnes Academy or St. Paul Public High School. Case in point--Lakewood High School's recent production of Anastasia.  Oh my, the staging, the set, and THE TALENT. This isn't a review of this production, but I can't go on without mentioning the vocal and acting talent of Kate Yorga (Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna), Morgan Fritzler (Anya/Anastasia), Noah Schuster (Demitri), and Ethan Hoover (Vlad).The immense amount of talent in these four young adults is mind boggling, and a whole world of possibilities awaits them.

I'm here to rave about a budding new talent, Madison Lee Schultz. Madi, one of our Royal Babies (see here) (and here)  and my first-ever great niece, stole the show as young Anastasia and melted our hearts with her innocent portrayal of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. Could a first acting role be more perfect for a Royal Baby??

Madi auditioned for this part last fall. I saw a video of her audition, and there was no doubt in my mind that she would become  a member of the cast. This little girl can project. She sang "Do You Want to Build a Snowman," all alone, on a huge stage, with no microphone. Her voice filled the auditorium. She got the part, alright, and we couldn't wait for her big debut.

Sitting in the gorgeous Lakewood High School theatre several months later, my heart raced. The director in me knew that the scene behind the stage was anything but calm. Actors, directors, tech crew, and musicians were surely zooming around getting last minute costumes, props, and lights ready to go. I sensed that backstage energy and my own nerves reacted. At about that time, Madi's mom Ana approached my seat. "Nervous wreck" was written all over her face. Just like the gymnast's mom or the quarterback's mom or the prima ballerina's mom, Ana rehearsed in spirit with Madi. She knew every line, every note, and every move of Madi's character, and she channeled her energy to her daughter backstage. Before Ana headed back to her seat, she asked if I had read Madi's bio in the program. I had not, but after we hugged and I wished her good luck, I turned to the beautiful, professional program.

And saw this--

If I thought I wasn't going to cry, that was put to rest right there. Our sweet Madi is always looking out for everyone, 

Madi was one of the first actors to take the stage. Appearing in the prologue as young Anastasia in a flashback scene, she confidently and convincingly played her part. Enough so that tears flowed, not just my own, but a quick glance down my row revealed several audience members dabbing at their eyes. She danced elegantly with Tsar Nicholas (her dad) and sang sweetly, "Once upon a December," with the Dowager (her Nana). Her heartbreaking cry "Nana!" ended her first scene as the Dowager left town for Paris, but not before leaving little Anastasia a special music box to remember her.

Photos with blue background courtesy of Lakewood High yearbook staff.

If Madi's acting ability was ever in question, that was quickly put to rest. She appeared near the end of the first act as a completely different character. She played the part of a young refugee fleeing Russia with her family. Her moving performance--sad, scared, confused--ended Act One. Images of Ukrainian children and their families filled my mind and heart. It was impossible not to get emotional seeing this reminder of history repeating itself. Intermission provided a much-needed pause after this heart-wrenching scene. 

Madi made playing the part of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia seem like a piece of cake, but it couldn't have been. She's an 8 year old whose real life is filled to the brim with school and family and friends and activities. She attended rehearsals after school and some evenings and weekends but still kept up with it all. She had never acted before, yet she owned the stage in all her appearances. 

It's almost like this Royal Baby was born for this part 😀  👑

A few fans of Madison Lee

YAY! Kindergarten Teachers!

If it's not already out there somewhere, there really should be one of those YAY! magnets for kindergarten teachers.  You know the magnets I'm talking about--I have several:

I am in awe of kindergarten teachers.  I've aways thought they were amazing, but I came to see them as extraordinary when my first great nephew Ethan started school three years ago (read the story here).  Mrs. Aten, his teacher, provided him and his classmates a classroom filled with books, learning opportunities, comfort, safety, and so much love.

This year, three more Royal Babies stepped into the world of kindergarten.  Drake, Max, and Madi couldn't wait for that first day of school--they arrived with backpacks, curious minds, and big hearts.  While all three were in different classrooms with different teachers, the growth achieved by all has been nothing short of miraculous.  

Nebraska Kindergarten

Drake has the same teacher that Ethan had.  Mrs. Aten's kindergarten classroom buzzes  with activity as five and six year olds count and say the alphabet and write letters and stories and sing songs and read.  Yes, READ!  A few months ago I helped Drake with his sight words for that week.  At that time, he recognized quite a few words but wasn't reading books.  Low and behold, being in the hands of Mrs. Aten for six months, Drake can read.  An entire book!  I truly believe she has super powers.  How does one even begin to teach someone to read??  I ask this as a retired English teacher!   I am in awe, Mrs. Aten.

(press play!)

Can I please be at Table 3???

A complete sentence, with correct capitalization and punctuation.

Colorado Kindergarten

Madi's teacher, Mrs. Smith, is amazing.  She has nurtured and guided Madi this year, allowing her natural personality to shine.  Mrs. Smith uses an online portfolio where students showcase their growth.  Here is Madi discussing her love of numbers.

click for Madi's portfolio

And here is Madi reading.  READING!

click for Madi reading

And if that's not enough, Madi has gone from writing her name to writing letters of the alphabet to writing words and now to writing complete sentences and stories.  

