Easter/Conference Trip to Idaho

We were finally able to make a trip to Idaho to see Garrin's parents and siblings. Since opening the new shop, Garrin hasn't been able to take any days off...so it was fun to get away for a little bit.

We all stayed at Aunt Merilee's in Twin Falls and had lots of fun. On Saturday, the kids dyed Easter Eggs. Here is Dawson and Jaycee


Kaylee, Spring, Hayden, Rockhard, and Jaycee coloring eggs.


Mom and Dad Ellis. Mom Ellis hasn't been feeling well, so we were glad that she was able to come to our mini reunion and stay. She's been on oxygen, but is able to take it off for several hours a day.


front row l to r: Harold and Merilee, Rockhard and Cheary, Tarry, Constant, Spring, and Dan


This is in Merilee's house. This is ONLY the crew that stayed for Sunday. We listened to conference together. The night before...we easily had more than double this for a big bbq dinner. All the men went to priesthood session together. This picture only represents 4 out of the 7 siblings. Only Randy's family in Texas was missing from the Saturday party---and a few of the grandkids that are spread out across the US.


Kim, Tammy and Coby


We were able to take the kids over on Sunday to see the new Twin Falls temple. It's really pretty. It was gated closed so we weren't able to get any closer for pictures. The girl on the right is Devin's girlfriend Kiera who was able to take the trip up with us and meet our crazy family.


WOW. The biggest surprise of all! When we first got there, I was shocked when I walked into their home and found a COW in the front room. Yep---a full size BIG cow. His name was T-Bone and he was their pet. When they had him butchered...they decided to have him stick around and had him mounted. It made me laugh to see this big cow...he's huge. The girls had fun taking pictures with him...and he's a great conversation piece!!


On Sunday, we went to Gooding to see Mark and Aki's new house. It's really cute the way Aki has decorated. We spent some time visiting with them and Kevin, Sylvia, and Matthew. My girls just love playing with Leiliani and Tristan.


Sunday night, we went over to Mom and Dad Ellis' and stayed the night since everyone else went back home. We decided to stay an extra day and enjoy getting away. Bonnie came over on Monday and visited before we had to leave. This is her cute little guy Blake.


Bonnie is due with #2 in 4 weeks. What a cute little momma!


This is Mindy and Bonnie..our nieces.......what beautiful girls.


We left Wendell about 4:00 and had a blizzard almost all the way home. Around Switzer Summitt there was a car that slid off and rolled. It was pretty much a white knuckle ride all the way home. I don't think we've ever hit such bad weather in all the times we've been up there. We had tons of fun, but were glad to get home to our own beds.

Singing at the Conference Center

The girls had the most AMAZING opportunity to SING in the General Young Women's Meeting in Salt Lake City at the Conference Center. This is where they broadcast General Conference and where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir practises and sings. Shawnee and Kaylee both committed to sing, and spent countless hours practising. They started 5 weeks before and met at our Stake Center from 5:30-8 every Sunday. The week before they went up to the Tabernacle for a final practise and they were able to get these pictures.


Lehi 26th ward: Jada, Shawnee, Cassie, Bekah, Kaylee, Alyssa, Rachel, and Sarah with the temple in the background.


Cassie, Rachel, Bekah, Kaylee, Shawnee, Alyssa, Jada, and Sarah

Kaylee and Shawnee during practise

Shawnee and her great friend Karissa

Shawnee chose to sing 2nd Alto even though she had never sung that part before. She practised at least 15 minutes per day to be able to get her part down. She is towards the back of this picture.

Kaylee sang Soprano and was on the opposite side of the choir seats.



This is a view of the whole conference center with all the girls that sang from the Lehi Utah North, South and East Stakes. They were asked to wear black skirts past their knees, black or skin colored tights, and close toed black shoes. They wanted the shirts to be a "rainbow" of color and they approved their choice ahead of time. They ranged from orange, yellow, pink, and coral....beautiful shades of spring. Their hair was to be worn pulled up away from their face and they wanted it curly if possible (Shawnee's was NOT going to cooperate for the long day they were there...so it's straight.)

The day of the performance finally came. They had to be at our stake center at 11:30 for a bus ride up to the Conference Center. They spent a very long day of devotionals, practice and lunch (the performance was actually at 6pm). I was able to get a ticket to be there and watch. All I can say is that it was completely amazing. With over 20,000 young women and their moms and leaders, you can imagine it was little loud. When President Monson walked in, you could have heard a pin drop. He turned towards the choir and spent a minute waving to each section individually. Then he gave them a "thumbs up" with both hands before taking his seat. It was so cute and the girls were excited to be so close to the prophet. I felt the Spirit so strongly and each time they sang with their beautiful voices....yup....I had tears spilling over. After the conference, Presidents Monson, Eyring, and Uchtdorf waved to the crowds of people being leaving.



