Cerulean Jade Update 01-31-2013

 We filmed some more scenes this last week.  It's a group of scenes where I'm piloting a ship into space.  Looks a little crazy, right?  There's a method to our madness!  For these scenes what's important is my silhouette, 

so the clothes I'm wearing is for shape.  

Robbie showing me what floating in space looks like.

  The jet pack scene that I mentioned in the past got thrown out, much to my dismay, jet packs are retro cool, but the scene was proving too difficult for what we have.  It was a wise choice, and I got my ship back! Now I get two space ships: One, the ship taking me to space is of the old fashion classic 60's sci-fi variety, and two, the ship I originally picked out that got swapped with a possible jet pack scene. When we threw out the jet pack, I got my personal ship back.  Can't complain about that.  And I've got to say it's looking really cool.

Steven's finishing up and polishing assets today, which is really exciting, and then the composting begins, and fingers crossed it all fits!

An Undignified Way to Sprain an Elbow

When I was a kid I wanted to be a competitive ice skater.  It was one of those fanciful dreams that held no bases in reality.  The closest ice rink was in Fresno growing up, and only having gone a couple times there was never a chance to discover if I had the potential to be good or not.  I watched all the specials on T.V., the competitions, etc.  When music plays I still choreograph routines in my mind.

Now, more then ever, I've realized that some childhood dreams 

are better left as dreams.

Ice skating terrifies me!  The last time I was on the ice was two years ago.  Spent the whole time hyperventilating!  Not once did I get use to the skates.

Then this last Monday I went again with my church singles group.  Once again the first hour was pure drudgery.  Nerves running rampant, clutching to the wall when I wasn't having to go around those who were trying tricks or being reckless.  I was miserable!  And I don't think I kept it a secret because a look of horror constantly graced my face.

We were there for two hours.  One girl from our group fell about seven times.  By the end of the session I was feeling quite proud for not falling once.  Pride!  Never a good emotion.  I should have known better, because karma was about to attack.

The clock showed there were only fifteen minutes left to skate.  I was getting braver.  Skating stronger.  Moving further away from the wall with each lap.  Then something dreadful happened.  Something dreadful in the name of the toe pick.  Those nasty little spikes at the tip of the blade.  I know they're great for jumps and fancy skating elements, but for the novice they're just plain evil.

I was skating faster, leaning forward, being careless in my footing when my right toe pick caught the ice.  I don't know how far I flew, but I landed sprawled out, arms flat under me, keeping my face from crashing into the ice as my glasses flew off my face.

Thankfully no one ran over me, and several people came to help.  I lay there a good minute or so as I realized I couldn't feel or move my left hand.

Nothing's broken, but I did badly sprain my left elbow, and bruised my left arm, wrist, hand, and right knee.  Overall it could have been worst, so I'm quite lucky.  I'm healing.

I take so many things for granted!  This whole entry was written with my right hand.  I've been counting my blessings, and I'm really lucky to have what I have.

Still, I don't believe I'll ever stop dreaming up ice skating routines.

Big Bang Theory and Vasquez Rocks

 (Picture taken from the 14 Antelope Valley Freeway)

 Geology 101 made me a total natural science nerd.  It was one of those college general ed. classes I was absolutely dreading, but in the end I was completely loving.  Whenever I now see an interesting rock formation, I like to try and figure out how in Earth's history it was formed.

The above rocks are viewed from the Antelope Valley Freeway in the Santa Clarita area, Los Angeles County.  In the last 10 years I've driven by this place many times on the way to Ventura, and each time I get super excited.  

Seeing the rocks only lasts a minute or so, but right before it happens I seem to know it's just around the corner.  This happy feeling bubbles up inside letting me know.  (Geology nerd.)  On all those trips I never found out what the rocks are called, only that the Escondido Canyon Road exit would lead me to it.  Since we tend to pass this way towards the end of the day, usually after 10 hours on the road, we never pull off to check it out.

Funny enough, thanks to a Big Bang Theory episode I finally know the name of the rocks!  They're the Vasquez Rocks.  Leonard and the gang are heading to a convention in Bakersfield, only to get distracted by a spontaneous photo shot.  Honestly, their Star Trek: The Next Generation cosplay outfits are awesome.

