another pageant come and gone

please try not to hate me for waiting so long to post. the Hill Cumorah Pageant was in full swing these past couple weeks and i have been doing my best to stay above water.

This year's experience at the pageant was different than any other year. I felt really independent and i felt really scatterbrained. My mind was on a million different things (like wedding plans). But of course i had a blast. I met so many amazing people and reconnected and strengthened my friendship with others.

It's unbelievable to me that in less than two weeks... i'll be married. Where has the time gone?! Everyone at pageant was so supportive of Christian and me and that was wonderful to be in such a loving and understanding environment. Christian and i had a wonderful time growing closer to each other, to the Lord, and to the people we interacted with throughout pageant.

The Pingrees headed back to denver for ten days and they'll be back probably faster than i'm imagining.

i feel really lucky- pageant was a very spiritual experience for me this year. i had the opportunity to go through the temple for the first time yesterday, and it was amazing! i feel so blessed to be a part of a church that i know is true and to have an eternal family. I can't wait until i get to be with Christian forever and to someday have a family with him, where we can be together forever.

here are the latest pageant pics!

brooke and me today... luckily she'll be here for another week so i didnt have to say goodbye to her just quite yet :)

Chloe, the Tomas, and me! The Tomas were our cast team leaders and they were WONDERFUL. they were so supportive and were great examples to all of us.

my little chlo chlo! i feel really lucky to have gotten so close to Chloe this year. and to think back in the day we werent even friends!

Andie, who stayed at my house, obviously drove home together every night. It would be late and we were both always EXHAUSTED. we would giggle endlessly and most of our inside jokes from this year came from our late night car parties.

Dallon, Greg, and I have been friends since my first teenage year back at pageant in 2006. Dallon is about to leave for his mission to Arizona, and Greg headed back to afghanistan today where he's stationed in the army. I am soooo lucky i know these two incredible boys.

my soon-to-be sister :) PINCH ME!

chin and i outside the temple after i went through the temple the first time :)

the family outside the temple.

it is so beautiful there! two more weeks (less than).

:)

Chloe, me, Tessa, and Jacque at the Grandon building.

Kelsey, Kirsten, and Me during our service project at Pal-Mac high school. We scraped gum off tables. yummm

chlo, bryn, and me on picture day :)

pageant bliss

and so it begins. the best weeks of my summer have finally begun. On Wednesday i woke up early to clean and do some yard work, then i headed to the airport to pick up the pingrees! The only thing is... Christian didn't know i was coming.

He had told me that they were getting into Rochester at midnight on Wednesday- in hopes to try and surprise me at my house Wednesday afternoon. he just didn't realize that i was wayyyy ahead of him in the sneaky game. I met them right outside the terminal with a sign and some lunch and Christian was SO surprised... He jumped about ten feet when i yelled his name.

I picked up Andie on wednesday afternoon and we all had a big dinner at the house wednesday night.

Pageant started on Friday and it was amazing to see old friends and see all the new faces of Pageant 2010! Friday afternoon Christian and I went and got our marriage license, it's actually happening! friday night was the opening devotional and then casting started. I was cast as a harvest dancer, i was a harvest dancer in '07 and it's a very fun part! My costume is really pretty. Christian was cast as Nativity Joseph and Claire is a trumpeter! Andie is a ceremonial dancer and Heather Crossley was cast as a lamanite dancer.

Saturday was BOILING hot and was spent all day in the sun rehearsing. I met my cast team and all the people in it seem really nice.

Today we had Sacrament meeting in the study shelter, then in the afternoon Christian and i went to the Sacred Grove so i could show him my very favorite spot in the grove and we talked there for quite a while. It was such a special after noon. Pageant so far is wonderful and i feel so lucky to be here... :)

sorry for the lack of pictures... I've only taken a few so far.

after casting...

i took Christian and Graham to Fairport Hots so they could try garbage plates... They loved them and downed them! Chin- sporting the final product

We got a quick snapshot before entering the grove today. it is so beautiful there. i love him :)

it's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year

8 days from now i will probably be the happiest girl who ever lived. the 2010 Hill Cumorah Pageant starts next Friday and my life could not be more complete. Yesss Friday is ten or so days away BUT 8 days from now, i will be at the Rochester Airport picking up Andie Schindler (my girlll!). She's a great friend who i met last year at Pageant and she is staying at my house for Pageant. Also, that same night, the PINGREES arrive from Denver! I get to spend 3 whole weeks with Chin and his family at pageant i could not be happier about it.

For those of you who don't know, the Hill Cumorah Pageant is an outdoor theatrical performance put on by members of the Mormon church from all over the country and world. There are over 700 cast members who come to participate for 3 weeks in July. None of the cast members are actors or actresses of any professional sort (although Donny Osmond was in it one year), and all the casting, rehearsing, and teaching is done in ONE WEEK. that's it. Pretty crazy!

The pageant tells the story of the Book of Mormon and is an amazing experience. The performances go July 9-10, & 13-17. COME!

This will be my 8th year in Pageant... 95, 97, 98, 06, 07, 08, 09, and this year will make 8. My mom is on the beard and wig staff and so i've had the privilege to come back consecutively for the past four years.

Pageant is my favorite part of the summer and pretty much my year. Every year i meet amazing people (LIKE MY FIANCE and Claire), learn so much, have a blast having different parts, and get to show people what i believe in as a member of the Mormon church. The people you meet at pageant are really friends for life and i cannot wait to go back.

The days could not go by faster until i get to see Christian. It will be SO NICE to be able to spend 3 weeks with him all day everyday. Pageant is so special to both of us individually, and special to our relationship. It's where i first saw him and thought he was probably the cutest thing i've ever seen. The Hill Cumorah is only five minutes from the Palmyra Temple, where we're getting married, and it will be a really special and unique time for us. I cannot wait for my love to continue growing for him. Sappy i know... but it's the truth.

Me, Justin, Laurise, Adam, and Andie... Pageant '09

a few of my fave girls from pageant '09

high school musical HCP style

HCP 2007... Where it all started with me and Claire! This was one of our first nights meeting. With the beautiful heidi in the middle, all we're missing is her twin heather!