May-Cember

"May"cember is a real thing. It's busy like Christmas time, but just at the end of the school year. We had so many fun things this month: 

Caden performed in his last choir concert for the year. Caden had a great time in mixed choir this year. 

Makayla performed one last time with the middle school dance company. She choreographed one of the dances and it was a hip hop routine called "Secret Service." My favorite part was when they did the "Trump dance" to YMCA. 

Tyler went out of town and I took the kids to see the new movie "Michael" based off of Michael Jackson's life. I really liked it and Caden said it was the best movie he has ever seen in the movie theater. Tyler felt bad that he didn't get to see it, so these three went together to see it again.  

Caden had one last game of the spring season with Valley. When we walked into the building Tyler recognized Thurl Bailey who used to play for the Jazz and who announces for them. Caden really wanted a picture with him, but he was too scared to ask. so Tyler went with him and asked. Thurl Bailey said he would only say yes to a picture if Caden asked, so Caden got up the courage. Thurl Bailey was so funny because he said, "now was that so scary to talk to me?" Then asked Caden how old he was and said, "Are you going to have your dad ask a girl on a date for you because you're too scared?" Then Tyler reassured Caden that girls are scarier to talk to than Thurl Bailey. He is really tall!!

Caden played great this game and got 2, 3 pointers. 

Caden goes to Shoot 360 for extra practice where he can practice shooting drills, dribbling, and other skills. He really likes it and ended up being "Player of the Month" because his scoring percentage improved so much. Great job Caden!!

We had one glorious week off of dance and then it was time for the new season to start. Brynnli tried out at Synergy again and made the team Pinnacle. 

Makayla is most likely switching studios and is going to go to Empower. She tried out at that studio and also made Team Pinnacle. So ironic that they are both on the same team, but at different studios. Speaking of Makayla, I just need to take a minute to explain how proud I am of her. Makayla tried out for drill team and dance company at the high school. In both cases she made it through first cuts, but did not make either team, and she was heart broken. I was too because I have seen how hard she works, especially this season. She should have made the team, but there are just so many talented girls, and too many politics, and she just didn't make the cut. For a while she said she was done with dance and I was heart broken to see her almost give up something she loves so much. Then she decided to try again one more year. She decided to switch studios where she would be challenged more and she decided to work hard for another year. I think that decision makes me prouder than any team she could have made. So I guess we will see what happens this year with two dancers at two different studios. 

I told the kids on Mother's Day that what I wanted was to spend one on one time with each kid for at least 30 minutes a week, and they could choose what we do. So far I have gone to the park with Brynnli, to the puppy store with Caden and driving around town with Makayla. We usually get a treat during that time and the only rule is that they have to tell me all about the things going on in their lives. I have really loved this time and hope we can continue it. 

We went up to The Land for Memorial Day. Makayla said she wanted to go tanning, so Tyler said we could go up the mountain where the UV would be better. We went with the Jones boys and as we were driving up on the 4 wheelers, it started to get colder and colder... then we started to see more snow on the ground, and I wondered if I misunderstood Tyler about where we were going. Eventually we were stuck in the snow and couldn't go any farther. We were all teasing Makayla that she was not going to get a good tan here. but this turned out to make for an epic photo: 

Tyler's hands were so cold that they turned white. 

We decided that staying back at The Land was a better option. 

Memorial Day was great at The Land and we all had so much fun. 

Our Buick is having some trouble, so we have to cram everyone into the Honda. To prevent the kids from fighting, Tyler has to sit in the back between them. Ugh, the things we do for our kids. 

So many fun things this month. I can't wait for summer to start!!

Lots of Celebrating

We had so many fun celebrations in May. We started off with Mother's Day. Tyler and the kids got me a really nice pair of Oakley sunglasses. Don't I look so great in them? 

Then we went to dinner at P.F. Changs. The kids have never had gourmet Chinese food and they all liked it. My fortune cookie was especially fitting. It says "As a chapter ends, you will find yourself on a road to a new discovery." I feel like so many chapters of our lives are changing and honestly I am really struggling with it all. I'm trying to find the positives, and looking toward the future, but I do not do well with change. 

After lunch we went to City Creek and went shopping. They had all of these fun flower backgrounds. We took lots of fun pictures. 

We also celebrated my mom's birthday and mother's day. I love my mom and wish I could just call her when I need advice, or have a fun girls day out, or tell her about all the amazing things her grandkids are up to. Everybody needs their mom, even when they're 42. 

Our last celebration of the month was celebrating our Bella girl who turned 5. She was spoiled with a lot of treats and toys, her favorite hobo dinner, and a doggie birthday cookie. We all love Bella so much. She is literally the best impulsive decision we have ever made. 