But in the Big Bang Theory episode "The Bakersfield Expedition," it was mentioned that several Star Trek scenes were filmed at Vasquez Rocks . . . suddenly images of 1994's Star Trek Generations flashed in front of me, and an overwhelming feeling of stupidity engulfed. 

Somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind I must have made the Star Trek connection with these rocks, so I was being a geeky nerd on two accounts!!!

  

And I now know how these rocks were formed.  From wikipedia: "The Vasquez Rocks were formed via Quaternary sediments deposited in alluvial fans, approximately 25 million years ago, from the erosion of the San Gabriel mountains located to the south.  The collision of the North American and Pacific Plates created an anticline, due to the Elkhorn Fault, that then weathered away from the top."

I actually understood that, but this makes me regret selling back my geology book to the college book store . . . the life of a poor student.

Ned the Newt, An Original Poem

Ned the Newt

Ned the Newt was quite the snoot

He loved to laugh and linger

Didn't he mind the use of his time?

He didn't, and that's why he faltered

Around he would go

Poking his nose

In places he shouldn't have bothered

He gossiped and teased

With the wind and the breeze

Until he had no friends at all

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

A Found Ladybug = a Cerulean Jade Good Luck Omen

Yesterday we found a ladybug sitting happily on our green screen.  The poor thing probably thought it was a leaf.  We've taken it as a good luck omen!  The ladybug is a symbol of luck, after all.  According to wikipedia: "In many countries, including Russia, Turkey, and Italy, the sight of a coccinellid [What we call ladybugs] is either a call to make a wish or a sign that a wish will soon be granted." 

 Ladybugs usually hibernate in the Winter, and even in the Spring I don't see them that often.  It's been so wickedly cold this last month that we were completely surprised to see the ladybug.  

We've decided to accept the luck. Who doesn't like a little luck now and then?  And that it's a sign that our wishes and aspirations will come true :0)

Cerulean Jade Update 01-24-2013

 I haven't had an update for a while!

 Our next song and music video, Done With Gravity, is coming along nicely.  We've done our first set of videotaping, and Robbie's been working with the video recordings in one of those fancy computer programs of his.  For the record all computer programs are fancy . . .

 Steven's been modeling a working 3D digital city, which looks amazing.  He's got some texturing left, but this stage is almost finished.  I can't wait to see how this works into the music video.  What's even cooler is that he can move around the buildings, zooming in and out at different angles.

I'm getting more and more excited about sharing this video with everyone.

The 4 C's = Curiosity, Creativity, Courage, and Charity

When I was in High School I had a fun little group with my friends called the PPPPA (the Poor Pathetic People of Porterville Association).  We would get together on Friday nights and watch old black and white movies.  Probably sounds a little lame, 

but it was fun.

Because of that I've since been obsessed with creating lists of words that all start with the same letter.  This time the 4 words are a list of values I want to model my life after.  Something to live towards and incorporate each day.

Curiosity

Albert Einstein said that "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."  And he also said "It's a miracle that curiosity survives formal education."  One of the brightest minds of this last century loves both curiosity and imagination.  I've always felt that it's better to be curious then smart, though being smart is good, it's limited.  Curiosity isn't limited; one discovery leads to another.  So each day I want to find something to be curious about and discover.

Creativity

Curiosity in many ways leads to creativity.  For me it's in writing and music composition, photography, and crafts.  There's a power in creativity, in letting a part of ourselves out, in creating something new, or simply rearranging something old.  Unfortunately I don't always set time each day to be creative, though I'm that sort of person who thrives by it.  It's pure joy.  Who doesn't want to embrace joy? . . . it's a bit frustrating as well when things aren't working out, or the mind's blocked, but that which is worth having must be worked towards.

Courage

"Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning." Winston Churchill.  I vow each day to find courage.  Courage to be myself.  Courage to embrace what's uncomfortable or terrifying, which, for me, usually means anything technological.  I vow to banish my inner demons and fully be the person I'm meant to be.

Charity

Charity is the last virtue, because it's the most important.  Charity is the pure love of Christ, and Charity never faileth.    Those last two phrases I've grown up hearing my entire life, and I believe it.  The most essential Christlike character we can learn to have is Charity, a combination of love and service, and who better understands love and service then our Lord and Savior who sacrificed all for us?  We are not him, but we can strive to be like him.  Sometimes we think serving others needs to be big; that that's the only type of service that's important, because it gets noticed.  All types of service is important, and the first place Charity should start is at home.  A kind act, a kind deed, a simple smile can mean the World to someone, and it's never wasted.

