Our Christmas Card!

Here is our unofficial official Christmas Card! I hope you have an absolutely wonderful Christmas surrounded by loved ones this year! MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Princesses, Cowboys, and Fireworks: The Final Summer Catch-Up!

Although there could be several different posts about  all of our summer activities, I decided to consolidate into one big, final, catch-up post and then we would continue on our way with the exciting things that have been happening this fall. Buckle-up! We have a lot to catch up on.

First off is one of our favorite events to date. Where better to have one of our first official appearances as royalty than at The Princess Festival? This awesome event put on by the Thanksgiving Point Institute was pure goodness and fun. We were able to meet and interact with so many sweet young girls, who were there playing and learning about the qualities of a true princess: how to be kind, giving, and a good example. Nothing keeps you grounded and seeing the good in life like being around children.

Best. Day. Ever. 

Honored to be spending time with these amazing little princesses. 

Dancing with the girls. 

Bucket-list: ride in Cinderella's carriage. Check! 

We did a brief interview afterwards and had a hard time trying to keep a straight face :) My attendants are the best! 

Next on our list of adventures was attending the Rodney Atkins concert after a fun day at Provo's Pioneer Day Celebration. A big thank you to the SCERA and all of their support to this Miss Provo program! It was my first ever county music concert and we LOVED it!

Pie judging at Pioneer Days. Yummmm!

WIth Rodney Atkins before the concert. Woo hoo!

Before the rain. 

BEAUTIFUL double rainbow after the rain!

Rock on, Provo.

Provo's Freedom Festival is an absolutely spectacular week of events. It is so critically important that we dedicate time and resources to remembering and honoring our heritage and those who sacrificed to make it all possible. I LOVE AMERICA! So naturally, I absolutely love the Freedom Festival.

We were extremely blessed to have attended the Freedom Awards Gala, which recognized the amazing efforts of a few humble men and women whose sacrifice and effort have helped secure and maintain the freedoms that we enjoy. This years Freedom Awards recipients were Laura S. Green (Fox News Religion Correspondent), Zane Taylor (WWII Veteren and community leader), Retired Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey (WWII Tuskegee Airman), and Dale Tingey (Native American studies and service). I was tremendously touched by their stories of courage, sacrifice, and love of God and country. It was an overwhelming honor to meet with them and hear their stories, and an experience I'll never forget. I hope the messages I learned remain engrained on my heart and stimulate a life of dedication to and gratitude for this great nation.

So grateful for our brave veterans, who continue to serve as examples or members of the color guard. 

At the Gala with the incredibly talented Alex Boye

 With Freedom Award recipient Zane Taylor, whose story brought me to tears and whom I will never forget. 

 With the inspiring Stephanie Nelson. A beautiful woman and a survivor in every sense of the word. You can view here incredible story by clicking here: My New Life

 With Governor Herbert and his wife Jeanette

 With Freedom Award Recipient and Fox News religion correspondent Laura Green  

In conjunction with the Freedom Festival, we were asked to perform at Colonial Days. This celebration was all about remembering our roots, and the inspired constitution on which our government still rests.

 Me singing one of my favorite songs

Lydia performing a dance

 MaCall sharing a piano piece  

Collaboration for "My Country Tis of Thee" with MaCall on piano, Lydia on violin, and myself on flute

And still enough time to play with the props backstage :) Ready to defend Provo!

We'll end on one of the more whimsical and exciting experiences I will probably ever have in my life: Provo's balloon festival. It attracts hundreds of spectators every year, and we were lucky enough to go up in a balloon! 

 Just before take-off with my new friend Emma, whose father piloted our balloon.

 These views of Provo from the ballon at appx. 2000 ft are nothing short of breathtaking. 

 Sunrise in the balloon!

Emma makes a beautiful princess, doesn't she?

Well, there you have it. An extremely watered-down version of one of the most incredible summers of my life. I cannot begin to say how grateful I have been for these opportunities. I hope you've enjoyed this long post, and stay tuned for more updates on our fall activities. 

Have a marvelous day! 

-Kaiti :)

United Way Day of Caring and City Services Fair

Hello all!

Last year, I had the awesome opportunity to help with the huge breakfast to feed the volunteers for the United Way Day of Caring at LaVell Edwards stadium. This year I thought it would be great if I could get more deeply involved. So I contacted the United Way, and they made me the site manager for the Provost Elementary project. Woo hoo!

The United Way Day of Caring is a amazing day where companies and organizations from Utah Country come together in a combined effort to tackle various service projects all over the city. 

The morning of the Day of Caring, we arrived at Provost elementary armed with nearly 30 cans of paint, stencils, rollers, and an enthusiastic group of volunteers. 

These volunteers included a group from Adobe, the Provo Freedom Festival, Girl Scouts of Utah, and Vital Smarts. 

Our task was to paint playground games on several of the blacktop areas around the school and wash some of the outside windows. Our group efficiently divided up into smaller groups to paint games of hopscotch, a map of the U.S., and alphabet caterpillar, and several others. 

Nancy from The Provo Freedom Festival working on hopscotch 

Adobe working on a U.S. map

Intermittently children were released for recess, and many excitedly crowded around the projects, asking the volunteers questions and thanking them for the games. The principal made several trips outside to bring folder after folder stuffed with hand-made thank you's from the students. 

By the time we all left, my hands were covered in paint and my heart was happy. My second attendant MaCall Weight also came to help out! 

MaCall and I

The weather was sunny and clear and the volunteers happily worked until the games were finished. Thanks and compliments go to the United Way of Utah County for the excellent planning and organization of these projects. We had everything we needed, almost to the exact amounts. And we had an incredible time! I personally hope very much to be involved again next year with this awesome event! 

At our finished hopscotches!

Earlier that week, we attended the city services fair. It was fun and interesting to see all of the different departments that work to make this city run smoothly!

 I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the absolute best part of being Miss Provo is meeting and interacting with the wonderful people of this city. I believe in the significance of every human interaction, and I will never tire of making these new friends!

 Oh, and did I mention a hurricane decided to come and break up the party? :)

Have a great week and best wishes,
Kaiti

Parades!

Last Monday's Payson Onion Days Parade marked the last of our summer parades. We had an INCREDIBLE time over the summer getting to interact with the fun, vibrant, wonderful people of Utah Valley! Below are a few highlights of some of the summer parades.

Let me first introduce you to our float: we have our bald eagle on the back (affectionately named George, after our first president), a Frontier Airlines plane to celebrate the re-opening of the Provo airport, all tied into an American theme under the motto "Freedom To Soar." 

At Lehi Round-Up Days

Enjoying the Pleasant Grove Parade

At our final Payson parade with the "Queen's Choice" Award 

Perhaps our favorite of all of the parades, was the children's 4th of July parade held at Memorial Park in Provo. And can you blame us? These kids couldn't be cuter! 

Yee-haw!

As much as we loved visiting all of the other fun cities in the valley, we were thrilled to be home for the fabulous Provo Freedom Festival parade! Which was easily the biggest, hottest and longest parade of them all. We loved every minute of it.

Red manicures for the parade! 

Getting gifts ready for the other floats.

Handing out gifts for the other floats

With the awesome and newly-crowned Miss Utah, Kara Arnold!

 Our friends, the lovely ladies of the Orem and Spanish Fork Royalties

On our home parade route in front of Provo High School, joined by Miss Senior America Boni Losee!

This post is the second in a series of catch-ups from the summer. I appreciate your patience :) More to come! Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful weekend!

-Kaiti