Mekenzie is 4!!

Oh my! Where do I even begin with this cute girl!! Yesterday, July 25th, my beautiful Mekenzie Marie turned 4!! I swear just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital and now look at her! All grown up!! We celebrated the day by going to Lagoona Beach, had yummy icecream, and enjoyed presents from the family!


Words cannot describe just how blessed I am to have Mekenzie for a daughter! She is such a sweetheart with such a witty personality! I am constantly amused with the things she says and does!! She loves and I mean LOVES all types of animals, loves to sing and dance like her Momma, loves the water, playing dressup with her dollies, and is a good sister to Haiden.


I put together this collage last night, and when I started going through her pictures, I couldn't help but cry with sadness on how fast she is growing up, but more importantly with gratitude on having this sweet spirit brought into our lives! I am so honored to be her mom and have enjoyed every moment of it thus far!!


I look forward on what is in store for her as she continues to get older! This fall, we are going to put her in Premier Productions (where I dance at) and have her start performing too! She loves coming to my shows and is always dancing and singing to my songs, so I thought it'd be perfect for her to start now! I just found out too that the youngest cast will be a small group of girls that will be putting on a Disney Princess show, where each of them will be a Princess and sing different songs from the movies! With her being the little blondie she is, she will fit perfect to do Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, or Cinderella! I am so excited for her to start dancing and persue on what she loves doing!!


Happy Birthday my sweet Kenzie Girl!! Every day with you is a blessing, and I look forward to many more birthdays to come!!

Frightmares!!

This year, I have decided to audition for Lagoon's Frightmares entertainment!! I have a few friends who perform in the summer cast, and they had mentioned to me that with some of the girls leaving, they need more singers and dancers for Frightmares season. So, why not?? I love performing, I LOVE Halloween, and I get paid doing it, so yes please!! It's only for a short time too and on weekends, so it'd be perfect with my schedule :) I'm a little nervous to audition since it's been forever since I have auditioned for something, but thankfully for Premier and performing this summer, I feel comfortable and confident that I will do well! Auditions are on August 4th, so I have just about 2 weeks to get myself ready! Wish me luck and hopefully good things will come of it :)

Summer Time!!

Summer so far has been going well for us Belshes :) We've been busy busy as always and having lots of fun! This year we decided to get Lagoon season passes again, which is always a blast for my kids and I. We go about 2 times a week. I just love having the variety every time we go, whether it going to Lagoona Beach or the rides, there is always something different to do! Haiden is now at the height to go on some of the bigger rides like Wicked, Colossus, and the White Roller Coaster. He is such an adventurous little boy and has loved every moment. Definitely my boy :) It has also been fun watching the entertainment with a few of my friends performing. Mekenzie LOVES the singing and dancing! Definitely my Girl :) Ha Ha!! Here are some pics so far of our fun times!!

I have also been busy performing!! It has been SO MUCH FUN!! We have been able to perform at Thanksgiving Point, Camp K, The District, The Gallivan Center, and many more! I just love our cast too!! We have a great group of girls who I have become so close with! Love them all so much and look forward to the fun shows ahead of us :)

On June 4th, Douglas and I celebrated 7 years of being married!! 7 Years!! Can you believe it!! We didn't do anything big this year, but had a nice night out going to dinner (yummy sushi) and a movie. Looking back, Douglas and I have gone through a lot of good and bad , but I am so blessed to be where we are today! He is my rock and has always been there for me and the kids! I am so grateful I made the choice to marry him!! I love him SO much!!

Then

Now

As far as Triathlons go, I really want to do one this summer, but am looking to do one in August/September. I still workout and love going to the gym, but with doing the Tough Mudder this October and Ragnar in November, I decided to throw a tri in before, just so I can train for all of them close together. Better than splitting up my training schedule! We'll see which one I will try and conquer this year :)

I just can't believe June is almost over with!! Time goes by so fast when you're having fun!! Cant wait for July!!

