Long day....

I have never run around like a chicken with my head cut off as I have today. Lots of wardrobe changes for all the categories. It was crazy- shoes, clothes and accessories flying everywhere all day long. Somehow we ended up with everything intact. The key is extreme organization and thinking one step ahead. We started out with an orientation and group photo of all of the princesses (age 4-6). I will have that photo by tomorrow. Next, quickly change into our business suit for the 30 second speech and personal/job interview. Jasmine did her speech flawlessly- "loud and proud". The parents were not witness to the mock "job interview", but I was mortified when Jazzy came out of the interview with the turtle pin that was her great grandmothers... almost up around her neck with the collar pinned together. It must have come off and someone re-pinned it but in a hideous way. Maybe one of the other kids did it. Oh well. Here she is getting ready, then giving the speech. Next we had a nice lunch and went to the talent competition. I really was sweating on this one because of her performance at the rehearsal yesterday. She nailed it! She sang really loud and didn't make any mistakes on the piano. Phew!!! Next, the casual wear modeling. Here she is with her friends in the dressing room, waiting to go onstage. Then off to a formal wear rehearsal. One of the other dads- John- volunteered to be Jasmine's escort. Here they are getting ready, then Jasmine in front of the judges in the Formal Wear Competition. Tomorrow is another long day.... but not quite as long as today:)

National American Miss practice night.....

Tonight, we drove over to the Paradise Valley Hilton hotel for registration and informal practice for the casual modeling and talent show. It was nice because any girl who wanted to- and of course paid for it, was able to practice walking on the stage and doing whatever talent they were doing for the show. Absolutely nothing is free at this thing. Jasmine sang and played the piano and butchered it:))) She was very nervous, so hopefully that won't happen today during the competition. I figure we have practiced that song 10 times day almost every day since November, 2012, for a total of 1800 times. We will see what happens. Here is Jasmine practicing her personal introduction in front of National America Miss Arizona Teen- with a make believe microphone:) Here are the participation awards for photogenic portfolio entry, talent entry, and casual wear modeling entry:) We got home extremely late last night, then up at 4am to get ready for today. Should have stayed at the hotel, but now we have the Guinea Pigs to take care of - which is why I didn't want to get them until October for her birthday! Oh well, alot of driving back and forth. We are staying at the hotel tomorrow night, but have to drive home again to take care of the pigs!

Lily and Daisy:)

As of yesterday, we have two new guinea pigs. Lilly is the lighter one and is very shy. Daisy is the darker one and is more friendly and outgoing. Their bigger cage- which was really a large parrot cage, and not a proper cage for guinea pigs, would not fit in my little car. So, all we have is their little travelling cage- which is way to small for two pigs. We went to Petco and got a temporary outdoor cage so they could be outside when it is cooler in the mornings. Have to order a larger indoor cage online. We got home at midnight last night from the recital, and Jasmine got up at 5am to play with the pigs!! She said she couldn't concentrate at the recital because she was too excited about the new guinea pigs. Jasmine with Daisy. 5AM this morning, in pajamas with the pigs outside in our little make- do cage system on the back porch:)

Mesa Arts Center....

Long, long, long four hour recital. Jasmine was only on stage twice for one minute each time:). They were the moths...uh..er..butterflies in the Alice in Wonderland Production. No one seems to know why their costumes were ugly grey and maroon. The rest of the night was just one big party for them backstage while the show was going on- until the finale. Then there was a slide show with photos of everyone. No one was allowed to take photos or videos during the show- which is actually a good thing. There is nothing more aggravating than going to a show or concert and everyone has their cell phone or video camera held above their head so you can't see anything! Before the show - at the entrance to backstage at Mesa Arts Center. After the show with Katie.

Dress Rehearsal...

Classic Image Dance dress rehearsal at Mesa Arts Center. Tonight is the big show. Long, long, long. Three acts. Act One is Alice in Wonderland put on by the ballet troupe- which is what Jasmine and Katie are in. They are supposed to be butterflies, but we call them "the moths". Act Two and Three are the jazz, tap and hip-hoppers. We have to stay for the whole thing to be in the finale. Got home very late last night. Photos didn't turn out very well either:(

Desert Breeze Competition Chandler, AZ

Ho-hum..another skating competition:) Today we went to the Desert Breeze Ice Skating Competition at our own rink in Chandler. Yeah, didn't have to drive so far this time. It was only a one day competition since it was just for "low level" or "low-medium level" skaters. Jasmine must be getting used to this because she didn't complain about being nervous- just goes out there and does her thing. She won 1st again for her "Boots" Artistic program, and she was the only person in her level for Dramatic with the Annie program. We need to change the Boots program again to make it more difficult so she can move up a notch again. Jazzy and Theresa.

Jazzy and AnnaLi who did her Pocohontas program:)

After the Boots program with Amanda Secord- one of Jazzy's skating instructors. She just graduated from high school and is starting at Mesa Community College.

Making goofy eyes at the camera:)

Funniest thing...:)

Jasmine has an account with a website called "Always Ice Cream" for girls. It's an educational/game based site with categories for math, English, other languages, typing, music, anatomy, science, dog breeds, and many others. They have to answer questions, accumulate points or coins, then they can use those coins to purchase items like a house, a business, etc. She also has a virtual rabbit named Belle, a Polar Bear named Judy, and a dog whose name I cannot remember. She has to feed the correct food to each animal or it will wilt and eventually die. If it's not the correct food for that particular animal, it will spit it out:) So, among many other things, she purchased a "toy store" business. Little people come in to buy the toys, and she earns even more coins. Last night, she was starting to purchase the toys for her toy store. She looked at some of them, studied them, and said very seriously, "That is overpriced"!! in the exact same tone of voice in which I have said it quite a few times when we were shopping and couldn't get something we wanted. I never ever ever say "We cannot afford it". I always say, "That is overpriced and we will not buy it right now"- leaving the door open to get it possibly at a later date, and kind of making it sound like it is just our choice not to get it, even though we really couldn't "afford it". When she said that exactly like I said it, I couldn't stop laughing for the longest time. It doesn't sound funny writing it out here, but it was the most hilarious thing I've heard her say in a long time.