Put On Your Dancin' Shoes

Dance Team season is upon us! I think I've mentioned before that I would love to get involved {again} in activities and events that were once a big part of my life. Sometimes I feel sad that I've let such a huge part of me slip away. But then I remember that I *have* been pretty busy the last 8 or 9 years ;) This may not be the best year to add more to our already full plate, but eventually I would love to introduce my girls more fully to interests their Mama had years ago.

Luckily we haven't strayed too far from dance. Sierra has been taking lessons regularly since she was 3 years old, my older sister is a dance instructor, and my little sis took over coaching dance team for me when I got married. Awwwww.

Last weekend she {little sis, Annie} was up here for a competition, and we got to go watch!

I LOVE it!

The music, the costumes, the makeup, the themes.

I love it all.

And apparently so do my daughters. Even Kam sat intently watching {and every once in awhile whispering "Ooooooh pretty".

Excuse the bars in every.single.photo. We didn't have the greatest seats.

And while we're ignoring things, can we agree to ignore the partial head in the above picture? Mkaythanks. That's my sis, Annie, up there on the far right. She and Beesh {middle} were on the team together when I coached. And now {or actually for many years} they coach together.

And this is their team. The theme this year is the fine line between dream and reality. I have to say, it was a little spooky.

But not spooky like Scappoose's team. Oh no. They're clowns. And I don't mean the happy, friendly ones.

Dance Team Is In The Air . . .

It doesn't really have the same ring to it, but it's that time of year again . . . Dance Team Season!!!

Dance is a big deal around here. I started dancing when I was three and attended EVERY dance competition of my older sister, Heidi. Annie started dance when she was three. Each one of us had studio dance and each one of us was on high school dance team {and I coached Annie's high school dance team, ha!} . . . and, well, you get the idea. We love dance, simple as that. So, when I left my coaching position to get married and have babies {wink}, Annie took over for me, and has been coaching ever since. For 8 years, to be exact. Wow, where does the time go???

Anyway. Annie brought her team up, last weekend, for a preliminary competition to State. It was such fun to watch. A lovely group of girls ~ beautiful, talented, sweet. And the icing on the cake? They took 1st place in their division. I really wish I would have videotaped it because it was a great performance. Annie choreographed the entire routine, and the girls danced it just perfectly. {Chills.}

This is how the evening went:

{And please excuse the photos. The lighting was terrible, and I had Kam squirming around as I was snapping pics. It didn't make for the most pleasing of pictures, ifyaknowwhatImean}.

Annie's Team

Look at those pointed toes ;)

It was such a fun routine to watch!

Here's my sis, Annie, with her son, Jaymes.

{Incidentally that's Sierra, my niece~ Sadie, and older sister Heidi behind them}

Jaymes may or may not have gotten into the chocolate . . .

Kam stayed busy for about a minute and a half with Gramps' shoe laces.

Cleanin' up.

After a long weekend of water-drinkin' and health food eatin' {and dancin' your boot off!} you have to have a treat! Pizza and soda all around ;) And, oh yeah, did I mention my parents hosted my sister and her entire team? {and a few extras?} They did. 'Cuz my parents are super cool like that.

And the best part? Cousins getting to spend time together. Is this the sweetest? Kenners and Jaymes are best pals. It's too cute!

That was our weekend. Whew, it was a long one! What about y'all? How did you spend yours?

Life Is A Dance

Last night was the final night of the Oregon High School Dance and Drill State Competition. Having been a member of dance team throughout high school, and having coached after high school, I naturally love to attend each year. But even more important, my sister, Annie, still coaches high school dance team, so we love to go to support her and her girls. Geri and I loaded up the girlies (if you think we're getting Kam started early, you should know that Makenna attended her first competition at the ripe ol' age of 2 weeks!) and headed into Portland.

We all had a fabulous time. Kam slept through the majority of the competition, Sierra and Makenna were content snacking on popcorn and admiring all of the costumes, and I got my dance team "fix" for the year. We also got to visit with old friends, and of course see Annie and her daughter, Sonoma.

I snapped a few pictures, though none are great (I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with my camera ~ any suggestions on a good camera are welcome!).