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!!

An Old Friend

I had the chance to meet up with an old friend that I haven't seen since high school...Michelle Cragun Jensen. We decided to meet at her house and let our kids play together. She has a beautiful home up in Cottonwood Heights. The view is amazing & so is her house!! She also had set up a big jumpy house with water slide, a playground, a little slide for Skyler (18 mos.) and her little Hannah (3 yrs old) and a trampoline for the kids to play on. We ended up spending the whole afternoon because we were just having way too much fun. We got a lot of sun, but this time the kids were coated in sunscreen and I made them wear t-shirts too. They still got a little burned, but not too badly this time. It was so great catching up with her and just spending time reminiscing. It's so funny how you can just pick right up where you left off 20 years ago. She is an amazing mom of 5 and they run their own business out of their home. She is also a part time neurosurgical nurse at the U. WOW-she is and always has been amazing! Her kids are great and they got along so well with mine. Leah (9) and Montana (also 9) hit it off and invited each other to their respective birthday parties this summer. So cute. So hopefully Michelle and I will be seeing each other again this summer and wont wait 20 years to see each other again!!! Thanks for a great visit!!

Fun in the Sun- OUCH!!

Montana went swimming with some friends yesterday. Although we put sunscreen on her before she left- they swam for about 5 hours!!! The poor thing came home totally exhausted and totally sunburned. She is having a hard time getting comfortable in clothes and trying to sleep, and is just generally in pain. We are doing the aloe vera gel and cool rags. A friend suggested applying vinegar?? Has anyone ever done that? These pics don't really do it justice- but you get the idea.

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!!

My whitty whittle kids

As I have said before- my kids are a hoot. They are always saying things that crack me up. Yesterday they were on a roll- so Sierra and I started writing down all their funny antics. You may not find them as funny, but these will spark memories for us in the future so I wanted to jot them down.

Justice: "Can I help you Adam" Sierra: "Adam? Oh...you mean madaam" Justice: "Whatever"

Montana: "Mom- what is whipwash?" (Whiplash)

Montana: While practicing her dance: "Ready, OK!"

Montana: "I wish I was a Banfire" (Vampire)

Montana: (Singing like Elvis over and over) "Feva Las Vegas" (because it's hot there)

Montana: "Good luck living!! Results of living may vary" (Spoken like a commercial announcer)

Justice: "Where's the Wii Wiimote?" (He meant to say remote)

Montana: "Aaaahhhhhh, I'm crowning!" (Screamed while assuming the birthing position. A result of too many "I didn't know I was pregnant" shows!!)

We spent most of the day laughing at these two. Ahh- they keep me smilin'!

Sick little buddy

Justice has been feel off since Friday. He keeps running a fever, feels nauseous and is just generally lethargic. The fever goes down with medicine and then he seems fine. He was feeling much better yesterday and wanted to plan a sleepover. So I agreed and his friend came over. I knew things were going downhill when he didn't want to run through the sprinklers. The fever came back, his energy left,and he laid down pretty much ready for bed. So I decided the friend should go home so he wouldn't get sick also. That was about 9:00. He fell asleep immediately after that. We have had some exposure to the "swine" flu- but everyone else seems fine. I will take him to the doc today and make sure everything is ok. We are leaving for Vegas tomorrow so I would hate for him to be sick the whole trip. I'll keep ya posted.

Spring Dance Recital 09

This was such a fun recital. It was the first time that Sierra and Montana have ever danced together. They performed a ballet production together called "Hooked on Ballet". There were 50 girls from ages 8-18 all dressed in fluffy red tutus. I was on the verge of tears the whole time. Tana also performed a jazz routine where each of the girls got to do a little solo for 8 counts. She did such an amazing job. We were all so proud of her. Sierra also performed her jazz & lyrical routines. She was also in the routine that honored the seniors who were graduating. Wow- that was a tear jerker! Such a fun night. The girls had quite a crowd to cheer them on: All the Jepsons(they were also there to see Alexa- Niki's little one), Me, Grama Laura & Grampa Dave, Eric, CoriLynn (Eric's girlfriend), & McKade (her son). It was fun to have so many people supporting my girls. Thanks for coming everyone! And congrats girls on a fantastic year of dance. We are headed to Las Vegas this week for our last dance competition and then the new dance year begins in July.
Montana

Montana's Jazz Class

Sierra

Sierra's Elite Class

Awwww......Sierra helping Montana into the school

Tana getting ready in the dressing room