…..Kasie playing air hockey   (I had to fight to keep this picture from being deleted)

-NatetheGreat

Do my eyes deceive me…

You know knitting is manly when Gaston does it!

In a white heat of inspiration last night, I wrote these wacky lyrics to go along with the pictures. And if you think they are lame, you should look up the real song and compare!

No one’s slick as Gaston, no one knits like Gaston
No one’s scarf is incredibly thick as Gaston’s

For there’s no man in town half as manly, why you should just see him cast-on
You can ask any Tom, Dick, or Stanely, and they’ll tell you whose team they prefer to be on

No one pokes like Gaston, no one ropes like Gaston
No one likes to peer down through his “scopes” like Gaston
When I’m knitting here, yes I’m intimidating, my what a guy that Gaston!

Give five hurrahs, give twelve hip-hips
Gaston is the best, and his vests they all fit!

No one could quite “cast-on”, quite as good as Gaston
No one makes scarves and mittens and hoods like Gaston
For there’s no one as nifty or crafty, “As you see I’ve got needles to spare”
Not a bit of him sissy  or daffy (that’s right)
And I’ll even make something that’s dashing to wear

No one’s quick as Gaston, making mits like Gaston
In a knitting club nobody fits like Gaston
“I’m especially good at my blanket-making”
Oooh! Ten points for Gaston!

When I was a lad I knit 4 times a day, every morn so I wouldn’t get bored
And now that I’m old I knit 5 times a day
And my fans keep on asking for more!

Who has brains like Gaston? Has the skeins like Gaston?
Keeps on making up endless refrains like Gaston?
And his expertise we will be celebrating,
My what a guy, Gaston!

The best part of our vacation on the Outer Banks was, of course, being reunited with family, doing everything together (you should have seen our dinner time!). It was everything we wished for! I think each of us came home with priceless memories we’ll keep with us for a long time. The plan is to have another reunion in three years, then after that every four years (to put ourselves on an Olympic schedule ). I wonder if we’ll be going to the beach for our next one? Time to start planning!

These are some of my favorite pictures of family members during our wonderful week together. And yes, this is most likely the last post in our Outer Banks series, so enjoy!

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Thanks, guys, for such an awesome time! Love you!

-Kasie

How can you vacation on the Outer Banks – a land practically made of sand -  and not want to see and play on some sand dunes? And I mean the big, big sand dunes.

We decided to do just that, 0n one of the fair weathered days we had during our family reunion. Pictures tell the rest!

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-Kasie

News release! Angie and Kasie Willis have been selected to play the part of village women in Beauty and the Beast. The Willis sisters and over 200 amateur actors, singers and dancers auditioned for a nerve-wracking two days each vying for a part in the classic musical.116 were cast. Angie has decided to share her experience – which she continues to term a blast.

Kasie and I jumped on the chance to audition for parts in Beauty and the Beast (it having been  Kasie’s favorite movie back in the day, mine it was a close second after Cinderella) Upon arrival at the theater we were handed out application forms to fill out (personal info, plus acting experience, roles we would prefer, etc.), and then we were given a number.

A far cry from singling out contestants once by one on the stage, these auditions were group oriented and very calming and enjoyable. Different groups, say from numbers 1-40 would gather round the piano, exercise their voices and then sing together and then one line separately. We were also taught a simple dance routine (so the directors could see who could move and who couldn’t)

The second day of auditions got even better. 5 girls besides Kasie and I, and 5 guys were called after everybody else had read lines or sang again. This time the directer called us “Belles and Beasts”! I couldn’t help but get excited. The directer made sure that each of us sang as a duet with one of the “Beasts”. After my audition the vocal director approached me and asked with a sigh, “Are you sure than you don’t want to be Belle?  This is a kissing role! (The day before I had made an extra note regarding kissing) I looked at her hopelessly, and pleaded “Is there any way to get around it?”

The vocal director just chuckled in disbelief, and from that moment I knew I wouldn’t get the part of Belle!

All the same, it was a long wait wondering if we would get any parts at all.We we so thankful a few days later when we found out that we were village women. Hurrah! It’s the chorus people who get all the fun with no pressure involved.

We had our first rehearsal last week. (Next time I promise we’ll have pictures!) I play the “Sausage Curl Girl”, and Kasie plays a shopper. My lines ( in the first scene) are: “Bonjour!” (the 4th one), “Good day”, and “Never part of any crowd…” as well as the group parts. It is already so much fun to be behind the scenes of Beauty and the Beast!

Coming up in the next couple of months, rehearsal pictures, and one of my favorite aspects of theater, costumes!

We love you so much!