4th and FINAL dance competition of the season!!!

We traveled 4 hours to Savannah for this competition.  So sad that this season is over already!!

 Before we could leave I received my 10 years of service award from the Army.  So proud!  It's hard as a military spouse to keep a job that long.  THANKFUL for MWR as I was able to transfer from Fort Benning to Fort Hood and back to Fort Benning within the system.

 

SO EXCITED!  Now back in the car and we were off for our 4 hour drive to Savannah!

 Stopped at the gas station one last time before we actually hit the road!

 We shared a room with another family on our team and at breakfast the next morning I was surprised when Kennedie chose grits as apart of her breakfast.  I've never in my 15 years of being her mom seen her choose this...

 Took some supplies for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches later!

I totally failed this weekend in getting pictures!!!  I didn't get a picture of her in Miss America or Press Conference Rag costume one final time, it was at this point I realized I hadn't taken a picture - so here is them on the stage waiting for awards for production.

 She only had one dance on saturday so while there was a break in other dances for our team I took a walk near river street in downtown Savannah.  This is our 3rd time being in Savannah and this is the first time I'd ventured to the shops.  Savannah has alot of old town southern charm.

 LOOK WHAT I STUMBLED UPON!!! I was so excited.  I was able to get a shirt (in the clearance section of course!) and a cooler bag.

  Look at all that cuteness!!!! LOVE IT!!

 Sent this to my friends "like how you going to know there was a Lilly store a block away from the venue and not tell me!"

 Another break before another set of awards, some of the moms went to "Wet Willies" for "adult shushes"!!  Apparently at some point our group split in two and I inadvertently followed the group going to Victoria's Secret, so I texted one of my friends and asked if she would snag me a drink and meet me at the crosswalk between us.  The drink was SO COLD and they only had the small cocktail napkins.  So while I ducked into the Vineyard Vines store for a shirt I decided I wanted to buy that I saw earlier that day, I picked up this koozie for $5.

 So cute!!

Walking back to the venue - Savannah in this area is so pretty!

 When I realized that I didn't get ANY pictures of us that day!!!  #epicmomfail

 One of the dad's grilled some pork chops, sausage and steaks so while I was eating I sent Kennedie to the car to get me a water.  When we came out of the venue 45 minutes later to go back to the hotel I saw she left the back hatch open.  My heart dropped because ALL her costumes were in the back - like take my snacks and camping chairs but PLEASE don't take my costumes.  THANKFULLY everything was still there...SHE dodged a huge bullet with that mistake.

The next morning this was playing on Pandora on our drive into the venue.  We learned later it was totally a sign of how our day was going to go!

 Press conference rag practicing one last time.

 Before she went on ONE last time at competition for Hip Hop - THEY WORKED THAT STAGE YA'LL!!!!  

At the end of competition we received the honor of being the "ADCC Studio of Excellence Winner"  which means we were recognized for choreography, age appropriate music and costumes, overall courtesy to other studios and being AWESOME with our spirit in the crowd!!  

So proud of our studio and dance family for putting an epic end to a great season!! On to recital and until next season!!!!!

3rd Dance Competition of the SEASON!

We had our 3rd competition of the season this last weekend!  We traveled to Montgomery Alabama for it!  

Because we were going into the central timezone we didn't need to leave super early in the morning.  We actually left an hour earlier than I expected.  My body woke me up and I just decided to get stuff ready.  Kennedie must have heard me moving around in the house because she came out of her room at 6ish and started making her breakfast.  At 630 I said "I'm done...Are you ready to go?" and off we went!

My friend pre-ordered lunch for me earlier that week for saturdays competition, so I owed her a coffee from Dunkin.  Somewhere between getting my breakfast at Waffle House and the drive through of Dunkin I lost one of my rubber rings.  You can see how loose they already were.  Time to order a new set that won't fall off until I can send off my ACTUAL wedding ring to be resized.

