Sara Bareilles performs with THE BACKBEATS on The SING-OFF Finale

Backbeats You Give Love A Bad Name

Another great performance from night 3. I love Courtney's vocal percussion on this number. Pay attention at 1:27 . . . .so cool!!!

backbeats love shack

Here it is Courtney and the Backbeats performing Love Shack from the 3rd episode of the Sing-Off. This was one of their best performances so far. And, an inside tidbit. . .I am told the 4th episode is someone's very favorite of the whole show. So, you won't want to miss it.

Backbeats through to the next round

In case you missed last nights episode of the sing off go here

http://www.nbc.com/sing-off http://www.rickey.org/

and check out the Backbeats performance of The Love Shack.

Loved the show last night. The group numbers are just so good this year. Be sure to tune in Wed to see the backbeats perform and to see if they make through to the finale. And if they do make it be sure to pick up your phone and vote for them!

So Exciting!

The Sing Off Season 2

So in case you haven't heard Courtney is on the Sing-Off again. This year she is with a new group called the Backbeats. If you haven't watched be sure to tune in Monday at 8:00 pm on NBC. The show is really great. All the groups are so good. This video is just a back stage look at her group. We are so excited for Courtney to be able to a part of this show again. She also was recognized for her amazing vocal percussion skills last week. If you go here you can see/hear the judges comments. . ."Courtney you are one righteous babe".

http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/video/night-2-the-backbeats/1264173

You can also go here to watch full episodes and see other video and photos
http://www.nbc.com/sing-off

I will keep you posted on how they do.

And also go to the Backbeats site to see more photos and videos www.backbeatsvocal.com

Seussical

Seussical - a musical that I am directing for our theater company. I absolutely love the music in this show. There are so many great songs. This is one that for some reason has been stuck in my head all day.

Notice Me Horton

I was just a no one only yesterday.
You showed up and showed me something more.
Now I've become a someone who has someone to believe in and to be there for.
I will not give up hope.
I was hooked from the start when I noticed your kind and your powerful heart.
So notice me Horton.
Notice me Horton . . . the way I notice you.

There are many great messages in this production. The music just makes me happy.

Lots of things happening over here in our neck of the woods.

In no particular order:

Katie is coming home for Thanksgiving vacation in one week
Katie has started working on her mission papers:)
David is beginning work on his Eagle Scout Project:)
Ciara is almost 18 - 21 more days
Ciara is applying for college:(
Courtney is back on The Sing Off for the second season
You should all definitely watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - just trust me:)
The Sing-Off begins on December 6th - you should all watch (the Backbeats)

If you want to watch some cool video of Courtney beat boxing go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ0QupUK9os

If you want to watch a short clip of Courtney recounting her first memory of singing go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85SCSzFppkw&feature=watch_response

If you want to see a short clip of the Backbeats on the Sing Off go here:

http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/video/the-backbeats-break-into-song/1260495

So, as you can see we are having lots of things going on over here. We are excited!

Attitude Test

Okay, I was going to try and catch up but it was to hard and it was keeping me from blogging again. A little to overwhelming I guess. And Katie was complaining about my lack of blogging so here goes.

Answer the following questions:

1. Do you often have a gloomy expression on your face?
2. Do you forget the many good things in your life and overemphasize the few things you lack?
3. Do you feel sorry for yourself?
4. Do you think more of yourself than of others?
5. Do you think you have to much to do?
6. Do you expect things to go wrong in your life?
7. Do you blame others for your moods and behaviors?
8. Do you think life has been unfair to you?

This was from our lesson in Young Women's today. It was a good reminder for me to not be the person who answers yes to these questions. I don't want to be that person. Sometimes, I do feel sorry for myself but I like myself better when I am counting my blessings and being grateful for what I do have instead of what I don't have.

Yes, we all have trials and hard things to overcome in this life but we do have a choice of how we deal with these challenges. I am going to try harder to face my challenges with a smile and a positive attitude.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the most amazing, wonderful, talented, kind, caring, beautiful 20 year old in the universe!

I love you will all my heart - thanks for being you.

What's up with the weather?

