Christmas Light Tour

Hey kids,
Daddy here. One of my favorite things to do every year is drive around Redding and look at the Christmas lights. This year the Mansfield clan finally decided to try something new, a Christmas tree light tour in a limo with our friends the Reagans and the Larsons. We met up at the Reagan's house and had some appetizers and then loaded everybody onto the limo. We drove all around Redding and even met Santa!

 After the tour was over, we headed back to the Mansfield abode and had some dessert. There was a lot of eating, talking, playing and laughing. Just another great adventure in our lives. I'm glad to have been able to share it with the Reagans and the Larsons. I love you guys,

Daddy

STAR WARS!!

Hey kids,
Daddy here. Ever since I was a kid, the Star Wars saga have been some of my favorite movies of all time and when I heard they were adding on to that saga with Star Wars Episode VII:The Force Awakens, I was totally excited albeit a little cautious. After watching a preview I became totally hooked and you guys did too. We started talking about when we would have the possibility to go see it knowing that it would be hard if not impossible to get tickets the day of or even the weekend of. 

A few months ago, Cagle had the bright idea to rent out an entire theater and give tickets away on the radio to be a part of this massive event. The theater agreed and decided to sell us an entire showing at 7 p.m. the night before the movie was to be released. I asked Cagle then if there was any possibility that I could get in to see the showing and he said only if I agreed to work it. Which of course I did. I began to beg more and more for tickets so you guys could join me, but Cagle said the tickets were very limited and I probably wouldn't be able to bring anyone let alone two other people. On Monday of this week that rule was still in effect, but Cagle said I could have one extra ticket. With the impossible choice of having to pick between Alex and Jacob I couldn't choose one of you over the other so I decided to take Mom. However, after a major plot twist, Cagle  came up with a third ticket so that all three of us could go.

I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get home and tell you guys and your reaction was everything I thought it would be.

So, Alex had to get through one day of finals and Jake had to get through one day at school. Last night, after I got off work I headed home and pick you up and we turned right back around and headed to the theater, tickets in hand excitement in head and ready to go.  When we got there, we saw a huge, gigantic long line leading out of the theater Alex asked me, "Dad do we have to wait in that line?" I said, "No, we're with the radio station." We walked right up to the ticket counter and Emily, our promotions director, walked us right into the theater.  We got some great seats. Before the movie, Billy and Patrick, Jake Easy and I all got up in front of the crowd to thank them for joining us and I did my stupid Wookie roar. I sat down with you guys and we prepared ourselves for episode VII.

It was awesome! It was epic! It was, dare I say, legendary! Too much to recap in the blog and by the time you read this you probably will have seen it 246 times. But never forget the first time: in the theater with me. I know I won't. It was a tremendous experience and I love that we all got to see it together for the first time. I love you guys,

Daddy

Madrigal

Hey kids,
Daddy here. As Alex is in High School now, he's had an awesome opportunity to take part in the Shasta High presentation of Madrigal. Since Al made it in as a freshman, I sure hope that he'll do it all four years. There are four performances during the week, but Mom and I decided the best for us was to go on Friday. So, we sent Jake and Iz to the Reagans and met Grammie, Papa, Tia, Uncle PP, and Great grandma Dorthy at the event. I was the last to get there, so when I entered they asked me how I wanted to be introduced and I said, "Uhh, Mr. Mansfield." They asked, "Lord Mansfield?" to which I was all, "ABSOLUTELY!!" That has a nice ring to it, don't ya think?! Anyway, I had the privilege to enter with Duchess Moty so there was a big fanfare when we walked in. I sat down next to Mom and the night got under way.
I'm not usually a fan of dinner theater type of stuff, but this was outstanding! I mean, I don't think I can even express how proud, impressed, and flat out blown away I was by the presentation, charisma, and overall professionalism of the entire thing. Al, Arjan and our other table servers were helpful, charming, funny and kept us entertained during the times when the performance was not happening.

When it was, the singing was awesome, I loved how the voices melded beautifully together. I loved how they'd sing strong, then soft and back and forth. The different bands sounded great & the dancers were majestic. The actors were all very impressive. My favorite was the Jester, she was incredible. Mertinsire was also very funny and really sold his part. The Wassail was tasty and the gummie worms in our salad was funny (and tasty). The Cornish game hen was cooked perfectly and was delicious. When the figgy pudding came, I was told to wait for the caramel sauce. I'm glad I did, as OMG that sauce! Per Al's instruction, I HAD to put it on a roll and try that too. I actually thought it was better on the figgy pudding, but that darn sauce would make packing peanuts taste good so it was still good. Mom got an after dinner tea, and I got a coffee.
The Jester's story changes from night to night, so she had to be good at improv, which she was. So our story called for her to rap and she killed it! When the story had concluded I was a bit sad, as everything was done so well, I didn't want the night to end. But eventually, they bid us all adieu and we had to head home. We all took a few moments to thank the different people we thought did such a great job.
Our family headed out and Mom went to get Jake and Iz from the Reagan's. I took Al home and I hope I was able to convey my immense pride. I was completely astounded by how good it was. I told Mom later that if we had paid $100 for that and gone to see grown adults do it, that's the kind of quality I'd expect. I'm so proud of you Alex. I know how hard you worked the last month with all the practices and having to stay up late to get all you homework done. I hope you feel like it was all worth it, because that was a very special night for Mom and I to see you involved in something that great. I love you guys,

Daddy