On the Saturday of UEA we let the kids decide what they wanted to do. They didn't really know either they just wanted to do something... We came up with a few things and all that C wanted to do was to plank in various places. We were not thrilled of the idea but we told her that wherever we went we would plank just for her. So you will see that throughout our day that is what we did.
So we started the day by seeing a premiere of "Puss in Boots". This was just a cool poster that we saw as we came out of the movie. We saw a premiere for this one a few weeks before.
K was able to come with us cause she was face-painting at the Expo center but not until noon. So after the movie we went to visit her at the "Kids Fair". The kids got to see their cousins and we just hung out for a few hours.
Leave it up to C to get the grandparents to "plank"! Wow! Aren't they awesome?!
After the Kids Fair we went to the Copper Mine. We had not been here for at least 15 years. We used to go with my parents all the time but we were so tired of it that we had blocked it out of our minds and now the kids wanted to see what it was.
We later went to see Z who was face-painting at the Witch Fest at Gardner Village. We walked around and did a puzzle for a cookie but it was fun.
It ended up being a great family day! We spent it all together and had fun doing lots of different activities!
We were already planning on heading down to Provo today anyways because of the Cheyenne Party and then K told us about the BYU lost and found sale so we decided to just leave a little bit earlier so we could attend. C and S could not come with us because they were taking Dance Company pictures at the Salt Flats and they did not want to miss this opportunity.
It was a crazy sale. There was a lot of stuff and there was a lot of people. But it was fun and we found some awesome deals.
After that we walked around campus a little bit and took some planking pictures, while K finished cleaning her apartment and then we went to have lunch together.
Then we were going to go get K's car so we could go and get it inspected but it would not start! Surprise huh? Well, we took K to work and then went to Nelson's to the party. In the back of our minds wondering what we would do with K's car.
We had a fun party. I have been attending these parties since the first one took place 22 years ago when KC and I were just dating. I think this deserves a before and after picture.
October 1989
October 2011
When K got off work and we had to go pick her up we borrowed grandpa's car so we could tow it to the shop. That was an experience in it of itself. But we got it to the shop that was only a few blocks away. Then we went back to the party.
We entered to win tickets to some plays in the area. K was the lucky one that won two tickets to Grease in Tuacahn (St. George). I was lucky that she took me with her. Well more like I took her to see the show cause I drove but it was worth it.
I picked her up in Provo at 2:00pm and we headed down. We made it to St. George around 5:30pm. We walked around the outlets a little and then we went to get something to eat.
Then was the amazing show! It was awesome! Because it was outside they can do many things that are not possible inside. This is one of my favorite musicals ever and this one did not disappoint me at all.
We had a fun time with K. Lots of driving but lots of good conversations. We got back around 1:00pm so that K could go to her afternoon classes.
I couldn't find a good picture for this scene either. This is the closest that I could get.
This is on Solomon's Porch where this scene was filmed. This is a picture from that the church published.
Day 7 -- TUESDAY OCTOBER
4, 2011
PETER AND JOHN PREACH AND ARE
ARRESTED NEAR THE COLONNADE OF SOLOMON’S PORCH
My call time was 6:30am and I got to
carpool once again with my friend from Layton. I knew this would be my
last day for sure because they had already told us that this was the last day
that they would be using women background players.
By this day I was an old pro
actress… well sort of. There were a lot of extras this day, the most that
I saw in all the days that I was on set. It took me a while to get
through hair and makeup so by the time I got out most everyone was on the
set. Some were sitting on the side but then some were already
filming. This was my first time filming by Solomon’s Temple.
They came and got a few of us at a
time and placed us all over the porch and patio. This was a big area and
they wanted to film people coming from far to see what was going on.
Peter and John were preaching and we approached to listen. I wasn’t too
far so I still made it in time to listen to them preach. We did this many
times for some reason. They weren’t catching something just right.
One of the many times that we did it a lady in front of me fainted and so we
had to stop filming for that. The medics came and took care of her and we
got a little break from that.
We had lunch and then we went back
on set. We sat for a while and then they sent half of the extras home and
kept the rest of us. This time we were filming Peter and John being arrested.
We were just the crowd watching in the background. They were hoping it
would rain but it did not so I got to see how they made rain so that they could
film. I was not sure what we were supposed to be doing but they just
wanted us to walk on the porch. We did this a few times and then we got
sent home.
Well this really was my last time on
set. Kind of sad but after talking with many people I was one of the
women that was on set more times than most. The men were needed more so
they got more opportunities than the women (as usual). So I was grateful
for the opportunity. They told us that they would probably film again in
the spring and they would let us know. So now I have something to look
forward to!
This experience has been like no
other for me. I got to see up close and personal how filming works.
