Annual 1800Contacts Summer Bash

Every year 1800 Contacts does a big Summer party at Thanksgiving Point. They have different themes each year. This year was Camp Contacts and was supposed to be a Summer Camp theme. It wasn't my favorite but we still had fun. My favorite is still the Harry Potter theme and the Pirates theme. But anyway, they always have fun crafts and games for the kids to do. This year we did boondoggle and bead necklaces or bracelets, leather bookmarks or bracelets, went "fishing" and of course had good food and snacks. The kids favorite thing to do is swim and go on the bounce slides. Jason and a group of his co-workers have participated in the annual Tug-of-War contest and have won-completely undefeated-the last two years! These are the only years he has actually participated. He won a $50 gift card and admiration from his children. The company also does a plethera of other prizes but we usually never win anything. There are just so many employees and guests that it is hard to get your name drawn. But we have hope every year that this time we'll be lucky. Oh well...there's always next year!

 Kids favorite thing is swimming and being with their cousins!

 Get Read, Get Set...

 Pull! Pull! Pull!

 High Five! Undfeated Champs!

Victory Hug!

Stadium of Fire!

Thanks to my good friend Erin Roudabush, I had an amazing opportunity to sing in a choir for the Stadium of Fire concert in Provo! It is a big, major, deal and it was really fun to do. Not only did I sing with the Stadium Choir but we also sang with the Unity Gospel Choir that is also a big to-do. They have a famous director who is known all over the country. Two awesome things happened by me doing this, 1) Alex Boye sang a number with the gospel choir that we were not a part of, but when we were walking off the stage and passed them as they were getting ready to go on, he shook my hand and told me good job! I love Alex Boye and his music, but I also love his "story" and what he has dedicated his life to. He said once in an interview that "music is his ministry" and that's exactly how I feel. I have always said that I can express what I'm feeling through music and that I can best share my testimony through song as well. Whether it be through the piano, violin, or vocal I can always find a song that says exactly what I want to say and portray my emotions perfectly. So that was really exciting for me.
2) The choir has asked us all to audition to become a part of a second choir to help alleviate some of the stress they have with all of the requests for performances for them. I originally was so excited to audition and put my name on the list, but then certain things happened and I thought that maybe now was not the right time for me to be adding one more thing to my life. So I sent them an email that explained all this and hoped I would get another opportunity sometime in the future. Well, Debra (the founder and director of the choir) emailed me and asked me to call her personally. I did and again explained my situation and also told her that I  had hopes of auditioning for the MOTAB and she said that when I was ready she would help me prepare for that. I was hoored that she would be willing to help me and hung up the phone thinking in a few years I would call her. Well, she sent me a text a few days later and told me she wanted me to come to HER HOUSE to audition! I told her I couldn't physically do a full audition because of a surgery I had to have and the breathing tube they had to put down my throat. She didn't care, she said she would be able to tell what I've got anyway. I kept trying to get out of it and she kept batting the excuses away. Eventually I relented and agreed to audition. I am still trying to figure out why she was being so persistent with me when she doesn't even know me! i'm honored and stressed out at the same time. So we'll see what happens. But still, another neat opportunity that came from being in this choir. 
Anyway, back to the actual performance. I took a few pictures and posted them on facebook and so they are not very good pictures. 

 This is a picture of my friend Erin Roudabush, her daughter Libby (the blurry face in the upper corner) and me backstage of the dress rehearsal. Our bands say Stadium of Fire Performer! We felt pretty important!

This is us right after we performed a few numbers before the big hot shot performer gave his concert. We got free tickets to the show and enjoyed a little break from standing! It was a perfect night. It wasn't too hot or windy, just a very pleasant evening!

This is the big hot shot performer...Tim McGraw! I'm not a huge country fan but I knew a lot more of his songs than I thought I would. He does give a really good concert though and it was really fun, even if I did have an obstructed view of the stage. 

We sang during the fireworks and we sang all patriotic songs and it was so amazing! I love music with the fireworks....wish I could have actually seen them but that's ok. I enjoyed feeling the Spirit through the music and singing with my friends. This is the post I wrote on facebook about my experience that night:

Singing tonight was just what I needed to get me into the patriotic spirit! Today and the next few days are going to be hard as I relive all that happened two months ago and celebrate yet another "first" without my Dad. My Dad LOVED his country and the 4th of July and that day will mark his two month anniversary. Today I attended the funeral of one of my childhood friend's father...another father suddenly taken from his family. It was really hard to sit through because of course it reminded me of my Dad. I just sat and cried for the family knowing their heartache. Then, as if I hadn't cried enough, I went and visited my Dad and literally sat at his grave and sobbed for half an hour. BUT, tonight my spirits were lifted as I sang about our great country and while I was sad for a moment because when they asked for the veterans to stand, my father was not there to do so, I did have such pride swell in my heart and felt the comforting spirit as I sang. My Dad despises country music! (so much so it's almost comical) so seeing Tim McGraw would not have been first on his list. But I know my Dad would have sacrificed just to see me on the stage singing in honor of the country that he so loved and proudly served. (And he would probably have worn his black cowboy hat. But he would tell you, "it's not a cowboy hat it's an Aussie hat!) I love you Dad and I miss you every second of the day! But I know you chose the harder right for the greater good and I am proud of you!!
"Home of the Free because HE was brave!"
"I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me! And I'll proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today, 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land! God Bless the USA!"