The Happy Hidden Spider

I hate spiders!  Hate, hate, hate them!  It all stems from my childhood when my Dad was watching "Arachnophobia" with my brother Michael and I present.  I don't think Michael ever recovered.

Still, when Steven showed me this YouTube video I couldn't help but laugh.

. . . I still don't like spiders . . .

The Ever Popular Hello Kitty

I guess this is the post where I admit I haven't grown up . . . 

Right before Christmas a dear Japanese family friend sent my Mom the above Hello Kitty on the left.  It was an incredible, most unexpected surprise.  The Hello Kitty on the right I got several years ago at a Sanrio store in the Mall. 

My first experience with Hello Kitty was in the first grade at Christmas.  I got a Hello Kitty backpack full of school supplies.  That day I became a fan, and that backpack went everywhere.

Now, I'm no fanatic or anything, but I do have a few token items I really enjoy, such as the original Hello Kitty perfume by Sephora.  It's fruity, yet sophisticated.  Honestly, Sephora has quite a collection of nice beauty products for us older fans.  And a few years ago MAC did a Hello Kitty cosmetics line.  

It almost seems like she's more popular now then when I was a kid.  She's everywhere, literally, and I get the feeling she ain't going away anytime soon.

It's kinda funny but my Mom, who didn't know I was already planning to write on this subject, got me the Honey Day gift below.  (A honey day gift is a gift you give a friend, family member, etc, on a day other then a holiday.)

Fun, sweet, and cute, she never gets old. 

Soft Flowing Rapids, An Original Poem

(By Maureen from Buffalo, USA)

 Soft Flowing Rapids

Upon a mountain top packed with snow

Where wind looks down on rocks below

Where nothings changed for months apply

I see myself in years gone by

The sun beats down and drops collect

And with each effort all are met

Slowly moving by and by

A life for me I have to find

I see another coming near

We join together and face this fear

With our strengths we form a team

Hope shines on our trying stream

A storm arrives, we separate

And then my heart begins to ache

A cliff arrives and I fall down

In the splash I will not drown

The rapids of life do crash and burn

And I am at loss for where to turn

Dear Heavenly Father up above

I know you're there with all your love

For in my thoughts I send this prayer

With my faith I have no fear

The Ocean shore I'll someday meet

Life right now is incomplete

I can wait through sun filled days

For life is joy in all its rays   

                 

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

Learning to Understand Bronies

Looking at the picture of this cake you would think the birthday that happened this last week was for one of my nieces.  If you assumed this you are wrong.  This cake was for my brother Michael, who is closer to 30 then 20.  Then you might assume that being the father of two little girls is starting to get to him . . . and you would be partially right.  Just partially, because there is a phenomenon sweeping the geeky nerd World that I don't yet understand.

You see, my brother is a Brony.  And what is a Brony?

(Taken from the Urban dictionary:)

The male, older fans of my little pony: friendship is magic.

Bronies internet convo=

Brony "yo man, you seen the new episode last night?"
Brony 2 "totally, midnight sparkle was the bomb with that friendship blast."

Micheal's a Brony.  Michael and Robbie's friends are Bronies, and I'm not talking gal friends, it's all their guy friends who love My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.  Robbie went to a friends birthday party and every one of his friends presents were my little pony gifts!  Shirts, toys, etc.  

So to enlighten my Mom and I, who still have a hard time believing the core audience of the new My Little Pony series are teenage/young adult guys, my brothers showed us the first two episodes of season one.  My Mom and I kept looking at each other in shock.  This show is what's causing this craze?  

Apparently, according to Robbie, the show really takes off after episode 13.  And I must say I do like the animation style.  A lot of animation these days are just plain bad ( *cough* Sponge Bob *cough*).  Back in my day we had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Darkwing Duck, Duck Tales, and a few other great kid shows. And I did watch the original My Little Pony, Strawberry shortcake, Care Bears, and Rainbow Bright.  I had it pretty good as a kid, so I am glad that the younger generation is getting quality, new animation.

