American Idol

Earlier this year I signed up for the waiting list for American Idol and a few days ago I got an email letting me know that tickets were available! The way it works is, every week they send out emails to a certain number of people on the waiting list in the email are 3 links, one for the dress rehearsal (held just hours before the live show), one for the Live Tuesday show, and then one for the live results show. By the time I got the email the Live Tuesday show was already booked but I was able to get tickets to the dress rehearsal which was really cool! We had to be there today at 12:45pm but didn't actually get into the studio until 2:00 pm! They treat it just like the regular show but things are a little more casual and Ryan acts a little crazier and throws his own stuff in. They actually tape the whole thing and use parts of it in the final live show. I went with my mom and two of my young women (who totally have a crush on David Archuleta!) It was really cool because Ryan Seacrest came right to where we were sitting and we got to shake his hand and he even chatted with my mom before the camera started rolling. He seemed like a really cool guy and was even better looking in person. We saw David Archuletta's Dad sitting a couple of rows down from us. My mom went over and sat next to him and made the "Mormon Connection". They had stand-ins for the judges that looked and acted just like them so it was pretty comical! As I watched the show on TV tonight I felt like the performances were much better in person, the sound quality is so much better, especially the band. And the lights and effects are so much better in person. The studio set is pretty amazing too! Just a lot smaller in person. It was so much fun, I totally would love to do it again but due to the high demand of tickets I probably won't get to the top of the list until next season! I am looking forward to going to "So you think you can dance" I have been on that waiting list for a while now so hopefully I will get to go! Sorry no pictures, obviously they wouldn't allow cameras or even cell phones in the studio.

A Trip to Utah

Many of you know that I work as a Trainer for Dentrix (a Dental Software company) which is based out of Utah. Every 2 years they have a conference for all of the trainers to attend in Utah. This year they held it in March at the Provo Marriott. I didn't really want to go alone and Chris discovered that the Lakers would be playing the Jazz that week so we decided to make a trip out of it! We drove up on Sunday and stayed until Friday. My conference was Monday through Wednesday and went well. I got to show off my new red laptop! It was great networking with other trainers from around the country and comparing notes. I always look forward to this conference. Chris was stuck in our hotel room with the kids for 3 days which was pretty crazy! He did get out and take the kids to do a few things with Chris and Amanda (my brother and sister-in-law), they went to see "Horton Hears a Who" but unfortunately Chris only watched 15 minutes of it cause Sawyers attention span isn't quite there yet! He also took the kids bowling one day at BYU. Needless to say, they were very glad when my conference was over!

On Wednesday afternoon, when my conference was over we headed over to BYU to walk around the campus and go to the bookstore. It is always so nostalgic walking around campus, it brings back so many memories. I felt a little weird walking with a stroller and really the only one my age, but then I realized that I wasn't really out of place! That evening Chris and Amanda watched our kids so we could go on a date! We had so much fun, we went to Ruby River and then to see the movie "Vantage Point" (pretty intense and lots of shooting). Thank you so much Chris and Amanda we really needed to get out, especially Chris!!!

Since our kids had never been in snow we had told them we would go to see snow in Utah. Carter was so excited the night before, when he said his prayer he talked all about how he was going to make a snow man and throw snowballs and eat the snow. It was so cute, I turned to Chris and said, "You know, we HAVE to go to the snow tomorrow after that!" So on Thursday we headed up to Park City. We stopped at a cute restaurant called "Dairy Keen" in Heber. They have a train going around the perimeter of the inside of the restaurant. Sawyer has been really into trains lately so he loved it! They also had a train table and a Lego table in the restaurant so the kids could play while you eat. Sawyer and Carter loved it and we couldn't get them to eat.

Then we headed up to park city where the snow was plentiful! We stopped in a neighborhood where the snow was not very deep and it would be easy to get our hands on it without getting too wet, we didn't even have gloves and kids all had jeans on. I took out my camera and discovered that it wouldn't work! I have had that thing for 4 years now so I guess it is time (that and I really want a new one that has more than 3 Megapixels!) I was pretty bummed not to have my camera but luckily we had a cell phone camera to snap a few pictures. Here they are:

We made a snowman with the M&M's and hat we had in the car.

