Recital Nights 1 & 2 ... "The Nutcracker" - 2009

We made it through yet another recital weekend. Whew! There's nothing like recitals to make you go a little crazy, especially at this time of year. I can't imagine Callie NOT having the chance to dance on the stage though. She loves it. She soaks up the energy ... and pours her heart out on the stage. It truly is a beautiful thing to watch ... and that's saying a LOT since I don't like ballet. Callie did a terrific job as a rat & as a Spanish dancer. She now has 3 weeks off until the next session of dance starts & she's beside herself not knowing what to do. Poor girl just needs to dance ... all the time! Here are assorted pictures from the 2 recital nights.

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FRIDAY NIGHT PICTURES

Makenna & Callie

Fellow rats & "Clara" (aka Taylor) Callie with flowers from Oskar
Callie & Oskar exchanged Christmas presents for the first time this year. It was fun to help her shop for him & find just the right gift.
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Callie is totally blurry in this picture
but I just LOVE the look of anticipation on
Oskar's face ... LOVE IT!!!
Oskar bought Callie sweet pea perfume
Callie bought Oskar a funny shirt
So cute!

On Saturday nights I help backstage ... so I'm also known as a "helper mom." It's a whole different perspective on recitals but can be fun ... at times ... you never can tell. ☺

SATURDAY NIGHT PICTURES

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Oskar (dressed as Fritz) and Callie

Callie as a rat & the rats w/Clara

before dancing onstage

Callie the rat

More rat dancing

Spanish dance & curtain call

Oskar (dressed as The Nutcracker) & Callie and Oskar (wearing the shirt Callie gave him the night before) and Callie.

In case you're wondering, the shirts says "Don't play with duct tape." Kind of an inside thing related to D.I. ☺

2009 "Ta-Da" @ Globals

I took a video of the girls when they were performing their "Ta-Da" at the D.I. Global Finals. It's not a great video (you can't hear them very well) BUT it's better than nothing. The girls are so cute ... if only there was no other sound so we could really hear them.

2009 D.I. Globals Recap!!!

We are back from Knoxville & oh so exhausted but we are slowly recovering. Callie's team finished 15th out of 60 teams. They did good but could've done SO much better (they totally bombed on their instant challenge) ... it's a great finish when you consider they are 15th in the world ... rock on girls!!! I didn't take as many pictures as last year but still took plenty. Enjoy!

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Pin Trading

Callie, Catyler, Kelsey, Emily, Makenna, Liz & Kira

Kelsey, Liz, Makenna, Catyler, Callie, Kira & Emily

Me & Callie @ World's Fair Park

Makenna, Emily, Catyler & Callie

~jumping for joy~

Central Challenge ... TEAMWORK!!!

Liz, Emily, Callie, Catyler, Kelsey & Makenna

~singing their "Nate the Great" song~

Callie, Catyler & Makenna

Callie & Emily after their central challenge

Getting their results

Mrs. R (the coaching queen) & Callie

Callie & Me

Callie @ the Sunsphere

Preparing their "Ta-Da"

Heading into the Instant Challenge

Performing their "Ta-Da"

"Ta-Da"

Celebrating Andrea's birthday, the 1st time

~Jennifer, Barb, Dawn, Sharon, Andrea & Me~

Celebrating Andrea's birthday, the 2nd time

~with Beau, the waiter~

Callie & Emily racing

Callie wins!!! (sorry Emily)

Playing volleyball

Nighttime pin trading

Jennifer & Me

~our fearless chaperone~

Fun at the Sonic drive-up

~Me, Andrea, Barb, Sharon & Dawn~

Makenna & Callie

~playing at World's Fair Park~

Callie & Makenna

Cool sauce display @ Taco Bell

Before closing ceremonies started
Callie & Me @ closing ceremonies

Callie & 1 of the MANY balls flying through the air

during the closing ceremonies

Callie talking to someone special

Wasting time before we headed to the airport

~the girls having their own

version of "Survivor" I think

Makenna, Kelsey, Callie & Catyler~

I SO wish the whole team was here for this pic ...

I truly LOVE it!!!

~Catyler, Makenna, Kelsey & Callie~

Callie hanging in the tree

State D.I. Tourney

The past few weeks have been filled with lots of little things but the big things in our lives was D.I. Both kids had lots of practices to fine-tune their challenges since the Regional competition. I could give you details but I'll spare you ... seriously. I'm sorry I haven't posted more often ... I really don't have a good excuse ... so, my bad! lol

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Calob's team actually improved their skit & props for the State competition. They did a great job & ended with a 4th place finish. They were all hoping for a better finish but I feel (and so does Calob) that they finally came together as a team & that's invaluable!!!

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Here's a team picture

Matt, Hayley, Tara, Austin, Lyndsey & Calob

(with Mitch on the ground)

Another team picture but their coach, Tiffany, is in this one too ... she did a great job with the kids this year!!! I don't know if Callie's team made any drastic changes in their challenge between Regionals and State but they did practice LOTS!

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Team picture

Kira, Catyler, Kelsey, Callie, Emily, Makenna & Liz

With their Coach, Mrs. R., who we all love dearly!
After MUCH stiff competition Callie's team took first place (again) and are now headed to the Global competition held in Knoxville in May. If you had watched the girls at any of their practices you would wonder how in the world they won ... and we ALL wondered that ... but somehow they pulled it off. Congrats to the whole team ... on to Globals we go!!!