More Rettes!

Prior to the show the RangeRettes who received Division I on their solos performed for the audience. Summer's song was "Innocent" by Stellar Kart.

Team lyrical...

Opening number... LOVED the outfits.

Squad dance... Sarah's SuperStars...

Team hiphop.

92/365

Summer performed in the One Act Play competition with a group from her school. They did the play called "You Can't Take it with You." They have been to several critiques and competitions and tonight they performed for friends and family. It was so fun to watch her perform! Hearing her lines, in character, with the other characters was a treat since we've been hearing her lines for weeks!! Great job, Summer!! So, so proud of you!!

72/365

Words cannot express how proud I am of this girl. She choreographed and performed a solo at competition this year. That fact alone amazes me. But add in that she did that solo in front of a filled set of bleachers blows me away. She didn’t win any trophies, but she did earn a first division on her solo… she’s #1 in my book!!

first day of {high school}

This girl went off to school like she’s done it her whole life.  I guess spending the previous summer practicing with the drill team and hanging out at the school helped her feel much more comfortable about going to school.  I felt much better about sending this one off… she’s a tough cookie, no nonsense, good sense of right and wrong.  And I couldn’t wait to see how she tackled high school. 

Rettes at Camp Show Offs

 

It’s been a busy summer for Summer.  She had one camp/trip after another for the whole summer.  This week’s camp, RangeRette Jazz Camp was the last camp.  Whew!  I’m glad to have her home even though life most certainly won’t be slowing down any time soon.

At camp they took all kinds of classes like jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and even salsa!  We showed up on the last day to see the dances and cheer our dancers on.  What a fun, energetic  performance it was!  Summer really seemed to enjoy her dances and smiled and bounced on and off the court.  It was nice to see.  She deepened some of her friendships with the Rettes girls during this time, too.  Her roommates couldn’t have been better if I’d handpicked them for her.  When they weren’t dancing or eating they were dancing some more. 

Camp really brought the team together.  I can’t wait to see them dance this football season. 

The camp gave out ribbons to girls who showed a great attitude and those who worked really hard in their classes.  It was called the Star Dancer award… My sweet Summer girl got one… and she said they tried to give her two!  I’m proud of this girl.  And it’s a joy to see her so excited about this new adventure we call drill team!

she’s a girl… so when will she learn to speak her 20,000 words a day?

     

Okay, here’s where you all find out that deep down I really am a numbers nerd. 

I typed approximately 500 characters. 

Summer typed approximately 200 (and that’s only because I counted her bootie-texting 5000000000000005623(53$1). 

Yes, I counted.  Sort of.  It’s not an exact number, but it’s close.

I typed 250% MORE than she did.  It’s like pulling teeth, getting information out of her.

Well, at least I’m getting my money’s worth with unlimited texting, right?

it’s just the beginning.

Saturday night was very first RangeRette Revue spring show.   It was also Summer’s first “official” performance as a RangeRette.   And our first “official” parent of a Rudder Ranger event.  It was a really fun evening!  The Rookie RangeRettes performed with the existing team, dancing their audition dance.  “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls… too fun.  In my opinion, the dance was too short… but only because they did such a great job.  Okay, so Summer did a great job.  I didn’t watch anyone else.  Can you blame me?

I should be fired as the family photographer after these shots but in my defense, I wasn’t planning on taking ANY pictures during the performance so I could just ENJOY it.  And then they came out and looked ADORABLE.  So just enjoy the pictures this size and don’t try to zoom in… 

 

Project Dance

Our dance studio took part in a dance weekend called Project Dance.  It’s a weekend where  Christian dancers and dance companies come together in a public setting to dance and minister to those in a specific city.  Since we are close to Houston, that’s where we went.  The opening day of the weekend it was beautiful.  The sun was shining and it was warm and balmy.  The next morning, however, it was raining cats and dogs and the wind was from the north, cold and gusty.  To say we were miserable is an understatement.  There weren’t many people just hanging out in downtown Houston that day so the audience was mostly parents and siblings who were bundled up in coats, ponchos, blankets, and under umbrellas while the dancers moved about in their costumes (and ponchos and rain boots).  The first thing the dancers did was learn a “group dance” that they would perform every hour on the hour.  The song they danced to was called, “I am not Forgotten.”  It was the perfect song for this kind of thing… the words say, “I am not forgotten, God knows my name.”  And it’s catchy.  It was fun to see folks who were not “the dancers” join in the dancing. 