5 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me :)

Ok girlies!! You got me wanting to add to the fun of our blogging :) So here it goes...


5 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me


1. As laid back and calm I may seem on the outside, I am a HUGE adrenaline junkie!! Throw anything to get my heart rate going, and I am all in! Whether it be going into an unknown cave, jumping off of REALLY high things, swimming and diving into the depths below of who knows what, well, you get the point! I am all for it!! I love that feeling of your body either about to pass out or go a million miles per minute!! That is why I love scary movies, races, performing, crazy rollercoasters, scaring myself to death, you name it! As long as I get that adrenaline going, I dont want to stop!! Of course with being a mom now, I am more responsible than what I was, but I still love it!!! :)


2. I hate and I mean HATE laundry with a PASSION!!! Most people dont like doing dishes, bathrooms, you know, the really gross jobs, but I'd do them any day if it'd take me away from doing laundry. Some people just dont like the putting away, but for me, it's everything about it!! It's kind of embarrassing because you will see my house all nice and clean, but then you'll see piles of clothes sitting there for weeks not being put away. Douglas is my knight in shining armour though and handles the laundry pretty well Thank Goodness!! Heck!! Why cant we all just be naked and not even worry about clothes!!


3. Speaking of naked, I love having as little clothing on as possible, especially at home. Ya, I'm one of those lame people who like to walk around in her Gs and I don't care one bit who sees me in them. Attractive huh? What it really comes down to, is that I get hot all the time, so why layer myself with clothes when I dont have to? I LOVE sleeping naked to! A little bit too personal, but that is what makes this whole blog fun :)


4. So everyone knows I love to sing, dance, and perform in front of people no matter what size audience, but when it come to speaking, I am literally terrified!! Get me up to sing a song, no problem, but when it comes to having to give a talk in sacrament, teaching a lesson (mainly in front of adults), back when having to give a school report, ect, I become sick over it!! It makes me cringe just thinking about it!!


5. I am a sucker for reality TV. No matter how much drama is on there, I love it!! Some of my favorites are of course the dating ones like The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, the adventurous ones like The Amazing Race (which I'd LOVE to be on), Survivor, the food ones like Master Chef, Hell's Kitchen, Cupcake Wars, Competition ones like American Idol, SYTYCD, Biggest Loser, and the list goes on and on!! I am hooked!!!


So... there ya go!!! Hope you enjoyed reading. Can't wait to hear from other bloggers :)

Let's play again! What can we do next??

Camp K

Last night was such an amazing experience for me! The Company Girls and I (my singing and dancing group) got to perform at Camp K, also know as Camp Kostopolus. It's a camp for the disabled up near Hogle Zoo in Emigration. Premier Studios have performed up there many summers before, but this was my first time going. I have always enjoyed being around those who are disabled and involving myself with them as an aid in High School, different events, and those that have been in my ward, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to perform for them! When we got there, they all knew exactly who we were from years before, and looked at us like we were movie stars! They were so excited to see us! The show went very well, where one song we each grabbed someone from the audience. I picked this cute down syndrome girl who was so excited to come up and dance with me. She was so cute shaking her booty and trying to do what I did! We continued on with our show, with those singing solos, had someone come up and help sing. They loved it!! By the time we were at the end of our show, the whole stage was filled with people dancing and singing along with our music! We stopped our actual choreography and just had so much fun with them!! I loved seeing the looks on everyone's faces! Such a sweet moment! After our show, they did a talent show for anyone who wanted to come up. I cant even describe how awesome it was to see the sweet spirits these people showed through their singing, dancing, story telling, and even some magic tricks! One boy came up and dedicated a song to "Captain." Not sure who he was, but he started singing "Called to Serve" and was sobbing the whole time while singing. I couldn't help, but get teary eyed! Another boy in a wheelchair came up and sang "You Raise Me Up," and Man! That was a such a tear jerker too!! I was also so excited to see my Brother in Law's Brother Tyler there. He cant talk much, but when I went up to him and said I knew Frank and Taunie, his eyes lit up! It was so good to see him after many years :)  Being there around those kids was such a humbling experience for me and made me appreciate more of the things I have in my life. No matter what their disability was, they had such a light about them that I cannot describe!! I am thankful to know that we will be performing a few more times this summer for other groups going up there! I just love Camp K :)

