Whirlwind!

Wow- these past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Seems like I've barely had time to take a breath. I've been gone almost every single weekend in February and so far in March. There has been choir trip after choir trip. First we took the quartets to a festival in NAU and I had Ari and the boys come along with me because we had to take two vans, since we couldn't get the big one. Ari was a trooper and holed up with the boys in the hotel room while we were participating in the festival. One of my students was really sick and we worried a lot about her the whole weekend. In fact, that night I gave her a blessing, and some friends up in Flagstaff brought her some medicine and food that they thought would help her condition. They were so nice to help us out like that.

Kodee loved to use Jaxon as a pillow in the hotel.

They did a great job, but because of the music I chose (more vocal point style then true jazz) the jazz clinician marked us down, or I believe we would have gotten a superior. I definitely learned a lot from this first year going. The kids bonded and are now all best friends, so if anything- it was true success for that very reason.

Ari had heard about a restaurant that was just featured on the food network in Flag, so we had to try it and it was amazing!! They had the best pineapple/jabenero salsa, and stuffed sopapillas. Everyone LOVED it!

The boys had such a blast with the students. Especially Tyler. He ran them up and down the hallway at the hotel, and they were LOVING it! I'm glad they got to know them better.


Following that weekend, we had regionals. I took the students to Tucson and it just so happens I was sick as a dog. I had a really bad flu bug, and couldn't keep anything down. I also had a fever, and that night I spent in the hotel was one of the worst. It really stinks to be all by yourself when you are sick like that. I feel so bad because during the rehearsals on Friday I just stayed in an adjoining room off of the side of the choir and slept, pretty much the whole day. On Saturday it got much worse, to the point where I had to call Ariana to come to Tucson and pick me up. We had taken a bus there, so I had no mode of transportation. Being the sweetheart she is, she jumped right in the van and came and got me. I honestly don't remember much about that weekend, the music, or the instruction from the director. It really stunk, because I wanted to learn a lot from her as I had my own all-state weekend to direct on the horizon. . . . The kids told me it was an amazing performance and one of the best regionals ever.

The next few days were miserable. Luckily we had a Monday off for Presidents' day, but this is when Ariana's cold to end all colds happened. She got the worst sinus infection I've ever seen that last almost 3 weeks. The poor girl couldn't taste or smell for over 2 weeks, during that time the boys got bad colds and coughs, and I just couldn't shake this fever/flu bug. It really was not a good time at our house. I tried to keep going and tough through it, but man was it hard. Thankfully that's all behind us.

While we were dealing with that, I was getting Taste of Sound ready for their big Hollywood/Disneyland trip. They had so much work to do. I took them to a Fame Show Choir Competition in Hollywood on March 4-7th. I had to leave Ari still a little sick. Thank heaven's for our neighbors the Jones'. They have become family to us, and we do not know what we would do without them! We love you guys! That was the only way I felt ok leaving Ari so sick with the boys. Luckily she had started taking antibiotics.

We left on a Thursday around 5:30 am. Karen Scott, Jody Peck, and Ellen Iske all chaperoned with me. I owe them big time! They were wonderful. We arrived in Cali around 3 or so (because we lost an hour) and we had some downtime to unwind, and get ready for the night. We had a nice dinner at Buca di Beppo, family style, and it was really fun. The kids even sang some of their songs in the restaurant, that's always fun on choir trips! Then we went to Downtown Disney and window shopped for a few hours.

Raring to go see Cali!


I really liked this cookie!



The Lego store was a big hit! Amazing!

The next morning we were up bright and early ready for California Adventure! It didn't open for a few hours so we decided to go take a tour of a non-denomintation christian church called the Crystal Cathedral. We were even able to sing some songs inside, it was pretty darn cool.

The whole crew and our awesome bus driver, Don!

When we got to California Adventure, we split up with our buddies and dispersed all over the park. We had a fun group- the Pecks, Scotts, and some of their friends. We rode the Tower of Terror first, it was fun to get a rise out of my student Summer. . .she was so scared. To be honest, so was I, but I loved it. I feel like I've been waiting forEVER to ride that ride! It did not disappoint. We loved the Califrornia Screamer roller coaster as well. The Bug's Life land was awesome, and Soaring Over California was INCREDIBLE. It's a virtual reality ride, and you can smell the scents of where they fly you over.

The kids performed in the park and did a great job. There's nothing like performing on a Disney stage in Disneyland. We had a nice crowd too.

We then rode the Grizzly Rapids, and I don't think I've ever laughed harder in my life (at least in a long time.) It felt so good. The whole time, Summer and I were trying to stay out of the water and the splashes, but by doing so, ended up wetter then everyone else!

