Just keep swimming

June 27, 2023 / MurphyMama / 1 Comment

Maddy and Molly were back to our local community theatre recently as part of the cast for Finding Nemo Jr. This show was adorable and one of my favorite theatre for youth shows, not just because my children were in it!

Auditions were held in April, with callbacks the following day. Both girls were excited to receive callbacks! But the real excitement came when they received phone calls inviting them to join the cast. Maddy was thrilled to be offered the role of Peach the Starfish, a member of the tank gang. And we were so surprised and over the moon when Molly was offered the role of Nemo.

Maddy has loved theatre since she performed in her first show seven years ago. Molly did a few shows and then decided to dedicate her time to drumming, before deciding to audition for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer earlier in the year. She was cast as young Rudolph and remembered how much she loved the stage. She went on to audition for and be cast in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (her first mainstage show), and was so excited to audition for Finding Nemo. She couldn’t believe she got the role of Nemo!

Finding Nemo the movie just had its 20th anniversary! If you are unfamiliar with the story, Marlin is a clownfish who finds himself as a single father to a baby clownfish after a barracuda attacks his wife and their eggs. One egg is left, but it is damaged. This results in the baby, Nemo, having one damaged fin.

Marlin is a bit neurotic about keeping his son safe (as I can imagine one would be after witnessing the rest of one’s family being destroyed). So when it’s time for Nemo to start school, Marlin is a bit nervous. When he finds out Nemo’s class is going to the dropoff, he rushes there to remind Nemo he can’t do the same things as his friends because of his little fin.

This makes Nemo mad, and he swims off to show his dad he can do those things, only to get fishnapped by a diver. In the movie, he is taken to a tank in an orthodontist’s office, but in the musical it is to an aquarium. There, he meets the tank gang, led by Gil. Gil also has a damaged fin and is cooking up a plan to get them all out of the tank and back to the ocean.

Meanwhile, Marlin is frantically searching for his son. He meets Dory, a blue tang who is bubbly, but has a problem with short-term memory. She offers to help Marlin, and together they encounter sharks and jellyfish, ride the EAC with sea turtles, and swim across the ocean in search of Nemo.

In the tank, Gil’s plan successfully helps Nemo escape back into the ocean and to his dad. Father and son are reunited, and with Dory, head home to start over again.

My favorite part of their casting was that all of Maddy’s scenes were with Molly. As Peach, Maddy acts sort of as the “mama” of the tank gang. She’s concerned with ensuring Nemo feels safe after he’s kidnapped. And some of their favorite theatre friends were cast as members of the tank gang, too, so it was extra fun.

This show was a big one, with more than 60 cast members. But it was so much fun!

The theatre’s costumer is outstanding, and it is always amazing to see her creativity at work. Who knew pool noodles could make adorable octopus tentacles? As usual, she knocked it out of the park with the costuming.

And the set, while simple, was so beautiful. The background for the tank gang was my favorite. It looked just like the tank in the movie!

The girls had the best time getting to do this show with some of their favorites on the production staff and some of their favorite theatre friends. They also made lots of new friends along the way.

I was so nervous for Molly since this was such a big role, but she took that stage with no fear and killed it each time! They performed 12 shows in a week, and it was beautiful every time. I cried every time Molly belted out the song “That’s My Dad.”

Since Molly was Nemo, she got to have some fun promoting the show. She even got to go on one of our local radio stations with the theatre’s education director!

I mainly worked backstage for this one, helping the kids with costumes, mics, etc. But we did take Patrick to see it for Father’s Day. Molly bought him an adorable shirt to wear, and he was one proud daddy!

The girls had lots of friends and family come to see them in this one, including some of their older theatre friends who have graduated from theatre for youth productions. Molly’s favorite part of every show was the meet and greet after – she loved having people ask for pictures with her!

I was so impressed with this entire production, but man oh man did my girls shine in this one. Maddy’s sweet voice was perfect in her tank gang songs, and I still can’t believe Molly tackled this big role at only 9. But this show was cast so perfectly! The actor who played Marlin was able to capture his love for Nemo paired with his frantic need to keep him safe. And our Dory was spectacular! Her voice was beautiful and she captured her character so perfectly.