At 5 years old Bella loves to sleep all day, beg us for food while we're eating, play fetch, and go on walks. We all fight over who gets to cuddle with her, but she usually chooses me. Happy Birthday Bellie Girl!!

The Star of the Show

Brynnli decided she wanted to try out for the school play this year. Only 5th and 6th graders are able to do the play. The students do everything in the play: they act, make the scenery, have kids do the lighting, and have kids backstage helping the actors. 

We were so excited for Brynnli to try something new. She had to audition and got the part of Della the Dulocian and Blind Mouse #3 in the school play, Shrek the Musical. We were so proud of Brynnli because she had to go to play practice 3-4 times a week, plus do all of her school stuff and sometimes go to dance at night. Sometimes we wouldn't see her all day. But the hard work paid off because Brynnli was amazing in the play and Shrek the Musical was seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. 

Brynnli's biggest part was Blind Mouse #3. She does a dance trio while Donkey sings. 

In the beginning of the play she comes out as a Dulocian and sings "Welcome to Duloc". My favorite part? when they sing, "Don't make waves, stand in line and we'll get along fine Duloc is the perfect place. Please keep off of the grass, shine your shoes, wipe your.....Face" 

We are Brynnli's biggest fans and loved cheering her!

 The play ran for 3 nights and we were there every night. All of the performances were so cute. We loved watching Brynnli try something new and think maybe musical theater might be in her future? 

Then a few days later we got to see her sing in the patriotic play. We loved when she sang "Fifty Nifty United States",  "40 hour week", and "Proud to be an American".

So many fun things to see. Brynnli really is the start of the show!!

The Last Dance

The girls had their last dance competition. I snapped this picture of my two girls who have danced at the same studio for over 8 years now. I hope this isn't the last time they dance together, but our dance future is a little uncertain right now and we don't know what the future will hold. I hope the girls look back at their experience of dancing together with good memories of spending long weekends together and cheering each other on and off the stage. 

The last competition was held at Kennedy Jr. High where Tyler went to school. He had so much fun going around the school reminiscing about things like in 7th grade where he threw up in the hallway all over the 9th graders and where he got punched by Travis who gave him a black eye. But there were great things too... we saw his picture still hanging up in the hallway for the "Knights of the Round table". Tyler doesn't remember what it was for, but the kids had the best time making fun of him. 

Brynnli competed Friday night and I watched the girls she was competing against. As the other girls were dancing, I was like, "oh no, Brynnli's dance is significantly harder than these girls." So I quickly looked up the divisions and realized Brynnli was registered in the wrong group. See each competition is different and her studio is the one who registered her. At some competitions if you compete in a level too above, they move you to your own division, but you aren't eligible for overall awards. I was panicking. Brynnli went on stage and literally did her solo the best she has ever done. She hit all of her turns and her tricks. I was so proud of her, but feared she would be moved to the higher category. 

When they announced awards, they announced everyone in her division but her. Then they announced her in her own category alone. She got a platinum ranking and I was so proud of her. I explained what happened and she was disappointed, but she understood. This dance season has been especially challenging for Brynnli. Her solo has not done as well at competitions and her team is more advanced this year, so she has had a huge amount of growth this year, but it has really stretched her and her confidence has taken a little bit of a hit. I am proud of Brynnli for continuing to show up every day and do her best. She bounces back from challenges so well and it makes me so proud of her. And a platinum ranking for her last time doing this dance? It was the perfect way to end the season. 

I realized after Brynnli's awards that she was in the same difficulty level as Makayla and that Makayla's dance is harder than Brynnli's, so Makayla was registered in the wrong division too. I ended up talking to the competition director about my concern, and she said we could move Makayla to the advanced division and she could still compete the next morning with no penalty. And I'm so glad we moved her because she got a platinum ranking and ended up getting 9th overall in the ADVANCED division!!

Makayla's solo is called "Thank You" and one of the lyrics says, "I want to thank you for giving me the best days of my life". I  truly feel like dance has given us the best days. Dance has taught Makayla how to work hard, how to set a goal and accomplish it, how to bounce back from disappointment, and how to celebrate yourself and others. So Thank You for the best days. 

I though duo did the best they have ever done, but they got 2nd in their division and didn't make it into overalls... and they were like the only duo that didn't make it in. Regardless, I loved this dance and am so glad Harper and Makayla were able to dance together one last time. 

Brynnli's team is all going to be scattered next year with girls going to company and different teams, so they got to have one last team dinner. Brynnli had fun with this team. She loved that she was one of the youngest ones and she was the smallest, earning her the nickname, "Little Brynnli" 

 I can't believe this dance season is already over. It has been a challenging year for both girls. They have had some really great moments and some disappointing heartbreaks. Dance is a part of our lives and teaches all of us so many life lessons. I hope there will still be lots of dance in our future. Maybe it will look different next year, but we will always cheer our girls on the stage.