Family Pictures 2010

This was the winner for our family picture this year- (despite Tommy's funny face)! We took our own pictures again- not bad for setting the timer, right? (Please say yes!)


Thomas made up for his funny faces this year by giving us this extra nice smile!


Pretty Becca!


Allison looks more grown up everyday.




The sisters


Here's just one of our outakes this year. I don't have the energy to post all of them this year!


Okay, here's one more. :) Typical of our days at home. Tommy teasing his sisters and me trying to stay calm.


Allison's All-Region Choir. She's on the front row- second from the right. We started to see why All-Region is such a big deal here. Kids from 33 schools auditioned for this! We're very happy that we made the investment in her black dress last year.



This is a quick 16 second snip of one of their songs. They sound GREAT!


We thought we got there early, but ended up on the back row.


This is random, but kind of cool- this hot air balloon went right over our house! It was so low, we could see the huge fire inside and the people in the basket. The kids took lots and lots of pictures.


Rebecca also had her share of singing and performing this month. The 4th and 5th grade classes at her school performed "Kickin' It With Africa"- with lots of fun singing and drums based on African music and based from the World Cup games held in Africa last year. (Becca is on the back row in the grey t-shirt.)



Here's a sample of the fun they had that night!


Mom and Tommy in the audience. This is another typical sight when we attend public events. Tommy gets a little antsy!

REAL Salt Lake in Dallas!

This little cutie (along with her brother and Dad) was able to go to a REAL Salt Lake game in Dallas! Becca insisted that she and Tommy have the REAL sign painted on their faces and that they cheer for REAL. She said everyone at the game thought they were a little nutty. When Becca's classmates found out who she rooted for, they thought it was even worse!

I was able to get the tickets for free through the work I do on my blog, then we found out parking was free as well! The popcorn and drinks were $9.50, so I guess it balanced the trip....(:

Dallas FC won this game 2-1. Better luck next time REAL!

(P.S. Do you like the weather...? These pictures were taken on Oct. 30- crazy! We've been getting Christmas decorations out- early, I know- it seems so strange to get them out when it's 70 degrees outside!)

Happy Halloween & All-Region Choir!

John and I actually dressed up (a little) this year! A witch and a cow- there you go. We haven't dressed up for years. I think we're going to put some thought into it next year, the prizes for costumes at our ward's trunk or treat were awesome! (Like water park and NBA tickets awesome.) We're hanging out by the bounce house here.

Tommy was a little Darth Vader (only because his Storm Trooper Costume did not show up in the mail- boo!) He would run to the car and have a few bites of his dinner and then run back to the bounce houses for more fun and excitement with friends!

The scene near the bounce house. I really like the big furry boots waiting outside!

Becca and Allison both invited friends to the Trunk or Treat. Becca is a hippie here with her friend 'Cleopatra!'

The kids in the backseat. Allison dressed up at 'Elphaba' from Wicked. She is saving up all her birthday/babysitting money to hopefully see the play one day.

Allison dressed up three times last week for 2 parties and one Young Women's Activity where they 'reverse trick-or-treated' and took treats to an assisted living home.

Allison also got her choir solo. Her choir will be singing "God Bless the U.S.A" for Veteran's Day during lunches next week. Allison also tried out for the Middle School All Region Choir on Saturday. What a surprise when we got a call from her teacher saying she made it!

Allison didn't even want to audition for the choir, she heard that only one person from each school is able to join. I encouraged her to at least try, that the audition would be a good experience. Well, two people from her school are in this year and she is one of them! We had to drive to Carrollton (about 45 min. away) for her audition. We waited in a middle school cafeteria until it was her turn. The cafeteria was PACKED with students and parents. Music is a BIG deal in Texas! The auditions were held for most of the day.

Allison's audition was for judges sitting behind a screen. They don't want the child's looks, dress, etc. to affect the judgment of their voices. She sang two solo pieces for them and then they gave her a piece of music that she had to sight read for them with "do, ra, mi" notes. She really felt good about the audition- I told her to pretend like she was trying out for a play and I think it worked! I reminded her that she needs to show that she can sing well when auditioning for plays, so I think that thought motivated her.

So, when we found out that she made the Region Choir, we were thinking, "Now what?"

So far we know that they have a big Saturday practice and perform in a concert that night. We also know that she will have the chance to audition for the All State Middle School Choir. Anyhow, we are really proud of her and happy that she will have this opportunity this year! She's so easy going and takes all the changes in her life in stride. Way to go, Alli!

Postscript

I finally figured why I'm not able to open some of your blogs! Anyone that has shabby blogs.com or cutestblogontheblock backgrounds- I cannot open your pages from my computer. Weird!

I just tried to add a background again and then I couldn't open my own blog! I took the background off and then I was good to go again. Has anyone else had this problem?

Anyhow, I can read your blog from John's computer, but not mine- so it's not convenient, but I can still read it at night.... namely Mary, Lorenne, & Crystal- I can't open your blog and it makes me really sad! :(