Una Voce Outing to Disney

 March ended with a Una Voce trip to Disney for their singing and acting workshop, as well as ramping up for the final week of preparation before the Risen Experience.

The kids had to be at school by 5:30 as their timeslot was extremely early - wow that was painful, but the chaperones could come later as we didn't have to be there until the workshop completion thankfully.  Amy and Tracy carpooled which was fun.

The parents, are we ready for this day at Epcot?

Amy loves the fact that Addison likes her to come be a chaperone - the answer will always be "yes" as long as our kids want us around!

We were split up into groups, but the groups ended up melding together and we just walked around - at certain points we had over 15 boys and girls together!

There were of course lots of rides - we got in most of them, at least the ones that the kids wanted to ride, which was great!

The Frozen right perhaps?

Guardians of the Galaxy

And the whole Una Voce group went over to the American pavilion to hear the Liberty (?) singers.

We managed to fit in a stop at the Coca-Cola tasting shop from the flavors around the world (some yum, some disgusting!)

And what outing would be complete without ice cream?

Alexa, Amaya, Olivia, another FLEC kid that Amy just forgot the name, Addison and Alison

That's a wrap - we're off to head home - great day!

Risen's final week is very busy with acting practice sessions, setting up each area, being sure each element is ready to go.

The last Supper Stage - Addison was a servant girl

And last, but certainly not least - Amy's dear friend Phyllis came into town for her once-a-year trip and we were able to go out to Positano's for dinner together.  Always a special time to catch up.

2026 Spring Break - Deer Valley Utah

As mentioned, that Friday we drove home from the spiritual retreat and literally were on our way to the airport about 2 hours from arriving home - so we had to unpack, pack, shower, eat and catch a quick breath before heading out to Deer Valley, Utah. We arrived Friday, so had some time to just enjoy some relaxation before we started to ski on Sundays.  Js arrived with us, and Cs came out Saturday night.

We rediscovered a love of Dominoes!

And a bit of Dutch Blitz always adds some fun!

This year it was the Js, Cs and Zs in a house - thankfully the house was well big enough that it nicely held all of us.  We were just north of the Jordanelle where the new developments are

Day 1.

William and Kaleb have similar taste in clothes 😉

Unfortunately the snow was TERRIBLE - some of the runs had zero snow on them, and others were very melty.  Thankfully Deer Valley has access to make a lot of snow, so they were able to keep at least a good selection of runs open.  We skied daily but after Wednesday, some of us such as Amy began to drop off - it just wasn't good enough snow to risk injury on.  The temperatures were 50-60 degrees even at the top, so no wonder the snow couldn't last!  In fact, the snow was so bad that it would be slush in some places and concrete hard in others, and poor Erik J fell on his 3rd run on Day 1 and broke his wrist, thereby ending his ski trip.  We are so sorry Erik!

Heather, Devin, Addison, Elin and Kelli

The house had a hot tub and a community center where you could work out, so we enjoyed a bit of both!

Amy and the ladies always ski together, and this year Addison and Elin joined us a lot as well.

25 years of skiing together now, thereabouts?

The second day there a very windy front came through, which ended up pushing a tree down on the ski lift cables overnight (so no-one in danger) but that meant that the ski left was out of commission that day - the mountain resort improvised and brought out snowmobiles in order to pull skiiers up to the next lift.  Very ingenous and worked like a charm!

Amy was sitting on the snowmobile and the two girls were being pulled on the rope that they slid their ski poles through

The boys skied with William and Kieran a lot so that they could go anywhere on the mountain as they are capable of skiing anything at this point - so off they went to explore!

Thanks William for being the ski chaperone!  You can see that William and Kieran have taken their jackets off and the Z boys have completely unzipped theirs - just too hot!

And a few random pictures of just moments along the week below.  We ended up extending our stay until Sunday, thinking that we'd get more use of our ski passes but little did we realize that the snow would be so bad and so hot, so we again enjoyed some relaxation, but not any skiing!  We enjoyed the family time, and always breath a prayer of thanksgiving when the week ends safely

Addison needed a new jacket this year and wanted a hot pink one, and Amy found this KJus on Ebay for $90, later to find out that it was a 1,200 jacket!  Yay!

7th Grade Spiritual Retreat

Last year the FLEC 7th grade teachers began an annual spiritual retreat out at Camp Geneva.  Addison still wants Amy to tag along as a chaperone, which Amy happily does, so off we went.  We drove up separately as this was literally the week before spring break and we came back Friday, had 2 hours to unpack, repack and then head out to the airport!  Yikes, but we made it.

The weather was lovely, and Addison's "group" was her close friends so it worked out beautifully.  There were 2 groups in the cabin, so a total of 10 girls and 2 adults.  One bathroom.  You can imagine how that went!!

Lele, Lily, Addison, Penny and Alison

 Last year when we went to Outdoor Education for 6th grade at Kulaqua (much nicer accomodations in their lodge and better food, but likely also more expensive), Kelli came along.  So as our adventure was starting, Pastor Matt and Amy sent Kelli a sad picture saying that we missed her!

This picture gives a bit of context as to the cabin - basically just a bunch of bunk beds and cockroaches.  Just close your eyes and pretend they aren't there!  Yuck.  The girls brought cards and had a great time playing games.

And tickling each other

Addison decided it would be fun to sleep in a bunk with a friend - so one night it was Lilly (who wisely got up halfway through the night to get into her own bed after Addison crowded her (Addison has always been a heat seeker!) and then the next night it was Alison.

Where are the girls are under these blankets??

We were there beginning Wednesday afternoon through Friday noon. They had worships talks every day plus solo reflection time, and then time for play

Pastor Matt taking Addison fishing

Hanging out chatting

Addison volunteered for one of the worship illustrations - guiding a magnet through a maze by telling a person who can't see behind the poster board how to move the magnet - they did well, but didn't finish it.

There was a lake there, and some lovely swings nearby that you could use as part of their reflection time, along with the sandy shores.

Beautiful view!

Enjoying the swing together.

Great group of girls - we have been blessed with very little drama!

Ziplining

And the last day everyone wore matching t-shirts and had a group picture.  Thanks for having Amy coming along, it was another wonderful memory!

Tapping into Our Creative Side!

 As mentioned, our friend Heather had a milestone birthday this year so we organized a little outing with her closest friends to brunch and Board & Brush.  What a fun outing!  We were in Winter Garden, so we walked around a little bit to look at the shops etc.

Winter Garden mural

We are set, ready to start on our projects!

Hard at work, Amy was running out of time at this point - so be quick lady!

Heather did a trivent

Kelli did a water themed tray

Amy's tray (for taking s'mores ingredients out to the firepit is the hope), Vasti did a table runner center piece, Heather's round trivet/tray, and Kelli's rectangular shaped tray

Addison went to Disney with Tracy and Blake - Amy is teaching her all about amortizing cost down, we have a goal so she needs to go about 10 more times!

And that same week she went with London, so we're getting there!  Lots of good fun to be had, and thankful to have her being active rather than sitting at home!

Random pictures - Addison and Aria are very "close" - Aria follows Addison around everywhere.  Aria is an affection hound, so loves nothing more than to be petted all the time -- and her stomach is the favorite spot for a petting session, so she will lay on her back so that Addison can pet her there.  Crazy dog.

It's like Aria thinks she is holding Addison there so she won't stop petting her!

Pampered dog!