The morning of the YCC we met the youth at the church around 5:00 so that we could get in our carpools and have them to the Taco Bell Arena in time for their call time. I was assigned to take Kenedy, Avynlea, Kara Hucks and Kaitlyn Lindley in my car. I was not sure at all as to where I needed to take the girls and so I made sure to follow another car out of the parking lot so I could follow them to the arena. I ended up being Brother Klemme and following him was a wild ride of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. With the way he was driving I thought he knew he had a tail and he was doing anything he could to shake it. It was crazy and a little scary at times but he led me where I needed to go and I somehow made it safely.
After I dropped the girls off I found my way to the Albertsons Headquarters parking lot where I met up with Amy Lamm and we boarded the bus to take us back to the arena. We could not park at the arena because there would be a lack of parking due to the football game going on later that evening.
We were the first ones in our group to make it back to where we needed to sit and although we were in the balcony we got the front row so we had a really great view of all the dancers performing. Once there we settled in for a long morning of waiting and watching.
The kids had a lot of going up the stairs and down the stairs because of all the blocking and practices for their number and the closing number. But they also had some much needed down time where they could sit and relax and hang out with their friends.
Hallie Brough, Kara Hucks, Madison Hughes, Madyson Ray and Kenedy
Bridger Hamm, Natalie Kashyap, Avynlea and Kaitlyn Lindley
Before the performance they showed a 30 minute movie with pictures and video from all of the different stakes practices. We saw tons of video with pictures of kids we did not know and so it was pretty thrilling when this picture of Avynlea and Natalie popped up on the big screen!
These two are so cute and Avynlea was so glad that she and Natalie were partnered up in the beginning because they have developed a pretty great friendship through all of this.
Kefford and Rylee were able to get tickets to the show and since I was there I went ahead and put a coat on two seats to reserve them seats as close to the front and as close to where the General Authorities were sitting as I could. They had a really good view and they both really enjoyed being able to see the dances.
Brit and Kelsey were also there with their three oldest and they were sitting on the left side of the GA stage while Kefford and Rylee were on the right.
Brit had a good view of Avynlea and Ryker and she was thoughtful enough to take some pictures for me. I included two of the pictures she took of Ryker but not any of Avynlea because I was able to find some of her that the professional photographers took. Kenedy was more in the back during our Stakes Dance and Brit didn't see her to get pictures but I found a couple of her from the professionals as well.
Our Stake did a dance to the song "Digging in the Dirt" and it represented the farmers who developed this area before irrigation. It was a fun dance and my kids looked so cute and had a lot of fun performing it.
Ryker is in the blue plaid shirt and darker khaki pants, 4th kid running out from the right
Ryker with his tongue in his cheek, it is so cute that he still does that when he is concentrating. Avy and Natalie are just to the right of Ryker in this picture.
Avy, Natalie and Bridger
She is seriously so cute in her pioneer clothes!
The girls wore their own pioneer clothes and were all given white aprons to wear which they were allowed to keep at the end.
Angela Kashyap took this picture of our girls running out of the Arena at the end of their dance and she commented to me how cute it was that they had their arms around each other. They are the cuties in the bottom of the picture.
For the closing number only youth 14 and up performed down on the floor, there was not enough room for all of the kids so the Beehives and Deacons stayed up top and sang and did the movements standing in front of their seats. It was actually a really cool affect having the singing going on all around the arena.
Brit took this picture of Kenedy because she finally had a good view of her
And this one was one I found that the professionals had taken. What a beauty.
The highlight of the day for Kenedy was getting to meet and shake Elder Uchtdorfs hand. He and his wife were the visiting Authorities and it was pretty awesome hearing the cheers for them and the other Authorities who came with them. I loved hearing the kids clap and cheer for this man of God and loved that they were able to show their love in such a fun way that normally does not happen.
Kenedy was in the front for the closing number and those kids got to stay where they were while the General Authorities walked out. Of course as they walked along they shook hands and talked to the kids. Kenedy got a hug from Sister Uchtdorf who looked her in the eyes and told her thank you and she got a handshake from Elder Uchtdorf. Kenedy has been struggling a bit lately with being a Senior and life in general and I had said a prayer that morning that my kids, and especially Kenedy, would feel the spirit and have a good experience that weekend. I was watching Kenedy get her handshake and hug and I had tears in my eyes seeing my prayers answered. She left this event on fire and filled with the Spirit, it was pretty awesome.
Ryker also got a handshake from Elder Uchtdorf but I didn't see or get a picture. He and Avynlea had a great time also and I was happy they were able to be a part of this and feel the Spirit and to have a great time!
Brit and her kids spotted Avy and I up in the balcony and took some pictures of us.
