Play Day in Gilbert

So even after three days together for rehearsal and concerts, these kids had not had enough of each other. Saturday, after the concerts, the twins had gone home with Miles for the weekend. Sara, Lilli and I left early Monday morning and drove out to pick up our boys, Miles and a couple of his brothers and Ethan in East Mesa to go to meet up with Josh in Gilbert. We started by playing at a park near his house. They climbed trees and played ultimate frisbee. The weather had been around 100 degrees the previous week but decided to stay around 80 degrees for us on this beautiful day!

 Andrew fell out of the tree when he stepped on this branch and it broke. He got a little scratched, but was fine.

Frisbee time

After playing, we all went to help a elderly couple move their household  out of storage in to a moving van. They were grateful for our big crew of helpers and we had a lot of fun helping them.

There was definitely some playing around too.

Then we got some pizza at Costco and took it to the park for lunch.

The boys devoured the pizza and then were off running around again before we knew it.

This time we played sprout. It is a little like death ball, but quite different. Basically, you don't want to get hit by the ball and if you do you have to sit down where you were hit. When you have the ball, you can only take three steps.  However, you can pass the ball to anyone sitting and they have to pass it back to you. Then you can take another three steps in attempt to throw the ball at someone running around. If someone gets you out, then anyone you have gotten out is released to play again. You play until there is only one person left. It was fun to play and fun to watch.

It seemed that when Freddy would get the ball, there was frequently a battle for it that would end in a tackled brawl.

Miles, Ethan, Andrew and Freddy

 This one is Josh and Freddy.

When everyone was hot and tired, we went to Josh's house and they jammed in the studio on the piano, guitar, drums, etc. I love hearing them make music together. I got to talk with Josh's mom for a while. She is super sweet and loving. It was nice to get to know her a little.

It was so much fun that Sara skipped out on the beginning of cosmetology school. So we had to hurry and return all the boys to Miles' house and then get her to school and then get home for Freddy to go to work.

These kids adore each other. It makes me so happy!  I love them ALL!!!!

From Sara's Phone

I stole these from Sara's phone. They were so cute!

Josh took Sara on a date. They went to The Brass Armadillo and had a blast! Looks like fun to me.

Sara got this one of Laney at one of her first Young Women's activities. It was in preparation for camp.

Sara "practicing" her make-up for prom. Hahahaha

(not really)

Sara gave Susanna a fun makeover for her birthday. Again, just being silly.

MCO Concerts - Songs of the Heart

The theme of the concerts this season was Songs of the Heart. They had people write in and share songs that have gotten them through the tough times or that have brought joy or peace to their lives, songs that inspire them. Here are the songs they performed:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

How Great Thou Art

Deliver Us

Remember Me

How Firm a Foundation

Homeward Bound

You'll Never Walk Alone

Millennial Song

I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked

True to the Faith

A Million Dreams

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2, 3rd Movement

Peace, Be Still

Old Church Choir

Be Still, My Soul

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Between the songs they showed videos of individuals and families being interviewed about their experiences in MCO and also about the upcoming song. It was beautiful and emotional.

These pictures are from our rehearsal on Thursday at the Mesa Arts Center. I work with the Concert Choir guys so my pictures are of them, but Lilli, Madi, Heidi, Laney, Gwen, Susanna and Ella were all there too, and Grammy. She helped with the Youth Chorus, Madi, Heidi and Laney's group.

Andrew is standing on the right with the hat and Freddy is just to his left. Daniel is to his right, out of site, in front of the big column. They are surrounded by their best buds, Miles, Ethan, Josh, Truman, Isaac and Jackson.

We had to sit on the side stage and be quiet for a long time while the Grand Chorus was working on one of their songs. The boys did a great job, that is mostly. My boys and their friends were all laying on each other and being so silly. I was having a hard time being quiet myself. They are so much fun to be with!!

After rehearsal, Freddy, Miles, Andrew and Livvy.

This is before the first concert on Friday evening. You can see Grammy standing right behind the piano center stage.

Sara couldn't be in choir this year because of cosmetology school, so she helped me behind the scenes at the concerts. She carried my camera around so that I could run back and forth herding the boys. Josh Jensen took the camera from her and took this pic in the stairwell while we were waiting to go on.

This is during Millennial Song. Freddy is in the center with Drew just in front of him. Again they are surrounded by their friends. Daniel was there too, again behind the column to the right.

This is while waiting in a hallway behind stage. These guys are a ton of fun!