I was able to zoom up a little and get a picture of the girls...Shawnee is in the upper part of this picture on the left.

Kaylee is on the upper part of this picture on the right


After the performance we met outside by the fountain and there was a lot of hugging going on. Everyone was just beaming ear to ear. l to r: Kylie, Audrey, Kaylee, Bekah, Courtney, Alyssa, Sarah, Shawnee.


Kaylee and her friends Bekah and Courtney

Kaylee, Stefanie, Shawnee

Idaho State

Jaycee had a state report due this year---and she was able to get the state of Idaho. She was really excited since her dad was born there, and both sets of Grandparents were born and raised there. The day it was due came WAAAAY too quickly. Jaycee and I spent about 10 hours making her poster, and many many more hours writing a written report, and working on her oral presentation. We were both relieved it was done. The parents were invited to the school to see all the boards. They did a great job!

Some of the Debate team that went to Regionals. Shawnee has enjoyed going to some debates and learning more about arguing :) She went to her first tournament earlier this year and won 1st place in Public Forum.

Sweetheart's Ball

Sweetheart's Ball is a girl-ask-guy dance---so Shawnee asked Devon from her school to go. She asked him by cutting out shapes of cards...like the heart, the spade, etc with her name and phone number on it and giving it to him with a poem. I got a call one night asking if I could get Shawnee out of the house for 5 minutes. This is what he set up in her room in response.


Shawnee and her friends Karissa and Jamie planned out a day date. They came to our house and played the Wii with rock band. Later, they had ice cream games. They sculpted something out of the ice cream by drawing an object out of a hat. Then---they had their dates lay on the floor and try to catch the scoop of ice cream with a cone in their mouths.



Then they swapped...and the guys got a chance to drop ice cream on them. Good thing they had plastic bags on to save their clothes and the floor.



They got ready for the dance and dressed up in their best.


Jamie, Brandon, Shawnee, Devon, Karissa, Brayden


This was the "silly" picture


Shawnee and Devon

She had tons of fun at the dance and on her date.

Split Brow

One day while talking to the kids....I realized that BOTH Devin and Kaylee had this split eyebrow thing....although it's on opposite brows. It was so funny---I had to make them sit still while I took a picture. Wonder where that comes from?

Bubble Girls

Jaycee invited Bailey and Kennedy to sleep over. Kennedy said she wanted to come because she liked it when Uncle Garrin tickled her. They have this tradition of wearing their swimsuits in the tub (for modesty????) and putting bubbles in. They have a great time. Matter of fact---they had such a great time that we had to repeat the bubble bath on Saturday morning.


Bailey, Kennedy, and Jaycee



Kennedy and her "merry hat"


Bailey and Jaycee




They spent quite awhile building a fort upstairs for them to sleep in. This picture above is how they all thought they'd sleep. I talked Kennedy into laying down instead of sitting up, and she fell right asleep at 9 when I turned out the lights. Bailey and Jaycee, however, stayed up longer. I finally told them at 10:40 that they better SLEEP or they'd be separated. It worked.


Their fort in the family room


Kennedy's final sleeping spot.

Chipmunks singing Popcorn Popping

What happens when you get 15 balloons leftover from Kaylee's surprise birthday party...AND...4 kids that want to have fun? (hope they aren't brain dead from all the helium!)

Visitors!

Mark and Akeey came to see us. We hadn't seen their cute new baby Tristen so it was fun to see him. The girls carried him all over. Leilani sure is cute--she is talking a lot. You ask her to do a hula..and she does...especially if you turn on the music. She has the knees right and everything..so cute.

Tristen and Jaycee

Kaylee and Leilani

Tristen, Shawnee, Kaylee

Happy 15th Birthday Kaylee!!!

This is the beautiful birthday girl! What happens in UT on the 15th birthday? Driver's license time!!! Yikes! Fortunately I was off work on her birthday, as she wanted to get her license. This is really a looooong process since UT just made it harder to renew. The lines are long and people are grouchy!!! We made it in and out in about 3 hours. Whew.


Here she is....she passed the written test and can now practise on the streets of UT! Watch out!



It's official!



Shawnee



Kaylee