Happy Valentine's Day

I did not work on Valentine's Day so that I could go the the parties at school.  Caroline was really excited about the day.  She made a special Valentine for a boy in her class.  She told me that Austin asked her to be his girlfriend.  She said "I don't know why I said yes!"  She spent the night at a friend's house over the weekend.  She and Brigi both made cards for their boyfriends.  I did not get to see the card.  It was all sealed in an envelope.  She is way too young for all of this!

Anyway, Kayla was not interested in the whole idea of Valentine's Day.  She did not want to take anything for her class or participate in any way.  However, that morning she decided she wanted to decorate a box to take.  That was not very much notice so we headed for WalMart.  We found this little basket and she put her name on it with stickers.  It worked good enough!

Both parties were at the same time.  I started with Kayla's class.  They pretty much just ate the entire time.  I think they did a few games after I left.

Someone brought these really cute decorated cookies.

Time for a picture with the girls.

The boys just could not stay out of the picture!

 Kayla with her teacher, Mrs. West

Then it was time to go to Caroline's party.  When I got there she was in the middle of decorating cookies.

They loved getting their picture taken

Caroline's party was pretty chaotic because of the different craft projects going on for 24 children.  That is a lot of kids eating a lot of sugar!  Towards the end of the day Caroline and I headed back to Kayla's party. 

Here are my sweet girls together.

They both had a good time at their parties.  Any excuse to play instead of having to do work!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Talent on Parade - Group Day

Saturday was group day competition.  I did not get any pictures that afternoon while they were getting ready to compete.  Things were just so hectic "backstage".  The girls did a great job dancing.  They did jazz, contemporary, and hip hop.  After it was over we had about three hours until it was time for awards.  That was a perfect chance for 13 of us to run and get some dinner.  It was the perfect break!

This is Jordan, Morgan, Makenzie, Kayla, Saskia, and Taylor

Kayla is the youngest in the group.  All of the other girls are in 6th and 7th grade.  I think there are a couple of 8th graders in their dance group also.  She really enjoys hanging out with these girls.  It is a little hard for me to back off a little and let her be one of the "big" girls.

All of the girls participated in the dance-off this year.  It is a fundraising event that is run kind of like an audition.  You pay $5 to participate.  The girls are taught a short little dance.  Then there are a couple of people who go through the group cutting people.  Kayla got cut right away, but she had a great time.

Then it was time for the awards.  They got Top First for jazz and contemporary, and Elite Top First for hip hop.  Their jazz group placed 5th overall and the hip hop group placed 3rd overall for the intermediate level 9-12 year old large groups.

Kayla got to go accept the award for their jazz routine.

 Saskia and Kayla after awards

The Ovations group

Kayla's friend Libby was also at competition with her studio.

It was a good first competition.  Now, they will start working towards the next competition.

You are not allowed to take pictures or video during the competition.  The have a photographer there and you can purchase pictures and DVDs.  I did go back and get Kayla's DVD of her solo and I bought these two pictures from her dance.

Talent on Parade - Solo Day

Today was the start of the dance competition season for us.  Our first competition was Talent on Parade in Tulsa.  Kayla did her solo tonight, and I am so glad it is over!  I get so nervous.  She is doing a jazz dance to Putting on the Ritz.

Here she is before her performance

She did a great job.  She got 2nd place in the intermediate level for the 9-10 age group.  She also got a Judge's Choice Award for "Most Ritzy Costume."  The girls in the 10 and under age group from her studio did really well tonight.

Kayla with her teacher, Rachel.

Rachel made up the dance, but we really need to thank Grandma Sue for the endless hours she has put in helping Kayla practice.  Way to go Kayla!

We have 3 group dances still to come on Saturday.  I do not get nearly as nervous about those!