4th of July

I am late in posting this but I really want to stay on track so I am writing this anyway. We started our own family tradition of going to the pond for swimming and fishing. We have always invited my side of the family to join us but it has always been the Childs side that comes. So now we consider it the tradition we do with the Childs side. We have enjoyed it these past few years. Jason is so good to help the kids with fishing. He helps them bait it and sits and waits by all of the poles while the kids play and then alerts them to when there is a bite on the line and then helps them to reel it in. Aunt Amy gave most of the kids fishing poles for their birthday one year and so most of the kids have their own pole to fish with. Sometimes Grandpa Childs will come out and help with the fishing as well. We caught a lot of fish this year, but mostly little blue gills. There was a kid watching everybody fish and he found a long stick and a line with a hook on the end of it that had been cut. He tied the line to the stick, cast it in the water and caught a fish right away! Jason helped him out later by helping him put a worm on his hook and the kid joined in with the rest of us.

 Aubrey and Olivia and Maddie mostly stayed on the swimming side and had fun splashing around playing mermaids and also playing in the sand.

Around dinner time we pack up and head out to the Murray Amphitheater to meet up with my side for the fireworks. We have to go pretty early so we can get a good spot. We play games and eat dinner and just play around outside while we wait for it to get dark enough. The kids enjoyed doing some sparklers while they waited for the big ones.

Once it starts to get dark enough, we pack up everything but our chairs and blankets, spread out and hunker down for a good firework show. I think my camera got a few good shots.

This year was a different sort of 4th of July of course because it was our first without Grandpa Newby. We all shed some tears and missed him playing with us and having fun. We still played the game that he and Maddie started playing a few years ago of, "guess what color the next firework is going to be." But of course it wasn't the same. I miss my Dad every day but I am so grateful for all of the wonderful memories and traditions he left us with! The 4th was a special holiday for him because he loved his country and was proud to serve in the United States Air Force. He taught me to have pride in my country and to always honor those who sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms that we have and to be worthy of such a sacrifice. Thank you Dad for being like Captain Moroni and reminding me what we are truly fighting for!

Puddle Jumping!

Today it was pretty hot inside and out! While we were in the house working on some Summer School, a little thunder bumper stopped by to give us a little relief from the heat. I sent the kids outside to play in the rain and take a break. We enjoyed getting wet and having fun. The drops were really big and would go right down your shirt!

Then we had fun jumping in the puddles and splashing around! Nate could get some big splashes!

Sometimes you just need to take a break from the heat of life and enjoy the little rainstorms that come along to cool you down and refresh your soul!

Nathan and Machine Pitch

Nathan played machine pitch again this year. He played on the Pirates team this year. He likes to play baseball, just like his Dad. He was pretty good at batting. He would get very frustrated with himself if he did not get a hit every time he was at bat.

He loved to run the bases and he is a very fast runner! He always got bummed if he didn't score, but we tried to explain to him that this usually wasn't because of him but because other people got out before he could score.

He was very good in the outfield. Being one of the few who could actually catch and throw the ball, I always got a little frustrated when they didn't play him in a useful position. But I guess everybody needs a chance to play every position. His favorite outfield position was catcher because he liked to put on all the gear. But he was also really good at first and played third several times. I liked when he was short stop or a base player, because like I said, he could catch and throw the ball.

Jason is such a good dad who plays outside often with his kids. He enjoys tossing a ball or playing soccer or football and will take them down to the church to play basketball, now that our hoop is broken. I am so grateful my children have a Dad who will play outside with them and help them improve in their current sport.

Here is Isaac with a Spiderman mask on pretending to be catcher as his Dad throws him the ball. Well, you gotta do something while brother plays his game!

Isaac and T-Ball

Isaac played on the BluJays team for his first year in T-ball. He loved playing! He was quite the little player. He loved to wear his batting glove that used to be my Dad's. He also loved his mitt. But I think he loved running the bases the most!

 He would always look back at us after he hit it to see if he did a good hit.

Sliding into home!

He did a pretty good job with the outfield. He was one of the only one's who could catch and throw well. 

He liked playing catcher because then he could tag everyone out as they ran home and he liked putting the ball on the tee. 

Getting ready to run to the next base. 

He had great coaches who were so good with the kids and very organized. They were so full of encouragement for the kids as well. They had a big pizza party right after their last game. I appreciate parents who are willing to coach and who put forth the time and effort to make it a positive experience for the kids.

Looks like we have another ball player in the family!