Easter

Getting Ready for Church on Easter Sunday... where's Kenz?

The annual Easter Egg Hunt!!

Proud of my Boys

It was a fun week.

Wednesday, Mackay earned a Principal's Pride award for Being Kind and Cooperating.

Click on the photo to read all about it.

Friday, Hayden won 1st place at his Pinewood Derby

Click on the photo to read all about it.

a Broken String...

Kenzie always does a terrific job when she performs ~ But today I was very impressed with her poise under pressure.  

She was asked to sing "Oh Darling" for a school assembly recognizing her as the winner of "Alta Idol".    She borrowed Josh's guitar ~ it has "cool stickers" all over it.  (I'm old & don't understand somethings but Kenz gets it & I trust her).

  

1st Assembly - 8:10 am:

I wasn't there but got a text from Kenz that she forgot her pick.  I arrived (with picks).  She said she wasn't thrilled with the way the guitar sounded without the pick but was fine.

2nd Assembly - 8:49 am:

I videoed her being recognized.

Then she sang... I had a hard time hearing the guitar... (plus they had some slideshow of fish & nature scenes behind her that was very distracting and DUMB).  She was trying to play louder since the mic on the guitar may not have been working... Notice during the 2nd chorus, one of the guitar strings breaks.  

She covered like a champ! (Not to mention, the string slices her finger leaving a slight wound.)

9:10 am: 

Called Grandpa.

Grandpa Earl jumped in his car and raced his 12 string guitar to Alta High School to SAVE THE DAY!!  I don't know what else we would have done.

3rd Assembly - 9:27 am:

She plays Grandpa's guitar and everything sounds much better....

and then I run out of space on the camera - Oh well... She did GREAT!!

Once again, I am proud of you Kenz!!  (I always am!)

Mom's Birthday

We celebrated Mom's Birthday by going to lunch at Hire's.

Before lunch, a few of us ran up to the cemetery to put flowers/balloons on her grave 

 

I asked my mom one time what she liked about her birthday.  

Her answer was; "that she knew Spring would come after her birthday"  

Happy Birthday Mom!  

Looking forward to Spring!!

Keeping with tradition my kids ate Spaghetti (it was date night for Aaron & I) & had cupcakes/sheet cake (two of Mom's favorites)!  

 Happy Birthday Mom!!

Quick Favor to Ask....

Kenzie's dream is to be a Musician

... (aka: singer, rock star, etc)

After Alta Idol, I have been told by MANY people that Kenz needs to have a YouTube acct/channel with lots of followers/subscribers.  

I am new to all of this (& am probably even using all the wrong terms) but she (we) would Love it 

if you would check her out on YouTube & subscribe or follow her (however you say it).  

Even leave her a comment or "Like" her songs, etc.  We would really appreciate it. 

click HERE to go to her acct.

Last night she was bored watching to Jazz game so I told her to go record something.  

She decided to quickly to the "Cup" song from Pitch Perfect 

(great movie if you like music and need a laugh).  

Alta Idol ~ What a Night!!

What a night!!!

After auditioning, last week, for her high school's Alta Idol, she made it to the Top 13.

Wednesday proved to be a day for nerves, meltdowns, pep talks, & Kleenex.  Kenz caught a cold.  Her voice was going & she didn't feel good.  She stayed home from school & we chatted  ~ reminding her that "Winning isn't everything." We were already very proud of her!!!

She told us that she "probably wouldn't make it to the final round" & if she DID ...because she is "only a sophomore & no one knows her, there is NO WAY she could win".  

We again told her "winning isn't everything."

Thursday was THE NIGHT!

Her Fan Club (aka family) arrived just before 7 pm, ready to CHEER Kenz on!!

(I know I say this a lot - my family is THE best! 

Everyone that COULD be there  - was.  Manda was on Facetime with us but we lost connection for Kenz's performance.  But even with the timezone difference she was texting well wishes & anxiously waiting for results.   My family is ALWAYS there to support each other & is sincerely happy to be there.  They really are THE BEST!)

It was our understanding that: 

~ all 13 would sing. 

~ Judges would eliminate half.  

~ The remaining would sing.  

~ The audience would vote as they left.  

~The winner would be announced on Friday morning...

We were WRONG!

They introduced the JUDGES:

Steve Simons 

~ former Alta Choir Director & member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Aleksndr Arteaga

~ Theatrical performer

Kyle Khou 

~ American Idol Season 11 Semi-Finalist 

1st Round

She decided to sing: 

Oh Darling (Beatles)

The Judges commented on her performance.

The judges scores were tallied & the3 finalist were announced:

WE WERE SHOCKED!!  

All I could hear was "I probably wouldn't make it to the final round" & if I did, "I'm not popular enough to win"...

  

Mackenzie Tolk has a beautiful voice, comes from a musical family,  & is a senior.

Kynlie Godfrey is a popular girl with a great voice & I'm told "everyone loves her".

Kenzie had to sing FIRST.

FINAL ROUND:

She debated singing a medley of Ed Sheeran songs (different then the one she has on youtube) or Bon Iver's "I Can't Make You Love Me."   I LOVED the Ed Sheeran medley & thought, if it was being judged by her classmates, that was the way to go but it was her decision & BOTH were awesome!!

 

After the other girls sang, they told us we had "FIVE MINUTES to text in our votes!!"

IDOL1 for Kenzie Hall

IDOL2 for Mackenzie Told

IDOL3 for Kynlie Godfrey.

Then they announced the WINNER!! 

(Remember there is "NO WAY she could win!")

(Yes I hit the power off button on accident after they announced her name... duh!!!!)

We were SO Proud of our Kenz!!!

She was congratulated by many friends & family ...

... Kyle Khou wanted to talk to her to congratulate her & share some advice.  

She is SO TALENTED & SO BEAUTIFUL!!  

WHAT A NIGHT!!

Plus they say she gets $50 from Alta High School for winning ... That might just buy her a tank of gas that her dad brought home an hour before she had to leave... ;)

Hayden's a Cub Scout

Hayden was awarded his Bobcat at his first Pack Meeting last night.

Click on the picture of Hayden to read all about it. :)

Click HERE to see HIS blog...

If you want to leave him a comment... please do.  He checks all the time... :(