Holiday Bowl Trip

The Mesa High Marching Band was invited to compete and participate in the Holiday Bowl.  The students practiced their show and kept it fresh so that they could compete to play in the pre-game show.  They raised money and worked hard for this opportunity.  Jim and I were selected to be chaperons on this field trip. We were so excited for this opportunity and to share it with Josh and Danni.

Heading off to San Diego in style

 When we arrived in San Diego, we headed to Seaport Village.  The kids separated into groups  to go shopping, eat, and just hang out.   It was fun to hang out at Seaport village.  

In the morning, we practiced with about 15 schools the music for the half-time show.  With that many students it took 1 hour for them to get into position.  They left them with  only 2 hours to practice the music with the sound system.  They practiced the next day with the dancers and color guard.  One of the dancers from "Dancing with the Stars" choreographed the dancers.  So cool!!  The sound system stopped working during practice, and just the band played.  It sounded amazing!!!  I wish that they could perform with the sound system, but they it for the timing of the fireworks.

After a long practice, the kids got dressed up and headed to a dinner cruise around the San Diego bay.  It was a great experience that I may never do again.  We could go on the top of the boat to get an amazing view of the San Diego lights.  There was dancing on the lower level.  Jim wanted a dance with his daughter.  SO SWEET!!!!

The next morning, the kids practiced again, this time with the dancers.  After that practice, they competed against 6 schools to be the winning school to preform the pre-game show.  They worked really hard and performed well.  They won the opportunity to perform the pre-game show.  AWESOME!!!!  What a great opportunity for them!!!!!!

After the practice and competition, we headed off to the beach.  We went to Mission Beach and had the largest pizzas I've ever seen for lunch.  After lunch, we played on the beach.  They were told not to get wet, but some kids couldn't resist the ocean water.  I loved the beach and wish you could have stayed there longer.

After the beach, we went to Sea World.  It was fun to see the Shamu and the Walrus Show. It was fun to see the marine animals, especially the dolphins and penguins.   Jim and I spent time together at the park while the kids hung out with their friends.  Danni spent most of the time riding the rides.  We ended the night with dinner, an award ceremony, and a dance at Sea World.  We had a blast!!

Monday morning, we started the day off with the parade.  ASU is playing in the Holiday Bowl, so their marching band was there.  They heard that Mesa High won the pre-game show and they congratulated them when they walked by us. The Mesa High kids were so proud and loved receiving the recognition.  There was a parade competition too.  Guess who won that?  Yep - Mesa!!

Parade

The highlight of the trip was the holiday bowl.  It was great to see the Mesa High Marching Band perform 1/4 of their show on a NFL football field.  They performed in the half-time show as well.  I was so glad to be there with Jim and the kids and share in their accomplishments.  

Mesa High at the Holiday Bowl

Chaperones

MHS Color Guard

Half-Time Show

Trophies and Plaques won at the Holiday Bowl
Mesa High did WELL!!!

