1st Drill Team Competition

Sierra had her first drill team competition. They looked absolutely fantastic. The trouble is...so did just about every other team. It comes down to near perfection. One mistake made and you know you are out of the running. The girls have worked so hard. Every morning for months. Pulled muscles, broken bones, headaches, sore bodies, working til you puke some days. They are an amazing group of kids. Now that it is down to the wire...there have been some girls put on probation for various reasons, one with pnemonia, one sprained her ankle...so there have been a lot of last minute formation changes and alternate girls put in the routine. They are stressing out!!! I feel bad for them, because honestly, how much more prepared can you be!! So the competition went well and they placed in several of their routines...but they walked away feeling a little defeated. They have been working even harder this week because there is another competition this Saturday. I know they have learned so much more than dances. Teamwork, dedication, organization, and how to have fun and still work hard. I am so thankful Sierra has had this opportunity. I know I complain a lot about how busy she is and how overwhelming drill can be, but I know she is learning and experiencing so many positive things. Good Luck this week. I am sooooo proud of you!
MILITARY

DANCE DANCE

Homecoming Pix

A novel

Wow! I don't think I have gone 10 days without blogging in the last 3 years. I kept putting it off because not much was going on...now I have a novel to write to catch things up.

Today would have been my brother John & his sweet wife Amy's 20th anniversary. Amazing. They are both on my mind. I can't believe it has been that long...and yet it does seem like a life time ago that he was here with us. We miss him like crazy. Can't wait to kick his butt in the next life!! I love you bud & you too Amos!!

Justice has taken up piano lessons with my mom. I suggested that Montana take them and he ran with it. So he is plunking away every chance he gets now. I started looking for a teacher close by, but he insisted that Grama be the one to teach him. And she is fabulous. He is doing soooo good in school. He & his sister both are great at math and spelling! So we proudly display all the 100% papers they bring home. He is still riding his bike everywhere, and he especially loves riding it to school.

Montana is growing up so quickly that it is honestly like watching a movie on fast forward. She is very diligent about reading and keeping up with her homework. I don't have to even ask her to get started. Of all three kids she seems to be the only one who actually ENJOYS reading and can't wait to go to the library to pick out a new one. She runs around with a pack of girls. It is pretty funny because they can't do anything one on one...it's the 4 of them or none of them. They are good kids.

Sierra just attended her first high school dance. She went to Homecoming with Wesley, who is a cute kid, but despite all the great things I have heard about him, he is 18 and it makes me nervous. She also was FINALLY able to perform with the drill team, and twice in one day. They had a homecoming assembly in the morning and then also performed at the football game that night with the dance co. & cheerleaders. I am working on pictures and will post them soon. She is still dancing with Stars too so it is dance 24/7 with this chick. She absolutely loves it.

I am still enjoying my new job with Fox. It is challenging in every way but fun too. The people I work with are fantastic and make coming to work something I look forward to. I am getting sleep while the kids are at school and life seems to go on as normal. We are all still adjusting to mom working out of the home, and having to shuffle kids around while I work, but it will get easier. The kids have been great about it are learning more about life than I would like them to at their tender ages...but, it is something they would have to learn eventually. My parents have really been fantastic about watching the kids at night while I work, and helping get them to & from their activities when I can't be there. I am so thankful for them...they never complain and are willing to step in at a moments notice. What in the world would I ever do with out them.

On a sad note...I spoke with a friend today who's teenage child attempted suicide by hanging. Luckily he had texted a friend prior and his mom was able to rush to his side and help him until police & paramedics could arrive to offer medical treatment. He survived with only moderate injuries...however, of course the emotional trauma is insurmountable. I am having a flood of emotions for my friend, for her son, and their family. They are working with a counselor, medication, and family therapy as well. Even though I have lived through a very similar situation, it is so easy to forget how quickly our family can be snatched from us. Life is rough, icky, and downright dispicable sometimes. But we can not let it get us down. If we let it & work at it...life can be tender, fun, beautiful, inspiring, and full of love. My new motto is let go & let God! May He be with us all thru our ups and downs and carry us through the difficult moments when we think we can't go on. The sun will shine on us again, if we allow it! <3 <3 <3

Mini Drill 09 Pt. 1

Yesterday was the first day of the big Mini Drill Fundraiser. Montana was registered to participate and then at the last minute Justice decided he wanted to do it too. There was another boy participating in his age group and he thought it would be fun. Sierra warned us not to do it, but he really wanted to. Once they started learning the dances we decided it was WAY too girly and so he decided to ride his bike instead. We had brought it for him to have fun on while the girls danced. Turns out, it was a good idea. So he was just supporting his sister.

