Lagoon – it’s what FUN is!

I love Lagoon. I always have. I probably always will. I mean, it’s no Magic Mountain or Disneyland, but it’s closer and cheaper.

When I was a kid, it was a fun place to go with my family, especially on “Stake Lagoon Day.” It was always fun to have a big dinner together with all of our friends and neighbors in one of the pavilions. We always enjoyed watching for our neighborhood friends and school friends that we hadn’t seen since school let out.

When I was a teenager and a young adult, it was a fun place to go on a date (or looking for a date). There were plenty of “scary” things to encourage chivalrous behavior from nearby guys.

Now that I’m a mom, I love taking Ryan there. I love watching his excitement about the rides, the games, and the food. (You know, Dippin’ Dots, churros, and cotton candy – things we only eat when we’re there.) No matter what else we do, we always play miniature golf, take a ride on the train, and ride the Carousel/Merry-Go-Round.
Ryan and I decided that our favorite ride is now the OdySea. Yes, you get really wet, but that’s part of the fun. We laughed the whole time we were on it. It was great!
But I have to admit, my very favorite part of Lagoon now as an adult is the “Guessing” game. Why? Both Ryan and I come away EXTREMELY happy every year! Ryan is happy because I consistently win stuffed animals for him. I am happy because “they” always guess my age at 8 to 10 years younger than I am! (For those of you who don’t play on a regular basis like I do, if “they” are within two years of your age, “they” win. If they are more than two years off, you win. Wait just a minute…would this be considered gambling? Uh oh!) This year, the guy guessed my age as 31. I could have kissed him!!! I’ll keep playing until they start guessing my age OLDER than I really am!

Aloha Nights – Utah Style!

The past few days we have been able to attend some AMAZING (and free!) entertainment! Monday, July 28, was the latest installment in the “World Concert Series” at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. It was dubbed “Aloha Nights” and featured the Polynesian dance group, Tevaka Nui, as well as singers Janoe Kalawa and Keola Santos. The show was wonderful! All of the musicians were extremely talented, and the dancers were incredible!
The highlight of the evening was Kap Te'O Tafiti, the fire dancer from the Polynesian Cultural Center! He is in Utah to perform and teach a workshop on fireknife dancing. It was so much fun to watch his amazing talents again! He has a fun sense of humor, and we always love watching him, wherever it may be. (Photo: PCC)
We also enjoyed a dinner of Kalua pork, rice, and mac salad. We commented that an evening like this in Hawaii (with the meal, the musicians, the dancers, and especially the fire dancer) would have cost us $80 to $100. We were pretty darn excited that the performance was FREE, and the meal was extremely reasonable. (Kristin and Abby, you KNOW we missed you! We hope you’re back for next Monday’s show!)

You all know that Ryan is a wanna-be-Island-boy. Most of the performers were Polynesians who have now moved to the mainland. The majority of them have settled in Las Vegas. They joked that the Polynesians in Las Vegas call it “the ninth Hawaiian Island.” No wonder my little Vegas-born baby is such an Island boy!

A "Happy Birthday" shout-out to my baby brother who is now "middle-aged" and expecting TWO babies of his own! Love ya!

What do Korea, Guitar Hero, and salmon have in common?

No, I'm not making a list of Laurel's favorite things. That would obviously also include feet! ;)

Sunday, July 27, we traveled to Orem for Caleb’s missionary farewell (Caleb is Frances' brother). Caleb was asked to speak on “friendship” from the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet. He did a great job. He entered the Missionary Training Center today to prepare to go to Korea. (Thanks, Laurel, for your email to Caleb with cultural tips. He is now a little better prepared.)

After attending all of the church meetings with the Andersons (the kids from our family visiting Primary almost doubled the size of the Primary!), we went to the Andersons' for a great meal and fun visiting. Ryan, of course, spent a lot of his time playing Guitar Hero.
While we were there, we also enjoyed looking at pictures of Kay and Caleb and Pete’s recent trip to Alaska. Our “thanks for watching” prize was about six POUNDS of Alaskan salmon! Yea! I’m set for a couple of weeks!

Good luck, Caleb! We know you’ll be great!

Country, Rock & Roll, and the Tabernacle Choir

On Saturday, July 26, we had the opportunity to attend the Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, with the Osmond Family as special guests.