Memorable MondayFacebook Posts 2013

Jan. 1st - My family has spent many hours playing Catan game that they got from Santa.  It's great to see the family gathered around the table playing a board game.
Jan. 12th - Emily received the Citizenship award at school.  She loves school!  Congrats Emmy!!
Jan. 23rd - We are going to register Josh as an MCC student today.  He is involved in an after school jazz club that he can get college credit since the instructor works for MCC.  Wish us luck!!!We are going to 
Jan. 25th -Angela sang with the Mesa High Choir last night with the Taylor Junior High kids.  Danni and Britt took great care of her.  I admit I got a little choked up when I saw her  on the MHS stage,  I finally warmed up to the idea of her going to junior high and now we need to think about high school in a year.
Jan. 28th -We are getting closer to having a college student.  We took my son to MCC to take a placement test.  9th graders don't take the AIMS test so the high school doesn't have test scores for him, so he needed placement testing.  This is a lot of work just to take a college music class offered to him at MHS.  The good news is that he did fabulous on his placement test.
Feb. 6th - Late Late Start and Early Early Releases means that I spend a lot of time in my car driving kids to school!!  With kids going to three different schools, they are only in school at the same time for an hour.  I wish that elementary school kids had late late start so we all could just sleep in.
Feb. 20th -Graupel also called soft hail or snow pellets, refers to precipitation that forms when super-cooled droplets of water are collected and freeze on a falling snowflake, from in a 2-5 mm ball of rime.
 March 1st - Someone turned 13 without having a birthday!!  We decided to celebrate her birthday today - Happy Birthday Angela!!!
March 9th - My son is doing his Eagle project this Monday from 9-12, Tuesday from 5-8 pm, and Wednesday 5-8 pm.  He is sorting and organizing music at TJHS.  If you or family needs something to do during spring break, come and down and support him.  There is a lot to do.
March 10th - Happy 15th Birthday to my daring daughter Danni.  I'm going to enjoy every minute with her today, because she is off to Texas in the morning for a week.  Happy Birthday Danni Pace!!!
March 17th - 18 years ago today, Jim and I were married in the Mesa Temple.  Happy Anniversary Jim!!!!
March 27th - I love spending time with my family.  We are so busy that it's great to spend an evening together watching the Easter Pageant.  Josh invites some friends to sit with us as well.  The girls and I walked around and ran into an angel - my nephew Devon.  It was a wonderful evening.
May 14th - I just found out that my son was selected into the National Honor Society.  He was worked SO hard in high school and I'm so proud of him.  CONGRATULATIONS Josh Pace!!!!!!!
May 28th -Jeff Hornacek returns to the SUNS as the Head Coach!!!!  I loved watching his play and was so sad when he was traded.  I wish the best of the luck as the Suns Head Coach!!
June 9th - "I'm a Mormon - I Know It, I Live It, I Love It!" - Girls Camp 2013
June 26th -I dyed my hair to remove some of the grey.  I picked a darker color that I'm use to but it turned out great.
June 26th - 6/26/90 was the hottest day ever in Phoenix 122 degress.  6=26=90 = 1222 - Just something random.
July 13th - My two older kids went to Youth Conference yesterday.  They went to Flagstaff Extreme and the Lava River Cave.  They took FABULOUS pics of the rope climbing course and non of the cave.  They had a blast!!  A huge thanks to the leaders who took them and watched over them.
July 20th - We went camping near Blue Ridge just outside of Happy Jack.  We needed some family time before Josh hand Danni head to band camp next week.  We had a blast while we were there.
July 22nd -Ready for a new marching band season.  Band Camp started this morning.
July 22nd -While Josh and Danni went to Band Camp, Angela went to Choir Camp
July 25th -Spoiling the younger two while my older two are working hard @ band camp.
July 27th - Band Camp is over.  Now, we are going to have some fun.
Aug. 6th -"Oh What a Beautiful Morning" - love this rainy morning.
Aug. 12th -You know your son LOVES Marching Band when he switches from a smaller instrument to a larger instrument just because he is asked to - without complaints!!  I would die from heat exhaustion if I had to march with a big instrument on my shoulders!!
Aug. 17th - Temple Service Project - We cleaned the temple grounds this morning.  Wednesday night, Josh and and Danni helped lay on sod on the temple grounds.  What an amazing experience.
Aug. 20th -I LOVE Wednesday mornings, our family gets to sleep in til 6:30.
Aug. 24th - 17 years ago today, I became a mom.  I have learned so much the past 17 years and I know that there are many more lessons to learn about being a mother.
Aug. 26th - Josh was inducted into the National Honor Society tonight.
Aug. 30th -Mesa High's first football game of the season is tonight.  I can't wait to go and the watch the marching band perform the pre-game show.  My kids have been working hard since the middle of July and I can't to see what they have put together.  I can't wait to see Josh march with the Sousaphone.
Sept. 5th - I admire my two older kids today.  They will be at school for 16 hours today and will worked super hard fro those hours.  They will not complain about how long hey were there, but will enjoy their time spent there.  They will come home and get up early to face the next day.  There re a lot of lessons that I can learn from the two of them on days like this.
Sept. 19th -Danni got her learner's permit today.  She is super excited, can you tell.
Sept. 25th - Emily started primary softball yesterday.
Sept. 28th - MHS Marching Band took first place tonight!!  It was an amazing show!!!  Congrats!!!!
Nov. 2nd -Happy Birthday to the sweetest 9 year old.  We love you Emily!!!!!
Nov. 7th - The Mesa Marching Band is performing their show for the school and community at the MHS stadium.  Come and see their show before they to the State Championships!
Nov. 12th -I'm so grateful that the school my kids attend are close by.  I've been to school 10 times today to the elementary school, junior high school, and high school.  It's been a busy day!!!
Nov. 16th - Mesa High Marching Band won the State Championship in Division 2 this year.  They have won the State Championship two years in a row.  They worked so hard this year!!  I'm so proud of Josh and Danni!!  Josh learned to march and the play the sousaphone this year.  Danni learned how to do rifle work.  Congratulations to the Mesa High Marching Band!!!!
Dec. 6th -The Mesa Marching Band is having a fundraiser with Nikki's Kitchen on Saturday in the Mesa High parking lot from 11-3.  There will be some groups of the band playing throughout the event.  Come and support the MHS band!!!!
Dec. 9th - I was thrill to hear that ASU accepted the invite to the Holiday Bowl.  The MHS Marching Band was invited to participate in this bowl and will compete for the pre-game show,  participate in the half-time show, and march in the Big Balloon Parade.  I've never been to an ASU game and I'm so excited to go!!!!  I love being an ASU alumni!!!!
Dec. 24th -Our family didn't take any Christmas pictures, send out any cards, or make treats this year.  We tried to simplify our Christmas this year.  I did blog about the past year if you are interested in taking a look.  We want to wish all of our friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Dec. 30th -The Mesa High Marching Band won the marching parade award this morning at the parade for their division.  They are doing amazing in San Diego.  What an amazing experience for these amazing band members!!!!!!

