No Go

About a week and a half ago I auditioned to sing the national Anthem at a Jazz game. I got my rejection letter yesterday :) Oh well, one more thing to put under my belt.

I also auditioned on Friday for Kurt Bestor's "Best Singer in Utah" competition down in St. George. I won't know anything until the end of next month however as he is still doing more auditions at the north end of the state. Some of you might be thinking, "why does he keep setting himself up for rejection?" I however don't see it as rejection but as experience and growing opportunities and for people to hear my voice.

I started private voice lessons today, (woot! It's been almost 4 years since my last one) and I learned more in the hour today than I have ever before. My vocal coach is actually male this time which I think will be very beneficial for me in the long run.

If anyone knows of any opportunities for me to use my voice PLEASE let me know! The more use it gets the stronger it will get and the more comfortable I will be performing infront of crowds.

American Idol

Now that my American Idol experience is officially over, I will now tell you all about my experience...p.s. sorry it has been so long...

At the beginning of August my mom and I flew out to Kansas City for the first round of auditions. "Kansas City?" some of you may ask. "Why didn't he just try out in Salt Lake?" A valid question with a valid response from me. Salt Lake auditions were held on the same day that my family and I were flying back from our service trip in Ecuador.

Anyway...to get back to auditions...my mom and I got in line on Wednesday the 6th of August @ 5:00 am to get our wrist bands and seat tickets and had to return on Friday the 8th for actual auditions. We had all of Thursday to bum around and relax before the next day. Thursday night was the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance and I cried through the whole first hour because I was so nervous for the next day!

Friday came and we had to be back at Kemper Arena in downtown Kansas City at 5:00 am. We got there and waited in line for a couple of hours until we finally got inside the arena. We learned a couple of songs as an entire group and sang them for the cameras and auditions finally got underway at around 10:00 or so. They were going for an hour or so until Ryan Seacrest showed up to do some more filming for opening shots which put auditions on hold for about an hour and a half. FINALLY it was my turn to sing! There were two judges per table and 4 auditioners per table at one time. I was third of four and when we were all done the judges pulled us all up toward the table and said "we are just going to tell you how it is." This statement kind of scared me at first because when someone starts of with a statement like that it usually isn't good. "Number two and number four, we are sorry but it's a no." At this time, my heart did a huge leap as I realized I was about to advance onto the second round!

My next round was on October the 3rd back in Kansas City and unfortunately I didn't make it through and no I didn't meet Paula, Randy and Simon. The judges I sang for told me that I do have a nice voice but that it just isn't strong enough for the competition which has now motivated me to start private voice lessons again to strenthen my voice and give Idol another shot next year.

Seaworld

On our little adventure to Mexico we went back to San Diego on Wednesday and spent the day at Seaworld with Jeremy Carter's family (Jeremy is on the trip with us. He is Beau's roommate and former mission companion). It was a way fun day, although I did get a little sunburned in the face...which I hate...but it's my fault for not wearing any sunscreen. :) Anyway...we saw Shamu, a seal show, a dolphin show, we went to the shark encounter, and rode a few rides there one of which was impossible to walk away dry from...unless you had an umbrella...which I happened to have in my bag, but forgot about until after I got off the ride haha. It would have been super funny had I used it! Anyway the rides were fun, the shows were good and the food, of course, was expensive...but what do you do? I have included some pictures of the day. Hope you enjoy! :)

Shamu

The Mexico gang outside the Atlantis ride: Keely, Beau, Lauren (we got her a wheelchair to get the ride a little quicker...don't worry! She really wasn't feeling well), me and Jeremy

A seal doing some sort of model pose

Me, Keely, and Jeremy outside the 3-D Sesame Street Movie

Me holding a six-pointed starfish...we weren't supposed to take them out of the water...

The GIANT pizza we had for dinner...it was 30 inches...

Keely, Jeremy. Beau, Lauren and I outside the gate

Forever and a day!

So it seriously has been forever since I've posted and for this fact I apologize. It's not easy to do when you don't have close access to the internet...which means that there is no internet at my apartment...

Life has been crazy but good. I work a lot but Lord knows I need the money and it gives me something to do during the day besides sit on my butt and watch TV all day.

I am currently rereading the Harry Potter series and I am loving it just as much as I did last summer. I am currently on the fourth book and am not excited for the fifth one because it was my least favorite of the seven.

I leave for Mexico next week (yes, I'm going again) and I cannot wait! I am super excited to get my tan back. :)

I had a family reunion up at Panguitch Lake over Father's Day weekend and it was a blast. It's an annual tradition and we always have loads of fun. From card games to fishing to an added adventure this year of geocashing. I was really bumbed when I had to leave, but there will always be next year and I will see that side of the family at Ute football games which are always a huge good time.

My little sister Brianna Graduated from High School at the end of May which now leaves my parents with the empty nest syndrome. My dad is way excited for all of us to finally be out of the house, but my mom isn't quite sure what she is going to do with herself. I'm sure she'll figure something out.

I will try and post a little more often, but no promises!

Formal

We've all seen the movie stereotype of what a sorority is. Snobby girls, lots of alcohol, etc. But I have some friends in my ward who are apart of the sorority Alpha Phi and it is nothing like that (ok, maybe a few snobby girls:) ) My friend Brianna (who is a member of Alpha Phi) invited me to their formal a couple of weeks ago and it was seriously so fun! We had dinner, they gave out awards, we danced, it was just one huge good time. Here are some pictures from the event.

Lookin' hot with the knight!

Me and my girls! (Bri, Jess, Timian)



Bri and me Dancin it up



Jess and me



Timian and me

One Voice Reunion

What a blast I had at the One Voice 10 year reunion! It was so fun to see old friends and it was quite amazing how quickly the songs came back to me! We practiced pretty much all day and it was just like old times where the directors had to tell us to shut up about a million times. But let's be honest, it wouldn't be One Voice it they didn't have to do that.

I included some pictures that I took after the concert. I hope you like them!

A family full of One Voice

Janet and Me

The gang together again!

The Huntsman girls

Krachelle, Me and Mariah

Me and Ryan

Birthday madness!

I usually don't like having birthday parties, but I figured I would make an exception this year and it was a big hit! I would have to say that at least 50 people came! It feels good to be so popular! Ha ha. It was Mexican themed in memoriam of Spring Break and below are pictures of the huge good time!

Groupies at my Party! Haha

Maddie and Me

My Cake that Maddie made

The table display

Pinata time!