Final Dance Competitions

Shaylee had her final two dance competitions (one at Lagoon and the other at Skyline High School). Both were really big national competitions, and her team was AWESOME! They performed the best they have all season, and their scores show it. They took home 1st place ribbons for both dances at Lagoon and Overall High Point (out of 101 teams). They took home 1st place and 2nd place ribbons at the National Competition at Skyline High School, and Overall Teen 2nd place champions in the invitational division (meaning they had previously won 1st place at a regional champion productions competition--so they were competing against the best of the best).

Congrats Shaylee on an awesome season. Can't wait for next year. :)

St. George

Shaylee competed last weekend in St. George and did an awesome job. For all competition results, check out Misty's blog. Her lyrical dance (brown costumes) got 1st place and the other dance took 2nd place. Way to go! Since Dennis hadn't been to one of her competitions yet, he spent the day with her and of course took way better pictures than I ever could have!

While they partied at Dixie High School, I took the younger kids to "tour the city." We of course, as always, started our day at the Brigham Young House (the kids favorite) and then, when asked what they wanted to do, they voted to tour art museums--so we did! It was so much fun!

We went back to the hotel for lunch and naps before heading to the park on Main Street for some water fun.

The hotel pool was also a huge hit with the kids. We hit the outlets for some spring clothes, but didn't find much in our price range (other than some cute flip flops with the strap for Connor at the Children's Place), so we went to Wal-Mart instead for shorts and capris. Check out cute Connor in this cowboy hat:

We finished the day with, what else? In N Out burgers--yum! I was in heaven. Sunday morning we drove to Grandma & Grandpa Brown's while listening to conference, then enjoyed lunch with the family in between sessions and a relaxing afternoon session while Connor napped. What a great weekend!

Night Dance

Shaylee attended her first night dance at the junior high this past weekend. I took her and a group of girlfriends over to the school around 7:30 p.m., and another girl's parents brought them home just after 10:30 p.m. They had a blast! I was less nervous since the guy Shaylee likes is in high school and would not be attending this shindig.

Here's the best part of the story (reminiscent of my high school dating days). I get up at 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, so I was in bed by the time Shaylee got home (which is why I offered to drive them there at 7:30 p.m.--before my bed time), but I told Shaylee she had to wake me up and tell me all about it when she got home. Apparently she did, and I was awake and coherent and asked questions about every guy she danced with, etc. Of course, I did not remember any of this (except for her waking me up) the next day, when I obviously asked everything again. "I told you last night mom," Shaylee told me. "You did?!?" Oops. Now I know how my parents felt! "Did Shauna come in last night?" "I don't know . . ." One of those things you swear you'll never do.

Love you Shay! Isn't she beautiful?

Thanksgiving Point Dance Competition

Shaylee competed in her first dance competition this weekend at Thanksgiving Point. It was a lot of fun, and she and her team did a great job. Her team is "Expressions," and they got 1st place on one number and 2nd place on the other. Her studio also won overall best dance studio on both novice and beginning levels. Congratulations! You can see the blog for her studio here.

Being the lousy photographer I am (and having Dennis out of town in Las Vegas), I only got one picture in focus of their car at the end of the first routine and a couple of the second (sorry!):

Thanks also to Grandpa & Grandma Pearson for coming to cheer her on and for the beautiful flowers!

Also, Shaylee tried out tonight for the Westlake Dance Company. She made the first cut and was accepted into the advanced dance class, but didn't get one of the 20 spots available in the dance company. We are so proud of her! (And she is thrilled with her performance). Way to go sweetheart!

January 18, 2009

So it's been a little while--we've had one of those weeks. Connor started it by running a high fever. We figured it was just his teeth. He's been teething once every 6 weeks for the last 4 months (molars). He runs a fever, his gums get red and swollen, but the darn molars never breakthrough. Poor guy! Anyway, the fever continued until Wednesday, when, while eating lunch, his lips and fingertips turned blue! YIKES! I ran him to the doctor, but they just said he had a virus and I have to wait it out. Grrr.

Friday night, Dennis and I went out on our weekly date (to Costco, of all places, where we shared a slice of pizza and a churro after shopping, then on to the dollar theater to see Madagascar 2--not my first choice, but it was that or High School Musical 3, and it's what we could afford), and came home to find Aspen in bed with eyes puffed and swollen and a fever. Allergies? Who knows. Benadryl and Tylenol and she slept off and on through the night. Dennis and I really haven't slept much all week.

We traded off at church today (I gave Dennis the option of leading the music in sacrament meeting or teaching Primary--he readily opted for teaching Primary--Sunbeams, no less), and then he took the older kids to Grandma Brown's farm to celebrate her birthday (Happy Birthday Mom!) while I hung here with the sickies.

Anyway, a few pics that I haven't posted in the last little while.

Devin started basketball this week. They had a hard time finding a coach, so I offered to coach(with the caveat that I only know about front yard basketball and know nothing about coaching), but luckily they found someone else who knows something about basketball and coaching. Anyway, he's doing a great job. They only lost their first game and Devin scored 8 of the 14 points. Go Dev! Sorry the pics aren't great (I was using my small purse-size camera with the delay). Devin is #11:

Even sick, Aspen felt well enough to bake and decorate a cake for her dad using the baking set Grandma Brown gave her for her birthday last year.

Didn't she do a great job?

The other night we played a rousing game of twister:

I think Aspen wins for the twistiest postion:

Connor got into the action as well:

Shaylee couldn't participate because she was getting ready for the stake dance:

Devin was groovin' to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" with his friend Payton:

We also celebrated Ellie's 3rd birthday with her for FHE last week (check out that cake Wendy decorated!):

We love cousins! Shaylee & Madison:

Devin & Ryan:

Alicia & Jonathan:

Christmas Recitals

Tis the season for Christmas recitals, although I guess Aspen is the star of our family this year! Devin's school did not invite parents to the Christmas performance (rude!) and Shaylee is on a competition dance team, so they'll have lots of competitions in the spring, but no winter recital.

This was Aspen's first dance recital, and she was really nervous. It was really informal with the parents at the dance studio. They could wear cute red or white tutu outfits, but Aspen opted for just her pink leotard. Once we convinced her it was okay to just dance with her class and we'd sit and watch and clap and take pictures, she did a great job!

Nice third position!

This is serious business!

Connor likes to practice this move in our kitchen:

Okay, so maybe I am having fun.

Here comes the leap!

Aspen also performed "Old MacDonald" in her first piano recital. She did a great job, even if mom sat on the bench and helped her keep her place (it's tough performing in front of all those people!).


My other students also did an excellent job--I feel so honored to teach them and watch them progress with their music. Keep at it guys!

Aspen also had a Christmas program for her preschool--she loves Learning Dynamics! It was, of course, on the day of a huge snowstorm, but that didn't deter the kids from having a great time and singing their hearts out.

The four year olds had speaking parts, but the three-year-olds got to act out part of a song. Aspen was just about the cutest present I've ever seen (check out the concentration as she holds up the present and sings):

Aspen with her favorite teacher, Mrs. Peterson:

Connor and I enjoyed watching.

Although he would rather have been with dad (who was taking pictures). For those of you who aren't aware, Connor is a "Daddy's Boy." If daddy is around, he wants nothing to do with me.

Cruising.

Yes! I got my dad. :)