We loved, loved, loved this show! It was beautiful and really was one of my favorite theatre for youth shows. We closed the show on Sunday, and the girls woke up bright and early Monday morning – Molly has theatre camp and Maddy is volunteering at it. We just can’t stay away from the theatre!

The best night of Molly’s life…

April 6, 2023April 7, 2023 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

When you turn 8 in our family, you go on an adventure. It started with Maddy, who was gifted tickets to see Frozen on Broadway for her 8th birthday (that’s a story for another day). Covid delayed Regina’s until she was almost 9, and it almost threw Molly’s adventure for a loop, too.

If you know Molly, you know that she is a unique kid. She knows what she likes and doesn’t care if other people think it’s weird. She’s wise beyond her years and frequently seems like a grown-up trapped in a kid’s body (her words). When other 4-year-olds were singing along to whatever music 4-year-olds listen to, Molly discovered Ben Platt. We listened to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack constantly. She’s loved him ever since. So much so that when we moved back from Fishhawk, she opted to decorate her room with pictures of Ben. She was 5 at the time.

5-year-old Molly’s wall – Ben watched over her as she slept 🙂

When Ben released his first solo album, Molly and I fell in love. We listened to it all the time. It was our favorite soundtrack for singing and dancing while cooking. Then his Madison Square Garden concert special came out. Molly wished and wished for Ben to go on tour so she could see him.

As luck would have it, he announced a tour after the release of his second album. The Reverie tour was going around the country, and it was scheduled to be in Tampa the week before Molly’s 8th birthday. It seemed like fate! So, we looked up VIP packages and offered that to Molly as her 8th birthday adventure. She didn’t even hesitate!

Unfortunately, Covid threw us for a loop, as Ben had to postpone his tour. Every show was being rescheduled, minus 2 or 3. And of course, one of them not getting rescheduled was ours. Cue a bit of panic from mama and a bit of despair from Molly – she was crushed thinking her dream wasn’t going to come true. We actually booked a getaway at a Disney resort as a placement, just in case. But luckily, the Orlando concert got rescheduled and I was able to score the same VIP package for the new concert. She’d have to wait a few months, but we knew it would be worth it.

I’ll be honest, I have never in my life spent as much money on concert tickets as I did for this concert. But, Patrick and I figured we had spent at least the same amount on her sisters’ adventures, so if this was what Molly wanted, that’s what she’d get. And what 8-year-old doesn’t want to be a VIP for a night?!

The concert was on a school night (bonus!), and we found a great deal on a hotel a block away from the arena, so Molly and I packed up and headed over to check in and get ready for her experience. The description told us that we would get exclusive tour merchandise, an autographed Reverie album, VIP lanyard, VIP lounge with food and drink, exclusive shopping time at the merch booth, and best of all, a meet and greet with Ben.

Molly took her time getting ready and planned what she thought was the perfect outfit.

We made our way to the arena to get checked in. Part of the agreement in being a VIP was getting Covid tested prior to the VIP activities, so we joined the line of eager fans and willingly took Covid tests. I had a bit of a panic wondering what I’d do if my test somehow came back positive and Molly’s was fine. I went through my list of friends in Orlando I’d call to come take my place! Luckily, all was well and after getting the results, we sat to wait for everyone else to get tested. Once everyone was checked in, we got our lanyards and got to go shopping at the merch table before anyone else was in the arena. Molly managed to be very first in line and bought herself a shirt (her Tuesday theatre class uniform now), some cute I love Ben buttons, and a hoodie for Maddy.

The “exclusive tour merch” turned out to be a bucket had and a Reverie pin. We then headed to the reception for some food and drink prior to the concert. This was definitely geared toward grownups and not the kind of food Molly would typically eat. We had a couple of bites, grabbed some waters, and then decided to make our way to find our seats and something else to eat. On our way, we ran into one of Molly’s favorite theatre people!

Our seats were in the second row but felt like we were practically on stage. It was pretty amazing! The opening act was Aly and AJ and they were a great way to kick off the night.

The security guard working our area was fantastic and let Molly go right up to the barrier at the stage so she got the best view. When Ben came out, I wasn’t sure her little heart would be able to take it!

