Vegas Baby 09

We made our annual trek to Vegas for the Stars National Dance Competition. The kids, Grama Laura, Grama Dodie, and I, drove down in the Big Blue Dodge Truck. It had tons of room for all of our bags in the back and although it has seating for six, we were a bit crammed inside. But we made it and the kids didn't even complain until we were an hour from home.

Montana performed her solo for the last time- and did such a fantastic job!! We were all so stinkin' proud of her. She has grown so much and I am so glad she decided to do it. She didn't place and therefore did not receive a trophy either- which really stunk--but she didn't dwell on it and was still proud of herself.

Sierra and Montana were both able to dance in a Master Workshop with Dennis Caspary who is a fantastic choreographer/teacher. They both had a great time and were able to do something way out of their comfort zone and learn from someone new. Sierra was in the advanced class and Montana was in the beginning class. However- I think the choreography was equally hard in both classes. It was a good experience for both of them.

Sierra's team danced up a storm and they all felt great about their routines. We LOVE going to Vegas and seeing the teams from around the country. Every state has their own style and it's fascinating to see. The Shows were amazing, tons of fantastic choreography, beautiful costumes, and some of the best technique I have ever seen. Sierra's team ended up not placing in their class dances and took 3rd in show. She was upset about it- but it didn't last long. We had such a great time enjoying all the fantastic talent that it was a dance lovers paradise.

The trip was relaxing and enjoyable. It was super sunny!!! We had no set plans- just kind of did whatever we felt like, and went where the wind blew us. We were so happy to have sunshine on our skin and heat in the air!! It has been so rainy and blah in SLC for weeks that it was really a boost to be by the pool. We stayed at the Flamingo- which was soooo nice about 10 years ago when we stayed there. Now it is a bit run down and not somewhere we would stay again. However, the kids loved the pool. The hotel was soooo crowded and the pool was a serious party palace full of tattoos, smoking and alcohol. I seriously felt out of place. Not very family friendly- but the kids didn't even notice it. There was a fantastic series of slides and waterfalls, and the pool was only 3.5 feet everywhere. So they were in heaven. We were lucky to get one night at the pool that was not very crowded. But it was such a mess from the party happenings all day (cigarette butts and beer bottles/glasses) -that it was hard to relax and enjoy. But that certainly didn't stop us from being right in the middle of it all.

We drove up and down the strip one night (took two hours :-)) and stopped at the famous original Las Vegas sign and took pics. That was probably the highlight of the trip and something we had never done before in all the years we have been going there (18 years?). We also went to Margaritaville (a restaurant) and it was amazing. Jimmy Buffet music playing loudly, boats, flip flops, balloon artists on stilts, singing, a volcano, and of course Margaritas!! Our funnest adventure was going to the Miracle Mile Mall that was only a couple blocks away- but it was so crowded and crazy it felt like miles. We found fantastic shops and bought some fun stuff. Justice and Tana loved the M&M factory that they went to with their dad and Sierra spent some time at the Venetian hotel pool with her dad. So we all had a great time!

5 days flew by and we weren't ready to come home. But here we are back in the hometown- and it looks like we dragged some sunshine home with us!! YES!!