Friday, March 8

Friday was another busy day of dance!  We started watching Hannah and Preston in Novice Latin about 10:20 AM.  They kept being called back---to the 2nd round, 3rd round, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals!  The got the 2nd place trophies!  Here are 2 videos Miriam took of the event (samba & rumba):

Hannah with Preston Powell

The videos are from the quarterfinals which Hannah said was not their best round, but I think they look really good!  It was so exciting to see them do so well especially since they have only been dancing together since mid-January, and Hannah wasn't able to dance for 3 weeks of that time because of her injury.

 After the awards for Novice Latin, Hannah competed in Pre-Championship Ballroom.  David & Hannah made it to the quarterfinal round.  Here are some pictures.

I really like this picture!

Hannah with David Moon

After that we went to a UVU baseball game and then out to dinner with all of our family that was in the area.    Mike & I were there with 4 of our children, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, and 3 grandchidren.  We went to La Dolce Vita.  YUM!!!!

Thursday March 7

Thursday was a busy and fun day!  I went with Nadine and Scott to see the ultrasound of their baby.  They are having another little boy in August.  We are so excited to have another grandson!  After the ultrasound, we went to Dancesport and watched Hannah.  Her first event that day was Novice Ballroom.  She danced with David Moon.  They made it to the semifinal in that event.  

Here is a video of their waltz.

 After that event, Mike & I went to watch Danny in his Men's Chorus rehearsal.  They were preparing to record "Called to Serve"  arranged by David Zabriskie the next day.  It is a beautiful arrangement, and the men's chorus has such a wonderful sound!  David Zabriskie was there at the rehearsal and even conducted them at one point.  Sister Hall and the Men's Chorus were wonderful!  We are looking forward to the CD they are putting out.  It will be given to all the full-time missionaries throughout the world!

We then went back to the Marriott Center for Pre-Championship Latin.  Hannah and Preston Powell made it to the semifinal of that event as well.  Hannah injured her knee on January 28 and was on crutches for almost 2 weeks.  She was given the okay to begin dancing again just 2+ weeks before the competition.

Michaela (wearing "My Auntie is Awesome" shirt) with Aunt Hannah after the competition

Molly the cat sleeping with Sidney.  I think Sidney needs a cat :):)

Children's Museum

Mike and I arrived in Utah on Tuesday night, March 5.  On Wednesday, we took Brady to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.  Miriam, Sidney and Michaela met us there. They drove 4 hours from their home in Wyoming to get there.  Brady really liked the construction area and the water area.

We had a fun surprise when we saw our niece Tamara there with her 2 boys.  Brayden and Brady (2nd cousins) had fun playing in the water together. They both got soaked!

 Sidney liked the water too!

 Michaela liked smiling at Grandpa while she was sitting on the horse!

Christmas Tree

Mike and I went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree as we have done for the last 25+ years, but this time we didn't have any children with us.  These trees had their branches trimmed several feet from the ground. We cut it about 3 feet from the ground, then Mike cut another 20 inches off before bringing it in the house.  He still had to cut 6-7 more inches and several branches before it fit in the tree stand.  It is a big beautiful tree!

Changing the Wedding Dress

My friend Mary asked me to help her by making her daughter's wedding dress have sleeves.  I haven't ever worked on a wedding dress like this, but I told her I was willing to try.  Last fall, my friend Julie helped me figure out how to change the pattern for Hannah's homecoming dress to go from strapless to one with sleeves.  I borrowed her pattern, combined it with the pattern I had, & sewed it into a very beautiful dress.  My friend Becky helped me with the draping.  (I am very grateful for my friends!)

 

Making that dress for Hannah gave me the confidence to work on Mary's daughter's dress.  This is what the dress looked like when they bought it.

 This is what it looks like now.  I made the top of the bodice from a dress pattern.  I made the satin bias tape (trim) to finish the edges of the sleeves and to go along the neckline.  I added the beads & sequins on the trim.  I resewed all of the sequins and beads on the appliques that are over the shoulders.  I am very pleased with how it turned out!  It is nice to have it finished!  I felt like an artist when I was sewing the beads on.  The bride told me she really likes it and that it doesn't look like someone was trying to fix the dress--that it looks like it was purchased this way.  What a compliment!

Snow and Ice 3

These pictures were taken Friday, January 20.

Snow and Ice 2

These pictures were taken on Wednesday, January 18.