I don't know, I need to see more episodes to decide if I'll become a fan.  Chances are I will, and I'm just avoiding the inevitable.  Though I got to say the below clip, with John de Lancie channeling Q through Discord, is pure awesome.

   Sarah

Alex Boye, Soulsaints, and LDC Sing Tribute Song

The beautiful song above is a Tribute Song for the Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown.  There's a lot of information under the YouTube information page, but 100% of the proceeds for downloading this song will be donated to the 

Emilie Parker Family Fund.  

You can download the song here: http://alexboye.redtouchmedia.com

And download to all Sandy Hook families here: http://www.newtown.uwwesternct.org

It's fun to note that the choir singing with Alex Boye and the Soulsaints in this video is called LDC (Latter-Day Celebration), the touring choir at the Orem Institute of Religion at Utah Valley University.

I sang with the choir for two years under the direction of Douglas Brenchley between 2002-2004.  I have many choice memories singing with this choir and made many choice friendships, so I was thrilled and amazed to see that it was LDC singing in this video.  Really exciting.

Singing in LDC during the Canada Tour

Having a fun brake during the LDC Moab Tour

Support Newtown, the families, and this beautiful music :0)

Stay Strong. You Are Enough.

 I got this bracelet last week after one of my Institute of Religion classes.  I wish I was one of those people who didn't doubt and is always full of optimism.  It's something I'm working on, but for the time being perfectionism and the need to get things right the first time still gets to me.  Patience is a virtue.

It's nice to be reminded that "we are enough," and to accept ourselves as we are.  Brush away those voices of criticism!  They're doing nothing but destruction.  Easier said then done, right?  But change is a process, and a constant reminder that we are beautiful just the way we are is always nice.

So I will now be wearing this gift of a reminder often.

When you feel like giving up, that all is lost, that you can't go on, or that there is no point because you'll just end up failing anyway, remember: 

"Stay Strong.  You Are Enough."

Exercises for the Snowed In

It snowed last night, and I've found that when it comes to sticking to an exercise routine and going to the gym, snow is one of the first things that stop me, especially at 6 a.m.  Some people don't mind driving in snow and ice, but I'll avoid it if I can.  So I workout at home on days I can't make it to the gym.  Here are some great, free online resources I've found:

For the Family:

Sparks People, at sparkspeople.com, is overall an amazing website for all things health and motivation.  There's a great, friendly community, but also recipes and articles on a variety of subjects.  And of course there is a video section with cardio, pilates, yoga, and ab workouts.  The site itself is a little overwhelming at first, but once you figure out where everything is, the website really is amazing.  It's worth checking out.   

For Guys (though there's good stuff for everyone)

Nerd Fitness: Level up your Life is a blog, but Steve shares some great health information, and he has a Free Resource section where he's put together workouts that have links to YouTube.  A really fun blog, and I love the Lego pics.  Here's a link to the videos.

For the Gals

A lot of Women Health magazines have workouts with videos and articles avaliable for free on their websites. 

Fitness Magazine has a nice variety of videos, and this is one of my favorite places to go.  They even have a short workout video called Cold Play: Your Winter Workout Plan.

Self is probably one of the more well known health magazines.  Here's a link to their workout section.  BTW, they have a lot of prizes and drawings, and it's never a bad idea to enter.  A couple months ago I randomly got a package through FedEx, and inside was a free workout DVD for a contest I forgot I entered.  That was pretty awesome.      

Shape Magazine has some great workouts.  I need to try the Fat-Blasting Rebounding Routine.  I love my mini trampoline, and Rebounding workouts are really good for you.  I know it looks silly, but it really is a great workout.

Youtube

I discovered the Mahalo channel when I was searching for Tap dance videos, where they have a great series.  Honestly, they have series for just about anything you want to learn.  They have a couple Fitness playlists, and here is one of their videos: 

And if you want to dance here's a Tap video (link to all):

There's Hip-Hop as well, if you want to check that out.

Have fun!

Sarah

Movin' Right Along

Movin' Right Along from The Muppets.

Sometimes I feel just like this!  The first Muppet Movie is still the best.

Sailor Neptune's Mirror in Real Life

I regard the above mirror as a family heirloom.  It's not that old, yet it is very special.  My Mom found it in 1987 at a French flea market in Paris.  I was five when she brought this back, so it's part of my childhood.  Often I would go into my Mom's room just to look at it, and because I loved it so much she gave it to me.

