A ball in June 2015

Just when I thought I had had enough of blogging about June, I remembered another event which you just may be interested in seeing pictures from! In June, there was another ball with friends and although it wasn't half as splendid as the January ball because Nikola and I were working and unable to attend it supposedly was rather lovely all the same.
 (what I really mean is, don't expect much emotion in this post because I wasn't there to experience any feelings of the night!)

Our family members who attended this event said it was delightful; as you can see in the pictures the twinkle lights were amazing and lent the perfect air to a summer evening ball!
All pictures taken by Jessica and Elodie and perhaps Laura-Lise.

Jessie in the photo area

friends

If you would like to watch the attendees dancing, do look through these videos from Andrew Wong. There are several more if you go straight to Youtube to view them.

Grant's graduation party June 2015

Hello! Here are some pictures from a party we enjoyed in June- 'twas a graduation party for Grant who is a friend from childhood and onwards! It is great to see friends grow up and become amazing peoples. Grant is a very talented musician and singer. Speaking of, here is a video of him playing the piano at Meghan and Jesse's wedding! (Seeing as I don't seem to have any photos of the graduate himself at his own party- oops)

The party was, to our delight, on a Thursday evening which enabled all of us to attend!

It was held on such a perfect day at a great location!

An unusual way to converse :) 

This is the kind of picture that ends up in a magazine the next morning.... ''director Chad Burns takes a moment from the busy set to swing with his young daughter''...only, it would probably be more like ''director Chad Burns stormed off set last night after an argument with his leading actor and has absconded to his private island where he spends the day swinging with his family.''

And there was volleyball.

I don't know why I even state that all-too-obvious fact. 

If there are people, there are volleyball games. Apparently. 

My Fair Lady at the Muny! June 2015

A few of my favorite childhood summer memories were going with our Mum to the Muny! We saw such classics as The King and I, Showboat and more...I remember being so engrossed in the King and I (although I had already seen the movie) as I watched it through binoculars that I urgently expressed my worries over the story aloud, much to the amusement of ladies around (My 7-year old self was viewing the drama through binoculars and was very into the disappointing tale).

Well somehow, years passed and the last Muny show I experienced was far too long ago! 

However when I saw this year's program  and especially when my friend Sara planned to make it to the opening night I knew I had to go this summer! 

I really wanted my other sisters to come as well but they were preparing for a certain wedding. ;) And Valerie was nanny-ing that night.

So I had Sara all to myself for the 3 hours preceding the show. :)
And there wasn't a moment of silence, I assure you. ;P

It rained for those first hours, but miraculously cleared up right in time for us to find our (Free) seats! What fun! 

 I was totally delighted with the evening! Here are Sara and I with another friend Katelyn who we got to sit with!

Oh! And without realizing it...I got to see Anthony Andrews live! All I knew was that I was watching a remarkably good actor who played Rex Harrison's role wonderfully! And later I discovered 'twas this Anthony Andrews who is British himself! 

Anyhow- he and the actor for the Colonel were excellent! Eliza's actress was not Audrey Hepburn...but she was good as well! :)

One is not allowed to take photos during the performance....so I took 'em before. ;) 

I decided to give Sara a break from my chatter (Like a 5-minute break) and so I people-watched....

These young people had to wipe off all the chairs! 

of course ours didn't get dried....but we managed....

I take pictures like this because you never know whom you might eventually meet....of course these folks are the posh paying sort....while I belong in the wait-three-hours-to-get-free-seats category....

The library set...I like the colors but am still confused about the paintings....

During intermission....

One disappointment during the show was that before intermission Eliza is presented in her gorgeous ball gown....and after intermission the show continues with the scene following the ball. :( I understand completely....but I do love ball scenes!

So happy we got to do this! Yay for summer memories! 

And the drive home was fun as well. ;P 

(discovering we were out of gas....getting lost in St. Louis....yup that's the way to end a late night at the Muny!)

June 2015: Beyond the Mask again, Blueberry picking, Maggianos etc....

Here are some various pictures from June....just some family things and such....

