sPaRk

i just returned from an amazing and creative weekend at SPARK. this quote from one of the LDS general authorities was one of the inspirations behind this fantastic event...

so we spent the weekend learning new things and new ways of doing the old things we already new how to do. the event was held at this is the place heritage park in salt lake city so the setting was beautiful and historical and perfect. we came away with inspiration to bring more creativity into our lives everyday and to let that creative spark jump to our children, friends and families.

i decided to do a slide show journal for you so you can see what i was up to all weekend. not mentioned in the slide show was the raffle and silent auction we all donated items to for a susan g. komen fundraiser, the grand finale bon fire where we drank hot chocolate and lit sparklers, and the fact that they let us pillage all of the great decorations and take them home with us.
there is a lot of text on some of the slides so push the pause button on those so you can read it all (if you want to).

many thanks to craig for spending the weekend with the boys so i could take part in this.

today and tomorrow i will be sparkin' it up at SPARK...i will post pictures of my creations when i get back.

movie review

so i mentioned that craig and i were going to see this is it last night---and the verdict is we loved it.
just wanted to share some of my thoughts.


favorite performance...
i loved the reworking of thriller, all the new video footage they shot for the concert.


saddest moment...
what made me cry the most, and there was a fair amount of crying on my part, was seeing the incredible excitement of all the backup dancers, musicians, backup singers and crew had to be a part of what was going to be an amazing show. and to see them brought to tears by the fact that they were working with michael jackson.


most surprising...
i was truly amazed by how great michael's voice still was. everything i remembered about the way he sang was there...all the feeling and emotion and incredible high notes. i expected him to lip sync the whole thing but there was no lip syncing at all. his version of human nature was beautiful.


favorite moments...
my favorite part of the entire film was the obvious and utter joy that oozed from michael as he performed. it was so easy to tell that there was nothing in the world that made him happier than being on stage, singing and dancing.


and then there were a handful of moments, just as a number ends, that he breaks into the most amazing smile...those moments made the movie for me.



if you are even just a little bit of a michael jackson fan, you should go see this movie. i really would have regretted it had i not gone. even though it is rehearsal footage and some the routines are walked through (michael jackson style walk through which is pretty much full out), and even though he skips some lyrics here and there to preserve his voice...i found myself grooving in my seat, clapping, crying, smiling and reminiscing with craig about some of our favorite michael songs and moments.

i have a hot date tonight...

we are going to dinner and this...


we have both been huge michael fans forever and we are excited to see it. and yes, i will probably cry at some point.

happy halloween...

click on this one of sy to experience the nasty awesomeness.

the fruits of our blood, sweat and tears...mostly craig's

what have we been up to???

we have been going to flag football games


here is the man in action...
and here is my little white boy doing the haka with his team after the game.



no video of the haka yet. if you have never seen the big boys do it you can watch it below. it is a traditional maori war dance.



we also celebrated soren's 4th birthday...