Weekend of Fiddle Festival

Thursday afternoon I headed to Weiser, ID to meet up with my family who had been there all week at the National Old Time Fiddler's Contest. We have been going to Weiser for as long as I can remember. I haven't been able to go for the past 3 years because of work, so I was pretty excited to go. Throughout the years I've always played with Mom and the boys during the day while Dad was up at the contest with Grandma and Grandpa making sure everything went smoothly. Then in the evenings I would babysit the boys while Mom joined them. Well this year I got to spend 3 nights up at the contest....ummm that's where all the FUN is!! And I've missed out for the past 21 years!!! Never again will I get stuck at the trailer with the boys! I really had a blast watching all the fiddlers performing and jamming. I wish I could play the fiddle, guitar, or mandolin so I could jam with them too!! It's fun to watch the performance but the real fun happens back stage, I think. Especially when you are with Rob...because you can do whatever you want. And I claim Frank and Julie as my grandparents! hahaGrandma Julie and I ushering fiddlers on and off. We also had a good time discussing the...how should I put it...Interesting fashion of the fiddlers...
(Mom as a photo of me and Grandpa...PLEASE post those so I can get them Mom!!!!)

It was sooooooooooo good to see my family!!! Although I didn't get to see Sam and David since they stayed at home. I had such a great time with them. I definitely needed the family time!
Mom and I always have a good time when we're together. And late at night we get super giggly. I LOVE it! I learned a lot about my mother this past weekend...she probably doesn't want me sharing details but it was truly FANTASTIC!!! (haha, are you guys in 5th grade?)

Dad, I did not forget you! I got my bear hug and shoulder rub!!! (Mom I believe you also have a photo of Dad and I...PLEASE post.)
ummmm yeah. Gotta love this kid.
That is the McDonald's Menu in the background.
Dear Weiser,
I know that you are a very small town and I know you have many cute little places to eat but could you please get something other than McDonalds in the fast food department? Thanks, I'd really appreciate it.
p.s you do have YUMMY Reeses McFlurries...but that is all.
Here we are waiting for the parade to start.

LOVE this picture :)

Frank treated us to ice cream at the Classic Weiser Candy place...Sooo good! (all their food, especially the chocolate) But beware...the owner is really good at talking you into buy more than you want. haha

In conclusion my weekend was FANTASTIC!!!! I had a BLAST! It was great to see family and hang out at the Fiddle Contest!

SOCCER SOCCER SOCCER!!!!

I wish the World Cup took place every year!!! I have LOVED watching the games!! They are fantastic! This morning was the USA vs Algeria game and it was INTENSE! Mady was still asleep so I couldn't be too loud but I was freaking out. I yelled at the TV a few times and then we we scored in overtime I was literally jumping around the living room! GO USA!!! Donovan came out of no where!!! Mady probably thought I was insane because I was so excited!! We did a little victory dance!!! I LOVE IT!!!

WOOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!
Here is Donovan(10) after he scored.
After the score the US team dog piled each other...it was fantastic!
Did I mention that I was pretty freaking excited?
Soccer is the world's favorite sport! :)

Here is the Official World Cup song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) sung by Shakira...whom is one of my favorite artists. This song is pretty amazing...I love it. We did part of the dance in Zumba. My goal is to someday be able to shake it like Shakira!
Enjoy! And if you haven't yet, watch some of the World Cup...it's AWESOME!
USA vs. Ghana on Saturday!

I LOVE my Dad because...

• he's goofy. I don't even know how to explain the goofiness...but it makes me laugh
• he gives the BEST hugs! Even when I don't think I need one...I do.
• he fills my bucket when it's empty
• I know he loves my mom. He finds ways to show it daily
  
• he likes Jane Austen. I've been spoiled by having a dad who will watch Pride and Prejudice (yes the LONG version!), Emma, and other Jane Austen's. There are very few men like that
• he loves music. He is like the music guru, it's amazing. I remember riding in the car with him when I was little and he would quiz me on what instruments were being played, the song name, the band name, etc.
• he randomly calls me up to talk
• he is a worthy priesthood holder, always willing to give me or anyone else a blessing
• he creates meals like "Rob's Hamburger Special" and "Stuff"
• he has a BEAUTIFUL singing voice and he shares it with everyone
• we have a great relationship. I love it

Happy Father's Day Dad!!! Thank you for all that you do for me!! You are the BEST!!!
I LOVE YOU!

I miss them...

In 2 weeks I get to see my family. I'm pretty much beside myself with excitement. Staying for the summer was the right choice, I don't necessarily know why, but it was and I don't regret it. And while it's been great, I LOVE my job, my roommates are AWESOME, and although the weather isn't as great as I would like, I MISS my family!!!!!! It's been really rough for me the past few weeks because I feel like I am missing out. Isaac turned 12 and was ordained a Deacon, Sam received his Eagle and will be graduating from high school next week. I'm missing EVERYTHING! Okay...not everything, I realize I'm being dramatic...but STILL!!! You want to know how bad it is?
I'm jealous of my brother's girlfriend. Yep. You heard that right. She gets to go do things with my family...it may not be a lot of things but she is there with them. I can't look at a picture of the two of them on facebook without crying. Yeah, it's pretty bad.

But no worries! In 2 weeks my family will be in Weiser, Idaho for the National Oldtime Fiddler's Contest, I have never been so thankful for the Fiddle Contest. I'm so excited to see them even though it will only be for a couple days. I can't wait. It's what is helping me survive...not that my life is difficult, because it's not. I just can't wait!!!

GLEE

This weekend I was introduced to a show that has made me fall in love with music all over again! I've always loved music, there is rarely a time where I'm not either blasting the music or it's playing in the background (pretty sure this comes from my Dad!) But now I love it even more! The show is GLEE! My roommate Baylee is obsessed with it and we had the first 13 episodes on DVD so we had a Glee marathon and watched all of them in the course of 24 hours. The season finale is Tuesday but I've still got some episodes to catch up on before then...This show makes me happy! And I absolutely love their renditions of other artists' music. Hence my playlist is dedicated to Glee now :)
It also makes me wish I had AMAZING singing skills!

Thanks, Baylee, for introducing GLEE to our apartment! We've all been inspired to sing and dance all the time!