Today was Jorja's 3rd Amazing Race/Sweethearts dance. She spent the morning getting ready by finishing her Chinese homework. Haha. Glad she got it done though. The kids came over around 11:00. We started off with Mario Kart. They did this while waiting for teams to show up. The top time was able to go first. We had them go one minute apart. Bode and Giselle didn't get here in time to do Mario Kart, so we put them last. They finished fourth though. Brenton and Grace were the last of everyone else to show up. Brenton ended up finishing first in Mario. Almost first in the entire thing, not quite though.
Zach, Riley, Jorja, Paige
Marshall, Layla, Chloe, Luke, Zach, Paige
Aiden, Ella, Chloe, Autumn, Reed, Zach, Paige
Brenton, Grace (Brenton doesn't even look like he's trying, but he dominated. Hahaha)
The first clue said to go upstairs and pick out a dinosaur puzzle to do. Lots of teams, including Jorja, ran outside to read their clue. Jorja was driving away when they read it. Haha. After the puzzle they came downstairs and had to give a thirty second report about their dinosaur. Autumn made me laugh. She is so funny. Next stop was to the winner of last year's Amazing Race. They stopped by Ellie's house and took a selfie with her. She gave them a flower with gps coordinates on it.
Carson & Ellie
Aiden & Ella ~ red team
Riley & Jorja ~ purple team
Riley and Jorja were right behind Aiden and Ella. Jorja passed Ella and was feeling great, until her car started smoking. Her clutch died. They had to leave her car on the side of the road. Riley called his dad and he brought Riley's car to him. They continued along the race with that, but were now in last place.
The gps coordinates lead to my mom's grave, where they put the flowers. I almost left a few flowers there so it would be easier to find, but then I changed my mind. Brenton and Grace ended up looking for ten minutes. I guess the gps coordinates didn't take them right there. They were looking over by where Jessie's grave is. Whoops. I think the gps coordinates was the only thing we didn't double check. We placed a QR code on my mom's grave. The kids had to scan it and then watch a video of Mike. He told them they would be doing karaoke and gave them a new address. Once they finished there they got a puzzle that Mike had 3D printed. Inside the puzzle was dog treats. The clue said to find the old man wearing an Alta hat and scarf in the dog park and asked him if you can feed one of his dogs and he will give you the next clue.
Dad (He liked this better than waiting at Alta for the kids to sing the school song. That's what he did last year.)
Dad with Bode and Jorja (She's not last anymore)
Dad with Chloe & Luke
The next challenge was the detour with four u-turns. The two challenges was a dog puzzle and a dog sled race. The dog puzzle was a logic puzzle. The dog race was a chair that Mike had drilled skis on. He tied a rope and one of the team mates had to pull the other around the field and back... like a dog sled. Mike was soooo happy when it snowed yesterday. There wasn't much, but enough for this challenge. The weather was kind of warm (for February), the roads were clear and there was a bit of snow where we needed it. Perfect. The dog sled challenge was tiring! Jorja and Riley were super fast with the dog puzzle. Turns out all the logic puzzles she did when she was little came in handy. They got u-turned by Ella and Aiden though.
After dog sleds it was crepes at Brenton's house. Mike has the cutest picture of Julie Valentine in her chef's clothes. She did a crepe station. They had to make and eat a crepe. Julie made Brenton redo his. Hahaha. Then they went to Ella's house. They made pompoms and then Ella's mom taught them a cheer. (We were hoping for Bode's mom to do that, but she was out of town for her daughter's soccer game. Destiny was the head cheerleader when Mike and I went to Alta. She taught a cheer to Ella that they could use though.)
After the cheer we had them do operation at the Okerlund's house. I loved that challenge from last year. Poor Layla struggled with that one. She went from 4th place to last. Jorja and Riley got it on their first try and pulled ahead of Ella and Aiden. The last challenge was a braille challenge. Mike 3D printed words in braille that represented all the challenges. The kids had to figure out the words and then put them in order. This is where Jorja and Riley pulled ahead of Grace and Brenton. They ended up beating them by seconds. I can not believe that they won with the car troubles and being u-turned. Brenton was slowed down by being the first at the cemetery and his mom making him redo his crepe. Haha. He also has asthma and the dog sled race made that act up.
Grace & Brenton
Brenton & Grace, Jorja & Riley, Aiden & Ella ~ all fighting for first place
Anyway, that is a lot of work but it is also pretty fun. I am so thankful for all the other adults that helped us! This year we had Ellie & Carson, Chloe's mom, my dad, Brenton's parents, Giselle's mom, Ella's mom, the Okerlund's (who don't even have a kid in the race!) and all of my kids helped Mike. He said he needed all of them. Glad that is over and that everything went well. I picked up pizza for the kids. We were relaxing once everyone left. I heard a loud noice and went to investigate. Bear was trying to take an entire pizza out to his treat spot. Hahaha.
Bear caught red handed
Camee and Kelsey helped Jorja with her hair. She looked beautiful. Glad the dress worked out for her. Jorja was still driving Riley's car. They met up at the school and then went somewhere in Orem to take pictures. They went to a fancy restaurant in Provo. Then to the dance Cori set up for them.
Jorja
The back isn't perfect, I got tired... but it's good enough
Speaking of Jorja's car... Luke sent Jorja this picture as he watched her car get towed down the street
Jorja forgot something and asked if I would bring it to Alta. Stockton and I hurried down there. I was able to snap a few pictures with her and Riley while they waited.
Riley & Jorja & my shadow
Cori went all out for this dance. Jorja had asked Cori if she knew of any place where they could gather for the dance. Cori reserved this room at the top of the movie theater. They had lights on the windows that were so pretty. Cori added balloons/food/hearts and other stuff to make it super pretty. I went down there and helped Cori set up. Scoop and Melissa were also there.
Jorja's gift bags
Scoop ~ I guess Cori ordered these masks for the Christmas party, but they didn't come in time. Haha
Cori & Scoop
All set up!
The reaction
Marshall & Layla, Ella & Aiden, Bode & Giselle, Brenton & Grace
Riley & Jorja, Luke & Chloe, Reed & Autumn, Zach & Paige
I left after a bit so Jorja wouldn't feel like I was staring at her the entire time. Scoop and Cori stayed. You can see the lights in the window where the kids were. I think they had a great time. Glad this worked out for them.