I'm in a competitive dance mom facebook group.  One of the biggest "pet peeves" of alot of those women is people saving seats, and then on the flip side - people that do save their seats expect you to NOT move their things to fit your won agenda (which is the side of the camp I'm and most of my dance mom friends at our studio are on).  I get there EARLY in the morning and sit in the auditorium most of the day (only to leave to use the restroom, help Kennedie change a costume - or grab some food).  So I took this picture and sent it to my dance mom group with "feeling cute, saved some seats, might expect you not to touch it later...idk"

We were at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center.

I had Kennedie bring in my breakfast as my hands were fill with other stuff.  When she put it down it was upside down and everything mashed together.

Our Primo seating.  I always try and sit somewhere Kennedie can stretch out and not be in other peoples way.  She likes to draw and watch you tube videos and get comfortable for her LONG day.  This weekend she didn't dance until 7pm on both days.

We get their early so she can support her team.  Cheering on dances she isn't in and sitting on the stage for awards that she isn't receiving to show our presence as a team.

  She finally was able to get into costume.  She had Hip Hop and then one number later her production Miss America piece.  Awards was right after our Miss America dance.  Once that happened we got to leave for the day.  We were about 10 minutes from our hotel.

This small space we had to share with another studio.  I think they were a small studio and kinda stayed to themselves by the mirror behind me.  We have 50 girls on our team, this is our bags all set up.  I think some bags already vacated the area during awards when no one was in the area, which is smart.

Awards!!

 Boys went to the gym that morning, Cale had a baseball game (which is why they stayed home), treated themselves to their favorite "Five Guys" and came home.  They sent us their "Waffle Bro's" weekend picture and we sent one back!

 Since we were in the central timezone (we live RIGHT on the central/eastern timezone border) our bodies at 530 thought it was 630 in the morning.  We got stuff ready in the room and packed up.  I did my hair and makeup (which usually doesn't happen until later in the dance morning usually because we have to get there by 7!) and we decided to go to the Walmart I found on our way to the hotel.  Kennedie wanted a book-light for drawing.  We knew a good size storm was coming in and the thunder woke me up earlier that morning.

 On our way into Walmart.

 I made these SO CUTE earrings to wear Sunday.  I lost one in Walmart.  Had to put back in my normal everyday earrings.

 I found a restaurant near called "First Watch" we have one in Columbus but we have never ventured in.  We are TOTALLY going now.  It was delicious.

 My water came in a milk bottle. I think they tote they are a farm to table - so this was pretty cool.  I cracked up when they brought the glass though.

 While on the more expensive side at $10.50 for her breakfast.  They delivered delicious food.  On top of that we got FOUR pieces of bacon, artisan bread with the nuts, grains and seeds.  The potatoes were delicious as well!

 Nothing left to explore so we headed to the venue.  Got our same seats, set her bag up in the dressing room and got set up in the auditorium for the long haul.

 Picture in front of the prop trailer.

 I've been listening to audio-books lately.  During competitions I can't read very easily because the music is distracting.  I prefer audio-books and then browsing Facebook or Pinterest while I listen.  This book has 9 sections.  I was able to listen to 6 of them just Sunday alone.

Couple hours later the sun came out.  (while the storm we had that morning transitioned to our house)  While it was nice and warm for the earlier afternoon by 5 the sun went away and then temp dropped and the wind really picked up.

 Kennedie and her teammate playing the switch.

 Finally able to get ready for her last dance!

 During a judges break her team came out to work on turns and get used to the floor again.

 When there is a dance on the stage this is what I should see when I come back from anywhere.  People being courteous while there are dances on stage and while parents are watching in the audience.  I can't tell you how many times someone has moved into their seat WELL into the performance and BLOCKED my view of my kid.  I get 2-3 minutes to see her on stage and you BLOCKED ME.  Please if you are ever in the audience and it's NOT an emergency - please wait till the dancers exit the stage.

 Echo Company praying before they competed their last dance of the day!

This is how dance moms are Monday at work.  We didn't get to leave Montgomery until 930 Sunday and it's an hour and a half drive home AND back into the Eastern Time Zone.  Walked in the house at 1230!!!