Fast forward to the year 2000.  My last semester of High School was when I was first introduced to anime through Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.  Escaflowne and Card Captors were running on Fox, though I don't think the English versions ever finished their run.  Then there was Cartoon Network with their Toonami lineup.  Thanks to Toonami I was introduced to my favorite--and still overall favorite anime--Gundam Wing.  But Toonami was also responsible for introducing American audiences to Sailor Moon.

Of course I got obsessed, which included getting the manga (Japanese comics) as well.  While reading I discovered something quite extraordinary: Sailor Neptune had my Mom's mirror!  The details are so close that Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi had to have had one of her own, which she modeled Neptune's mirror on.

It's fun to think that a 1987 treasure from France was imitated in a famous anime/manga.  While searching for pictures I found the below image, which is the first time since 2000 I found someone else with the mirror, so I'm not the only person who thinks this!      

 (Source Info)

 (Source Info)

 (Source Info)

Overly silly, I know, but I've always found this quite fun.  BTW, Sailor Moon is behind one of the worst mistakes I made in college.  There is a live-action version of the show called Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.  I found it during the first week of one of my college semesters, and I managed to watch all 49 episodes in 4 days.  -_-;; I went to class, but got behind in my class work.  It was sadly addicting.  

On another note my niece LE learned a very sad truth on New Years Eve: Manga are not coloring books.

Sarah

Must See Series: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

(The Young Indiana Jones is on Netflix)

Watching that trailer makes me want to watch the show all over again!

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, 1992-1996, has got to be one of the best series to ever grace the small screen.  It always amazes me how few people have actually seen it, and those who haven't are missing out.  The storytelling is fun and adventurous, and the production quality is incredibly high, so high that the show's expensive budget got the series canceled.  Young Indiana Jones traveled the World, and the show was filmed on location in many countries. 

     (All the Countries the "Young Indiana Jones" visits.  Source Info)

The show lasted for two seasons from 1992-1993.  Then in 1994-1996, four made for television movies were produced.  In 1999 all the material was then re-edited into 22 episodes, which is found in the box-sets.  The show starts out with Corey Carrier playing Indiana Jones (ages 8-10), but by the end of the first volume Sean Patrick Flanery plays Indiana Jones (ages 16-21) for the rest of the series, and he makes a fantastic Indiana Jones!  He really does . . . I'm tempted to say I like him more then Harrison Ford.  No, I can't say that!  Sean Flanery does the role justice.  By the way, Harrison Ford did guest star in the Jazz themed episode "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues".

If you can afford the box-sets they're worth the investment.  Each episode is pared with quite a few mini documentaries which talk about the culture Indiana Jones visits and the famous people he meets, and Jones meets many famous people.  I'm pretty sure Norman Rockwell and Picasso never met in Paris, but it's still fun.

Oh, and that 4th Indiana Jones movie about the Crystal Skulls, turns out the crystal skulls were supposed to be a plot point in a season 3 episode.  It makes me wonder: If season 3 got produced, would there have been an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?  Some series should never be canceled . . .  

What's in a Size?

(An example of a size chart I found online)

"Ladies, throw out your scales! Weighing yourself every day is as stupid as a man measuring his 'manhood' every morning. I'm not going to do it anymore. Instead of beating myself up for the 10 things I didn't do, I'm going to appreciate the two things I did do. I'm going to start celebrating myself." 

~ Wyonna Judd

She's got a point!  

 

I will be weighing myself for the 8-week challenge I'm doing, it's a good way to stay focused, but there is a problem with us women and how obsessed we are with numbers. 

 

Numbers are everywhere!  On the scale, measuring tape, calories we eat, how many steps we're supposed to walk each day, ounces of water, number of vegetables, number of fruit, etc, etc, etc, etc . . . 

 

Am I the only one who's spent a week working out and got on the scale, only to see the number not reflect what I feel I earned?  The number goes up, I eat a treat for feeling depressed.  The number goes down and I eat a treat as a reward . . . I've done that.  Shows why I've had a hard time losing weight.  Problem is I've let the scale determine my mood and my value.  It's stupid, but it's happened more times then I can count.  Regardless, it's hard to walk that fine balance line, because weighing oneself is a good measurement for progress. 

