Roadshow

The roadshow last night was so amazing. Wow. The youth in our ward and the 6th ward had been working so hard for the past three months and it showed. My favorite parts were the Goths getting a Tango lesson from the Elderly couple and Josh Taylor as the Veteran with the nerds. And of course, Kalli was amazing...she has grown so much the past three months. I was so proud of how well she sang. I really want to make sure she gets some voice training and lots of opportunities to develop her talent.
So, this is what the roadshow was about: A young teenager, Jordan, is attending a new school and is a little nervous. She goes to her class and sings about how this is her moment and she is going to do her best at her new school. Then she gets pushed off her chair and called a loser. The teacher, Mrs. Tanner, tells the class of their project of going to a senior center and interview some of the seniors there and report on it. There are three seniors that are showcased in the roadshow: The elderly couple who used to ballroom dance and teach the Goths the tango (Jordan doesn't do very well and her partner towers over her!), Ruthanne the southern New Orleans singer who visits with the athletes and then a war veteran who talks about the entertainment in the war to the Nerds. Jordan meanwhile is trying to figure out where she fits in as she goes from group to group. The groups are the nerds, goths, and athletes (jocks and cheerleaders). At first they don't like her but as the roadshow goes along, they accept her. At the end, Jordan sings about how we can all fit in together and she sings, "We Believe" which was the theme of the roadshow this year. This song that I downloaded was Kalli singing the last song. She did a beautiful job. I couldn't get the video to download but it is on my facebook. here are some pics getting ready for roadshow instead.
I recorded this one at the third church that they performed so she was getting tired. She felt like her best performance was the second place they performed and luckily that was where her extended family watched her. So that is nice they could see her best performance. It was fun to drive the kids from church to church but I was sad that I couldn't sit and watch all the others. I did pieces of the Stonewood wards and there were some fun ones but I really think they did the best roadshow. It was a great script and the kids performed it so excellently. I hope they do a roadshow again next year. I know it was a lot of work but hopefully, it was worth it. =)

Roadshow rehearsal

The youth had their dress rehearsal tonight and since I was wrestling boys, I couldn't take as many movies as I wanted but here is a little sneak peak of Kalli. I am so excited for her to perform in the roadshow! She is going to do great! I wish I had her courage on stage. She goes into character and forgets to be nervous. That is not me at all. Anyway, enjoy!I uploaded it the first time and there was no sound so I tried it again. I hope it works so you can hear her sing!

New Principal next year

Change is hard but I have often found that it is good. It is always a growing experience but I go into it kicking and screaming. This post is not about a growing experience for me but someone else. We just got a new bishopric and stake presidency and now I find out that next year we will get a new principal at the elementary school. Barry Beckstrand has been principal at Westmore since Kalli was in preschool (well actually he was the TSA when she was in preschool and then the next year, Kathy Porter left to go work at the district and Mr. Beckstrand became principal) So he was been there for a long time. Kalli is going to junior high next year anyway but I still have three boys going through the elementary school.
Mr. Beckstrand told us the news at our Community Council meeting today and that is yet another reason why I like to be on the council. I know what is going on at the school. Mr. Beckstrand told us that the district has assigned him to be the new principal of a new elementary school opening in Saratoga Springs next Fall. This will be an exciting opportunity for him and a lot of work. I am excited for him but we will miss him so much. I think it is so great that he is being so positive and he is a good example to me to accept change gracefully.
So we should find out who the next principal of Westmore will be in March or April. I will keep you posted when I find out. My first instinct when I heard Mr. Beckstrand's news was to quit community council next year but now that I have had time to think things over, I want to get to know the new principal and stay informed with what is happening at Westmore. I also volunteered to chair the Take Home Library next year and help Mrs. Nielsen. I am very excited to do this but it means I am spread even thinner. I have a lot on my plate now but I feel like I am able to juggle the balls, so to speak, right now so I think as long as I don't take on any more new projects, I will be okay.

Exciting Sunday!

So this morning in church, I knew we were getting our new bishopric because the new stake presidency was there and I noticed that our 2nd Counselor, Br. Grover had family there...hmmmmm. Keith and Lacey Wilson sat behind us in church and Keith mentioned that he thought Br. Grover would be the new bishop and he was right. Kael was supposed to give a talk today and he was relieved when they told him he was off the hook today. (He found out about it last night so he really didn't have that much time to prepare.) So the new bishopric is Bishop Thomas Grover, 1st counselor, Jeff Wilde and 2nd Counselor Brad Frandsen (who is the Elder's quorum president). I think that these men are really good men and will do a great job. I know it must feel overwhelming to serve in these callings, but all three of these men are such caring, capable people and I know that they are in the calling that they are supposed to be in. It is always amazing to me how the Lord knows each of us and knows what callings we need to grow and progress and to also help others. I'm not only speaking of them but of me as I feel that I have grown a lot this year in my calling in the Primary.
I am encouraged by our progress with our little sunbeams as they did so much better today! It is hard to sit quietly and it is such a change from nursery and I'm so proud of how these little ones are getting it. We just need to keep at it and try our best each and every week. I love all the children in the primary so much and I am so glad that I can serve them.

