A 2-Event Saturday......

I don't know if you have seen any youtube videos of the song "Happy" but we decided as a foundation to film one using kids and adults with Down syndrome.  August 23 was set as our filming date at Gateway in Salt Lake City.  Sharae Chisholm our marketing person was in charge and did an awesome job getting it set up. 

However Friday it rained most of the day and as late at 4:00 a.m. Saturday morning there were still thunderstorms and lighting going on throughout the Salt Lake Valley.  We had determined to move forward and try to film inbetween downpours if we needed to.

Fortunately the weather cleared and the Gateway was bright and clean with rain puddles here and there.  It was a perfect backdrop to a fun few hours of filming.  We had around 75 kids and adults along with family members.  I have seen the almost final copy and it is amazing.  I will post it after it is shown at our UDSF conference in November.

Waiting for their turn to dance and sing

Friends--Conner, Kaitlyn and Jena after filming

Actually there were three events for Jena anyway as I dropped her and Kaitlyn off at Macy's for a fundraising activity for Special Olympics--"Shop for a Cause".  I was busy getting ready for our Ward Party that evening so I missed this event.  I think this is the fifth or sixth year we have been involved with it.

It was hard to get too "into" putting together supplies and food for an outdoor party when it was storming most of Friday which meant that I was scrambling to put things together on Saturday.  I don't know what I would do without Gary.  He is the best right hand man in the business.

This was our Walnut Grove Family BBQ and Water Fun Night at the park attached to our Stake Center.  We had the usual BBQ potluck food and then we had games set up all over the field in addition to paper rocket launching with Gary (a huge hit, as always.).  We had a under 6 area with a water blop, water pool, fishing pool and duck races.  We had water balloon tosses and "Drip, Drip, Spray" and "Blind Beach Ball.  We had a display set up on water storage ideas because the goal of the activity was to remind each family to get enough water for 14 days (1 gal. per person--more for babies and people pregnant or nursing or poor health.).  No pictures, but we had a fun night and the weather although a bit cool for water fights was perfect for a summer BBQ.

Thank heavens for Sundays.....I needed a nap!