Christmas 2013

This Christmas season was eventful and full of traditions.  It's the Christmas season that are hearts are turned to our family and friends.  We seem to find more time to stay and visit with our loved ones and remember the fun times in the past.  We have been blessed this Christmas season and it's all because of the Savior and what he did for us.  He is the reason that we celebrate Christmas and He is the reason that we can spend eternity with our families.  It's so great that we have a season to remember the birth of the Savior and what he has done for us.

• Christmas with the Barneys - The Barney family came up to visit the family for Christmas.  Matthew was home and came up too with his wife Wendy.  This was the first time that most of us met Wendy, so we spent a lot of time getting to know her.  We had a great time and everyone seems so happy.  I love it when my family gets together .  We don't see the Barney as often as we would like since they live in Benson.   It was fun to spend the time with Ashley too, since she is leaving on her mission next year.  It's weird to think that next Christmas, she will be serving the people in Idaho instead of with us.  
  

• Christmas Sunday - It's so great to be together on Christmas Sunday.  Christmas is just 3 days away and I love singing the Christmas songs in church and hearing the Christmas message.  I'm so grateful to have an amazing family to spend the holidays with.  I truly love my husband and each one of my kids.  They are amazing!!!

My Amazing Family

• Christmas Temple Lights - Danni performed with the Christian Dance group, so we went to the temple to watch her and then walk around the temple to see the lights.  It seems like that they add or switch around the scenes every year.  They moved the manger scene again and it helped keep our interest.  I love going to the temple to see the Christmas lights and feel the spirit.  It's important to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Jim and the kids at the lights

Danni and Britt after their performance

• Christmas Eve party at the Paces - I love the tradition of having a Pace Family Christmas Party on Chistmas Eve and it was Kathryn's turn to plan.  We had a Costa Vida style dinner, which everyone loved.  The Pace family doesn't see each other often enough, so there is a lot to catch up on.  After dinner, we played some games, and made gingerbread houses.  This year, Devon played Santa since he is leaving on his mission next month.  It was so fun to see Devon play that role.

Catching Up

Making Gingerbread Houses

Devon as Santa

Kids with their Bears

• Christmas Eve at home- After the Christmas Eve party, our kids came home and opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa Pace and then opened their Christmas jammies.  They look ready for Santa to come.  Now we just need to lay out the cookies and carrots for the reindeer.  Got to keep Santa and his reindeer energized.  My kids got books to read to help them fall asleep.

Ready to open Christmas Eve presents

Christmas Jammies

• Christmas Morning - Santa was really good to us.  We love Christmas morning as we sit around the tree to see what Santa brought for us.  We take turns and ooh and aah when we see what Santa brought us.  Our family likes to sleep in til 7 or 8, so as soon as we open our gifts. Grandma and Grandpa stop by to see what we got from Santa.  After the presents are open, it's family time and Santa brought us some really fun games to play.   We don't have to be anywhere until lunch time, so we will play with our new toys.

Christmas Fun

We had a yummy lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Wall's house and then we opened presents.  My mom loves Christmas and I think she enjoys this moment more than the kids to.  She loves to show her love through gifts and she really loves her grandkids.

Christmas Gifts

We had a great Christmas and hope that you did too!!

Memorable MondayChristmas Cards 2013

2013 was an eventful year for the Pace family.  We are so grateful that we can spend some quality time as a family this year.  We took a camping trip up on the rim and spent 2 days without any cell service.  We had an enjoyable time just hanging out with each other.  It was one of the highlights of the 2013 year.

