Tigers Got Talent

Juliet made it through the preliminaries for Tigers Got Talent and moved onto the finals! She played Dumb Song by John Schmidt. 

Juliet won the judge's choice in her category! Her friend, Nathan, sang with a quintet and won the people's choice.

Juliet was super excited! She received a gift certificate to Classic Sports, Pick Me Up, Coral Cliffs Cinema, some candy and some soda and a $50 check!

She was so cute and really hammed up her performance. She sat on the piano keys at the end. She did so great! 

 

How is my Daughter 20!

Maxine turned 20 today! I can't believe it's been 20 years since I became a Mom. Juliet asked if it made me feel old and I can honestly say no. It hasn't felt like 20 years. It's felt shorter than that. We talked today and she was going to eat sushi for lunch and a member was going to make birthday cheesecake for them to go with dinner. I love that people are taking care of my girl when I can't!

Sema and Joshua Tree

Merril went to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and also needed to set up a radio repeater by Joshua Tree National Park and decided to take Mark and Mikayla. 

Trips with Dad involve a lot of driving in the truck. When they get out, things can get a little silly.

They found sculptures.

They found a rock called skull rock.

They found a pond with some ducks and fed them Fritos.

Mark said he climbed all the way up a mountain and it was hot to help Dad set up a radio repeater. Mark said there was a coat up there and he did parkour. Mark and Mikayla had a great time. 

My pals!

I love to get together with these ladies! Friends who lift me up and are fabulous examples to me. People who help me build my testimony in Jesus Christ. Love Val, Sara and Laurie.

 

Happy Halloween!

Sleepy Hollow in Hurricane was closed this year. We went to another place in Hurricane. It was smaller but it was a different adventure and supported a small greenhouse nursery. This train about rattled my bones out of my body. 💀

As far as costumes, Juliet was a duck and I was a mad scientist.

Merril rode dirt bikes and then came straight to the trunk or treat so he was a dirt bike guy.

Jack was a BMX guy.

Mark was a dirt bike guy.

Mikayla was a mystical elf.

Pumpkins were carved and lit.

I love how one seems to be looking at the other.

I made a fake bottle of poison this year. It seemed like a good prop for my mad scientist vibe.

I ate too much candy. I was able to chill at the house because everyone is old enough to trick or treat by themselves. It's pretty awesome. 🎃

Temple Trip

Maxine was able to visit the Newport Beach Temple! Yay!

She was there was a bunch of peeps. I know Sister Winterbauer and Sister Holmstead but not the other. Sorry sister!

Juliet Teaching Piano

Juliet currently has 9 piano students. I've talked about it before but I still think it's cool! I feel like she delivers a quality lesson. 

 

Organs of Temple Square

 I'm a member of a Facebook group for primary music leaders. An event called Pedals, Pipes and Pizza was posted on the group. They invite teens and children to come play the organs at Temple Square. I was able to get Juliet into the event! So we drove back up to Salt Lake. They taught us about the organs and each kid was allowed to play on them for a few minutes. The tabernacle was unavailable for playing but we were able to learn about it for a few minutes.

Then we went to the conference center organ!

Waiting for her turn! She was so excited!

 The experts they had helping the kids were great! They were funny and chill.  Juliet asked if she could get more stops and turn up the organ and the person helping her said absolutely! 

Juliet was also able to play the organs in the assembly hall and the basement practice organs. There was also a harpsichord in the basement that she was able to play for just a minute. So fun!

  We watched an organ recital in the Tabernacle before we left and as we were leaving I saw a missionary badge on a senior missionary the said Elder Winmill. I commented that that was my mother's maiden name and it was spelled just like that and he said, "Oh, your Jo Ann's daughter." It was Randy's brother. He's serving a mission with his wife at Temple Square. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a small world. He looks just like Relva. 

Mikayla as Amelia Earhart

 The 5th graders have a special project called the living wax museum. Students can choose from a list of historical characters to dress up and learn about. Mikayla chose to dress up as Amelia Earhart. I probably swayed her decision a little bit because I think Amelia Earhart is interesting.  I found a cute Amelia Earhart costume. 

I had fun learning about Amelia as well. Mikayla did great on her project.

 

Homecoming 2022

Juliet and her friends are old enough for dates but still wanted to go to Homecoming. They went together! Nicole, Juliet, Alicen. The girls went to Runway Fashion Exchange and got ready together.

Juliet has some bombing hair.

Cute girls!

I made Juliet a corsage.

Jack asked Leighna! This was their first official dance date.

They're adorable! Jack and Leighna had breakfast at Oak Grove and hiked. And went bowling. And had dinner at Paul Wright's house. Mark wants me to say that they ate meat. 

Eagle Mountain MTB Race

 This mountain bike season has been hard for Jack. He was able to go to all the early-morning summer practices but as soon as they switched to the evening practices, he's been unable to make it. Work is right at the same time as evening practice. His times have been dropping and he had a mechanical issue last race so he didn't want to even go. It's okay. Julie and I just drove up by ourselves. Julie's been doing well. She's been placing in the low 30s high 20s for her wave.

This is Beau Campbell's home town so Grandma and Grandpa Campbell were here too.

I got to help in the coach zone with Mandy. That was fun! Adam and Mandy work so hard for the team!

Juliet always looks so good when she finishes. Some of those girls can barely walk when they get off the bike. She walks off like it was nothing.

Eagle Mountain is near the house I grew up in until I was 7. We breezed past it and took a picture.