Top 20...

Very proud and very surprised. Top 20 out of 103. Maybe in a few years, we'll start getting this whole process down. We'll get the professional photos and DVD in about 6 weeks. Seems like an inordinate amount of time:( Then....the resort, Scottsdale Doubletree Resort, does not have enough parking. I had to use the valet parking for the past three days. This afternoon when we went to get our car, they had lost the keys. At first we thought they had just locked the keys in the car, so we called AAA. AAA got the door open, but no keys to be found. Then they had to call a locksmith to come out and make a new key:(( I was tired and wanted to go home, but we did get a free lunch in the restaurant. I am guessing that they will find the key and key fob in someone's pocket in the next couple of days. So, now I only have one key fob for our new SUV:(( The locksmith is going to get another one for us... at the hotels expense. Ugghh.

National American Miss...

Wow- What a long and challenging couple of days. Thursday night- "check in"- a very long and tedious process that takes a couple of hours going from station to station making sure that each "card" for each competition category is filled out properly. Then practice sessions for "Talent" and "Casual Wear Modeling". Practice session for "I Love You Arizona". Yesterday we were at the Scottsdale resort from early in the morning until around 10 pm. I brought a cooler of food for Jasmine- which she ate - somewhat unusual. We had an orientation and "group photo". One hundred and three girls in her age group (7-9 yrs) "Jr Pre-Teen. Next was the "Optional Talent". We have been practicing this for almost a year, stressing the importance of a smile. Not a single crack of a smile from Jasmine during the performance! Waiting in the dressing room then waiting to go onstage. Next, some quick "workshops" for the formal wear program later in the evening, then the "Top Model" photoshoot. Parents not allowed- which is a good thing. I am not sure how she did yet. Making the goofy face- as usual. Then, the actress competition which again,- we have been practicing for around a year or so. Jasmine did a commercial for "Claire's". Not a single smile from her again:(, although she said her lines really well. Casual wear modeling was next. We chose and outfit (shades of pink, of course) and the theme "Sunday Out" Next, "personal introduction" onstage and "personal interviews" with the six judges. She did smile a little and spoke really loudly when she gave her 30 second introduction. Not sure how she did with the individual judges because parents not allowed again. This part of the competition takes HOURS. Since we are at the end of the alphabet, we were one of the last ones to get out of there. However... the people at the end of the alphabet get to show up later today, rather than earlier.. yeah! Waiting for her "personal interview"- making faces, as usual! We had a little break before the formal wear competition. I'll be glad when all those teeth grow in:)) Annali and her mom Kathy came to watch the formal wear competition! It was a fun and hectic day. Not really sure we'll be able to do it again due to the expense. I'll be really happy if Jazzy makes it into the top 20- but we'll see. There were several "older" girls who had already turned 10 who were very articulate and uh...better behaved than Jasmine and the younger girls. We'll find out later today!

Voice camp....

Arizona Music Academy is right next door to Jasmine's school. I didn't realize they were also a recording studio, or I would have had them edit our skating songs. Anyway, the four girls recorded several of Katy Perry's songs- Roar being one of them. They also let Jasmine record her "I Love You, Arizona" song so that maybe some day we can use it for skating. We don't get the CD's until Monday:)

Siri doesn't get me:)

Last night I asked Jasmine to ask Siri on my phone where the nearest car wash was. She said "Siri doesn't 'get me'")))) It's kind of true. Siri doesn't "get me" either! Every time you ask the stupid thing something, you typically don't get a very good answer.

