The funnest family day ever!!

I made the kids stay home with me after playing with friends all afternoon. They all wanted to scatter to the wind for sleepovers and whatnot- but I said no. I wanted to have a family night. We worked some more on switching the rooms (it is never ending!!). We are so close. I think we could actually finish by Monday!! Wahoo! It has helped us weed out so many things that have been hanging around forever. Anyway-we had such a fun time just being together and laughing and working. We wore ourselves out after several hours and decided to have dinner and relax for a bit. After dinner we decided to play the Wii together. We all took turns trying to break weird world records (a game we borrowed from neighbors). It was seriously a riot!! We were laughing, yelling, and cheering for each other. Justice and Montana kept doing a kick line. Sierra and I could not stop laughing at them. I have not laughed that hard in a long, long time. I love my kids so much. They bring me so much joy and purpose. It's so amazing when we can just do nothing and have a great time.

Family Mini Golf Date

I have been in the dumps this past week and Grama Mc wanted to take me to do something fun to get my mind off of things. She suggested we go miniature golfing. I thought that sounded so fun. We were trying to come up with a date to go and it turned out that EVERYONE had the day off today. The kids got out of school early- of course I'm free and just brought Skyler along, mom had the day off, and dad and Grama Mc were both not busy today- so the WHOLE GANG went! It was a blast! We went to Mulligans out in South Jordan/Sandy area. It is beautiful there and a fun course. They have two different courses- so we want to go back and do it again. The weather was perfect and a nice breeze blowing. It took us a couple of hours with our huge group- but it didn't seem that long. Can't wait to go back!

Voices Spring Performances

Tomorrow is our last spring performance for Voices. It has gone by quick- but two weeks of performances is a lot of work. I have had such a great time with these sweet ladies who put up with me. I think after 5 months I am finally making some progress with my voice. Yesterday I had my vocal director, and the group coordinator tell me how great I sounded. I was so happy to hear this because usually I am getting direction from everyone on tone, diction, note correction, etc. So that put a big smile on my face.

We have performed for several nursing homes, senior centers, our friends and family concert, and today we performed at a very very special school. It's called Jordan Valley School- a school for physically and mentally disabled "children"- from 5-adult. It was amazing. They were clapping and dancing and singing along. You could just feel the love in the room. All the staff and teachers have a great attitude and genuinely care for these kids. I feel so blessed to have been able to bring some happiness/entertainment to people we have performed for. We love to see the tears, and when people sing along, or smile- it makes all the rehearsal hours totally worth it! It's been amazing. I hope I will be able to do the Christmas season- but I will have to see what happens with the job situation. I will post some pics tomorrow after our last performance!

Oh yeah!! It's gettin cold in here...

My friend Reed came and hooked up my swamp cooler today!!! I thought we were going to melt the last couple of days. Seriously, we had all the windows open and fans going day and night. He came in just the nick of time!! I am so grateful!! Maybe we can actually sleep tonight! I love my neighbors!!

3 weeks left!

The kids only have 3 weeks left of school! They are so excited for summer to be here. All three of them have a severe case of spring fever. They are very restless, don't want to go to school, and can't stop talking about their summer plans.

Sierra has her summer pretty much full to the rim with activities. Drill from 6-9 in the morning :-(, Stars a couple nights a week, friends, friends, friends, drill camp, Vegas Competition for Stars, and she has acquired a pretty serious boyfriend (Mark) so I will be keeping an eagle eye on the two of them. He is really sweet to her and I like him- but that makes me even more worried :-{.

Montana has decided to try out for STARS Showteam. So we will be crossing our fingers that she makes the team. So she has that to look forward to as well as the Vegas Solo Dance Competition. She's turned into a little dancin' machine. She has tons of friends in the neighborhood so I am sure she will be busy with them all summer. Swim Lessons will be in there somewhere and don't forget her Birthday in August. She will be turning 10!! How can that be???

Justice has been consumed with playing the Wii since we got it. It has been so much fun. I actually don't mind it- he plays lots of games on the Fit Board, and his favorite is the Free Run. So he wiggles, jumps, and runs on that thing every chance he gets!! It keeps him and his friends entertained- which I much prefer to the usual running, jumping down stairs, throwing stuff at each other, and screaming all over the house. It's much more manageable. He'll have swim lessons, he wants to play soccer, and I am trying to get him back to Tae Kwon Do. He has decided he HATES it. So it's been a struggle- because he is SO GOOD at it!! What to do?

I'm still on the job hunt. And that is getting real old. I've got a couple of interviews this week so I am hoping that one of them works out. I also am considering switching schools. I have decided that a teaching degree is not the direction I would like to go. It just won't be enough money in the end. I am considering becoming a surgical tech. School is only two years and the pay is a lot better as well as being a wide open market for jobs. Plus it would be so amazing!! I am still looking into it. But I am pretty sure I need a switch. My need for a larger income is outweighing what I would "like" to do.

So there is a preview of things to come this summer. Never a dull moment!

A total sweep!

Today was the Stars North Regional Competition. This is the first REAL important competition for the girls. As usual- they were amazing. And the awards proved it.

First in Lyrical
First in Jazz
First in Show
First in Drill Down
Best Show Overall
Region Sweepstakes Winner
+One of Sierra's dances (Selling your soul) was chosen as the best routine of the day and they were able to perform it again during the awards ceremony. It was an amazing day!

Here are a few fun photos of today! Way to go babe!

Another Big Day for Tana!

Tana had her second solo dance competition today! She did such a good job! She really improved from her last competition- took her time, pointed her toes! It was so much fun to see her making so much progress in such a short time. She worked hard and she really earned her trophy! She took 2nd runner up! Way to go sweet thing! We are so proud of you! (Forgot the memory card for the camera- so I have no pics :-0 crap)

Sierra, Justice, Grama Laura, Grampa Dave & I were all there to cheer for her! It was fun being there as a family. When Tana came out to dance- we all went crazy. Justice even shouted "I LOVE YOU TANA". We all looked at him and laughed. That was totally out of character! Usually they are fighting like cats and dogs- so it was sweet to see the love come oozing out of him in a moment like that! We got some video so I will see if we can transfer it! Also I will try to wrangle some of the pics that dad took and get them posted.

She is very proud of her growing trophy collection. We got her entered for Nationals in Las Vegas. It will be a great experience for her. I told her- no pressure! Only do it if you really want to. She said "Well, we will be there for Sierra anyway- so I might as well." So we still have a lot of work to do to prepare but I know she will rock it!! Vegas here we come!!