Jim continues to work at Merchant's Information Solutions.  He works really hard and we really appreciate it.  Jim was just released as the Ward Mission Leader.  This calling kept him busy for the past 2 years.  He really enjoyed the calling and having the spirit that the missionaries brought into our home.  

Tami is a busy mom.  She is often found at one of the kid's three school helping our or attending the many events that her kids are involved with.  She is still the Scout Advancement Chairman, which helped Josh this year a lot.  She is tutoring math as well.   She loves to take pictures, and tries to keep her family blog updated when she finds free time.  

Josh is 17 yrs old and is a junior in high school.  He is a great student and was inducted into the National Honor Society this fall.  He stays super busy with the band at Mesa High, including 2 jazz bands and the Marching Band.  He marched the Sousaphone this year, and he was thrilled to win the State Championship again this year, which makes 2 years in a row. He is going to participate in the Holiday Bowl this year with the Marching Band .  Josh earned his Eagle this year and we hope to celebrate next year.

Danni is 15 and is a sophomore in high school.  In the spring, she was the student director the Taylor' musical "Into the Woods".  It was fun for her to go back to Taylor and help out.  She is taking drama and choir in school and it's great to see her perform.  She is involved in the Marching Band again this year and was apart of the weapon line.  The color guard this year worked super hard and won the Color guard caption award along with their State Championship.  She has the opportunity to participate in the Holiday Bowl as well.  Danni participated in Christian Dance and performed on the temple grounds.  Danni has her learner's permit and loves to drive.

Angela is 13 and is  in 8th grade this year.  Angela is doing really well in school and the teachers are helping her find success.  This is her second year of junior high and loves showing her school spirit.  Her favorite class is Home Economics where she has learned how to cook and even sewed a cute bag.  Angela is in choir this year and is often found singing.  Angela loves attending Young Women.

Emily is 9 yrs old and in 3rd grade.  She works super hard on her homework and is getting really good in math.  She is becoming more social and is coming out of her shell.  Emily is one of the sweetest girl that I know.  She loves to play with her siblings and friends.  She has been busy with Mesa Children's Choir and Activity Days

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

The Pace Family

Christmas Performances

Mesa High Band Concert   12-03-13 - Josh plays the bass clarinet alongside Jacob this year.  This is their second concert this year, since they had the special fund raising concert.  I can't get enough pics of my kids before concerts.  They performed their usual Christmas songs - Mr. Brooks performs the same songs year after year.

Josh before his performance

Josh taking a break during performance

Mesa High Choir Concert - 12-05-13- Danni is in Chorale this year.  She sang "Psallite!", "Winter's Heart", "Still, Still, Still" and "Snow, Snow Beautiful Snow".  I didn't get any solo pics of Danni, but I have some of her singing.  I love watching her sing!!

Taylor Junior High Choir Concert  12-12-13 - Mr. Meade allowed the kids to wear ugly sweaters to the choir concert, so the kids did.  It was fun to see what junior high kids consider as ugly sweaters.  Angel didn't want to wear anything ugly, so we found a white tuxedo shirt, but she wanted to wear a sweater too, so she is not really wearing an ugly sweater.

Angela and Jade

Angela's choir - wearing a sea of Christmas colors

Mesa Children's Choir Performance for parents  12-14-13 - The Mesa Children's Choir did a performance just for the parents.  Usually they sing at the Citadel for other groups of people.  This afternoon, they sang just for their parents. My favorite kind of performance!!

Mesa Children's Choir

Mesa Children's Choir Performance at Citadel 12-17-13 - The Mesa Children's Choir performed again for the Citadel. They sang in the dining hall, so there was no room for the parents.  I'm really glad that they had that performance just for the parents now.They were going to perform another group at the Citadel, but most were too sick to gather, so they just did the one.   With the extra time, we squeezed in a photo shoot.

Emily's friends at the Citadel

The Mesa Children's Choir after their Christmas performance 

Christian Dance at MHS - 12/21/13 - Danni was in Christian Dance this year.  She went to practices these past couple of months.  Christian Dance is a tradition at Mesa High and I was thrilled to see Danni dance on stage.  I was very impressed with the dances and the message that they brought to the stage.

Christian Dance at Temple - 12/22/13 - The Mesa Christian Dance company performed some beautiful dance numbers about our Savior's birth on the temple grounds.  This was the first time that I've had a child perform on the temple grounds.  It was amazing to see these girls share their testimony through dance.

Our favorite missionary extended a special inviation

The girls dance beautifully

Danni and Britt at the temple