Carter is getting ready to launch a snowball at me.

Sawyer got in on the action also!

Maddie tasting her snowball! She even wanted to bring one in the car with us!

We all got back into the car and Carter goes "Oh no, we forgot to make snowflakes" We all looked at each other like "Huh?" then Maddie goes, "Snow angels!" So the kids got out and quickly made snow angels to top it all off! Something they had always dreamed of doing!

It was just perfect. Afterwards we went to the outlets and then headed to Salt Lake. We visited Andy and Traci and then Chris, Chris, Andy and Wayne (Chris' old mission companion) went to the Laker vs. Jazz game. The kids and I headed to Riverton visit one of my favorite roommates, Megan Newell (Gardner, now). We had a great time catching up and the kids loved seeing her bird talk! We took the kids to Carl's Jr. and they played so we could talk! It was so much fun an felt like old times, I wish I could have visited for longer!

The next day we got up, packed up and headed back home! The way back seemed so much longer because the kids were awake the whole way! We had a great time and the kids were very good!

Three's Company

Since Maddie has minimum days all week I decided it would be fun to go to Disneyland after school today. I was a little nervous taking all 3 kids to Disneyland by myself, I had done it once before but we didn't really go on any rides and we just watched the parade and went home. This time we were going to be there for a good 5 hours or so. I took the plunge and decided it would be a fun adventure. It actually turned out to be pretty fun. There were a few difficult moments like folding up my big double stroller and getting on the train with it and Sawyer in my arms! Luckily there was a really nice man that saw me struggling and he helped me with the stroller. Carter and Maddie were like angels. They didn't even wander off and stayed right with me the whole time. Sawyer loved the rides and walking around the characters houses in toontown but once I put him back in the stroller he was not a happy camper.

We were able to do tons of stuff in such a short amount of time. It wasn't too crowded so the lines were great. We went to California Adventure first and went to Monsters inc. which the kids love! Here is a picture of Carter doing his greatest monster scare!



Then we went over to Disneyland and Maddie finally got to meet Ariel. She always wants to meet her but the line is usually very long. It wasn't too bad so we ended up waiting. Sawyer wasn't too interested, and Carter was freaked out by her big huge tail and fins so he wouldn't take a picture with her, he just kept his distance. Maddie was thrilled and afterward she told me that someday she wants to work at Disneyland and be a princess. (not Ariel because her costume is not modest) I remember the day when she really believed that they were real so it is kind of sad that now she knows they are just costumes.




Then it was off to Toontown. We got to meet Mickey which was very exciting for Sawyer, his first time ever face to face with Mickey. He has been obsessed with a stuffed Mickey that he sleeps with every night so he was pretty excited to meet the real thing. When we walked in the room he ran towards him but it wasn't our turn yet so I had to pull his leash and he was really upset. Then when it was our turn he was in awe and just stood back and stared at him, it was very cute! I took this picture of Maddie and Carter and you can see Sawyer to the side frozen still just staring at Mickey. After the picture he did give him "5" and he touched his nose.




The next two pictures are at Toontown as well







Here is a couple of cute pictures on the train. All in all we had a great day and yes I would do it again, with 3 little ones in tow! I think it will only get easier as Sawyer gets older. Maddie is such a big helper, I wouldn't be able to do it without her!

Broadway Babies

So it has been a little while since I blogged last. I uploaded my pictures from my camera and noticed that I hadn't put Maddie's pictures of her Broadway babies performance. Maddie took a class through the city over the past several months called "Broadway Babies". It is a singing class for kids ages 5-8. She had so much fun and had a wonderful teacher who is a voice instructor. They had a little "recital" at the end of the class where all the parents got to come and watch the kids perform. It was so much fun! We enjoyed watching Maddie do her graceful curtsy after each song while all the other kids bowed. She definitely loves the stage and loves performing.

In a couple weeks she wants to try out for our local High school's production of Beauty and the Beast which will show during the summer. She is really anxious to be in a musical. She was a little disappointed at first when I told her that she probably wouldn't be cast as Belle, more likely a dish or a spoon! Now she is just excited to be part of something. I will keep you all posted on what happens!