Last weekend we were having a waterfight - and this weekend all I want is a fire in the fireplace cuz it is so cold. I will say that I am grateful that it is not 100 degrees yet because sometimes in May it is already 100 degrees and that is way worse than it being a little chilly and rainy.

So, last weekend we had a party - no reason. I just thought is would be fun to have a party. We filled 500 waterballoons - yes, you heard right 500. And yes, that is a lot and yes, my fingers hurt for days after but we got really fast a filling waterballoons. Walmart has a great deal on waterballoons if you are in the market. We bbq'd and watched Rocketman which is hilarious and you should watch it and then we had a fire in our little firepit thingy in the backyard. Over all I say it was a success. And I have decided having parties for no reason is great and I will do it more often.

Things I learned from my sons birthday party

So, having raised 3 girls I thought I pretty much knew everything about birthday parties and sleep overs. . .I was wrong. Last night we finally celebrated David's 13th birthday. He really wanted to have a sleep over for his birthday, I really didn't want him to have a sleep over for his birthday but since he has seen all of his sisters have had many sleep overs I really couldn't justify saying no. But it was only going to 5 boys . . .I figured no big deal. Anyway, this is what I learned last night about the difference between girl sleep over's and boy sleep overs. . .

1. Boys have two volumes . . . . .Loud and LOUDER
2. Boys like to talk as much as girls. . .just minus the giggling
3. Boys talk about farting A LOT
4. Boys really like to throw water balloons at each other and the neighbor:)
5. Boys snore. . .loud
6. Boys are very polite and gracious

and after all is said and done. . .I think we will be having more boy sleep overs.

Happy Birthday David - I love you.

KATIE'S Going to HONG KONG!

Hey everyone,

I (Katie) am going to Hong Kong with Noteworthy next week and I needs a few dollars (about $300) to offset the cost.

This is a really great opportunity for Noteworthy. we are going to be singing for and doing workshops with underprivileged kids there and we're really excited! thankfully we don't have to pay for it all, but I'm still just a poor college student...So if everyone just donates a few dollars it'll help a lot! I'll post some of our adventures on my own blog afterwords. (katielynn27.blogspot.com).

Just click on the "donate" button below and you can donate through paypal. It's super easy!! :)
Thank you for all of your help!

LIFE

Last night David received his advancement to Life Scout. This is very exciting because now he can start working on his Eagle. I am super proud of him and this accomplishment especially considering he is not even 13 yet. He has earned 18 merit badges and will be receiving 7 more at the next court of honor. He has also earned all of his required badges as well. He has been working really hard and is hoping to get his eagle before he turns 14 which I am pretty sure he will. I love this boy and can't wait to see what other great things he will accomplish.

Where does the time go & Service is great!

Junior Prom

I just can't believe that Ciara is old enough to go to Jr. Prom. Where has the time gone? She is turning into such a beautiful young woman inside and out. I am not ready for her to grow up. Anyone know how to stop time?

Ciara getting ready

DISNEYLAND HERE WE COME!

A couple of weeks ago we went and worked at an elementary school up in Granite Bay for a few hours on a Saturday morning. We raked, hauled dirt and bark, pulled weeds, filled the play area with new bark and then we got 4 tickets do the happiest place on earth! Yes, we volunteered for Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program. It was a great to give service and it will be great to go to Disneyland so basically a win, win!

See all that bark - basically Ciara and I raked out all that bark and made it look all new and pretty.















WE had to move all that bark into the play area and rake it out. And when we started the hill of bark was way taller. And also here is Ciara shoveling dirt. She looks thrilled doesn't she?















Stephen, Marissa and Ciara shoveling and moving dirt. David and the Larsen kids weeding the ball diamond. They did that for about 2 1/2 hours!

Thank heaven for the sunshine

Why I do What I do:)









Today I am so grateful for the sunshine. I have so many things I need to do and yet I have so little motivation. I have come to the conclusion that my mood is based on the weather - when it is cloudy and overcast so am I . . .when it is sunny and warm so am I.