Her very favorite person was right there, right in front of her. She didn’t stop smiling the entire night! And you guys, holy cow – what a show! I mean, we knew Ben could sing, but he is just an amazing performer. And his backup singers – holy cow! I’d see them anytime, too.

This was definitely a magical night! The highlight was when Ben sang his song Share Your Address (which happens to be our mutual favorite), and he stopped and pointed at Molly when he sang “I just wanna stare at your face” and then he pointed to me for the next line “And spend quality time with your mother.” I didn’t think Molly would recover!

He also sang one of our favorite musical theatre songs, She Used to Be Mine, from Waitress. Everything about the night was so incredible. His performance was one neither of us will forget. He had so much energy, and Molly had the time of her life singing and dancing her little heart out. I think I spent as much time watching her as I did watching him!

My favorite photo of the night – she was enraptured the entire show.

When the concert was over, we waited for a bit for our VIP handler to gather all of the VIPS so we could head to the best part of the night – the meet and greet. But not before one of the stage crew spotted Molly and made sure she got a setlist! I think some of the other VIPS were a little annoyed that she got it, but hey – it pays to be as cute as Molly!

Set list! After we got to the line for meet and greet, the VIP handlers made sure she had gotten the setlist.

Before you go into the room to meet Ben, you have to leave all of your personal belongings on a table outside. Molly was SO nervous as we waited. When it was finally our turn, she was toot stunned to even speak. She was so overwhelmed with meeting her favorite person! I told him she’s loved him since she was 4 and he thanked her for listening to his music and being a fan, then complimented her on her cute space buns and awesome Dr. Martens boots.

You guys, we actually met Ben! A night we’ll never forget!!

After of course, she thought of all the things she wanted to say to him. But she was on cloud 9 and couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. We collected our autographed albums and headed back to our hotel. We couldn’t stop talking about what an amazing night it was!

So many ways to be wicked

February 27, 2023 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

If your kids are anything like mine, they probably went through a Descendants obsession. The Disney TV movie had catchy songs, flashy costumes, and my girls were hooked. Especially Regina, who had all the Mal and Evie costumes and I’m pretty sure every book ever created. We have Mal’s spellbook (1 and 2!), Evie’s fashion book, the Auradon Prep yearbook, etc. So when our community theatre was doing a production of Descendants last summer we were pretty excited.

Maddy was the only one old enough to audition, but I got to be the rehearsal stage manager. Molly decided to tag along and name herself my assistant. Regina wanted to strictly be an audience member, but when a tech had a conflict, she stepped up to join my tech team for the final weekend of shows.

I love all of the shows I get to be a part of, and always say they are special (because they are!). But I did particularly love this one and this cast! It wasn’t a junior show, as most of the ones I work on are, so there were cast members over the age of 18. Maddy was actually the youngest cast member, having turned 12 the weekend of auditions.

I love getting to watch the process of a show coming together. From auditions (man, there are some big talents here in our little town) to watching the kids become their characters, and then getting to see everything come together to create a beautiful piece of art – it’s pretty fantastic!

At rehearsals, my job is to keep the kids on track and take down any blocking and other notes (props, questions, etc). Molly came to every rehearsal with me and took down diligent notes. She kept us on our toes for sure!

This show was the first one I attended all of dry tech for, as well. I’ve been a part of other shows, but this was the first one that I wasn’t handing the reins over completely to someone else. So on dry tech, I took down all the fly cues, my crew and I spiked all of the set pieces that would be moved on and off stage, and we fine-tuned the lights (as much as you can without actors). It’s long day, but once everything comes together it is so worth it!

Molly captured some shots of me writing down fly cues

Once it’s showtime, I hand over the show to a production stage manager. The thought of calling a show terrifies me! I can’t help but think I’d mess something up, then feel horribly guilty for calling the wrong fly cue and ruining the show. I much prefer to be backstage, moving set pieces, guiding the cast, and even quick changing (although that is a bit anxiety-inducing, too!). The production stage manager comes in on wet tech day and helps us get the show ready for dress rehearsals. Wet tech is a long day – the actors go through scenes slowly so we can capture the lights and be sure everything we set up on dry tech is going to work with actors in place.

One of our leads was out of town for wet tech, but Molly knew all his blocking and filled in!

