Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Could It be?

Oh my! Our little angel, who not so long ago was coo-ing and smiling and pooping and crying has grown up! She was off to Girls Camp last week, with Aunt Kim, Brookie and Beans! I was so excited for her. Some of my favorite memories as a youth was at Girls Camp. She is so lucky to get to go with her cousins! And if you look close at the photo-she is carrying her blanket. So maybe she hasnt quite grown up yet. Poor kid at 12 still cant sleep with out her blankie.


By the way, she had a great time! Loved every second of it, and insists that she get to go again next summer!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

We're Baaack!

Ok so posting every day didnt work out so well. If you are a blog roll reader, you should continue reading this with the music tribute, so go directly to my blog if you want the full effect. Also-you should enlarge each photo by clicking on them-just to check out their amazing faces and feel their energy and excitement!

Nationals was great! Our kids did awesome! Here are some highlights of the week....


We had to take a photo of the trunk so that we remembered how to pack all of our stuff. Steve was our master packer. I did not get to take my fan- which made for a hard week of non sleeping for me.

LA is full of crazy drivers...but we made it with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the horn. We were pleasantly surprised when the bell man opened our curtains, this is the sight we saw. It ended up being our beacon if we were ever lost. Yeah, I know kind of corny but whatever works, right?

Juniors first rehersal that night. Girls, noses were bent out of shape, they wanted to swim and play. SO we brought them back for a late swim...

Mikayla, Kelsey Anderson and Jill James.


The next day brought our "Pre-qualifying". Such serious girls huh
They rocked the house with golds and high golds getting their teams into the finals.

Day #3-was finals for solos, duos and trios, so we spent a portion of the day at the Santa Monica Beach. It was fun! Girls loved the rides and the crazy guy on the dock. His little sign said "Disco Dock". I am quite certain that he was on something, or had a little too many brain cells fried in the 70's.


La- loves playing in the sand, and I loved laying in the sun! It was a great day.

That evening we went back and watched our teens and seniors compete. They rocked the house again. I am always amazed at their talent.

This is after all of the pre-qualify's were done! Yeah Center Stage!

The next few days were filled with Practice,rehersal, and classes



Pizza and Pool Parties
Then the real fun (stress begins)--the finals!
Some of the cast from "So you think you can dance" came to check us out-it was a riot for the girls, they loved it. Here is Mikayla with Brandon and one with Kayla.



I've decided that these kids do not have any idea what being "nervous" is. They can go out there and do their job and not stress at all. It is amazing too me.

"Let it Fall" (Perhaps one of my Faves)

Jr. Company with Director Stacy Bills--before going on with "Call the Law"
L-R (back)Emilee Clark,Kelsey Anderson, Lisa, Cheyenne, and Aleesha
Middle-Mikayla, Shaylee, and Stacy
L-R Front-Chloe, Izabelle,Destinee, and Kiana

Finals were a success! We ended up with all High Golds and 5 DJ Picks (which is the highest you can get) Our kids won a ton of cash for our studio, plus some great recognition and 4 numbers went to the Gala on Sunday.

Red Carpet

Friends
Great Food
Great Competition
Great Entertainment AND
WE WON! Our seniors brought us in with the over all win with "Just Dance" YEAH! The kids were fabulous! Danced their pants off. We now have earned free tuition for the next year to our regionals and Nationals with NUVO. This is huge folks! I would say upwords of $60,000 Dollars. And our kids loved every second of it! We are so proud of you! We had tons of scholarship winners, winners of talent agency spots, and Best overall. It was worth every second, penny, and moment spent this past year with these amazing dancers and amazing directors!

As for me- I am so proud of our little Mikayla. She danced like a champ, and I have decided that this girl truly "Glistens". Thank you little one for being our shining star!

And remember--"Just Dance!"

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Nationals in LA

OK, so I had Steve put a program on his lap top so that I could post photos of Nationals throughout the week. GRRRrrrrr-I cant figure it out...SO photos will have to be later. BUT we have had a wonderful time while we are here. Here's our story-
Day 1- Sunday July 5th: We left our house at 2:30 with Lorraine and Jillian and embarked on our journey to St. George. It was a nice trip. Our car was loaded to the max in the trunk. I was sad because I could not take my fan. Yes I cant sleep without the cold air. Hot flashes and no breeze make for a miserable ME! The girls had to put the cooler between them in the back seat. We spent the night in Dixie with some friends of Lorraine and Kyle. It was lots of fun, and we were grateful for the bed to lay our weary heads. ( I didnt sleep-surprise!)
Day 2-We headed for California at 7:30 AM. Our day started with the girls thinking that they could reload the car their way. We took a photo of how Steve packed us-BUT the girls were insistent on their way. SO, calmly we let them do their thing. I was determined that if I heard one complaint I was going to do my deaf imitation and tell them that I couldnt hear them. An hour before we got there, Jill complained-Jill got the deaf ears! It was hysterical!
Trip was long. I made the mistake of taking a water pill before we left, and yeah, about every hour I had to stop to go to the loo. We mapquested our journey and made it to LA just fine.
We are staying in the Kimpton Polomar Hotel. It is really really nice and the girls are having the time of their lives. Lorraine has informed all of the bellmen, and garage dudes that we are the "Clampets" from Utah.
The girls have laughed at us for several days now as we have had to figure out the city. It has been quite comical now that I think about it.
Day#3- We had a fabulous day! The teams pre-qualified 21 of their dances-the rest were qualified earlier this year at other regional meets. They rocked. It was amazing! All Gold, High Gold and 3 DJ Picks were given to us. We were so proud of all of them. They kids have now seen their competition, so they know what they are up against and can hit a home run in the finals.
Day #4- Today-we slept in, and went to the Santa Monica Pier and beach all day. It was awesome. We have decided that all California drivers are idiots. They have one hand on the wheel and one hand on the horn. Traffic sucks!
Girls spent time at practice tonight and are now at the pool. From tomorrow on, they will be dancing for the next 4 days.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Good Luck to our Center Stage Dancers!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO1JNIkHVZI
Click onto this site and see the dance that will be done tonight at Stadium of Fire. This number will also be performed at Nationals. Mikayla is in the black spankies with ruffles on the bum/ with canes as props.

Mikayla is so blessed to be a part of such a great studio. She is on the Jr. Company at Center Stage. She loves it! The Jr.'s, Teens, and Senior Companies embark tomorrow after a long week preparing for the Stadium of Fire tonight-will be heading to Nationals in L.A for 8 days. They have been practicing non stop, and I am sure after watching them this week that there is no stopping them this next week. So good luck dancers and I KNOW that you will represent our studio well.

*Stay tuned this week, as I will post photos and results over the next week of how our amazing teams are doing.

*AND how lucky are they to be dancing with the "Jonas Brothers, and SheDaisy" tonight! Such great opportunities for such talented youth! Steve and I are proud of you!