Arms of the Rescuer

This past Sunday, I performed at another fireside. Every time I go and sing, the spirit is so strong, but this time was very different for me. I dont know what it was, but I have to say that it was probably one of the most spiritual moments that I have ever experienced! For each fireside, we go through the same songs and talks in the program, but during the end of it, Jenny spoke about Christ and the importance of not forgetting why we really are here and the important things that matter in this life. As we sang the last song, "Arms of the Rescuer," I couldn't help but get teary eyed during Jenny's solo, and as the choir joined in singing "I know that my Redeemer Lives," I broke down and could not control my emotions. The spirit hit me SO strong that all I could do was mouth the words. I might have looked stupid, but I cannot even explain the feeling that came over me. It kind of was like He was saying to me "Amanda, I'm here, I love you, dont forget about me." feeling, and it made realize just how far away I have distanced myself from the Savior. I mean, I haven't done anything horrible, but even with going to church, firesides, ect, I have just put myself into auto pilot and have forgotten the reason behind why I go, and the important every day things I have let go from my life. I haven't been as dedicated in reading my scriptures, praying, ect, and mainly I have been so focused on the every day things like work, kids, school, kids, dance, kids, ect, that I have stopped doing a lot of the important daily things I should be doing, plus with some of the hardships that have come on with my family, I have lost site on who to turn to, which I usually am so good at!! It's made me open my eyes and see the big picture of getting myself into shape spiritually. I need to be that example to my kids and husband and have completely lost site of it. That is what I love so much about Jenny's firesides. It makes you see what really matters in life and that getting caught up in the worldy things will just bring you down, which it definitely has for me! I am just so blessed that I went Sunday, which sad to say, I didn't want to go! I am so grateful though that I did, so I could really feel Jenny's message for myself and make me want to change my ways. It is such a powerful message that I hope every person gets an opportunity to hear it!

After Sunday, I have such a stronger testimony that He lives, our Savior Jesus Christ, that he loves each of us SO much, and he doesn't want us to forget him.

Here are the lyrics to the last song we sang. It has such a special place in my heart now. I wanted to find the actual song and post it on here, but can't find anything. This is also for Trek firesides, so keep in mind of that!

We will all have times

When the plains seem unending

And the rocky ridges are

Testing our strength

Times when we can’t feel our feet

When we’ve lost our way

And we are weak

And we need

[Chorus]

The arms of the rescuer

Where grief is swallowed up in His love

In the arms of the rescuer

Where darkness has no victory over us

We’re lifted up

To be enough

In the arms of the rescuer

We will all have days

When we feel out of chances

When we’ve wrecked our cart

And we’ve failed again

But His love for us is without end

He is there each time

We reach for him

Again

[Chorus]

I know that my Redeemer lives

What comfort this sweet sentence gives

He lives – He lives who once was dead

He lives

He lives

[Chorus]

I hope you dont forget our Savior like I did. He is there for us through our journey here, and wants us to do our best so we can return into his loving arms again. I am so grateful for that reconfirmation of his love for me and am striving to better myself, so when the time comes, I can embrace him with no regrets!!

Belshe Ranch Weekend

Last weekend was so fun! We went to Colorado and spent time with Douglas' parents and Uncle Lon and Aunt Josie. It was mainly just hanging out at the house, but we helped Susan and Josie plant their tire garden, Douglas helped his dad in the barn and kitchen, and the kids had a blast playing on the tire swing! We also took family pictures there which was way overdue! They turned out quite well with just having us do them :) Wish we could have been there longer!! I just love going to the Belshe Ranch!!