 

You know what's not a good progress measurement?  Clothing sizes . . . and thus enters what I really want to write about.  Clothing sizes!  They infuriate me.  Men are smart; their sizes are based on inches and length.  Us women?  We go by 0,2,4,6,8,10,12,14, and there is nothing definite about it.  No size 8's are created equal.  

 

Nothing annoys me more then fashion/popular magazines declaring the sizes of celebrities.  So and so is a size 2.  This person here, a size 6.  We look at that and quickly relate to what we view as a size 2 or 6, and that's determined by what brands we wear and where we shop.  I have some pants that fit nicely that are a size 8, and some of my size 12s don't fit quite right.  So what am I?  A size 8 or a size 12?  Neither and both, at the same time.  

 

And then there's the Marilyn Monroe paradigm.  We've heard for years that she was between a size 12-16, and that immediately makes us normal women feel better about ourselves.  Then the hard, cold reality hits when a different set of numbers pop up: 35"-22"-35".  (Bust, Waist, Thighs) Those are Marilyn Monroe's measurements according to her dress maker.  I'm the same height as Marilyn Monroe, standing at 5 foot 5 1/2 inches, and I can tell you I have no 22" waist!  Nor do I ever hope to have one . . . unless I plan on removing a couple ribs, which, trust me, will never happen.  I'm a slave to my genetics and body type, and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

Yet why is it said that Marylin was between a size 12-16?  Vanity sizes, and we women are ruled by vanity.  It's the value in numbers, and our need to find value in them.  Walk into store A and try on a size 10 jean, get depressed and thus wonder into store B where their size 8's fit perfectly, only to then buy those second pants just to declare a size 8.  It's impossible to lose that much weight on a short walk.  So what happened?  Vanity.  

 

Vanity and numbers.

 

There's no trusting sizes, and it's silly for us to find value in them.  Size doesn't matter as long as the clothes fit right.  Wearing the correct size is quite slimming.

 

So is there any value we can find in numbers?  

 

Yes, and one simple way is by grabbing that tape measure and measuring yourself, checking every few weeks.  The scale works, but only when you take muscle into account.  Muscle weighs more then fat, and so if you're strength training and losing inches, but not weight, the increased muscle is an easy explanation.  Strength training is a must.  Increased muscle tone doesn't just look great, but it revs up metabolism as well: Win win.  

 

And there are measurements in time and distance.  Being able to finish a full 50 minutes spinning class when 20 minutes were unbearable a few months before, or being able to finish a 5k when a couple laps were once deemed tough.  

 

Though I will be weighing myself now and then, I vow never to allow the size of a dress, shirt, or pant to determine how I feel about myself.  I will not be ruled by those numbers!  I'm worth more then that.

 

Sarah          

Wide-eyed Wonder, An Original Poem

(Public Domain)

Wide-eyed Wonder

Andrew sits near the window frame to see the night wind blow

The golden leaves, the light spun silk dance merrily to and fro

Above the skies a wizard flies

A banshee laughs with glee

A sprite finds mischief down the moor

A spirit cease to be

Time for bed, Mother said, and tuckered out he came

A white knight hides

A Princess sleeps

A dragon quickly flees

All is gone, safe away, so you can never see

The World outside is calm

Nothing makes a sound

A World of secrets veiled

Nothing to be found

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

Glow Stick Party

 My Mom came up with the most ingenious idea for our Christmas Eve Party: Glow sticks.  She ventured into the dollar store, which has an amazing variety, and bought up a whole lot of wands, sticks, necklaces, rings, balls, etc.

 Even the Grandma's got into the fun.

 We turned on the soundtrack to Tron and danced around, which is the best music for any glow-in-the-dark party.

 It was such a huge hit that we threw another glow stick party for New Years.  The second time I went with my Mom to the dollar store, and it was amazing how much product we were able to buy for only $20.

 My Dad took all these photos.  The love of photography runs in the family.

These pictures are a compilation from both parties, each party had a different side of the family in attendance.  Everyone had a blast.  My brothers, sister-in-law, and I have decided we need to do this again soon, spontaneously going to the dollar store and buying more glow sticks, which our local store said they keep in stock.  I hope a nice assortment will always be available.  It was a lot of fun.