I needed a sunny day so I can find the motivation to get up and get some things done. I sometimes feel like I do nothing and I need to get a life. Yeah, I feel that way a lot actually and I am pretty sure that that is Satan talking in my head trying to make me feel like a loser. But when I take a moment I know that that is not true that I am actually a pretty busy person with lots on my plate.

For example right now these are things I am working on:

Stake Youth Conference - Hubby and I are in charge of our stake youth conference this year and there is so much to do, infact, I realized that the reason I kept putting it off was because I really didn't even know where to start but yesterday I made myself sit down and do something and well we got a plan together and it is gonna work.

Elk Grove Musical Theatre Company: Yes, I am President (whatever that means, I have tons of help from some wonderful women whom I admire greatly and couldn't to this without them) of this little childrens theatre company and I am also producing our spring show "Beauty and the Beast". As you might guess this does take a little bit of time. Right now I am working on designing t-shirts and getting them to the printer. Ahh, if you know me at all you know that I am not a visionary, am not creative and this little job of getting t-shirts made was another overwhelming task. I didn't know where to start and so I kinda put it off but I think I have come up with an ok design and found a printer and will get those shirts to the printer today or tomorrow. Thank goodness for the internet where I can find logos to copy. . .saved my life.

Strauss Festival - This year I am directing. Ahh, why did I say yes? I ask myself this question often. I love the Strauss Festival. It has been a part of my life for 22 years and I just love to be involved. I really have no idea what I am doing but once again I am surrounded by some amazing people who make me look good.

Luckily all of these responsibilities have different "crazy busy" times - April will be crazy busy with EGMTC, May and beginning of June will be busy with youth conference and July it will be Strauss. And in between it I still have a family to cook for, to clean up after, launder and love. And speaking of my family they are pretty great and don't get upset when the above mentioned things don't get done because I am busy with other things.

I just want to say to my fellow bloggers "THANK YOU" for inspiring my with your words, life lessons, and funny stories. I read your blogs and realize that we are all pretty much the same. We are all just trying to do the best we can and sometimes we fall way short of our goal but other times we rock! I love you all and keep posting because even if I don't comment I still love reading your stories and they make me smile and movitivate me to be a better person.

I guess I need to get off of here and go make some good use of this beautiful sunny day. Have a great day everyone.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I am also Choir Booster president for the Sheldon High Choir program and I am in the midst of planning a trip to disneyland. Whoever, said being Mom is an easy job has never been a MOM.

Help?

So, I have a cute new blog header that I got from shabbyblogs.com but I can't figure out how to get a picture up there in the frame? Anybody got any ideas or know how I can to that? Your help would be much appreciated.

Nothing Exciting

I don't really have anything exciting to say but I really need to put up something new. It is so windy today. I just had to go outside and save our trash cans from blowing away and my neighbors as well. Why do we have to have such a stormy day on trash day? I really just want to stay under the covers all day and read a book but alas, I do not have a good book to read. I did just read the Hunger Games (all in one day) I should have tried harder to make it last longer. I just couldn't put it down. Interesting book by the way. Still trying to decide what I think about it. It is disturbing almost like seeing a horrible accident and knowing you should turn away but you just can't, you want to see everything and then you don't all at the same time. That is kinda how I felt about that book. I mean it is about children being forced by adults to kill each other - that is terrible. Ahhh, and still I read the whole thing in one day.

And because of the wind the TV isn't working the signal is just coming in and out. No TV and no good book what shall I do? I am not going out in this weather but dang I do need milk. I think I will watch a movie. How about Julie and Julia? Yes, I enjoy that movie. Got it from my best friend. Oh, but it will make me hungry. It makes me want good food. Yes, I am rambling. Let's see if I can end this with something inspirational.

Well, I have a great family. My husband and 2 kids at home let me travel to Utah for a week to go visit my other 2 kids. I know they hate it when I am gone but they were super understanding and supportive. I love them for that and I loved being able to go to Utah. Not only did I get to see my girls I also got to visit with my best friend which is always great. So, yes, I am grateful for an amazing family.

Oh, and one more thing. Noteworthy is going to China! Yes, they are! Hong Kong in April. Now, that is exciting.