I went to Macedonia. I went to Greece. I went swimming. I felt happy!

Mrs. Smith has known Madi for six months.  She encourages Madi to be confident, to be a helper, and to be a leader, and Madi's light shines brighter than ever.  I am in awe, Mrs. Smith.  You are a superhero!

Max's teacher, Mrs. Levett, does it all.  Under her guidance, Max not only counts past 100 and recognizes a variety of site words, but he, too, READS!  How is this possible??  And to top that off, Mrs. Levett has brought the Picasso out of Max.  He loves to draw and create, and his work is nothing short of stunning.  His colorful drawings are truly works of art, and his multi-dimensional projects show his advanced spatial development.  Mrs. Levett, I want your super powers--I am in awe!

a summer moth, complete with antennae

this flower is pure magic

bulletin board worthy!

(press play!)

Mission accomplished

When asked what makes a superhero, the late great Stan Lee said 

A superhero is a person who does heroic deeds and has the ability to do them in a way that a normal person couldn't.  So in order to be a superhero, you need a power that is more exceptional than any power a normal human being could possess, and you need to use that power  to accomplish good deeds.

Mr. Stan Lee, I present to you Mrs. Aten, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Levett, and every kindergarten teacher out there.  Heroic deeds?  Exceptional powers?  Good deeds?  Check, check, and check.  Their heroic and exceptional powers give five and six year olds the ability to uncover their very own super powers by teaching them to count and add and draw and write and think and reason and dream.  And READ!

Thank you, Mrs. Aten, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Levett, Mrs. Smaha (my kindergarten teacher!), and all the superheroes who love, nurture, guide, encourage, and, yes, teach our kids.

A Whole Lot of Baby Bloggin' Going On: Royal Babies, Thompson Style

With all the excitement surrounding the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge,  I find it only fitting to share with the world my own royal babies.

because

it's all about babies in the Thompson family this year.  In the short course of one year, we have gone from one next-generation member to four.

Ethan, (see HERE,  and HERE, and HERE) once the only baby, has now been joined by his little brother Drake and his twin cousin-cousins Max and Madi.  And while Ethan was definitely the King of the Hill for three years, I must say he has handled the new additions gracefully, allowing all three of them to share his royal spot at the top of the Thompson empire.

Sara Hadenfeldt Photography

jbiggers photography

Read more about His Royal Highness Drake Richard (DRAKE BLOG!) and Their Royal Twins Maxwell Apostoli and Madison Lee (MAX AND MADI BLOG!) to see my million plus four reasons to believe!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

WE HAVE TWINS!

Maxwell Apostoli and Madison Lee came into our lives on June 7, 2013, born to my nephew Andy and his gorgeous wife Ana.  Even though they arrived six weeks early, the wait for these two miracles seemed eternal.  That story is their parents' to tell, though, and Andy and Ana both will be posting on their blog Danger! 10,000 Schultz as soon as they catch their breath.  In the meantime, the twins have captured the hearts of all who have met them.

Beginning in the NICU . . .

Max and Madi spent several weeks in the NICU before they were strong enough to come home.  After all, they did arrive six weeks early.  They never really looked like preemies--they both weighed in the five pound range at birth.  Because they didn't quite have the strength to eat enough, they required their bottle feeding to be supplemented with tube feeding.

I couldn't wait to meet the twins, but I didn't want to intrude on private moments either, and so I had settled on the idea that I would see them when they got home.  Fortunately, I didn't have to wait that long--Andy and Ana invited my mom and me to come to the hospital on the babies' one-week birthday!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked into their little private room.  Truth be told, I was pretty nervous about meeting them.  I didn't know if I would be able to keep it together, seeing all the tubes and wires.  As it turned out, there was absolutely nothing to worry about.  The only wires were little heart and oxygen monitors to make sure all vitals were measuring normal (and they were!).  Both babies still had feeding tubes in one tiny nostril, but they were so small and transparent, they were hardly noticeable. 

Greeting us and making everything even more okay were Andy and Ana, already expert preemie parents and looking proud, happy, and beautiful.  They were eager to share their little miracles with us, letting us watch them change and feed the twins.  They definitely had the process down, and I beamed from a safe distance as Madi almost finished her tiny bottle (she just needed the last few drops in her tube).  Max also finished his bottle, albeit at a much slower pace than Madi.  He kept dozing off between sips!

 

Madi and Max are home now and growing quickly.

These two little miracles are already loved by so many . . .

Their mommy and daddy

Their beautiful Aunt Amy

Their Grandma Lynne

and Grandpa T

Grandma Tina and Grandpa Foti in Macedonia!

Grams! (Madi's middle namesake, Lee)

cousins aunts, cousin cousins, and so, so many others

and ME!

(their great aunt)

That eternal wait for Maxwell and Madison Schultz is now a distant memory.  It seems as if they have always been a part of our family--just two more reasons to believe!