Ballet Week-Amanda rehearsal

Clytie Adams School of Ballet: It's recital week! It's pretty much everything ballet that week! Amanda's rehearsal/staging was on Monday. This is when parents can watch, take pictures and film video. None of that is allowed during the actual performance. Our first recital experience with the 'rules' seemed pretty strict, but now we understand that it makes a much nicer experience as we watch our beautiful ballet girls. Amanda's jazz performance was a 'yell for your dancer, whoop and holler, and take pictures' and it was harder to enjoy.....

Anyway, this year's recital theme was Fairytales and Folklore. There were original songs written for the dances and we also had our live orchestra again!

Amanda's dance was the very last during the performance. She was a Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. (She is right side of 2 dancers up front)...

Here is Amanda's group getting instruction from their teacher, Sarah (in white t-shirt). Sarah is Clytie's daughter and is taking over the studio. She is AWESOME! Both girls have had the opportunity to be in her class and they love Sarah!

Although out of focus, I like these pictures :) Kind of fairyish

Beautiful dance! It was so fun to watch what a beautiful dancer Amanda has become!

Jazzy

Amanda in a spin during her 'Roxy' dance

I can't believe I have actually found a moment that is quiet. Sydney is at cheer. Brandon is at a friend's house and Amanda is chilling on the couch. It seems like it's been a month since it's been this quiet.....so I blog for the few minutes I have-leaving the vacuuming to be done at another time :)

Amanda and her friends took a Jazz dance class at Luv2Dance this past school year. Their recital was the week right after school got out. I have video of their dance, but I still can't get video to post. I also tried to get some still pictures, but my camera battery ran out!

Their dance was cute and it was nice to have them get some difference experience than ballet. Plus, it's always fun to dance with friends!

Amanda and Keslee. Kes is also on Amanda's soccer team!

Amanda and Bridgette! Bridge was on the soccer team, but is giving it up next year.

Amanda and Maddy....cute girls!

Test Drive!

We hit the end of the school year and went right into dance recital season, art classes andavacation to Lake Powell. I'm just hoping to catch up a little!

Amanda's team had a make-up game the first Saturday in June. It was a little awkward because some of the team member's have chosen to move to other clubs or quit soccer all together. However, like it has been true from the first, these girls are sweet girls who love each other no matter if they are on the same team or not. That was one of the things that made us want to join the Shock! We wanted it to be a great and fun experience for Amanda and not one filled with mean girls, jealousy or manic competition. The only sad thing during the game was when Daisha got the ball kicked hard and at close range into her wrist and broke it! She is one of the girls giving up soccer and so in her final game and at the start of the summer, she has a broken arm!

Anyway, her coaches had an end of the year party for the 'old' team the next week and Amanda said it was so great! She will go to school with a couple of the girls who left, but the others promised to stay in touch and if they ever end up playing against each other, I know it will be a good experience and not a nightmare.

Back to my first point....since this make-up game was near Willard Bay, we decided to take the boat out on a test run! We took the boat to the game, stopped at Subway for lunch after the game and then spent a couple of hours on the lake! The kids got to take turns driving, especially because it wasn't very crowded.

One of Amanda's soccer friends, 'T' (her name is Katie, but they called her T because there was more than one Katie) and her family had the same idea as we saw them there!

It was a beautiful day! At that point in the spring, we hadn't seen many days without rain, so it was fun to look at the gorgeous blue sky!

Our bishop wanted the YW to earn their own money for camp this year. The Mia Maids put together an auction for ward members to buy certain services from the girls and that money would go straight to the girl's camp fun. They only had to earn $25. Amanda was not at YW the night they set up the auction, so at the last minute, sweet Sister Joni Page, let Amanda was her car and make her some cookies to earn the money.

Joni thought Amanda was only going to wash the outside, but you know how Mike is about cars. They did an awesome job! That was one shiny car, inside and out!

Sydney can spell!

Sydney decided to participate in the 3rd grade spelling bee. It was held the 3rd to last day. I had gone to the temple with my Mom that morning and had to miss it. Sydney said it was fine and that I would probably make her nervous if I was watching. We studied a list that ended up being the wrong list! Even with that, she came in 4th place! We are so proud of you!!!

Kindergarten Graduation

Oh, playing catch-up! It's been a busy couple of weeks and there is no end in sight to the busyness! First, let's talk about Brandon's Kindergarten graduation! I started crying as soon as they played, 'Pomp and Circumstance'! I'm sure Mike was thinking, oh no...it's going to be a cry fest! I did pull it together. I just can't believe that we are to this point with our baby and I'm dreading having him gone all day in the fall. I know some stay-at-home-moms can't wait for this day, but not me. I really do miss my kids. Sure, I hope to get a bunch of stuff done when they are all at school or maybe even find part-time work during the day, but I will miss being home with my buddies.

There were so many cute songs with actions and Brandon even had a speaking part! He did a great job! His part was 'And every season, too' I took a lot of video with my camera and I'll have to figure out how to load it someday.

A few pictures of Brandon and his friends: Brandon, Nick Sharp and Spencer Harwood

Brandon's teacher, Jeanne Hoddenbach. She has been so good to Brandon. She didn't let him pout when he didn't get his way (totally our fault...he learns it from being the only boy and the baby), but would cheer him on when he was doing what he should. She was fantastic! She also has 2 girls and a boy. Her son just left on his mission and she told me that watching me with Brandon reminds her of how she is with her son. :)

B and Ruby Jane Hollingsworth. They were born a month apart (RJ was first) and her Mom was one of my first friends after moving here. Since we moved in when I was 5 months preggo with B, I was glad to have made a fast friend!

B and Ben Petersen

Our big boy!

I watched Brandon and Mike leaving the building and I just loved this picture! My boys!

We decided to celebrate and go to lunch. Brandon picked sushi....surprise!!!

We are proud of you and we love you, Brandon!