Grandma and Pappi + Mary Poppins

My parents were in town for a short 3 days, and we had so much fun while they were here.  They only get to come 2 times a year, and have to divide their vacation time between all of us 6 kids who live in 3 different states.  They flew in from Utah (after being there only 3 days) on Wednesday night and flew out to California to see my other sister Abby and husband Jake.  From there they will fly in to Las Vegas and then head back to the Bahamas for another six months or so.  While they were here, they went shopping and we ate out at their favorite AZ restaurants (yep, not to be found in the Bahamas).

 Collin and Coach Tom

Today, they came with us to Collin's last basketball game of the season, which was a treat for them, because they never have that option where they live.  They were just so excited to see all the kids running around on the court.  Grandma and Pop came and watched too.  It was a fun game, and Collin was a great guard!  He was lucky to have both sets of grandparents there for his last game.  After that it was close enough to lunch, so we all went to Gecko Grill.  Yum!

Then it was time to head the Gammage to watch the Mary Poppins Broadway musical (minus Maddie).  It was the kids' first time to watch a Broadway musical on stage!  We left Maddie with my parents, then Grandma Lorraine after they left to go home.

This stage production had award-winning actors who performed the London production of Mary Poppins, so we have no other words to describe than it was such a great, spectacular show, with awesome light and stage effects. Collin and Allie were blown away with all the magical things Mary Poppins did on the stage.  I was impressed!  Every time Mary Poppins was on stage, I was watching really closely to see if anything "magical" would happen, and the show didn't disappoint!

We all liked the big purse Mary had, out of which she pulled out a coat rack/hanger, a 4-ft plant, a wall mirror, pillows, blankets, and a table lamp, of all things.  Then the kids liked how the drawers turned into a bed, Mary Poppins sliding up the stairs, flying around the stage, and the chimney sweep Bert walking around the perimeter of the stage, 90 degrees sideways, upside down, and then back upright again. 

It was the coolest thing I have ever seen (probably even more than Mary Poppins' flying).  Then there were little things like the cake frosting itself and growing twice its height, and shelves and kitchen table "un-breaking" and straightening themselves out.  Or the bird that flew out of Mary Poppins hand and into the audience, the stars flying out of the stage into the audience, simulated rain, or Corry's shop that had the magical jar of letters.  Of course, their rendition of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was spectacular!  Collin wants to watch the movie again now that he's seen the real musical, and we all do too.   I think the next time the show comes on tour, we will all definitely watch it again!