Ghost Dusters--Max the Possessed Boy!

Max landed a dream role--"Possessed Boy!"  While I'm not entirely sure of what this movie is all about, it was a great opportunity for him.  This is a short-film (8 minutes) that they are "hoping" gets them funding for the full-length movie they plan to do.

He spent 8 hours acting possessed over and over.  It was quite disturbing to hear such sounds come out of my son:) . He came out of the shoot just totally pumped up about it all.  He has ALWAYS LOVED making movies--ever since he was about 5.  He said, "I LOVE THIS!  And the best part is that I just get to act and NOT have to do all the dirty/grueling editing work."  I thought he would be exhausted and with no voice but he proved me wrong!

Max finally got ImdB credit for this and it should be entered into several local film festivals so we'll see where this takes us:)

Max & the Priest

Max & his "mom"

Max & the Writer of the script (Ken)

The Whole Crew!

4th of July--Deming, NM

My boys go to Deming every 4th to help Papa Frank with his fireworks show.  I go for the laughs:) . Where else can you visit with family AND get to pet the Donkey (Darla) that comes in and out of the house as she wishes:)???

Thank goodness for my SUPER cute great nieces and nephews:) . They made the show WAY more fun just being there with them in all their excitement.

Family Vacay 2019

We kept our vacation very simple this year--just us...just Mexico.  It was a much needed getaway after our CRAZY month of June.  We were definitely ready for simple family beach time.

We spent 4 days and 3 nights in a beautiful home in Rocky Pointe.  Our days were extremely non-structured--hours at the beach every day.  

Our Casa

Hermit crabs everywhere!

Bag o' OCTOPUS!!!

Beautiful shells to collect

 

Yes, the boys gave Max a butt:)

And made corny videos:  (going for the scene in Rocky)

Our favorite restaurant

Just plain ol' family time eating good food, playing games, watching good movies, and just being TOGETHER.  LOVE MY TRIBE:)

Funny side story:  Max was terrified of this creepy wooden statue thing we had in our home so OF COURSE we had a play a joke on him and put it right by his bed one morning when he woke up:)

Just the perfect getaway for some much needed downtime.  Mexico is our happy place:)

Newsies!

Holy Moly!  Almost through the month of June!

Max was cast as "Henry" (a main Newsie in the show) in the AYT production of Newsies.  He was cast with all of his best friends so the whole show run was a party.  The show was performed at a professional venue--the Tempe Arts Center--and IT WAS AMAZING to say the least.

It was such a great experience for Max all around and definitely pushed him to his limits on his dancing abilities.  But he pulled it of with flying colors just like he always does.

He got his own poster!!!

Super fan-Tatum

Carlie proving that she & Max have the SAME smile:)
They must be siblings or something:)

Dylan, Max, Sarah, & Madi
(Jack, Henry, Buttons, & Specs)

With the Music Director:
CJ O'Hara)

Henry & Buttons

No!  NOT a real bloody nose in this next pic.  But I did get the dreaded call that Max was dropped and hit his head in a fight scene during a performance.  Thank goodness all was well and no concussion was had:). I just held my breath for EVERY performance after that!

Specs & Tatum

Jack & Henry

Rayshawn & Max

Carter & Max

Ms. Askins--5th Grade Teacher
and one of Max's biggest supporters!

Lois, Henry, Mr. Pulitzer (Noah), Kayleah, & Carlie

My favorite trio:
Kayleah, Carlie, & Lois

The whole TERRIFIC cast!

This last picture is HUGE.  Tatum is kinda a shy girl.  She's known Bruce G. (the AYT choreographer) for over a year now and he FINALLY convinced her to give him a huge.  A picture was definitely in order for this occasion!

BYU Softball Camp!

Our June was CRAZY to say the least--Chris was gone to Europe for 12 days, Carlie was working full-time, Max was in several productions at the same time, and Tatum and I headed off to Provo for her second time attending the BYU Softball Camp.

This year, Tatum & Chloe insisted on staying in the dorms on their own.  Amber and I were great with that.  We all flew out together and got a rental car for the week for Amber and I.  Tatum & Chloe partied at BYU and Amber & I had the best girl's week ever!

We were laughing so hard at the girls as we checked them into their dorms.  They were the most basic dorm room ever with very basic amenities but to the girls, it was like a 5-Star hotel!  They were SOO excited about EVERYTHING!!!  "OH MY GOSH!  FEEL these sheets!  They are SOOO soft."  "Our room is HUGE!"  "WE HAVE OUR OWN FRIDGE!"  They didn't even seem to mind the community bathrooms:). They were definitely living "Their best lives!"

Checked in with their bags of goodies!

Girls with Cosmo!

Their very own mini-fridge!

Amber and I headed out on our own adventures.  We shopped, ate amazing food, rafted down the Provo River, and watched movies.  It was AWESOME!  It was kinda nice to escape for a week and NOT have a set schedule of places to be and things to get done.  

Horses at the Provo River

On the last day, we went and watched our girls in action on the ball field.  They loved every single minute of the week.  Apparently, they had the "party/hang-out dorm" because they had all the good food that Amber & I bought for them at the beginning of the week:). They made lots of new friends and have both made the goal to play softball for BYU someday.  

Head Coach Eakin

Coach Pete (from Australia)

Coach Taylei

Coach Rilee

Coach AJ

Coach Morgan

Coach Arissa

Coach Ally

Coach Aubree

Tatum, Emily, Mary, & Chloe

Their RA--Julia

We then headed over to the Provo City Temple for the girls to do baptisms.  It was really cool to be in this Temple.  It is no where near as busy as the Gilbert Temple.  The girls got right in and then afterwards got to stamp and record their own names!

Then it was dinner at Brick Oven Pizza and pedicures to finish out our amazing week.  

 

So we have decided that this has to be a yearly tradition.  We had such a great time and can't wait to do it again!