Sonatina Festival

Abbey and Gracie played in the Sonatina Festival. They have been working on their sonatinas for about six weeks.  Both of them made the finals. The judges pick the top two in thier division to play in a finals recital later in the day. They  got to play on the big auditorium stage at CSI on a grand piano. They both did great and ended up each placing runner-up.

Gracie playing

Abbey

Finalist from level one to fifteen

Abber and Gracie...proud piansts

the CREW!!!

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!"

Ok...you're right...we are not that scandelous....but we still had a GREAT TIME!!!

Most of the days, I was on my own. At night we went to dinners and shows and had a great time.

We stayed in the Belligio. This is in the Fall Garden with the talking trees.

Outside the Belligio, waiting for the water show.

Even though it is crazy to leave and organize kids and carpools, I enjoyed the break with my wonderful husband and best friend. Thanks Norma and Lyndsy for all your help.:)

So You Think You Can Dance!!!

Abbey. Gracie, and I got to go to the So You Think You Can Dance Tour. We were so excited!!! We went with Megan and Livvie and met my aunt Melodee and cousins Ashlee and Caitlin for dinner before the show.

We also saw friends at the show. This is Sage Eckert who dances with Abbey. They were texting (on thier mom's phones)  each other non-stop. We also randomly sat across the isle from our friends the Driscoll's.

The excited threesome with SYTYCD stuff

The Stage!!!

In our seats

Opening Number...off to a fantastic start!

Janine (the winner) and Philip

Thanks for a wonderful time girls!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a few days of Halloween fun. Carter had his first Halloween party at preschool. He was Captain Jack Sparrow the pirate. He was worried about wearing his hat with the dreadlocks. He thought people might laugh at him. He wanted me to draw I mustashe and beard on him just like the picture. When I picked him up and he had a great time. One of the first  things he said was, "mom, they didn't even laugh at me".

Argh!!! I'm Carter the pirate!

We had a cousin Halloween party at Grandma Andersen's. The cousin LOVE getting together under ANY circumstances. We are glad Grandma makes opportunities for us to be together. We ate, played games, and went trunk-or-treating.

Snow Princess (Lydia) and Snow White (Hilary)

They both loved they had dark wigs on.

17 of 22 grandchildren (and Aunt Joelle) ready to get more candy!

The pirate likes his picture taken...too cute!

One of our mummies!

On Halloween, the kids got invited to a party at the Bates house. The had so much fun. They had super fun halloween treats.The best part was the Spooky Room! We then went to our ward's dinner and party. We went through a spook alley there. This one was not so fun....the scarey boys were more than my monsters could bare. The weather was perfect.

My four monsters

Argh!!

The enchanting Snow White

The beautiful, red headed...Arial

Not a princess anymore...it is the Zombie Chick

The family!

one more of the pirate...but it is Vampire Pirate this time

Trip to Arizona

I got to go with John to Scottsdale, Arizona for a few days. He was there for a 21 Centurary Dairy Club meeting. My roommate from when I lived in Dallas, Randee Waters, and her husband live there. It was such a great treat  for me to spend much needed time with a wonderful friend. The weather was absolutely amazing. We enjoyed eating outside at great restaruants. Randee and I hiked Pinnacle Peak, shopped, got pedicures, and just hung out.

Me and Randee outside the hotel.

I love our friendship!

I did carry my camera, hoping to get a picture sometime with my travel friend and husband but it didn't happen. It was a great trip. I am thankful to Gwen for keeping Carter! Lyndsy Detwyler who stayed with the girls. And Norma and my friends who got my kids where they needed to be. So blessed!!!!

Idaho Holstein Association Annual Convention

The weekend of October 16th was the annual holstien convention. I enjoyed it because we got visitors at our house! John's dad, Alan was awarded the Master Breeder Award. It is quite and honor and he is very deserving. He has been a successful dairyman for over 30 years. He couldn't have done it without John's mom, Norma, who was given the Dairywoman of the Year Award. John's brothers and two of his sisters were there for the honor.

John's grandma, Kay Andersen also was there.

At the convention, the Jr. Holstiens have a meeting. The kids decorated these cows.

Carter, Jayden Leak, Hils, Gracie, and Rylee Leak were some of the Juniors there.

Fall Beak ...October 1-4

For our fall break, the kids and I went to Utah while John was in Wisconsin. It was a fun few days. We visited Grandma and Grandpa Lewis, went to the BYU Bookstore, played with cousins at Gramma and Poppy's, and many other fun things. One evening I took Hilary and Carter to Thanksgiving Point Cornbelly's Fesitval. I met a good friend, Chantal Hart that I hadn't seen in several years. We have kids the same age and order.I love getting together with old friends. It seems like the time apart doesn't matter. I have been blessed having good friends placed in my life.

Carter, Kash, Hilary, and Macey

Macey Hart (who is actually Gracie's age) and Hilary

Hilary posin' by the pumpkins

Carter, Macey, and Kash jumping on the "pillow"

Hilary, Kash, & Macey by the mouth of the monster we went through. We did lose Hilary at one point. I was seconds away from getting security. Carter of course did not enjoy the monster once inside.

Hilary and Macey riding the train

Macey and Hilary are Pumpkin princesses

They had a whole princess section. They got to dress up scarecrows. The girls had a lot of fun.

Although not a scarecrow, Carter enjoyed dressing himself up. At least he chose a Knight instead of a princess. :)

Little kids on the BIG chair

My beautiful friend, Chantal Hart. We had a great visit!

Gracie and I had a night out at the BYU vs. Utah State game.

Here we are getting ready to leave. We were excepting cold weather so we are LAYERED!!

Gracie and I met up with family going to BYU. Brandon, Lindsay, and Heather.

Unfortunetly for me, we were sitting by students who stood the WHOLE game.  I am too old to stand at football games (for the whole time)!!!

Gracie and I had a great time! Go Cougars!!!!!!

Abbey and I got to go to General Conference. We went to the Saturday afternoon session. Elder Neil Andersen (John's uncle) was speaking. I don't know if it ok to take pictures in the Conference Center but since I saw several others doing it we decided to document.

Abbey and I outside the Conference Center

We went with Clint Call and Heather. We were also lucky enough to see John's cousins that we don't get to see very often. It was a beautiful day. In the parking lot, Abbey and I got to see several apostles being transported  over to the  Conference Center. We thought that was pretty exciting. I get such a powereful feeling sitting in the Conference Center when the prophet walks in. I feel blessed that I got to share this experience with my amazing daugher.