These awesome kids performed their hearts out for two weekends

The show ran for two weekends, and was a hit! The talent in this cast was phenomenal and everything about the show was so beautiful. I loved getting to see Maddy doing what she loves, and alongside the crazy talent in this show.

And the world’s gonna know my name…

January 24, 2023January 25, 2023 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

Thanks to Santa, Maddy and I recently got another theater day together. We didn’t immediately fall in love with Hamilton the way the rest of the world seemed to after it debuted. I thought the concept was interesting, but didn’t really start listening to the soundtrack until Maddy did. I don’t know why it took me so long to fall in love with it – probably because we were too busy with Dear Evan Hansen! But, it’s definitely one of our favorites now.

When Hamilton debuted on Disney+ we held a family viewing party. The original Broadway cast of Hamilton may be one of the most talented ever. When Lin Manuel Miranda is the least talented of the bunch, you know you’ve got a phenomenal cast.

Maddy has been dying to see Hamilton ever since, but they’re often hard tickets to come by. Luckily, Santa made it happen and Maddy let me tag along.

The last show we saw was Hadestown, and well, that may be my favorite thing I’ve ever seen. We weren’t sure how the touring cast of Hamilton would compare to the original. While there is nothing like that cast ( I mean, really, it’s just not fair to anyone ever again for the rest of time that all those people got to perform together and create such a masterpiece), we were happy that this cast could keep up with the original.

While there is nothing like Phillipa Soo or Daveed Diggs, this touring cast definitely does the show justice. When we got to the theater, we noticed that one of the understudies was going to be Aaron Burr. My favorite song of the show is Wait for It, so I was curious how this performer would do. But you guys, Neptune was the best part of the show! He was by far my favorite vocalist. I have no idea how he does it – as a swing, he has to know several lead roles and be ready to go on for any of them. That is mindblowing to me – he could be Thomas Jefferson one day and Aaron Burr the next. These are some of the most difficult roles to play, and if what we saw is any indication, Neptune deserves a long and successful career. Maddy still claims I bruised her arm from gripping too tightly during Wait for It.

Having seen the Disney+ recorded version of the original show, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, as usual, live theater just gets you in the feels in a way that watching on TV can’t. The tears you guys – I did NOT expect to cry as much as I did. I didn’t think I’d make it through Dear Theodosia. Sitting next to my girl, listening to two parents sing about their love for their children…ugh, so many tears. And then Quiet Uptown – so quietly powerful and moving. It definitely solidifies that Eliza is the heroine of this story.

And can we talk about Alexander – I mean, he was kind of just a conceited jerk, right? Maddy and I had an interesting discussion at dinner. What is more unforgivable – cheating on your wife, or knowing your son is going off to a dual to probably die and not trying to stop him? Being in love with your sister-in-law? Being so focused on your reputation that you put your marriage at risk (over and over again)? And eventually, being so focused on yourself and your place in history that it leads to your death?

As with any good theater piece, Hamilton makes you feel and question and cry. To do that with a subject we’re all relatively familiar with is an exceptional thing.

Hamilton should definitely be added to the list of shows you need to see once in your lifetime. I was once again happy to have another theater day with my best biggest girl.

To the world we dream about, and the one we live in now

January 24, 2023January 25, 2023 / MurphyMama / 1 Comment

Maddy and I discovered the musical Hadestown not long after it premiered on Broadway. The music is so beautiful, and if you are familiar with Greek mythology, you know the story already. Anais Mitchell wrote beautiful lyrics and music to retell the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The music is some of my very favorite – it’s haunting and lovely and just so fantastic. So, when I got a notice on a pre-sale deal for tickets to Hadestown at the Straz Center, I knew Maddy and I needed them!

I love getting to have one-on-one time with each girl, and Maddy and I have gotten some great quality time at shows recently. Since she’s older, she can see more variety than her sisters (and let’s be honest, Reg isn’t really into these shows the same way and quite frankly, prefers one-on-one time with daddy to mommy anyway). So, Maddy and I made a day of Hadestown. We started with lunch at Armature works and a stroll along the Riverwalk before heading into the show.

The original Broadway cast of Hadestown is pretty phenomenal. It doesn’t get much better than Andre DeShields as Hermes and Patrick Page as Hades. But you guys, this touring cast was FANTASTIC!

