Oh boy! Oh man! Did we ever find a cool place! Right in our neighborhood, there's a little place called "East Dallas Arts." We'd seen it right across from Kroger for over a year, we didn't realize what it was. But your friend Ellie's mom told us about it...it's a theater...for kids...and they're doing acting camps all summer long!
You had never done formal acting before, but we've had plenty of experience in the Purple Curtain Theater.
We asked you guys if you wanted to do an acting camp, and before we even finished the question you excitedly said YES!!
So we signed you up!
We walked there every morning!
During this camp, you and your friends came up with a story and characters for a play. Mr. Tom (the director) took your ideas and turned it into a script.
Julia, you were RUBY, an elf princess (very on brand!)
Aidan, you were GOODAN, a goo-based warrior (very on brand!)
You guys practiced your lines every night and built your costumes!
You were having so much fun and the week went by in the blink of an eye.
Lines were learned and practiced and perfected. The audience filed in, the lights went dark, and then it was showtime.
It was time for THE EMERALD ORB!
The show was amazing because you all worked so hard on it and had so much fun! Wow! Bravo!
Amazing!
You guys had SO much fun that you didn't want it to end.
At East Dallas Arts for the next TWO weeks of FULL day camp, they were putting on a musical... MADAGASCAR JR.
We asked you guys if you wanted to do it... and before we even finished the question you excitedly said YES!!
So, we busted out the green screen, stormed our brains, got creative, got out the characters, wrote the script, and made one of our most epic productions yet!
And by "we" I mean, "you." I love taking y'all's direction and helping you guys bring your creations to life. I follow your lead (and okay, sometimes hog the spotlight a little bit...) and I love watching how bright you shine.
And now, I proudly present, a Purple Curtain Theater Production: Longlocks and the 3 Sharks!
After going to Europe in Summer 2019 and then, you know, a global pandemic making summer 2020 kinda off-limits for major travel for us, we ripped off the band-aid, rented a little airbnb in Galveston just for the 4 of us, and we drove to the BEACH!
It was so nice to be back in Galvestion: the warm waters, the "sand," La Kings and the strand, yummy food, and just amazing family time.
We combed the beach, rode the waves for hours (Wave riders forever!), ate tons of ice cream, had some movie nights, bought matching t-shirts, did some beading and reading and foosball and sand castles and crab-dip eating.
We saw a snake and a rabbit, some dead crabs (one of which y'all named "Deathany"), and swam with dolphins!. We just had a wonderful, peaceful, truly relaxing and energizing trip to the beach.
You wrote your names in the sand. We had missed you Galveston, our old friend. It may not be a world-class beach, but it sure makes us feel like we're on island time, where troubles and worries just melt into the sand and suncreen.