Updates, Updates, and More Updates!

Hello, Friends!  It may appear that I have slipped off the face of the earth, but in truth, it has just been an amazingly awesome and busy time in our family.  I have so many changes and updates to share.  So, let's get started!

Our summer was amazing.  Truly!  We only had one week of "nothing".  The girls did swim team this year.  That was great!  Audrey amazed me with her growth there.  She went from a flailing sea creature to a graceful mermaid in about 5 weeks time.  They promoted her to the competition team mid season and she did fantastic!  Definitely something we will continue to do.  Maddie has also vastly improved.  I'm very proud of her!

We spent 8 days at a resort in Destin, Florida.  It was a super trip!  Ironically, some of Derek's family from Dallas was in a wedding at the same resort the end of our stay.  It was  fun to see them.  The girls absolutely adore their cousins.

 

Later in the summer the girls and I spent 8 days in TN for the Pure American Girl National Pageant.  What an amazing opportunity!  Maddie took home the National Talent Award and Runner Up Model of the Year.  I believe she could have placed higher in the Queen division, but she turned into a little monster.  LOL!  After the first day of competition she basically decided she didn't want to do it and was a handful to deal with the rest of the competition.  I can honestly say, I've never seen her act that poorly before.  I'm praying this is just a short phase of life and she'll be out of it very soon.  (I think she's making up for not going through the Terrible 2's or 3's!)  It is breaking my heart right now.  Anyway, Audrey had a phenomenal week.  For those that don't know her personally, it will be hard to understand just what a huge step and growth she went through this summer and in this pageant.  Many firsts happened that week.  She spoke on stage for the first time in her life.  She did forget some of her words and paused to regain her memory once, but I thought that was amazing.  She could have fallen apart and quit right then, but she didn't.  She pulled herself together and kept going.  She also had her first panel interview.  She felt really good about it, so I take that as another success.  Her modeling progressively improved.  By the final day her poise and confidence were clearly evident on stage.  But, the greatest accomplishment was her singing a solo on stage for the first time in her life.  She LOVED it!  That's what she has talked about the most.  She actually came off the stage and told me she was proud of herself.  Money can't buy that, folks!

 

So, all in all, it was a fabulous experience.  We have learned that Maddie will not be doing any more pageants any time soon.  Audrey has one the end of the month.   And, I am the new State Director for the Pure American Pageant System.  I'm very exited about this opportunity!

We couldn't leave TN without a trip to Dollywood, The Wilderness Water Resort, Hollywood Wax Museum, and Country Tonite musical.  Great trip!

Of course, our summer included a week of VBS and Arts Camp.  There were a few sleep overs and lots of play dates.  Truly a spectacular summer!

The biggest change this year is in our schooling.  Maddie is in Kindergarten and Audrey is in the third grade.  We have decided not to homeschool this year.  It was a huge decision and not one we made lightly.  I struggled with it and will spare you all the details, but in the end I have complete peace about that decision. The girls started last week and are absolutely loving it!  I'm volunteering in both classes and plan to be as involved as I can.

I am coaching cheer again this year.  I'm still with the little ones, which I love.  They are doing fantastic!  Maddie is on the squad, too.  Audrey has decided not to cheer this year.  She is concentrating on singing, dancing, and acting which is turning out to be her love.  I'm totally fine with that and will nurture those gifts as much as I can.  Tonight is her first night of dance - 2 1/2 hours of hip hop, tap, and jazz.  Theater starts Thursday.  Maddie, on the other hand, is all cheer and gymnastics.  She had her first tumbling class on Saturday and loved it!

It is going to be a wonderful year!  I hope you'll join me on this adventure as I recommit to blogging.  :)

Look Out, Honey Boo Boo!

It's time to share another adventure with you, friends. I'm sure you're thinking, "What could they have possibly gotten into this time?!"  That would be an acceptable response.  HeeHee.  I am confident that my choices may present some controversy to my fellow readers, but that's ok!  Bring it on!  :)

My girls have asked for awhile now to do a beauty pageant.  Nothing glitzy or over the top, just a natural pageant.  I admit, I have done a few in my day.  I never even made the top ten when I was a kid.  I don't think I even enjoyed them back then. But, when I was 13 I decided I wanted to give it another try.  Much to my surprise, I was crowned the 1989 Miss Jefferson County Fair.....

Ok, you can stop laughing now!

I did it again a year or two later and failed miserably, for the record.  LOL. In high school I participated in Junior Miss and got 2nd runner up & a congeniality award. It was less of a beauty pageant and more of a scholarship, talent, physical fitness, grades, combo deal.  I will say that it was one of the more memorable experiences of my high school days.  I truly enjoyed it.  Several years later I helped choreograph the program and eventually directed the Knox County program.

I tell you all this to say that I do have some knowledge of how these things work.  This was not an uninformed, uneducated decision.  I weighed the pros and the cons.... And this jury voted in favor of the pageant!

So, we took off Saturday to our first pageant adventure, the Miss St. Patrick's Day Pageant.  Maddie was not thrilled about it, but said she wanted to do it because her sister was.  I quickly realized that this may not be the avenue for her, at least not right now.  She totally reversed roles and played the bashful one - completely out of character for her.  She looked absolutely beautiful in her outfits though.  She ended up winning Most Beautiful Smile and 2nd Alternate.

Now, Audrey took me by surprise.  Those of you that know Audrey understand her introverted personality. She is incredibly shy and isn't much of a talker.  I saw a whole new side to my child this weekend!  She was completely in her element.  She modeled for the judges and the photographer beautifully!  She was having so much fun.  On the down times, she asked to go talk to her new friends. This is HUGE, people!  She got 2nd Alternate in her division, too (it runs in the family).  Sure, she was disappointed she didn't win, but she bounced back very quickly saying she was ready to do it again.  I have never seen her so excited to do something. Ever.  So, as long as she is having fun and building confidence, I will continue to encourage her and do everything I can to help her succeed in reaching her goals.

Haters, don't be hatin'.  I know you wish you had  tiara, too.  Go on down to Claire's and buy yourself one.  ;).