Some of the family went to see Beyond the Mask again when it came back into theater! We went on the cheap night ;) and our parents got to see it this time in its completion so it was fun! I must say I wish I didn't have such a good memory...I think I know the film off my heart now. ;( Oh well. 

Oh! Nikola's and my room was slightly decorated ''Beyond the Mask'' style in May/June! The doll is my beautiful Heidi Beth (Susan Wakeen Cinderella doll) and Nikola made the costume for her last year...for my birthday. :) Only a costume designer and seamstress extraordinaire can create things like Nikola does! She created this doll's costume from the costume designed by Marilyn Burns for the film. 

    As we all know, June is the month for weddings....Nikola and I worked every weekend at the lovely historic wedding venue we...uh....work at. As you might remember, we make
hor d'oeuvres for the guest. One wedding, Nikola made a rose out of the cheese ball...

 While we're on the topic of Nikola....

She illustrated another book for a friend....

Making spinach soup perhaps? 

But nay! 

Ever the artist, Nikola helped Jessie dye her (originally white) bridesmaid dress for her friend Meghan's wedding late in June. The desired color was an exact shade of green....and Nikola concocted that exact tone with a few different fabric dyes. After dyeing the dress they also altered it by cutting most of the skirt off, creating a petal-like skirt out of another outfit. Lastly thy added an underlay skirt I kindly and self-sacrificially and amazingly considering the years of memories it contained (although I did wear it to play catch the bacon at the Burns house that one time in 2010 when I smashed Nick's jaw out of place)  donated. You're welcome, Jessica. Only for you, only for you. But don't you forget it. 

Before (-ish...as is obvious we didn't take any before pics but you get the idea):

...and after!

Jessie in....you guessed it! the green dress. :)

 And late in June, our oldest sister Valerie left for a trip to Massachusetts for 3 weeks! She went as a nanny but also was able to enjoy the vacation-mode of the place. You can't help but be invigorated by the ocean when you're right by it for 3 weeks! :)
Before she left, we had a special outing as a family with some friends who have hosted Valerie overnight some nights after work...

Needless to say, we haven't been here in years! (seven to be precise for all you delightfully ''J''-ish people)

The best thing about it is the atmosphere. The music...the restaurant-ness of it...

It was fun to surprise Valerie this way!

no, in above picture Sam is not taking a selfie....we assume...we hope...

    One problem with going to restaurants once in a blue moon with your entire group of close relations is....

1. it takes 15 minutes to decide where you'll sit at the table....

1.5 not to mention it taking 30 minutes to choose your restaurant meal of the year (and have you ever tasted anything that fulfills such momentous expectations? I haven't.)

2. when one person decides to try to find the restroom the remainder of the children decide that's a Grand Idea and what follows looks oddly like a Great Expedition (while the parents back at the abandoned table try desperately to look as unrelated as possible to their offspring)  

3. and of course there's always the risk that you'll land in jail for making yourselves generally at home in such a public setting as a restaurant.

4. and there isn't a fee is there, for making good use of your money by eating the entire (and a half) bottle of parmesan cheese?....  (still waiting for bill to arrive in mail)

I just hope this gent doesn't sue me for taking his picture (you never know, nowadays...)

Gents eating alone are more liable to sue other cheerful surrounding people- did you know that? I did. 

the monster digs in

yes! yes! I love it :) The lighting, the smells...and especially the old music crooning over the entire restaurant....makes me happy. :) I wonder if people are allowed to go to restaurants just to sit and enjoy. And why don't people dress in evening wear any more?

Saw this amateur illustration on the wall upstairs...so thankful Nikola doesn't draw like this :) 

Nikola's roses :)

Triska longingly (as always) watching Katia snack on something yummy

Time to pick...blueberries! 

Such beautiful, plump berries they were this year, too! 

someone's got her hands full!

The only problem with picking organic blueberries is you have to sample some from every bush....I tasted so many tart berries my taste buds were distorted for days. 

 
Ready for an intensely disturbing picture?

She had nightmares for weeks after

despite the fact that she tried to shake it off. 

Laura-Lise and I relaxing....I was ridiculously and randomly exhausted! 

Our signature family expression, supposedly! :) 

And of course June means...pool time! We are making good use of this water-containing object!