Stunts and Wedding Showers

We started this morning out a little earlier (for a Saturday) with a trip to the Edge studio for a return visit with Corey Diamond, a stuntman from various flicks, and a stand-in for various actors during some intense scenes. 

Of course, the guest instructor was a previous student, and he's been here before.  Maddie and the other students signed up for this last week and got to enjoy about three hours of intense training, with lots of flipping and flying.  They had a great time!

Maddie got some personal advice here and there, and thoroughly enjoyed the morning, although she might be feeling a little sore tomorrow!

So we got home from that, and there was this other thing scheduled:  Mary Shannon's wedding shower!  Maddie, Mom and I were there with quite a few others to celebrate the upcoming wedding with gifts and appreciation.

Mary Shannon hated being a part of this production a few years ago... so we slipped in a DVD of it.

But she does love Mr. Rogers, so there's that.  We got her some other practical gifts from her registry.

That "Tinselmania" though... that earned this look...

Meanwhile, Maddie was entertaining Bonnie Claire...

...or was it the other way around?

It was a very nice time, and it was at the church literally just around the corner from us.  I think it's the closest church to our home, in fact.  We ate a little while there, but there was a lot of socializing with the KidPak gang who were there.  We're so happy for Mary Shannon!

So the rest of the day went by quickly after that.  We heard the trap go off, and yes, that's squirrel #73.  We've made a tradition of the "squirrel run," where we relocate a squirrel across the lake and over by the church, and then drop by the gas station for a free ice cream.  Yes, we built up enough points for a free ice cream for all of us, so we were enjoying some watermelon sorbet in Maddie's cup, while Mom and I both got some tasty butter pecan.  With lots of toppings!

Interestingly enough, the church was swarming with hopeful prom picture people.  The bad part of this is that they couldn't pose at the church or the fountains or the gazebo, as there was a wedding going on there, and that part was reserved.  So there were literally 80 or so well-dressed people standing in various places at the front lawn, along the side in the woods, or even on playground equipment in the back.  It was odd.  I felt bad for them because they couldn't find a place elsewhere, or at least couldn't think of one.

We got home and our feature for the night was Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" movie, which we all like.  Maddie caught the cameos by Taylor and Nova, or at least versions of them.  Poor Nova keeps getting captured!  Tonight we learned that Deep Roy actually portrayed General Thade's niece... which is funny given all the make-up that we never thought of that.  But yes, we like this one.

Tonight's short story featured a character named Aphra, who was on Dantooine during the events of the first Star Wars movie.  I actually have the first appearance of this character in a comic book somewhere in the basement.  She's an interesting little side character, and it was a fun read.  And afterwards, it was time for bed.  We get up early for a nice day at church tomorrow!