Before the concert began, we talked with the sister missionaries sitting in front of us. As we visited with them, we were excited to learn that one was from Mongolia, and the other was from Tonga. Interestingly, Frances’ grandparents served as mission presidents in Mongolia, and then served a mission in Tonga. The sister from Mongolia knew the Clarks, and was baptized while they were serving there! The sister from Tonga loved visiting with Ryan! In the course of their discussion, she learned that he was baptized at Temple Beach in Laie (she attended BYU-Hawaii and was thrilled to learn he was baptized there); she asked him if he liked football, and he told her that he liked football, but LOVED rugby; he told her that he knew the haka, and she just about went crazy! She kept saying, “He’s an Island boy!” She told him several times that he needed to move to the Islands to be an Island boy. (Please…don’t encourage him!). He also just happened to be wearing a cute Hawaiian shirt! We had a lot of fun visiting with them and getting to know them.

Just before the concert began, Lloyd Newell welcomed President and Sister Eyring, who were sitting on the front row, right down from us. He also welcomed “members of the Quorum of the Twelve,” although he didn’t introduce any by name.

We have attended numerous events in the Conference Center. We have attended several concerts in the Conference Center. This was unlike anything we have attended there.

The program started with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra performing a couple of my favorite pioneer heritage songs: “They, the Builders of the Nation” and “Faith in Every Footstep.” Then the Osmonds were introduced. This is where we wondered if we were still in the Conference Center. An electric guitar started playing, and spotlights started shining and circling around on the Choir. We commented that it was probably the first time that either of those things had happened in the Conference Center!

I have to mention here that we were pretty big Osmond fans growing up. My dad worked for the publishing company that did all of the Osmonds’ media printing. So we had Osmond books, paper dolls, trading cards, posters, and just about anything else you can imagine. You also have to know that the TV-watching was very limited at our house. We were NEVER allowed to watch “Three’s Company,” or similar shows of that time period. We were, however, always able to watch “Donnie and Marie” (you know…wholesome Mormon entertainment). :) The past few years, Ryan has also become quite the Donny fan via “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

So, back to the concert. The Osmond brothers did several of their hits – “Down by the Lazy River,” “One Bad Apple,” and “He Ain’t Heavy,” with their old videos on screens behind and to the side of the Choir.

The Osmonds then took a break while the Choir did some of their Americana songs. (Melissa, tell Justin that we enjoyed all of his solos! We noticed at least three or four!)

The Osmonds came back out and started with “Yo Yo,” which Ryan declared was his favorite of the evening. Donny and Marie then did a medley of their hits. Please, no one yell at me, but I thought that the Choir singing “She’s a little bit country” and “He’s a little bit rock and roll” was kind of cheesy. Sorry. It seemed to be a big hit with most of the rest of the audience.

I was touched by two musical numbers – the first one was “Whenever You’re In Trouble.” Donny told the story of when one of his sons was on his mission. His son sent him a text message when Donny was in the middle of a recording session, but he took the time to answer, and they sent a few messages back and forth. His son then said that he was ok – he just needed to know that his dad was there. Donny wrote the song following that experience.

The second number that was touching to me was “Through the Years.” While the family sang, video clips ran on the screens behind of the family performing through the years. It started with a clip of the boys doing an audition with Walt Disney, followed by clips from the Andy Williams show. There were several photos and videos of their parents and older brothers. The whole Osmond family was in tears, and many in the audience were, as well.

For the last two numbers, the two older brothers, Verl and Tom, joined their younger siblings on stage. (For those who may not know, they are both deaf.) The younger seven siblings took turns paying tributes to their older brothers. Then Verl and Tom signed while their siblings sang the last two songs. That was also very touching. This concert was the final performance in the worldwide “50th Anniversary Tour.” It was also the final performance for some of the brothers. That obviously made it even more poignant for them as they performed.
The final number was the Choir and Osmond family singing “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” another pioneer favorite. It was a fun performance, with both light and funny moments as well as touching and sentimental ones. I was glad we were able to attend.

(Photos by Tom Smart)

Celebrations of Heritage

This week, we took advantage of several opportunities to attend cultural celebrations around us.

On Monday, July 21, we went to the Cultural Celebration Center for the World Stage Concert. They are held every Monday night during the summer, and are a lot of fun. We were introduced to them by Kristin, Abby, and Blair (who works at the CCC). This week’s was Irish music and dance. Unfortunately, it was held inside due to rain earlier in the day. But Ryan and Abby still had fun playing on the quilt on the floor. We enjoyed the dancing, the music, the corned beef and cabbage dinner, and exploring the animal statues outside. (Parents, don’t panic…Blair assured us that the artist designed them to be “interactive.”) We’re looking forward to Monday night’s Hawaiian concert AND FOOD!!!

