Audition time!

At the beginning of this year Brianne made some goals with her voice teacher and one of them was to audition more. She wasn't necessarily positive on where yet, but she wanted to get out there more. In late January a friend of mine told me about an opportunity to audition to sing the National Anthem at a Salt Lake City Bee's baseball game. I checked it out online and thought it sounded like a great idea! So I mentioned it to Brianne and she was IN! So over the next few lessons she would practice it to prepare herself and this past Saturday was the big day!

We arrived and checked in and waited in the main area. They took 10 people back at a time, to what we thought was another room, but in fact was the actual field! They had to perform the song just as they would on game day- out on the field with a microphone! She was SOOO nervous because she wasn't expecting that AT ALL! But after a quick moment under the bleachers, just her and I having a quick pep talk, she went out there and killed it! I was SOOO incredibly proud of her!! Her audition video is on my Facebook page if you want to see it! This was a picture I stole from her Snapchat story right after we got there! She was excited :)

 This picture was hanging in that first room where we checked in- a great picture of the ball park.

 This picture is of the sign that was on the door leading out to the field. we all thought it was pretty funny! I guess they didn't want anyone belting out their song behind this door! Hahaha!

 This was right after her audition! She was really happy! And she SHOULD BE! That was a tough thing to do and she did amazing!

 Unfortunately we have to wait almost 3 weeks to find out if she will get to sing at a Bee's game, but until then we will just focus on how much fun we had that day together and how talented she is no matter what!

Keeping our fingers crossed!! Wish her luck on getting a spot! :) (FYI- there is 72 home games this season, so I think her odds are good!)

Mission Life

Carter is doing SO WELL on his mission. Every week I really enjoy reading his emails and letters and seeing how much he is learning and growing. He has already had his share of challenges but is handling them in stride! But overall he is having a fantastic experience and enjoying his service.

These pictures are from a recent baptism

 So far he has served in an area near Disney world, close enough that he could hear the fireworks at night, then he was transferred to the Cocoa Beach area (where these pictures were taken) and now he was just transferred to the North Kissimee mission. He has had the opportunity to teach at the district meetings as well which he really enjoys!

This is a photo of him and his companion from Cocoa Beach Elder Willard

 This was a funny shot he sent one Monday while emailing us :) He's hilarious!

More than anything I am just grateful that he is LOVING his mission. I never doubted that he would! He was MORE THAN ready to go! Believe it or not he has been out now for almost 6 months! Time is starting to fly by! I love my missionary! :)

The bet...

When we were in St George Chan let the girls paint his fingernails. (Can't believe I didn't get pictures) And they went ALL OUT! There was stripes and polka dots in very bright colors! So he made a bet with Brianne that if he kept it on through two days of work that she would have to make him lunch. Well....

She lost!!! I have to admit I was SHOCKED he actually kept it on! But he DID! And she made him a lunch for work and decorated the sack! He couldn't throw it away- he brought it back home with him! How cute is that! So I snapped this picture before throwing it away so we'd have the memory forever! :)

St George on Valentines Day

The weekend of Valentines Day we decided to take a trip down south! One of the reasons was to see Carter's great friend Trevor play basketball at our alma mater Dixie State! The other reason, well... we just wanted to get out of town! Hahaha! Unfortunately Will couldn't come because he had already committed to work a shift for a friend on Valentines Day, so we left him behind and had Gamma and Papa help get him to work etc. He was all good though- I left him plenty of freezer food, cookies and Mt Dew! Hahaha!

We did however bring Halle along! Brianne was THRILLED to have a friend along and having her with us is easy! She's an awesome kid and they are like sisters!

 Tammy and I took the girls out to shop for a bit and went to some consignment places. I thought it would be fun for them to go somewhere they can't go at home :) It ended up being GREAT! Brianne bought herself some records! Yes, actual vinyl records! She was so excited too! One of them was the soundtrack for funny girl! One of her favorites! When she got home she ordered a record player off of Amazon to play them. So fun!

We also HAD to go to Pizza Factory! It's a St George MUST and Halle had never been there. It was super yummy! As usual! :) This phone booth has been by there forever- couldn't resist the photo op!

It was also Valentines Day and we were worried we were going to be crashing in on Tammy and Matt's FIRST V-Day! Thankfully it worked out because they had to celebrate on Friday night since Matt worked on Saturday. We didn't get in until very late on Friday since Chan and I both had to work. We didn't no anything major for Valentines, just cards really, but after 20 years all the "fluff" isn't very necessary! Hahaha! I did get little treats for the kids and even left one for Will at home that I had hid from him! When I talked to him that morning I told him to go and get it- it was fun. That night we went to see Trevor play basketball. It was SO fun to be back on campus there! And they played a great game and won! :)

 We HAD to be prepared to cheer! Nothing like a huge foam finger and pom poms! :)

 Trevor is #44 in this picture! He played great!

