It's catch up time! I know I'm more than year behind on my blog but there are too many things I want to remember since I use this as my journal to just skip them so I'm going to try really hard in the next couple of weeks to get caught up once and for all.
For Kolton's last Choir Tour he asked me to chaperon. If your senior son actually asks you to go on tour with him, you go! I was thrilled that he would want me with him and so excited to go. We had such a great time! These kids are all amazing and are going to do awesome things! We loaded up onto charter buses Thursday night around 8:00 and headed down to Californ I A! We drove all night. Let me tell you, it's not easy to get a good night's sleep on a charter bus! We drove straight to a nursing home for the choirs first performance.
A lot of these boys are either on missions already or leaving soon. They will all make such amazing missionaries!
What a handsome boy! ;)
Kolton with a couple of residents at the nursing home. I don't remember how old this lady was but she was old. In her 90s? and I believe she was from Utah, but I don't promise. I might be losing it in my old age! ;)
Kolton with one of the students at the school. I believe they had met the year before when the choir went on tour. We think his name is James, not sure though. That's what happens when you wait for more than a year to blog about something. :o)
After spending some time visiting with the students at the school we headed to Huntington Beach. It was cold and windy! The kids didn't care though, they got suited up and jumped right into the freezing cold water. The adults were not quite so crazy however, so we went to get some lunch.
Me, Miranda Duke, and Marilyn Morgan (choir teacher)
After the beach we checked into our hotel, cleaned up and then the choir went to Cal State Fullerton for a music workshop. Sorry, I didn't get any pics. :(
Saturday morning we got up and the choir went and sang for a competition. They did amazing!!! The Chamber Choir got a standing ovation from the other choirs that were there. It was so much fun to be there and hear them!
Then we headed to Disneyland!!! I spent the day with Kolton and his friends. He was such a cute mother hen! He kept counting everyone the entire day to make sure we didn't lose anyone. Don't be mad Kolton. :)
First stop, Toy Story 3!
Then it was on to California Screamin'! One of the boys who was with us didn't want to ride this ride so Kolton offered to stay with him since no one was supposed to be by themselves. I was so proud of how concerned Kolton was that everyone have a good time and not feel left out. I told Kolton to go on the ride and I stayed with Wes.
Later that evening we went to one of the theaters for the awards for the choir competition.
And they won!!!
Sunday morning we went to a First Congregational Church to perform. What a different experience from what I'm used to. But the people were so appreciative of the choir and they really welcomed them and made us all feel welcome. It was a good experience for us all to see how others worship.
Then we headed to an LDS sacrament meeting. What a difference in the spirit of the two meetings. Even the kids talked about how much more reverent and spiritual the sacrament meeting was. It was fast and testimony meeting and several of the choir students bore their testimonies. One of the reasons I love living in Utah is that my kids can have these kinds of experiences even on school trips. And don't think I'm bashing those of you living in "the mission field" I just love that our choir teacher here believes the same as we do and tries to give the kids the opportunity to have experiences that help their testimonies grow. Another example, Kolton's senior year around Christmas she took the choir up to Temple Square to sing Christmas music. They had the opportunity to go to the Church Office Building and sing. They wound up the stairs and caroled for the workers in the building. President Uchtdorf came out of his office to listen to them and then took the time to shake their hands and say thank you. It was such a neat experience for Kolton.
These stained glass windows were in the LDS church that we attended. They were beautiful! We tried to go around back to get some pictures of them but you couldn't see them from outside. The bishop of the ward told us we were welcome to go into the chapel to get pictures of them.
To finish the day off on a spiritual high we went to the Los Angeles Temple. The choir circled around the Christus and sang some hymns. The acoustics in the room were amazing and the sound just filled the visitor's center. It was absolutely beautiful!
Kolton and I in front of the temple.
Me, Marilyn Morgan (choir teacher), Miranda Duke, and Rebecca Chock (accompanist).
Me, Stephanie Hazelet, Becca Brimley, and Celestial Angell (yes, her real name). I love these girls!
Kolton being studly
That evening back at our hotel the choir surrounds the railing that looked over the lobby of the hotel and sang. Again it was beautiful!
Monday we headed back to Disneyland! I decided to hang out with the girls this time.
Rebecca Chock (accompanist), Miranda Duke, Rebecca Westover (another mom who I shared a room with), Marilyn Morgan (choir director), and me.
Kolton and Clayton decided to take dates to It's a Small World and to get ice cream.
Stephanie and Kolton, Clayton and Mary
Having a little too much fun on It's a Small World.
Rebecca, Rebecca, Miranda, Me, and Marilyn
Rebecca Westover's son Justin wasn't the bravest when I came to riding some of the rides. We really wanted him to go on California Screamin' but he refused. He really wanted us to go on Grizzly Bear Rapids but it was cold so we refused. We finally agreed that if he would go on Screamin' we would go on the Rapids. He did so we did. We were already so cold we really didn't want to get wet so most of us bought really expensive cheap plastic rain ponchos to wear on the rapids. Rebecca Chock didn't want to pay for a really expensive cheap poncho so she took the bags that we they put our ponchos in and tried to fashion herself a rain suit.
I guess you would call this an adult rain diaper? We were all laughing so hard we almost peed our pants!
Justin Westover, Rebecca Chock (with her rain hoody), and me
Miranda Duke, Rebecca Westover, and Marilyn Morgan
We stayed at Disneyland until midnight then loaded back on the bus and headed home. We got home Tues. afternoon. I was exhausted! It wasn't easy keeping up with the teenagers but I did it and I had such an amazing time on the trip! I would do it again in a heartbeat! And I really hope to do the same thing with my girls sometime!
