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!

Dance For A Cure

Kayla's dance studio participated in the Dance For A Cure event again this year.  It is a fundraiser that was started by a lady who lost her father to cancer.  They raised over $17,000 this year.  It is a fun event for the kids and a good chance for them to get in a practice performance before they go to real competition in February.

Getting ready for their jazz dance

 Just finished with her hip hop routine

 Group photo before the awards ceremony

Our kids did not win anything this year.  They have 3 judges that give out a high point award to each age group.  There are a few dance studios that participate and a ton of pom and dance teams from area schools.  It was still a fun day spent with dance friends.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I can't believe it is 2012!  We had a great evening out to ring in the New Year.  We usually stay home, but this year we actually went to a party.  Not just any party.  It was actually called "The Party."  KC works on a TV show now, and he got us into this party that he was going to with a lot of the other people from his station.  It was so great to see them.  Our schedules are so busy we don't get together very often. 

KC, Jennifer, and Andy (all dressed up!)

 Kayla was so impressed that we were going to a party with celebrities (for free).  It was a charity event.  Tickets were sold, but KC put us on the list as his guests.  The funny thing is that only Andy's name actually made it onto the list.  They let me in anyway!

I had to get a picture of some of the "celebrities" for Kayla.  This is KC and his co-host, Lacey.

 At midnight there was a champagne toast, a ball that dropped outside, and a great fireworks show.

We stayed downtown at a hotel.  Part of the package included a trolley ride to and from the party.  We attempted a picture of the 4 of us while we were outside waiting on our ride.  It was freezing cold.  After about 30 minutes we caught a cab.  Money well spent!

The real fun began when we got back to the hotel.  KC and Jennifer came to our room to play games.  We stayed up until about 3 in the morning.  I have not laughed so hard in a long time!

This was serious business!  They had to bring their own chair to our room for the games!

It was a great night out with our wonderful friends.  The girls were celebrating at my mom's house.  The managed to stay awake until 11:30.  They had a party of their own!

I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring!

Christmas Afternoon

We headed to my mom's house in the afternoon.  We all enjoyed spending time with mom, HL, and Russell.  My mom never lets me take her picture, but I think this one is too cute not to share.

 Caroline and HL

 Caroline and Russell

 Lots of packages to open

Next, it was off to my dad's house.  The kids all got a new Christmas ornament.

 The big kids all got a puzzle cube with money in it.  They had to get the box open in order to get to the money.  It was pretty challenging!

 A little help from Andy

 

 

Finally it was Caroline's turn

Both of the kids were very happy at the end of the day.  They were also exhausted!  It was a great Christmas filled with lots of family and fun.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful day.  The kids started at 6:15 this morning.  I tried to convince them to go back to bed, but that did not work.  It was a much smaller Christmas in our house, but the girls still made our really well.  Caroline got her perfume, headbands, and a surprise.  Here she is with her new Leap Pad.  I think she is going to love it.

 Kayla got a few little things, and her big gift was a Nintendo 3DS.  She did not ask for it, but she was pretty excited about it.

 They both got new purses.

 Kayla spent the rest of the morning playing with her new game.

 I thought Caroline would be playing her new game.  However, she spent a lot of time playing with the silly gel clings that were in our "You Got Elfed" basket.  She did eventually play her game.

We spent the morning taking it easy at home before all of the fun family festivities began.

Christmas Cookies

We always try to make a few cookies to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve.  This is not always easy.  We are usually pretty tired from our trip to Texas, but it has become a fun activity to do with the kids.

 I think they have more fun spreading the flour on their faces than anything else!  But they are so cute!

 Even daddy helps.  Actually he took over.  I really did not do anything at all!

 The each frosted 2 of the cookies.  They got to eat one and leave one for Santa.  Here are Caroline's cookies.

 And Kayla's...

Yummy!