I loved seeing the production of Aladdin. It was AMAZING- definitely Broadway worthy, and the Genie was so darn funny. I love how all of his jokes were so relevant with today's pop culture.

My favorite part of the park was Disney's World of Color, the ending show over Ariel's Grotto/harbor. The music, the lights, the colors, the fountains, the fire, the projection, the ferris wheel- all was SO AMAZING! It's incredible what they are able to think of and DO!

Practicing their screaming faces with no sound so they wouldn't lose their voices.


we rode the California Screamer trying to make Model Faces the whole time. . . made you kinda not enjoy the ride cause I was concentrating on my face too much.









We were so tired that night, but had a big, early morning ahead of us the next day. We woke up around 5:30, 6, so we could be ready and over to Hollywood for our competition. I had to exude SO MUCH energy to get the kids raring to go. I literally had to fight with them to put on makeup, and do their hair. But once we were at the Orpheum theater they were amped and ready. We were the 3rd choir to compete, and everyone told me that we were their favorite up until that point. But after us . . .the competition really begin. I've never seen such incredible show choir sets in my whole life. They literally must have spent thousand and thousands to be able to do what they do. I was so proud of us for carrying through with what we did. The kids literally gave the best performance of their life, and that's all that I asked for. I was SO proud!

Though we didn't win any awards, we definitely learned and became a tighter, better group.



Biggest pizza slices ever, on Hollywood Blvd. (with Summer and Shaylin)

We came home on Sunday and I was so excited to see the boys and Ari. They were so fun to watch open their Disneyland gifts!

Jaxon got a "bubble gun" and Kodee got a Buzz light year laser gun

Ari got a Minnie Mouse snuggie!

Kodee modeling the baby's disneyland gift. . .so cute




The next weekend was All-state! My high school kids tried out on Friday night, then I was in charge of directing the Jr. High All-State all day on Saturday. I didn't realize how much I was building up the pressure for this event. But Friday night I tossed and turned because I was so nervous. A friend let me stay at their house so I'd have peace and quiet to collect my thoughts. (they were out of town! Thanks Emily and Yasser!)

I arrived at Higley ready to do my thing- and I turned on the energy 120% I don't think I relaxed until after the closing note of the concert. When I first heard the students sing at 8:30 in the morning I was worried. They didn't appear to know their music too well, or confidently, and I felt I had some major results to produce. The students rehearsed like a dream and responded so well to me. I'd tell them to do something once, and they'd remember it for the rest of the rehearsal process. And they all sang like they wanted to be there, and were giving their best. I LOVED it! I shared many touchy feely stories (Dr. Lunt style:) and the messages I hoped to get across to them definitely took root. I definitely think this is one of my greatest professional accomplishments up to this point. The concert was AMAZING! The students performed their hearts out and all the parents were so pleased with the results. I felt like I was mobbed with compliments after the concert. (A good problem to have.)

Ari was able to come and watch after her awesome baby shower that Jenny put on for her. NeeNee helped her, but wasn't able to attend because of a family event! She got some very cute baby items. A student's parents picked her up to take her to the All State concert so she could travel home with me. Joanna, Jim, and Kim were also able to come and ate at the Olive Garden with all of us and my Safford students following the concert. It was so much fun. We also got the baby a new pink car seat before heading home!! We're getting pretty excited!


Bring on the baby gifts. Neenee stopped by before the big all state weekend to give Ari some of her gifts. She was pretty excited as you can see!




Jenny's refreshments at the shower



The gal of the hour


Cute dresses from Amber Halversen







Sunday I was DEAD! Ari said Jaxon was pretty excited to see me sleeping in my bed and said, "Mommy!!!! Daddy' here!" How sad is that?? I've been gone way to much for that to be the highlight of his day. Luckily we had 3-6 church, so I was able to get some of my battery recharged. But I literally felt like I had been through a battle- of directing. I'm sore in places I didn't think possible, all from flailing my arms about!:)

I can't believe how much the boys are talking after missing a few weekends with them. Jaxon is non stop chatter- why did we ever want this?:) Kodee's not far behind. He's so cute- he loves "toaster" (i.e. toast). Jaxon was eating some banana bread in sacrament meeting yesterday and Kodee started saying "want toaster. . . want toaster!!!" getting louder and louder. Finally he found the bag of bread and made it happen- he's getting good at that. Also at making our house look like a disaster area!




One of Jaxon's many creations he makes on a regular basis- he's so particular about the symmetry.


Now we have two concerts to get through- Middle school on Tuesday, and then High School on Thursday. . .then it's SPRING BREAK BABY!! So excited!

Thanks for taking part in this journey/saga/epic month of our lives!!