Wednesday, July 23, was the annual Bountiful Handcart Days celebration. Ryan had the opportunity to walk in the parade with the other youth from our area. Papa was great to walk with some of the kids while we moms and grandmas enjoyed the parade from the sidelines. (Kim and Kristina, we’re proud of you for braving the 100-degree heat!)
After the parade, we enjoyed dinner at Costa Vida and the Handcart Days fireworks.

Thursday, July 24 (Pioneer Day), we watched the Days of ’47 parade on TV in the morning and then went to the Bountiful Park in the afternoon and evening for the festivities there. We met up with some friends there, and the boys had fun on the bouncy toys... sawing and branding logs...

and riding ponies. They were about five feet away from being on the 5:00 news while they were sawing! One of the news reporters was doing a story on the Bountiful Handcart Days. The camera panned over to the kids right in front of Ryan! He was a little bit disappointed that he missed that brush with fame. But keep your eyes open for the TV advertisement for the “This is the Place Heritage Park.” Ryan is on that commercial!!!

WGU Academic Meetings and Graduation

You all know that this is one of my favorite weeks of the year. Although it consists of 10-to-12-hour work days, and then several additional hours of “mandatory” socializing afterward, it is always so great to see my good friends!

Speaking of "mandatory" socializing...the BBQ, dunking machine, plaza-wide karaoke and bouncey toys on the Gallivan Plaza were a lot of fun. Thanks to Blake and Cindy for some additional entertainment! (Notice that I DIDN'T post the pictures of anyone falling out of the bouncey toy!) ;)

For those of you who may not know, most WGU employees think I am a Southern girl. Apparently since I spend all of my time with Scarlette (formerly Georgia, now Alabama), Debra (Georgia), Cindy (formerly Alabama, now Mississippi) and Blake (Alabama), it is just assumed that I live in the South. In fact, co-workers often ask where I live in the South! My grandfather was born and raised in Alabama, so the REAL Southern girls have dubbed me an “honorary Southern girl.” (Scarlette & Blake – I’m seriously considering a trip there to find my “roots”! I’ll keep you posted.) It was great to have the “fab five” back together. Cindy left us for a while, thinking she could go back to the elementary classroom without missing us. She was wrong! It’s great to have her back! It’s always fun to be with y’all! I miss you already!!!
Celina also surprised us with a visit! You KNOW we miss you, too! Thanks for your continued friendship and your sweet emails. They always come at the perfect time! Jenn, thanks for bringing baby Jared all the way from Waxahachie! It was so fun to see him!
Sydney and Jamie, thanks for the blog exchange! See, you’ve already been added to the list! Sydney…Ryan and I will let you know when we’re ready for our “National Treasure” trip!

And to all of my other good friends not mentioned here by name, you know I love you, too!

The graduation exercises were inspiring, as usual. Tracie, I wish you could have been there! I hope you watched the exercises on the internet, and I especially hope that you stood when Sal asked all of the candidates to stand. I thought about you, and hoped you were standing at home.

WGU was featured in a couple of TV and newspaper stories. On Friday night, KSL introduced Kimberly Lillywhite, a student who had done her student teaching while battling cancer.
My mom was Kimberly’s clinical supervisor during her time in the classroom. Kimberly was also one of the student speakers at graduation, and did a great job. Saturday night, KSL did a story on WGU and the graduation exercises. That was also fun to see! Over the weekend, the Salt Lake Tribune also had an article on WGU and the graduation exercises. It was great to see such positive coverage all weekend.

Ryan had a fun week hanging out with Rara and Papa. Among other activities, they enjoyed the Days of ’47 Rodeo, although he was appalled at the treatment of the calves during the calf roping. Future PETA member, maybe?

It ended up to be a fun week for all of us!

I'm Famous!

Imagine my surprise when I found out that my blog was a link on the Yellowstone Online Newspaper!!!

Go to the right hand side to the "Opinion Pieces" column. Mine is "7/14/08 Yellowstone National Park (by Melanie)."

No, I didn't submit it or have anything to do with it ending up there. I assume that they have people that probably Google Yellowstone constantly and then add their blogs to the list. Interesting!