It takes a long time and you have to do many takes just for a few minutes of
footage. It is very expensive to pay the actors and extras. But the
most important thing that I got from this is that my testimony grew 100
fold. I got to see some of these scenes as if I was there. It gave
me an opportunity to experience the scriptures and gain more of an appreciation
for my Savior Jesus Christ and for his life and for his sacrifice for me
and all of mankind.
I
can't wait to see the final product! The church gave us a background look
at the filming. You can read all about it, watch a video, and look at
some pictures here:
K's birthday was on General Conference Saturday (it often takes place on conference weekend). She drove up for the weekend. She wanted to go out to eat for her birthday but it was kind of tricky to fit it in because of conference and C & S still had ballet. So we decided to go between the afternoon session and Priesthood Session. This was our only available time slot. Here we are at yummy Cheesecake Factory.
The Birthday Girl!
On Sunday we had K's celebration with the family including Tono and Glady's (L's aunt and uncle) from Virginia (they were here for conference).
Then it was time for present opening. And everyone is anxiously waiting...
But we had to get a picture first.
And her big present was.... A camera!!! She has been wanting this forever!
Then it was time for the cake. She requested a Fashion Minnie Mouse Cake and this is what we came up with. I think it turned out pretty good. Except all the birthday cakes seem to be getting more complicated little by little.
She requested the procession so here we come.
We had to pause for her to take a picture.
Yay! I just have to say we love this girl! She has been with us for 20 wonderful years. She brings so much joy to our lives and we are so happy to see that she is doing well at taking care of herself. She is beautiful, talented, and loving. She is the best oldest child anyone could ask for. Growing up is hard for kids and their parents but K is doing very well!
Just playing. K looks like Minnie anyways.
The girls are always stealing my camera and taking random pictures like this one.
(This pictures depicts how we filmed the scene very closely)
Day 6 -- THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
THE SAVIOR IS SCOURGED AND CARRIES
HIS CROSS THROUGH THE STREET ON THE WAY TO GOLGOTHA
I got to go twice this week. What
a blessing. My call time was 9:30 and I met with a carpool in Salt
Lake.
I knew this would be an emotional
day just knowing what we were going to film.
We got dressed and ready but they
did not call us on to the set until after lunch. We had a long wait but one of
the men brought a guitar so those who sang put on a concert for the rest of
us. It was so nice to be there. It was a beautiful day and we could
just enjoy each other’s company with music. I did not know if this was going
to be my last day or not but I was considering it as if it was so that I would
not be disappointed. If it was not my last day then the others would just
be a wonderful bonus.
After lunch they took us to the
set. We just lined up the street and got ready for this emotional
scene. I saw Jesus carrying the a heavy cross. He was dressed in
robes that were all dirty, he had blood dripping on his face, and the scourges
were visible. He walked right past me and John the beloved happened to be
standing right behind me so Jesus looked over in our direction. It was so
hard to see him like this. Earlier in the week we had filmed such a happy
time and now it was such a somber time. I felt as if I needed to do
everything that I could to make his sacrifice worthwhile for me. What a
sacrifice. I cannot even imagine. But this brought it to life for
me. I did have tears in my eyes to see him like this. The cross was
so heavy it took 3 people to carry it back and forth. During this scene I
felt a deep feeling of gratitude but also a commitment to be submissive to
God’s will, not matter the personal cost to me, just like the Savior did.
We filmed it a few times and then we
were done for the day. I did meet a lady that is originally from
Guatemala but now lives in Houston. What a strong testimony this lady
has!!! I met so many people that are just amazing from all over the
world! Another blessing in disguise.
I knew this was the last time I
would see John Foss (Jesus) so when we were done I went up to him and told him
thanked him for being so kind, especially to the children. I was nervous
but I felt that I had to do this because I truly was grateful. This is
how the children will remember Jesus and he portrayed the part very well.
My eyes got all teary and my voice was cracking but I was glad I did it. He
thanked me also.
For a few weeks I did not get any
calls for acting and I felt deprived. I needed my spiritual high that I
got every time I went... and luckily more came on September 21st. This is
what I received:
Following is an
outline of our Shooting Schedule as it currently stands. MOST of the
background roles are for ADULTS and TEENS, 16 years or older. We do need
a limited number of children on the days marked in red, but boys must have
dark, longer hair that at least covers part of their ears. Girls must
have dark hair at least to their shoulders. *The days marked in RED are the
days we will most likely have enough roles for everyone who would like to
participate. The days marked in GREEN are smaller days wherein there will
probably not be enough roles for everyone. Once you express your
availability (see below), we will let you know for which days you are booked.