It was the perfect getaway weekend! I wish we could do it more often! It's so rejuvenating to get out from the "norm"! Hopefully we'll go again soon!! :)

Will is bulking up!

Will has been working VERY hard this off season to bulk up. He knows that if he's going to continue playing football, especially as a linebacker, he'll need to be ready! This past May when he participated in the power lifting meet these were his totals:

Squat- 245
Bench- 165
Power Clean- 155

Not long after this event he started working out with John Madsen. The same trainer that Carter went to for years! He really knows his stuff and knows how to help these boys train RIGHT!

When he started there these were his training totals:

Bench- 140
Squat- 180
Dead Lift- 200
Military Press- 105
Front Squat- 125
Hang Clean- 125

The most important thing John did for him was to teach him how to do everything CORRECTLY! It was the same with Carter! It took Carter months to correct his squat which he had been doing wrong for a long time. Thankfully Will learned quickly and his numbers have been coming up and his muscles have been bulking out!

 Here he is at John's place :) I think the best part of his program is he pushes them to their limits but they LOVE it! It's a great environment with great guys. John is in the background in this shot on the left.

 They also just opened up a new training facility at their high school and it's fantastic! MUCH nicer than what they had!! This is Will and his buddy Rhett working it out in class! I stole this from his friends Instagram!

This one I grabbed from Will's Snapchat story! It makes me so happy to see him working so hard and finally seeing some great results! Here's his latest numbers from February this year:

Squat- 280
Bench- 205
Power Clean- 175

He is up over 95 pounds from last May! I wish I would have kept better numbers for Carter when he first started out, but I cannot be more proud of Will and how hard he is working! I just want him to keep it up!!! This season is going to be totally different- new training facility and methods & several  new coaches on staff including their new coach Alema Te'o. I am anxious to get it going!!!!

John also added a new "Wall of Fame" in his gym and Carter's picture and weight belt made it on the wall!

The numbers on the belt are what he did the day he won the State title. I am sure proud of my boys!!

New job begins!

I started my new job the end of January after serving the final two weeks at Indian Hills. I'm not gonna lie- it was VERY hard to leave there! I LOVE those people I worked with and I loved being with all the kids! They are so fun! One of the student aides we had was actually mad at me and told me I was NOT allowed to leave her! Made me giggle and feel good! The people at work were so kind my last day and gave me flowers, cards etc and Georgia gave me a Willow Tree figurine of an angel holding an apple. It really meant the world to me! I know I wasn't at my specific job in the attendance office very long, but I had been a part of Indian Hills for several years and it was wonderful to feel appreciated!

My first week at my new job I was SOOO nervous! One of the things I was the most nervous about was the people and being the "new girl". It's always hard to start fresh and make new friendships but I have to say that these people made it EASY! I have lucked out yet again!! All of the people I work with are AMAZING! Very kind, helpful and fun! The job itself is much more challenging too. It's been over a month now and I still feel like I am learning. One thing I enjoy doing is the finger printing! We use a Live Scan digital finger print scanner and it's awesome! It's very interesting to see peoples individuality and I like to chat with people while doing it. It's fun! I also handle lots and lots of files, help people complete new hire paperwork, answer & direct phone calls and handle employee name/address changes etc. It's A LOT! But I am glad because we stay very busy which makes the days go quickly!

This is my official plaque on my desk out in reception. I have two desks I work at: one out front and one in the back office. We switch halfway through the day, which I really like, so we can take turns doing different jobs. I can see myself working here for a long time! I am loving it!! :)

Stake Women's Conference

I was honored to be asked to sing at our Stake Women's Conference with 5 other ladies! It was a difficult song called We rejoice and it had alto and 1st and 2nd soprano. I was grateful to be 2nd soprano because some of the high notes in 1st were INSANE! we got together to practice several times before we performed that night and it was fun to get to know these ladies. I live in an amazing Stake! I am so grateful! The Conference was good and it was fun to be able to go with Brianne and her friend Bergan. Every time I attend a Conference I learn a lot! I suppose that is exactly what they want! :)

Superbowl party

 There's nothing better than a Superbowl party! We have been getting together with the Skinners for Superbowl for YEARS! Since the kids were little! Chan made his yummy guacamole and hot corn dip and there was salsa and much more! YUMMY!

 Nobody was a super fan of either the Patriots or the Seahawks, but we had fun watching the game and the ads!

 It ended up being a SUPER close game! Ending with just a 4 point deficit! The Patriots won, but the Seahawks could have!

 This was a fun activity! Me and Brianne both was a little money too! :)

It was a very fun night! I wish we could get together with them more often! Our lives are so busy!! But I am grateful that we always manage to make time for each other at times like this! And there's no better way than watching football! :)