If you’re unfamiliar with Hadestown, it blends the stories of Hades and Persephone with that of Orpheus and Eurydice to tell a beautiful and heartbreaking story. Orpheus sees and falls in love with Eurydice, who is skeptical of him. He wins her over with his storytelling through his music and makes her see the way the world can be. His music tells the story of Hades and Persephone – Hades fell in love with Persephone and convinced her to live with him in the underworld. But, with Persephone gone, the world began to die. Hades was convinced to let Persephone spend part of the year up above, which is where we get seasons from.

While Persephone is above, the people celebrate and the joy is palpable in the song “Livin’ It Up On Top.” But that joy can’t last, as the train arrives to return Persephone to Hadestown, much to her dismay. Eurydice is intrigued by the idea of Hadestown, where someone provides (even if it’s not ideal). While Orpheus is focused on creating his music to bring spring back, he doesn’t notice that Eurydice is slipping away from him.

Hades is on the hunt for someone who will appreciate what he has built and finds a cold, tired and hungry Eurydice. She’s ready to lay down and let someone else take over, and follows Hades to the underworld. When Orpheus realizes where she has gone, Hermes tells him of a back way to go to get to Hadestown to find his love. Eurydice has already realized she made a mistake, but she has signed a contract with Hades.

Orpheus sings a song to remind Hades of his strong love for Persephone, which he has lost sight of along the way. This moves Hades, and he’s left with a decision to make. He can let Eurydice leave with Orpheus, but that would make him lose his control over his “factory.” He can force her to stay, but then she becomes the martyr of the story. So Hades makes this decision – does Orpheus love Eurydice enough to completely trust her? The couple can leave, but only if Orpheus leads and never turns back to be sure Eurydice is behind him. If he turns to make certain she’s still there, he seals her fate and she belongs to Hades forever.

Orpheus allows the voices in his head to convince him that he’s on this journey alone – why would Eurydice follow him? He makes it until the very end, when doubt overtakes him and he turns – Eurydice has been there all along, right behind him. But because he let his doubt take hold, he has now condemned her to a life in Hadestown.

Maddy and I LOVED this show. So much that we are still talking about it regularly. The music is spectacular – the harmonies are haunting and the melodies are stunning. The band is on stage the entire show and becomes part of the show, which adds a unique element. The lighting plays such an important role in the storytelling and it is some of the best lightwork I’ve seen.

Nathan Lee Graham is a delight as Hermes. Just the right amount of showmanship and just overall, such a joy to watch narrate this story. But you guys, I cannot tell you enough wonderful things about Chibueze Ihuoma as Orpheus. In my mind, Orpheus is not just confident in his abilities, he’s also super earnest and truly believes he can make the world a better place. And holy cow, did Chibueze embody my image of Orpheus perfectly! I was blown away by his performance. Wait for Me might be my favorite musical moment I have ever experienced. Between his stunning portrayal, the set, and the lighting design, it was perfect.

Honestly, though, this entire touring cast is pretty remarkable. Hannah Whitley played a beautiful Eurydice and made you feel her hunger and despair. Lindsay Hailes brought the joy and then sorrow of Persephone. And man, the voices of the fates! They add such a layer of depth that is so impactful. But every single cast member, including the band, work seamlessly together to create something so beautiful and rich.

Maddy was thrilled that the stagedoor was available after the show, so she could meet some of the cast and tell them how spectacular they were!

Maddy and I were blown away. I would see Hadestown over and over and over again. If you get a chance to see it at a city near you, do yourself a favor and do it!

And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows

January 24, 2023January 24, 2023 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

If you know the Murphys, you know we LOVE musical theater. We all have our favorites (even Regina, who likes to pretend that she doesn’t care). We are blessed with an incredible community theatre here, and the girls have gotten to perform in several shows there. The latest was Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Jr.

Lakeland Community Theatre does an excellent job of providing great opportunities for kids in the area who are interested in theatre. Maddy started performing there when she was six. Regina and Molly have also done a few shows there. When it came time to audition for Rudolph, Maddy and Molly were all in. (The show was going to be over the weekend of Regina’s birthday, so even though it’s her favorite Christmas movie, she decided she didn’t want to have to work on her birthday, should she get cast.)