Gymnastics Camp

Today is the last day of Gold Medal Gymnastics Camp. They always say,"make sure you sign up for camp so you can work on skills to move up a level", but all they do is "play games" most of the day! Jazzy has been at the Orange Level for quite some time because there is a specific move she is stuck on with the uneven bars. She is so much shorter than the other kids her age:(, which is good long term for skating and other sports, but not good for keeping up with the other kids. ______________________________________ The other night, we were discussing Spirit/ethereal things and Jasmine started telling me about one of her past lives:). She says she was an American Indian who helped the Pilgrims settle in America. She gave details about how she taught them to catch fish and use the fish in the soil to grow healthier crops. She learned a few English words and taught them her language. She was a female and died at a young age- around 20 or so!__________________________ This coming week we are getting ready for National American Miss. She entered the same categories as last year plus a couple more that are available since she is now in the 7-9 yr group. The required categories are the "personal interview" where they are judged on poise and confidence during their individual "job interview" with the judges, the "personal introduction" where they introduce themselves onstage. Her introduction is a bit snazzier this year, as compared to last year. It was written by Debbie Lee, our coach who helped us this year. The "formal wear modeling" is also required. We are using the same gown as last year since it still fits. We actually had to have her business suit and her gown altered since they were both falling off of her. The last required category is "volunteer activities". For her age group, all they have to do is donate a book or school item for an "underprivileged child". As she gets in the older age groups, we have to do some type of service like working in a nursing home or maybe distributing food for "Bountiful Baskets", or even working in the local animal shelter. For the "optional categories", we have entered "Talent" where she will be singing "I Love You, Arizona" by Rex Allen. All next week, we have some last minute voice coaching lessons to refine that. We also entered the "Actress" category where she will be doing a commercial for "Claire's", "photogenic" for photo evaluation, "casual wear modeling" where each girl does a little modeling routine to music. Jasmine was in the "top 5" of around 100 girls last year in that category. Another category is "Top Model" where they get a one minute photoshoot with a professional photographer. They are judged on their attitude, poses, ability to follow directions, as well as how the photos turn out for a "modeling portfolio". The photographer is one of the judges, in addition to the other seven judges. The only "problem" is that Jasmine fell on her chin a couple of days ago. She has a large scab on her chin because she will not leave it alone. It was almost healed, and now it looks like she has a cherry on her chin. Great for a competitive photo shoot. In National American Miss, no girl under the age of 15 is allowed to wear any makeup at all, so I probably will not even be able to put a little makeup on to cover it up :(( Then there's the "best resume" for the job interview category- which Jazzy won last year, and lots of other categories each person is automatically entered into such as "personality", "spirit", and others. As the age groups progress, there are more and more categories such as more advanced volunteering, "news casting" for girls who want to be some type of television reporter, academic, and on and on. I am not sure we can keep doing this year after year because of the extreme expense. The only reason we can do it this year is because we have the same formal gown and business suit as last year. We might only be able to do it every other year. It is also SO much work in preparing the talent portion, editing the song, practicing almost every day for the past six months, the expensive costume that will probably only get worn one time... We will see what happens next week to determine if we want to keep doing it!

July 2, 2014

Tomorrow is Jazzy's last day of summer school already! Those poor teachers:). Today was a "parent-teacher conference" day. The student teachers had never done a parent teacher conference before:) Mr. Adler from Cleveland, OH, is the math teacher. He's probably around 20 yrs old and seemed to handle the kids pretty well. The reading teacher, Mr. Lyman...probably around 22 yrs old, said to me today "Well, it's been a little different than we anticipated ... our first time teaching":))) He was referring to the wildness of the kids, I believe. Being so young and never having taught school before, I think they may have thought that the kids would just sit there all day and listen. Ha, ha, ha.:) I guess he's learning very quickly that is not the case:))) When I walked in the room at the end of the day, there were paper airplanes flying, toys everywhere, screaming and yelling... wow. I couldn't even hear myself think. It IS summer school...:)... but it was really out of control. I received a packet of Jasmine's work and the evaluations showing that she moved up a couple of notches in both reading and math, so it was worth it. After school, we went to our first piano lesson with our new teacher, Carolyn Merrill. My photo taking capabilities with my phone continues to decline. Back to practicing piano every day. Ugghh.... :)

Arizona dress fitting:)

Yesterday morning at skating, Sheri Minzenmeyer stopped by the rink for a "dress fitting". This is Jasmine's dress for National American Miss where she will be singing "I Love You, Arizona". Just have to put the star on the front and add accessories!