Saturday, June 28, 2014

Jeff's birthday

I've been dying for a little vacation. We pretty much wrote off this summer to any vacations months ago when we weren't sure how bahama buck's would affect our lives. For Jeff's birthday I found a great deal at a resort in Scottsdale.
 Here we are getting a tour of the huge resort on a golf cart. I was expecting a normal hotel room but we were in a villa (aka 1 bedroom apartment).
 They had multiple pools but the kids favorite was the sonoran splash pool with 2 big water slides.
 Sydney relaxing after a rough day.
 Later that evening we visited this western spot they have on the grounds for banquets and such.




 Then we did a little fishing. There was a huge fish we called the beast that ate our bait and hook. We reeled him in a few time but never did actually catch him.

 At night we went to the "dive-in" movie.
 Jeff took this picture in the wee hours of the morning while up with Macie.
Saturday morning the girls went to the kids club and fed some of the animals on site, made some crafts, and played games while Levi and I played on the water slides (Jeff and Macie were getting some much needed sleep).

 Water slide action. Levi was just barely tall enough to go. He went on the slides countless times.
 I loved that there were so many things to do and see. We didn't go zip lining or to the techno pool party and Saturday nights they have a firework show. In a few years vacationing with kids will be easier when they don't need naps and they know how to swim. We're on the countdown until we're there.


 The kids loved trying this water hamster wheel thing.  Levi went by himself.
 The girls went together. There was lots of laughing, squealing, and screaming involved. They start off by walking, then running, and as the wheel spins faster, they fall and body surf.

Late at night Jeff opened his presents and cards he got in the mail.
 
 We then put on our mustaches.


 and passed out his birthday treats.



 The funniest part was taking off the mustaches. The glue was very powerful. The  kids were laughing hysterically. The sugar doing it's thing I guess.

Oh and all these pictures were taken before Macie had a never before night. She woke up at 3am and cried off and on until 4am. She woke up all of us and then we started hearing footsteps in the room above us.  Jeff being heavy weight like he is took her outside and hung out for 3 1/2 hours so everyone else could sleep.

father's day

The kids and I won the lottery with a terrific dad and husband. He works so hard to provide for us and  we feel his love for us as he always wants us happy. He plays with us when he gets home from work when I'm sure he'd rather sit down and do nothing. We're grateful for everything he does and everything he is.
We put together this basket of goodies: new sandals, some chocolate, a book, nuts, pop rocks, a tie, a soda pop, you get the idea.


 The girls made him breakfast in bed and couldn't wait to give him the basket of stuff.
Preferences
§
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
-
=
Backspace
Tab
q
w
e
r
t
y
u
i
o
p
[
]
Return
capslock
a
s
d
f
g
h
j
k
l
;
'
\
shift
`
z
x
c
v
b
n
m
,
.
/
shift
English
alt
alt
Preferences




Musical Theatre Workshop

For two weeks in June the girls participated in this workshop and at the end of the two weeks had a performance.
 I put some make up on Sydney and Jordyn before their performance. They were excited to wear makeup and besides themselves to perform for Jeff and I.
 Because of their different ages, Jordyn was in a Junior class and Sydney was in a Senior class. It met at different times and they each had their own performance. They both had friends from the ward in their classes.
Jordyn is in the very back under the word "upon." It was amazing what the learned and memorized in just 2 weeks. Jordyn's class sang 7 songs with choreography to each one.
 Jordyn under the word "song." The songs were all great songs too, none of those obnoxious kid songs. We still listen to them in the car.

 After the performance the girls giving their teacher, Jenee Prince, a hug. She is amazing with kids...like that perky, high energy, so positive person I wish I could be just for 10 minutes.

 Jordyn did so well and I think she got the acting bug. She wants to do this again throughout the school year.
 Sydney's class learned 16 songs all with choreography. Again I was so shocked about all they learned in just 2 weeks. She was very animated and you could feel her excitement on stage.
 Sydney had a speaking part and a solo part as well.




It was so great seeing them perform, different than performing in a sport. I felt that this experience gave them so much confidence and pride. They worked so hard for 2 weeks and they had that pride in performing what they had practiced. I think that is a little more abstract in sports right now at their age because sports is more strategic. Practice and executing that in a performance is more tangible for them right now. Regardless of my theories, it was great for them and fun for Jeff and I to watch.