The girls were thrilled to be offered roles, and Molly was especially over the moon with her role. She was cast as Young Rudolph and would get her own little solo song. Maddy was cast as Spotted Elephant, one of the Misfit Toys. She was excited to learn that she’d get to be a puppeteer.

If you’ve been to a Theatre for Youth show, you know we don’t mess around at LCT. They are professional quality productions, not your average kiddie show. We have exceptional production teams that pour their talents and love into these shows and these kids, and the results are always outstanding.

Rudolph was adorable. The show ran for two weekends. The first weekend Molly got to be Young Rudolph and the second weekend she was an elf. Maddy was fantastic as Spotted Elephant both weekends. Molly rediscovered her love for the stage, and has decided she is now destined to be a Broadway star (she’s already gearing up for her next show – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).

We are so thankful to have a community theatre like Lakeland Community Theatre in our little town. It is filled with talent, but even more with love. We have been lucky enough to be a part of the LCT family for many years now, and can’t wait for many more.

Sleepover at Magic Kingdom!

September 26, 2022September 26, 2022 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

Well, it wasn’t actually supposed to be a sleepover, but that’s what happens when you take 8, 10, and 12 year olds to an overnight commercial shoot!

On a whim, I signed the girls up on a local casting website. I didn’t think much of it, but then availability requests started rolling. An availability request doesn’t mean you’ve booked a job, it just means you may meet the requirements they’re looking for, so if you are available for that shoot, they ask you to send certain information in. We had submitted for a few things, but never got chosen, until last year.

We were already planning a weekend away in Orlando, so when we got chosen to be a part of Disney’s 50th Anniversary commercial, we figured it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity! Patrick had no interest in it, so the girls and I carefully selected some outfits and made our trek to a parking lot outside of the parks at 8 p.m.

Our night started in a parking lot, where everyone who was there for the shoot was to be seen by wardrobe, and would be taken by bus to Magic Kingdom. We were given a style guide to look at when choosing our clothes, and I’ll be honest, it was definitely not what I’d typically wear to a theme park. But, we followed the guidelines and looked very country club chic for our night at Disney (except Molly, who went full on Minnie Mouse mode…for a bit at least). The stylist was lovely and complimented our choice of outfits, so I guess we chose well!

When it was time, everyone was loaded on a bus and taken to the back entrance of Magic Kingdom. There were a lot of us! Many families, some people on their own, some friend groups, some couples. Many of them seemed like pros who had done this many times. We had no clue what to expect!

We were taken to our holding area for the night, a restaurant in Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland Terrace was our home for the evening, while they were setting up the shoots. We found a spot to put our things down and waited to be called. Before we headed out to begin the night, the costumer decided that Molly and another little girl should be dressed like princesses. So, Molly got a Belle costume, purse, and stuffed animal to hold for the night.

We weren’t allowed to take photos during the shoot. But we started on Main Street and to our surprise, we got to see the 50th anniversary fireworks show before anyone else! The first part of the night was getting our reactions. After running the show through twice, they switched to just lighting cues to mimic the show. The girls very quickly got tired of reacting to basically nothing and by about 2 am, were starting to get grumpy.

Luckily, they decided to break and serve us breakfast around this time. Molly and Maddy decided they were too tired to eat and napped, while Regina and I grabbed food for everyone. It wasn’t long before Regina was zonked out, too.

Molly asleep in full Belle costume will forever be one of my favorite photos!

The girls were able to get a couple of hours of sleep in while they took volunteers for some smaller shoots. Around 6, I woke the girls up and we headed out to Main Street again, but this time closer to the castle. We got to watch the sunrise over Cinderella’s Castle, an experience we’ll never get again. That perked the girls up a bit! Molly happily dragged her sisters along racing in front of the castle, acting like it was their first time seeing it.

For this shoot, there was a “main” family with their daughter as the lead in the commercial and the rest of us were just background actors. We had no idea what to expect in the final product, or when it would actually come out. While we were definitely questioning our decision at about 2 in the morning, overall, it was a great experience and an amazing memory to share. Not many people can say they got to spend the night in Magic Kingdom, see the 50th-anniversary fireworks before anyone else, and watch the sunrise over Cinderella’s Castle.