Montana was having the time of her life!! I think she was so excited to have a friend in her class (one of our neighbors) and she was showing off a bit. I love seeing her smile and enjoy herself like that! It will be fun to see her dance at the game on Friday!

Sierra was teaching another age group that neither Justice or Montana were in. She is a very patient teacher and really enjoys it. It was fun to watch her in action. A few moms and I helped with registration and getting people & t-shirts organized. After that I just cruised around taking pics of all the kids. Fun night! We will repeat classes tonight & then the kids perform at the game on Friday night! I will post more pics then!

Sierra the Saleswoman

Since becoming a part of the Drill Team at Tville, Sierra has had to develop some skills I thought I would never see in her. We have to fund raise $1200.00 for her as well as the $1200.00 we have to pay out of pocket. It is ridiculously expensive- but I have to admit, totally worth it.

Sierra went around our neighborhood yesterday and wrangled up 8 girls to come to their Mini Drill event. She only needs 2 more and I know that won't be a problem for her. Today she needs to sell 50 raffle tickets for $1 a piece. Each girl was responsible for approaching businesses and asking them to donate items that they could raffle off. We have a friend that owns a clothing boutique and she gladly donated a bag of DARLING clothing. She needed to find a business sponsor and 4 people to come to the golf tournament they are having this week. She lucked out and had family fill that bill. Her aunt and uncle's company is the sponsor, and then her dad, uncle, and a couple of friends are going to be the golfers!! Thank you guys so much for that!! She also needs to find two more businesses who will advertise in the football program. She is making plans to visit several local businesses and seal the deal.

This is the same girl who wouldn't ask for a job application a few months ago. She is approaching people left and right---she doesn't really have a choice, but I can tell it is getting easier for her. I am so impressed. Yesterday I told her she could go into sales by the time her drill team career is over. She said "When I'm done with drill I will be able to do anything!"

She is more organized and responsible than I have ever seen her in her life! She cannot be late and therefore plans ahead. She goes to sleep in the dance clothes she needs to wear the next day. She has made a checklist of ALL her drill stuff and keeps it nicely organized. I love it! I'm so proud of you kiddo!

Taylorsville Dayzz Parade & Carnival

This morning Sierra's drill team marched in the Taylorsville Dayzz Parade. She was not able to dance with them because she missed a couple of practices while we were in Las Vegas. She was not upset about this at all because she got to pass out flyers instead while wear t-shirt, jeans and flip flops instead of the sequins and dance garb. We were all there to cheer on the team anyway. They looked amazing. I also took some fun pics of the rest of the parade- it was a fun time.

Later that night, we went back to the carnival. Sierra went to hang out with her friends and I headed over to watch the Neil Diamond tribute concert (Jay White- looks and sounds exactly like him). It was a lot of fun. Mom met me later for the fireworks and some food. It was a good time for everyone. We didn't get home until after midnight, we partied til we dropped. We love Taylorsville!

Drill Camp

Sierra went to her first ever "Basic Dance Training" for Drill Team. It was exactly like Boot Camp for the military. They worked these girls to death. She was totally exhausted and feeling sick every night. But they looked great at the parent performance. She was chosen to be in the final Drill Down, but got out somewhere in the middle of it--and it was HARD. She was also 1 of 30 dancers chosen to be in the Miss Drill Team Utah Competition. So she can compete a solo on the High School Level. It will be pretty exciting. They had a lot of team building activities, as well as bonding as friends. She is with such a cute group of girls and they are amazing together. Here are some fun shots of the last day of camp. They were chosen by votes from the other teams as most inspirational team--and won the big trophy. Way to go girls!!