ONE DAY in the very distant future

Ali and her Young Women's Class (for those non LDS readers, Young Women's is logically an organization/class in the Church for young women), went to a local dress store to look at modest prom and wedding dress options.

Don't misunderstand anything here. By no means are we, her parents, looking to have her get excited about marriage or even going to prom. Just look at her face here when I said the word "boys", she crinkled her noes and said "yuck".

This was an activity to show them what dress options are out there, set some goals and enforce the the long lost art of "modesty". They sure seemed to enjoy themselves. I think it's a girl thing that I will never understand.

 

Here is a shot of her and her friends, left to right; Mamele, Sovi, Lauren, Ali and Lindsey. A bunch of really beautiful girls (inside and out), that some lucky guys will ONE DAY have the privilege of marrying. But let me emphasize the ONE DAY part, meaning ONE DAY in the very long distant future.

 

Hope for the Youth of the World

On Friday, Terry and I came home from dinner and a movie and found our 14 year old daughter and her bestfriend quilting. This was a Friday night mind you...with no boys, no phones, no curfew issues, etc. While it may be a couple of years early, let's just hope this holds up.

 

California Inland Empire Dance Festival

Ali and TD are particpating in this dance festival this year. Practices have been going on since March and it has pretty much replaced mutual night and scouts during this time. The youth have been divided up with dances for each group (deacon, beehive, etc.) with the mia-maids and teachers dancing together and the laurels and priests dancing together.

For the first couple of months practices were done in each ward building with the wards that met there all participating. Then a few weeks ago it was all respective groups from the stake (all beehives at this place, all deacons at this place, etc.) getting together.

Two weeks ago it was the entire youth in the Menifee Stake getting together, and then today it was a zone practice with the Menifee, Hemit, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Riverside and Yucaipa Stakes all together. All leading toward a final dress rehearsal on the 24th of July and performances on the 25th/26th.

Easy-Ups were assembled, lots of water was on ice, and a home base for each ward was assembled.

Then away they went. I tell you So You Think You Can Dance is nothing compared to this event. Even the choreographers and judges (my favorite is the one I like to call "The Man in the Yellow Hat") are much more on top of things, and on top of the youth, then are on that show. They run them ragged. I can tell you from personal experience as well as be vouched for by the other chaperones today, that trying to control a few wanna-be dancers on TV is nothing compared to trying to control a couple of hundred deacons.

It was hot, it was hectic, but I think they had a good time even if they don't admit it.

You can see from the below picture,(you will need to double-click on the picture to actually see what is going on), that there are a lot of youth participating. Just imagine how fun it is going to be with the other half of the stakes participating show up for practice and the event. I wonder if they will really all fit on the field.



I couldn't find the entire ward in the mob, but was able to pick out a few.

Thanks to some wonderful youth today with good attitudes most of the time, and thanks to the fellow chaperones Julie, Heidi and Gomer!

Silver for your 13 Year Old Birthday

As Alison approaches that milestone age of 13 and mom and dad stock up on hair dye to hide those sure to come grey hairs, Ali received a special birthday present this year in the form of "braces".

Braces are a lot different than when I was growing up, now instead of the "high-roller" silver which seems to be limited now to those that want more "bling-bling", Ali is sporting a rainbow smile of pinks, greens and blues. Welcome to the teen-age years Ali!!

Sibling Rivalry

A child will mimic those around them, especially those they look up to. Brooke, I think got a little jealous when Ali had some pictures featured on a photographers website linked here. So she did what she could to see if she could make it on the website herself.

That reminds me of a joke.

Question: What kind of bees make honey?
Answer: Boobies!