 

Even though it was bitter cold, the girls all seemed to enjoy themselves.  There were smiles everywhere (although teeth were chattering, too!).  Having a REASON for their dancing and dancing for their Lord and His glory made the day fun and a blessing to those who were there watching.

Summer’s dance group had many opportunities to dance throughout the day.  They did some lyrical, some hip-hop, but it was all fun to watch.  There were folks there from Dance Revolution, as well as others doing ballet, jazz, theater, contemporary, and worship dances.  There was something for everyone!  I only wish the weather had been nicer and more folks would have been out to enjoy the “entertainment” and ultimately be blessed by the hearts of all of these dancers.  I know I was blessed!  Cold, but blessed!

 

thursday 13

Did you know that in the teen brain there is a process that occurs, called "pruning"? It occurs mainly in the areas of the brain which control, among other things, organization, multi-tasking, goal-seeking behaviors, and self-control. This "pruning" is a cleaning out of nerve fibers and the unused connections between these fibers are ELIMINATED.

This explains so much.

This post is for me. To remind myself, with 13 sweet little reminders, of how much I love my 13 year old gift. This girl is fabulous. But she's 13. And we're experiencing some "pruning" in her brain right now... but at least I know that her brain REALLY IS FRAGMENTED. And it's not just my imagination. It's a scientific fact. And it's because she is growing up.

This phase will be gone all too soon, won't it?

prank wars

Round: 2

Victim: Summer
Prankster: Grammy

Prank: Grammy leaves the following letter in Summer's mailbox. (I hope you all can read it... it's good!)

Summer swears it was unfair. Her prank didn't "hurt" Grammy. This prank "hurt" her insides for a good bit. Five minutes after the prank, I asked her if her heart had stopped pounding. I got an emphatic, "NO!" She wouldn't even talk to Grammy for a good hour or so. Tee-hee. Silly girl, don't mess with the Grammy.

Score: Summer - 1 Grammy - 1

{Please know that Summer and Grammy are just fine. But Summer is scheming... round 3?}

prank wars

Round: 1

Victim: Grammy
Prankster: Summer

Prank: Summer sticks a Post-It note on the bottom of Grammy's mouse. She calls Grammy into the office saying that an e-mail she was expecting has come. Grammy sits down to read the e-mail and her mouse won't work. She bangs the mouse. She clicks the mouse. Finally, she turns the mouse over and sees "Gotcha" written on the Post-It.

Winner: Summer

interview with a 12 year old

1. What is something I always say to you? One moment please.

2. What makes me happy? Dove chocolate.

3. What makes me sad? When we disobey.

4. How do I make you laugh? By interviewing me.

5. What was I like as a child? Fun to be with and you liked to hang out with your friends.

6. How old am I? 29

7. How tall am I? 5'3.75"

8. What is my favorite thing to do? Sit down with a cup of coffee underneath a blanket and read.

9. What do I do when you're not around? You party. I don't know... how would I know if I'm not around???

10. If I become famous, what will it be for? For your World Famous Pot Roast.

11. What am I not very good at? Tuna Surpise.

12. What am I really good at? Teaching and driving.

13. What do I do for my job? Typing.

14. What is my favorite food? Sushi, fish, anything from the sea. Chocolate.

15. What makes me proud of you? Soy in-tell-e-hen-tay.

16. If I were a cartoon character, who would I be? Daphne from Scooby Doo.

17. What do we do together? We cook together.

18. How are we the same? We like foot massages.

19. How are we different? You aren't sarcastic and literal like me.

20. How do you know I love you? Because you say you do and you act like you do, too!

21. Where is my favorite place to go? Your bed.