JAMZ National Competition

 

Team Meeting

Morning Workout

The Arena 

 

Vegas Friends

M&M World before doing the rides on top of the Statospehere

With Coach Kyle (U of U Football Coach)

Savannah & Kaylie

Casino Cheering

 

JAMZ WINNERS

Fusion Level 4 - NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

What an amazing year this has been. Words can hardly express how proud we are of the girls.  They have worked hard, stuck to their beliefs, and been blessed in so many ways.  Congrats!

Fun in the City

 

Meeting up with a team from New York, not the Jersey side... 

Kayla remmbering her summer in Paris

A night on the town for the old folks

Vegas Action

 The Competition was held at the Orleans Arena and there were thousands of spectators.  Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Las VegasTemple

When we travel, we always try to go to the temple nearest the area we are visiting.  This weekend we were headed to Las Vegas for a Cheer Competition so Robert called the Las Vegas Temple and set up a time for us to go to Baptisms for the Dead.  

The temples we have visited during our travels have been very accommodating to our family.  We usually try to go early in the morning and the Las Vegas temple opened up the Baptistery early so that we could get in.  We felt like we were going through a maze of pink hallways (yes the walls and even the baseboards of the Vegas temple are pink)  following our escort, until we reached the beautiful baptismal font.  It, like all temple baptismal fonts, sits on the backs of 12 oxen and is located in the basement level of the temple.  There were no female workers available, so I helped them get their white clothing and towels.  The temples are the Lord's House here on the Earth.  Everyone is dressed in white, as it is symbolic of purity and cleanliness, and it brings a sense of unity and oneness, knowing we are all alike in God's eyes.  Robert performed the baptisms and it was neat to have the baptistery all to ourselves.  The girls are used to long lines and a crowded chapel, but this morning had neither of those. The workers encouraged them to take some time to review the names of those they would be baptized for and the spirit was strong and peaceful.

These girls have been lucky to grow up in an area where they can see the temple spire from their bedroom window and where they can attend as often as time permits.  It is an integral part of their lives and part of their weekly schedules and we love being there together.

 

The middle of the temple is an open atrium full of flowers and trees.  As we spent some time out there afterwards, we could not help but smell bacon.  They had just begun serving breakfast in the temple cafeteria and we had a a great breakfast of huge cinnamon rolls and bacon.  We love the temple and are grateful that they continue to be built throughout the world, allowing more and more people access to the sacred ordinances and true peace that is found therein.

Beauty All Around

There is so much beauty all around us.

A few pics from our drive down to Las Vegas.

Love it!

Olympic Anniversary

It's the 10 year anniversary of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games.  I carried Lindsay in a B'journ on my chest as we went to see the Torch Relay and some of the events.  Robert's parents and brother came for the games and watching ski jumping, bobsled, hockey, curling, speed skating, and figure skating.  They also took part in many of the festivities and award ceremonies downtown.

In commemoration of the games, and in celebration of the upcoming London Summer Games later this year, they set up small Olympic Village at the Olympic Plaza at the Gateway.  Everyone was given a lanyard with 6 events listed and once you completed all of the events you were awarded an Olympic towel.  It was great fun.

 TD Ameritrade is a large Olympic sponsor so Robert was downtown participating in the festivities.

Lindz and Em having a rowing contest.

Then Dad and Brenna in their own row-off.

B showing off her amazing strength.

And para-Olympic activities.

It was pretty hard to shoot without using your legs.

Emily working on her eye-hand coordination versus the ping-pong serving machine.

F5 Banquet

The Level 5 cheer parents put on a special banquet to recognize our girls and their accomplishments as Fusions first ever Level 5 team.  It was fun to see everyone outside of the gym and have a chance to visit.

Love these girls!

Aubrey liked the white baby grand and she looks good with it, though she wouldn't open it and play us a song.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is not a huge holiday in our house.  It's not that we don't celebrate our love for each other, but we try to celebrate that each day.  February 14th fell on a Tuesday this year, which is our busiest day of the week.  Achievement days, cheer, ballet, and tap class keep us busy from 4-9 pm. Then Aubrey's admirer's started appearing.  The last young man came about 9:30 pm to find our whole family in the front living room reading scriptures.  It was great fun.  But the highlight of the night came when my younger sister Ally called from Arizona.  

Al teaches a Boot Camp in Queen Creek on Tuesday, and went to class as usual, hoping some of her normal crew would still come, despite the holiday.  Not only did they come...but they threw a surprise baby shower for her. Robert and I were on speaker phone with her when she told us and of course, I started crying right along with her.   Al has had a rough road lately, with her husband leaving her in October, with 2 small children and 1 on the way.  She is a strong girl, but these past few months have been heart wrenching.  We love her and pray for her, but there is something special about knowing others are loving and caring for her as well.  As a family, we just feel so appreciative of those, including my other sister who lives nearby, who have encircled Ally in the arms of their love, been answers to prayers, and provided tender mercies along her path.

Look at that rockin' new jogging stroller!  I like it!

Heart Attacked

Robert serves in the Bishopric of our church. He is one of two assistants to the Bishop, who is the leader of our local congregation. Robert spends much of his time with the youth, and on this night, some of the youth wanted to express their love for him by Heart-Attacking our front door. This activity is known as a true act of kindness and service - and we appreciate those who shared their love and cookies with us that night.

Awesome Mrs. L

Okay I guess that every body is wondering why she has a necklace around her. Well we played a game that you would pick one of those candy hearts out of a baggie. Then you would look at it and go  find your name tag. And if any body called you your real name  they would give you a heart. By the way you have 12 hearts. If you end up with 0 then your out. My name was TOO HOT. It was pretty embarrassing. Now to her party. Oh, if you don't know I am Emily and I am in her class. So my mom brought the cake secretly. Kelli's and McCall's mom brought balloons and juice. And Jake O's mom brought the supplies and the idea of making little airplanes made out of two life savers, a smarty, and a piece of gum. Oh, I forgot some body. It is my best friend's mom. She brought little hearts made out of tissue paper. And about a tone of straws. The point was to pass a heart down to the very last person in your line and they put it into a bowl. You had to get 12. Well of course my team lost. I forgot to tell you some thing, Mrs. L's birthday is on Valentines day. And we were going off track so we had to celebrate it way early. It was also our Valentines day party. But we still had a BLAST! 

Tulips

We have someone in our family that likes to leave notes and flowers in my car while I am in meetings, usually at the church or school. This has been going on for years (20+) and I am still surprised, embarrassed, grateful,a nd very much in love, each time it happens.

California?

The top of the pool cover is starting to melt and Kay brought a chunk in that she thought looked like the shape of California.