We found the commercial on YouTube, but it also frequently airs on tv. We’ve especially noticed it during football games. We were pleasantly surprised to see a good shot of Maddy and Regina in front of the castle (which happened during one of Molly’s many bathroom breaks). And at the very end, you can see Maddy, Regina, and me watching the castle show (I had held Molly for about 2 hours during this part of the shoot, but they apparently only used the footage of when she was in front of me standing). Molly looked the cutest of us all and didn’t even make it in!

Here’s the YouTube link to the commercial. Look closely at the still image and you can clearly see Regina, Maddy, and me!

I Just Wanna Dance With You

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

Anyone who knows the Murphy crew knows that we LOVE musical theatre in our house. The girls love being a part of productions at our local community theatre, and we are constantly belting out showtunes around our house.

One of our current obsessions is The Prom. While we haven’t seen the live production (yet!), Netflix has a movie adaptation that we all love. The songs are catchy and it’s just the right amount of camp.

If you’re not familiar with the story, The Prom is about a teenage girl named Emma who wants to take her girlfriend as her date to her high school’s prom. Rather than allow inclusivity, the PTA (led by the mom of Emma’s girlfriend, who doesn’t know her daughter is in a relationship with Emma) decides to cancel the prom for everyone. While this is happening, two Broadway stars with less than stellar reputations star in a Broadway flop. Looking to mend their reputations as selfish, out-of-touch celebrities, they look for a cause to fight for. Which brings them, along with some friends, to Emma’s Indiana town to help her fight the PTA. It’s emotional and campy and fabulous, all at the same time.

We started the night by doing our make-up and getting dressed up. The girls all got make-up for Christmas, so this was a great opportunity for them to play with it. (also, Maddy is wearing the dress I wore to my rehearsal dinner almost 18 years ago!!)

Our next item on the agenda for the evening was making corsages. I bought a variety of fake flowers, and thick hair ties to glue them to in order to make the corsages.

I let the girls choose dinner – they opted for “fancy” pizza and pasta from one of our local restaurants. We put on comfier clothes to eat and start the movie. After dinner, the girls also worked on their own prom queen tiaras (headbands, ribbon, and glue on jewels), and designing a prom dress for a Barbie.

To end the night, Molly worked on her best prom dance moves, and we sang our hearts out!

How Far Will We Go?

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

The girls all love Moana, so when it was time for another theme day, that was top of the list. I love Moana because she’s not the typical Disney princess. We love that she’s strong and confident and brave. (And the girls all got to be in our community theatre’s production of Moana)

The girls loved making their own flower crowns. I bought headbands and fake flowers from the Dollar Tree, and let them go to town. With a little hot glue magic they turned out super cute!

Next up they made their own boats to sail across the ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti.

Again, I found these boat kits at the Dollar Tree. They decorated the sails and then assembled. I wasn’t sure how sturdy they would be, but it’s more than a year later and the girls still have their boats!

Quarantine, schmuarantine – Let’s make some art!

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 / MurphyMama / Leave a comment

I should have started this blog when we were actually in quarantine since there wasn’t a whole lot else to do. But, hindsight is 20/20, right?

In the beginning of our days at home, as long as the girls finished their assigned work, we didn’t put too many other parameters on them – we figured it was hard enough trying to work from home and not see friends, so we took away our usual rules on technology use.

But after a while, it became necessary to reign everyone back in a bit. We’ve realized that our kids get grumpier and meaner when they have unfettered access to technology, so we tend to put limits on how long they can be on devices each day. Since school wasn’t taking as long during quarantine, they had a LOT of free time (especially Molly, the youngest, who would churn out her kindergarten work in no time at all). That meant mama had to get creative.

I stocked up on some fun art and science kits, and we attempted to add some fun into our days. First up was some fun art.

Our house backs up to a car dealership, so there is a concrete wall running across our backyard (and all of our neighbors’ yards, as well). We have a lot of vegetation in the backyard – the previous owners went a little nuts. But amidst the orange tree, overgrown bougainvillea, avocado trees, plumerias, and some random pineapple plants, there is some of the concrete wall visible.

My girls love to create art, so we figured we’d let them decorate part of the wall. They each got a section of plywood that I taped off in various shapes. Then, we let them go for it.