Klondike and roadshow rehearsals

So just some random thoughts tonight. Kael went on the Klondike tonight which is a scout winter campout. He had his coat packed in his backpack and as I watched him walk to the church to meet the other boys in his short-sleeve T-shirt, I just shook my head. I saw what he packed, which in my opinion wasn't enough warm clothes and wondered how he does it. I guess I am just spoiled. I have a hard time camping in the warm months. I don't like sleeping on the hard ground with a rock sticking in my back and I like to be warm. I have a hard enough time getting warm at home with my rice bag and several blankets, I can't imagine being comfortable camping in the winter. Can you tell I've never been a scout? Well, I hope he stays safe and has fun.
Last night, we went to the church and watched the youth in their dress rehearsal for the roadshow. I am so excited for performance night next week! I think they are going to be awesome! It was so much fun. Scott had class last night so I brought the three younger boys who did better than I thought they would. I thought I would be chasing them around the entire night but they were interested in what was going on. Plus Tamara Hansen was there too and helped me so much by holding Aaron while I held Ammon. I am so impressed with the work the youth and the youth leaders have put into the roadshow and I think they are going to do so wonderful!
Well, it is dinner time and we are having BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and rice-a-roni. Recipe, of course, to follow on my food blog.

Aidan's new room

So the past week or two, Ammon keeps joining us in bed and I cannot sleep with kids in my bed so I end up on the couch. Scott and I are both getting sick of this especially since a couple of those nights, we both took turns taking him back to bed and tucking him in and a couple of hours, he would just come back!!! Well, my theory is he is just uncomfortable in his little toddler bed and is just growing out of it. So, what to do?


We moved Aidan downstairs to our "playroom" ( the family room in the basement) and now Aaron and Ammon will sleep in the bunkbed upstairs. It is nice to not have all three of my boys crammed into one room. Maybe with Ammon in a bigger bed, he will stay there and we will get more sleep at night!

Stake Conference

This weekend has been a wonderful one for me. It was a good reminder of things that I need to work on better and it was also to feel the spirit so strongly all weekend. I was able to attend all three session of stake conference. The first one was Saturday afternoon which was the leadership session (it was 2 hours). Then I stayed to practice for the stake choir which I was so happy to be a part of. Then the adult session started at 7 p.m. It was so fun to sing in the choir with some of my siblings. I got to sit by my sister and then her husband and my brother were also in the choir. The talks were awesome! Brad Frandsen is in our ward and he spoke. The theme for the night was rescuing people. One of the things Brad said really stuck with me and that is, the more promptings that you heed, the more opportunities and promptings you will get. I hope I can follow his good example and obey the promptings that we get no matter what. I need to remember to fear God more than man. It is hard sometimes. Sunday morning, my husband was sick and stayed home with the little boys and so the other half of the family went an hour early to sit in soft seats! I was glad that we went so early because there were a lot of people already there saving seats. Kalli got to be a part of the Stake Young Women choir and they sang, "Be Strong" which was a wonderful number. Our Stake Presidency has been in for nine years so they were released. Kalli didn't realize that that was happening and it took her off guard. She got to sit up in the choir seats the whole time since she was a part of the YW choir but that just made it so I had to watch her cry and I couldn't comfort her. My heart ached for her as I watched her sob. She has had a special relationship with President Wolfert, Pinegar and Gerke. When she was 8 years old, President Wolfert asked her to speak in Stake Conference and she did a wonderful job. She got to sit by President Gerke and he let her operate the microphone going up and down. So, anyway, I was teary myself...I will miss them too. Then the next blow was they called our bishop to be the 2nd Counselor in the new Stake Presidency. It wasn't till Bishop Prete was bearing his testimony that Kalli realized that that meant he wouldn't be our bishop any more and a fresh set of tears started flowing. I know that Andrew Horton is the man the Lord wants to be our Stake President and Bishop Gilbert and Bishop Prete were inspired as his counselors. But it doesn't make change any easier knowing that. :-) I will so miss working with Bishop in ward council meetings. I told Kalli that he will stay our neighbor so she can be happy about that! So, anyway, an exciting Sunday and I was so very grateful for the gospel. I have a lot to work on and it is hard sometimes. I need to reach out more to people and that is so hard for me. Our new stake presidency will do a great job and I am so grateful for them!

Happy New Year 2011!

We had a fabulous New Year's Eve 2010 party last night! We went to my mom's and had lots of good food and fun! Mom makes her delicious homemade pizza that I just love. We had chex mix, cookies, vegetables and dip, chips, all sorts of goodies! this picture is of Aidan and Ammon. All my kids made it to midnight. They were in their pajamas so when we got home at 12:30 p.m., they went straight to bed!
This is a picture of all the poppers and balloons. At 10 minutes to midnight, we always turn the TV to Dick Clark's Rocking Eve. It's a tradition!
Aaron had a good time blowing the horn. My poor dad was not feeling well and sick in bed and I don't know how he could stand all the noise!
Happy New Year Kalli!

This was Aaron and Katie's first New Year's as a married couple! So fun!
We played Catch Phrase and White lies which was very fun. Ainsley was just having a good time eating cheeseballs. Emma's in-laws Lyle and Vona Hunsaker and their son Enoch spent New Year's Eve with us. That was very fun! It was just the daughters that came this year.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011! Today is a very fun date isn't it: It is 1/1/11! Love it!