Monday, September 26th*: “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem” (Mark 11; Matthew
21; Luke 19; John 12) 8:30AM
Tuesday, September
27th:“The Saviour
Encounters a Woman taken in adultery” (John 8:2-11)“The Saviour declares that
He is the Light of the World” (John 8:12-14)“The Saviour declares, ‘The Truth
Shall make you Free" (John 8:28-39)
Wednesday, September
28th: “The Saviour Heals a Man stricken with Palsy” (Mark 2:3-12)
Thursday, September 29th*: “The Saviour is Scourged and Carries His Cross through
the street on the way to Golgotha” (Matthew 28; Mark 15; John 19) 9:30AM
Friday, September
30th:“Peter, James and John
Heal the Sick” and “Peter and John are arrested (2nd time) by the Beautiful
Gate of the Temple” (Acts 5)
Monday, October
3rd: “Peter and John Heal a
Lame Man at the Temple during the Feast of Pentacost” (Acts 3-4)
Tuesday, October
4th*: “Peter and John
preach and are Arrested near the Colonnade of Solomon’s Porch” (Acts 3-4)
6:30AM
(This is a picture of palm fronds because when I got on set everyone knew what they were except for me. I was all confused that I had never heard this word in my whole life)
(These are the only pictures that I could find. Not quite the way we filmed it but it's at least a reminder.)
Day 5 -- MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO
JERUSALEM
On Friday September 23rd
I got an email booking me for September 26th (The Triumphal
Entry). C also received an email. On Sunday morning I woke up to an
email that asked for G and CR to come filming on Monday also. That only
left S out. But I emailed them and asked if it was possible for her to
come also and they said YES. So it was a Family trip to Goshen (minus KC
and K, they would have loved to be there).
Our call time was 8:30am so that was
not bad. We just had to leave by 6:30am. We did have to eat
breakfast because they told that breakfast would be done by the time we got
there. We were running late (as usual). We didn’t leave until close
to 7:00am. Then after I got on the freeway I asked the older girls if
they had their temple recommends and Sidney did not. So I called Casey
and he met us half way to give it to us. We were now even more
delayed. We were doing o.k (speeding just a little). When we were
about half an hour away from the set location, we were driving on this small
country road; we saw a car go off to the side and dirt fly up in the air.
The car got back on the road so I assumed that everything was fine. I was
passing the car when I realized that the car had two flat tires and it was a
young lady driving. We pulled over in front of her and I went to see if
she was ok.
The lady happened to be driving to
Goshen. She went off the road and over corrected but her tires
punctured. I told her that we were going in that direction and offered
her a ride. She parked her car on the side of the road and came with
us. She was so grateful that we happened to be right behind her and that
we could give her a ride. We had just been blessed with another experience
that just showed me how Heavenly Father is in control of our lives. If we
had not been running late we would have missed her and who knows if anyone else
would bring her to Goshen because we had one of the latest call times.
She kept calling us her guardian angels. That was a great experience
before we even got to the set!
When we got to the set we went to
wardrobe, hair and makeup. This was different for me because it wasn’t
just me I had to watch out for the children, mainly Gracie. They got us
all dark and dirty and then we were ready to go on set. When we got to
the set most people were already in place but they took us to the front where
Jesus would be coming through. Little Gracie looked so cute and there was
a photographer from the church taking all kinds of pictures of her. They
gave the kids some palm frams to hold and put down before Jesus came in riding
the donkey. I think the donkey was Gracie’s favorite part.
As Jesus came in we were just
supposed to be happy to see him. I would pick up Gracie so that she could
see him better and he usually acknowledged her. Then we followed him as
he walked down the street. How amazing to have this experience with my
children. Nothing could be better to help strengthen all of our
testimonies.
We had lunch and then we went back
on set to film the same scene but from a different angle. It was so nice
that we were not out in the sun because that made it so much easier.
Gracie loved playing in the dirt in between each take.
We got released at about
4:00pm. We drove our friend back to her car and we got home at about
6:00pm. We even picked up pizza for dinner.
A picture of me and the 4 children as Jesus Christ's followers in Jerusalem. That is us now and it would have been us 2000 years ago.
This picture was published by the church in a news article about the background of the production. I'm glad I can post this because it's the real thing. CR is standing next to G.
This is the first Scout Court of Honor that I have been able to attend because they were always on Wednesday night. And I always have class on Wednesday night. So I was glad to be able to attend.
CR receiving his merit badges.
A proud Scoutmaster with his son.
The proud parents. But why do I have to go up in front?
The pinning of the pin. This does make me feel kind of special.
Brother W. saying some very nice things about KC. But I have to agree he is an awesome Scoutmaster. It's a hard job! But he cares so much for the boys and really wants them to succeed.
g
