Choir Concert

Nichole had a Choir Concert with a bunch of other schools (she is the one with an orange flower in her hair that refused to look at the camera).  Her school sang two songs at the concert.  I love the way she sings but she doesn't like to sing unless it is with a group of people.

She also sang in the stake choir this past weekend.  It was a special stake conference because Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke and blessed the people in this area.
I am so proud of her for faithfully going to stake choir practice so that she could perform with the stake choir.

Q: How many conductors does it take to change a lightbulb? A: Only one, but then again, who's really watching?

Natalie is in 2 bands this year.  Concert band at school and Community at well in the Community.  I have seen her grow leaps and bounds in her saxophone playing.  She practiced really hard so that she could make it into concert band because they get to go to Boston this year.  At the band concert we got to hear the Band 1 and Band 2 people play before it was Concert Bands turn to play.  Let me tell you Concert band was so much better then the other two.  I was really surprised because after I had heard the first two bands play I thought "well if this is what these two sound like I don't really expect much out of the concert band".  They were phenomenal. 

 The second concert she had was with the Community band.  They have people ranging from retirees to 6th graders playing.   They get together once a week to practice for 90 minutes.  Their concert was combined with one of the high schools here in anchorage.  It was in honor of veterans day.  The community band played 4 songs by themselves and 2 with the H.S. band.  When the H.S. band was with them they had a total of 140 people up on the stage.  It was a tight fit.  They also played the songs for each of the branches of the military.  If you were in the military or had a family member in that branch of the military you were to stand so that the audience could applaud and thank you for your service.  When they played the AF song the girls and I stood, including Natalie who was still playing her instrument (Nate and Tyler couldn't make it because they were busy with scout stuff.  We were not informed that it was in honor of veteran's day by Natalie until we were on our way there).  It was my favorite concert that I have been too.

As we were walking out of the veterans day concert I said "Dang it cold outside (it was 5 degrees) why did we move to Alaska again"?  To which Natalie replies "Because of the stupid military".

She got the worst dirty look from some military guy.  He looked as if he wished he had the ability to hurt someone with his mind he would of chose Natalie at that moment. I told her that probably wasn't the best thing to say at this moment with all of the military members around.

Random Acts of Kindness

Ella got an award the other day in school.  She got an award for Random acts of Kindness.  I am not surprised by this at all.  She is always doing something nice for everyone.  She doesn't like to see people hurt or struggling.  She doesn't like to let someone sit by themselves at lunch or play by themselves at the playground. 

Running Club

Tyler and Ella joined running club at their school.  Twice a week for 6 weeks Ty and Ella stayed after school for running club.  They would run 45 minutes at practice to get ready for a multi-school jamboree that was held. They both ran their hearts out. 

 See that lady clapping?  Ella is behind her hands.

 And again do you see that foot that is not attached to a body in the picture?  Well, that is Ella.  I had a hard time catching a picture of her.

 I was still in my boot so after Nate dropped us all off he ran home and got us chairs.  I didn't realize that there wouldn't be anywhere to sit down and there was no way that I was going to be able to stand as long as it took to go through all of the kids.

 After the kids ran the school gave everyone of them a really nice metal.  The other funny thing, every single one of those numbers were the number 1.

 Tyler on the other hand got really good picture of him taken.  Why? Because Nate took them.

 Nate knew right where to go to get good pictures of Tyler.

Tyler with his metal.  I had to take his picture at home because right after he ran he took off with Nate who also had my camera so I couldn't snap a picture of him all red faced and everything.
I am so proud of these 2 for working so hard on their goal of running in the jamboree. They both did awesome!

Girls birthday

For the girls birthday this year they each took a friend swimming and then we went to Moose's Tooth for lunch. The girls and their friends sat at a separate table then Nate, the kids, and I did. They sat in a table next to us and even had a different waitress which they still complain about how bad she was to this day.  After Moose's Tooth we brought the girls back here and had cupcakes. Then the girls just ran around outside until their parents came to get them.  I think that the girls had a great time.

Turning 14 also meant that they got to go to their first stake dance.  They both had a blast at the dance and danced with several boys each.

They are 14!!!

It's official, they are 14.  You know what that means.  It means that they can go to stake dances, and get a driver's permit here (which by the way they are so not getting one).  It also sadly means that they are growing up which is exactly what I do not want them to do.  They are both very kind and compassionate girls.  And I am so happy that they are my daughters.  They make a mama proud!