Andrew, Caiden Cook, Freddy, Ammon Andreasen, Daniel, Miles Spencer, Jackson, Josh Jensen, Ethan LaClaire, Truman Frame and Isaac Frame

I don't know the names of the rest.

Because I am in charge of these rascals, I could put who ever I wanted down front, so of course I put my boys and their buds.

front row, left to right: Davis Cullimore, Isaac Frame, Miles Spencer, Josh Jensen, Truman Frame, Ethan LaClaire, Daniel, Freddy, Andrew and Jackson

They got to jam out to Old Church Choir. It was a great number!!

After the first concert with our friends from church, Krista and Jon Baker. They loved it and signed up their kids for next semester!

Also after the first concert. Dandi, Lucas, Wilson and Jonah came, as well as Lilli's boyfriend Brandon Strong.

Lilli and Brandon

Wilson photo bombed us. :)

Sara and her friend Olivia Bentley (Livvy)

Sara and Kayla Turley

Somewhere in the mass of children singing you can find Madi, Heidi, and Laney.

After the second Friday Concert with one of their school music teachers, Connie Nokes. She was blown away with how incredible it was!

Sara and her choir bestie, Madison Giles

Gram and Papa watched also attended the second Friday show and brought Justin and Ryan.

Rachel Smith, Andrew, Ethan LaClaire, Miles Spencer

Sara and Daniel

Ethan LaClaire, Isaac and Truman Frame, Daniel and Andrew

Our beautiful Youth Chorus girls! It was a lot of fun for the cousins to be together at rehearsal every week and then the concert weekend.

Heidi, Laney and Madi

Angels!

More cute pics of Madison and Sara. They love each other so so much!

These are most of the core moms. I love these ladies!

Lila, ?, Monica, Daphne

Shauna and Me

Me and my big girl

On Saturday, before the concerts we did a photo shoot with most of the best friends. We couldn't find Andrew, so he missed out.

Back row: Freddy, Daniel, Miles, Jackson, Josh, Jarom Martineau, ?, ?, ?

Front row: Becca, Madison, Sara, Livvy, Kayla, ?

The boys photo bombing Sara and Lilli

Beautiful cousins!

Freddy and Livvy

Sara and Livvy

Freddy and Becca

Daniel and Becca

I love that these cousins get to spend so much time together and love each other so much!

Over the last 6 months, since the last concerts, these guys have gotten really tight with the twins, Daniel and Sara. We love them bunches!

Miles, Freddy and Josh

There is definitely some bromance going on. They are excellent young men!

Freddy, Josh, Daniel, Sara, Miles and Jarom

These guys are hilarious!

Everyone after the first Saturday concert!

Ben and Nan, Melissa and Jason Jordan, Sarah Magill, Rich, Sam, Sara and I, Jim and Gisela Decker and their friend Martha, Todd, and Jill and Sam McKinley attended this show.

It was Madi and Ella's first semester of choir and they loved it!

Martha, Jim and Gisela

Freddy, Sarah Magill, Andrew

The kids with Melissa and Jason Jordan

Me and my sweetheart

The show was a tearjerker, so many of us have red eyes from crying. It truly feels like the heavens open while they are sing!

Me and my sweet Sammy

Laney is in the front row of the second level, the first one on the left, just left of the center of the picture.

More of my darling floor boys

It is Josh Jensen and Ethan LaClaire's last concerts. Josh is going on a mission and Ethan is moving. It was super emotional for all of our group of friends. There were many, many tears shed during and after this last concert. They all love each other so much!

Sara, Josh, Andrew, Freddy, Miles and Jackson

Ethan, Josh, Freddy, Jarom, Andrew, Miles, Daniel, Jackson

Ethan, Josh, Jarom, Andrew, Miles, Daniel, Jackson

Sara, Lilli, Freddy, Kayla, ?, Livvy

Since Sara is graduating and moving on in life, she wanted pictures with everyone to always remember these wonderful moments and friends.

Sara and Miles

Ethan and Sara

I love this one of Sara and Daniel. He is looking SO grown up!

Sara and Andrew

Sara and Lilli

Sara and Freddy

Laney and Sara

Concert weekends are some of my absolute favorite days of the entire year. I love all the teens I work with and to have so many of my kids involved makes it even more heavenly! Sara and I stayed up super late each night talking about all the wonderful moments and beautiful friendships strengthened or made. It truly is heavenly!