Andrea, think before you speak!

Sometimes, acutally many times, words just fly out of my mouth before my brain has had time to process what my mouth is about to say. Such an even happened at Wal-Mart on Monday. I was walking through picking up a few things when I ran into (not literally) a friend from the neighborhood. (Names will be omitted to protect the innocent)We engaged in conversation which led to the participation of my children in primary. Now, our participation has been nothing to brag about and I made this known. This dear friend then shared a little fact that a few positions in our ward had been changed. (This is where my mouth got a head of me...) I responded (actual statment will be revised slightly) oh I know...and I am not happy...that's one reason... Well, I will leave you to use your imagination and your knowledge of me to fill in the rest. (Now, try to be nice:) ) I could tell that she was really surprised and probably offended by what I had said. I meant no offense, and should not have said what I did. I am sorry, unnamed friend, if I offended you. I didn't mean to be so......outspoken.

More on 5K

I forgot to add that the 5K I ran was put on by my mom's deparment at the hopital. It was called Race for Red: Women and Heart Disease. My dance studio, Diva's Dance Studio, was a sponsor, as was JD's dealership. I decided that since I was a sponsor, that I should run it as well. That's what made me decide to do it. I don't think I would have started to run it if I hadn't been apart of that.

My first 5K

I know this is a while in coming, but I have been busy...like always!
So, last Saturday, the 30th in May, I ran my first 5K. Without much training, actually any, I completed my first race ever. I was super nervous, but I finished in under 45 minutes. I know that's not fast, but my goal is, by the end of the summer, to be able to complete one under 30 minutes. So I have been trying to get out and jog during the week. Tuesday of this week I went out and ran to the round-a-bout and back. That was just over 2 miles! Braydon came with me. JD might be doing it too, and Tylar has express interest in going. So, soon it may be a family affair.
I am NOT a runner...at ALL! Actually, I hated it, until I ran that 5K. Suddenly I am totally addicted. I don't know what it is, but it was such a high! So, I am going to keep running, hopefully 3 times a week. I didn't get out today, though. I have injured my hip and it hurts to walk, and I have the beginning of shin splints. So I decided to take today off and shoot for Saturday. If all goes well, and my body heals, I will be out again running by Saturday morning.

Its HOW much?

So about 12 days ago, my car flashed a message at my on my display that said "Servive B now due". I just let it go and at about 5 days past, it was still dinging at me reminding me every time I turned on the car that it was overdue. So I decided to call the Mercedes dealership and ask what the service B was. They told me it was an oil change plus they changed a few things like the air filter and such. I didn't think that was too big a deal and didn't make an appointment. So today, while running (actually driving) my errands it dinged at me again. So I dialed the Mercedes store again and asked when I could bring it in for service. They said anytime this week would sbe fine. I asked how much it was and she replied, "Service B is $489.95 before tax." WHAT!?! It is how much for an oil change. NO you did not read that wrong, and I did not type it wrong...that is what she said. I had better be getting a massage and pedicure for that price. I could not believe it. So , I guess the oil change will have to wait, I'll be saving my pennies for a LONG TIME! (Now taking donations...Andrea's Very Expensive Oil Change Fund!) :)

Competition results for May 9th!

OK, I could NOT even wait to post these...another FABULOUS day at competitions! I am so proud of ALL my ladies. You did great!
Tiny's A - Hot, hot, hot - 1st place
Tiny's B - Under the Sea - 2nd place
Tiny's C - Girls Just Wanna - 2nd place
Tiny's Combo - 4th place
Mini's A - Pumpin up the Party - 1st place
Mini's B - Route 66 - 2nd place
Mini's Combo - 2nd place
Express - Let's dance - 3rd place
Express - Ready, Set, Don't Go - 5th place
Juniors - Mercy - 1st place
Juniors - We belong - 3rd place
Seniors - Dance, Dance - 1st place
Seniors - Dancing Dirt into the Snow - 3rd place
Junior Hip Hop - Lip Gloss - 2nd place
Senior Hip Hop - 1st place
Mama's - Please Dont' Stop the Music - 1 place (Gold ranking)
Mama's - Behind the Wall - 1st place (Gold ranking)
SHOW - 2nd place
We also received the Best Showmanship award for Jr. Hip Hop - Lip Gloss!

There...here's a funny story!So I decided to stay and watch a few dances with Tylar and my mom. (I could spent the day at competitions! I love them!) Anyway, so a few dances turned into the rest of the competition. We were getting ready to pack up and leave and I decided I wanted to stay for awards. So we stayed and listened. At the end of awards they give out their "specialty" awards. They had gived all those out and they announced they had two more awards. So we just hung out. They anounced Director of the Year and we clapped. Then they announced Studio of the Year to...DIVA'S DANCE STUDIO! That's right ladies. We received the Studio of the Year award! We brought the most dances, and so we got this very high award. I am sooooo pleased. We were both in shock. Not expecting anything else, we had only stayed to listen and to watch. Well, I am sooo glad we did. I am so happy with how this season has turned out! Congrats ladies, and thanks for the wonderful season!

Our competition this weekend!

Wr totally rocked this weekend! I am so proud of my girls. Here's a listing of the places we got this weekend:
Solos/Duets on Friday:
Madison Taylor - 1st Attendant
Tylar Olsen - Queen
Kylie Bale and Shalie Jenkins - Queen

Team competition on Saturday:
Show: 4th place
Tiny's A - Hot, Hot, Hot: 2nd place
Tiny's B - Under the Sea: 2nd place
Tiny's C - Girls just Wanna: 3rd place
Tiny's Combo - One dance: 1st place AND Overall Beginning High Point!
Mini's A - Pumpin up the Party: 3rd place
Mini's B - Route 66: 2nd place
Mini's Combo - Breaking Free: 2nd place
Express - Let's Dance: 1st place
Express - Ready, Set, Don't Go: 4th place
Juniors - Mercy: 3rd place
Juniors - We Belong: 3rd place
Seniors - Dance, Dance: 2nd place
Senios - Dancing Dirt into the Snow: 1st place
Junior Hip Hop - Lip Gloss: 2nd place
Senior Hip Hop - Like A Boy: 1st place

We also received the Sportsmanship award! WAHOO!!!
Now, onto next week...........

Warning...some of you may get offended...just a warning! Braydon's first fist fight

Ok, while I do have things to blog about, like our trip to San Francisco, I have a quick minute to tell you about something very crazy that happened on Friday. I was at Bunko enjoying my evening (eventhough I didn't win a big prize) when I looked at my phone and I had a new text message. I decieded to check it. It was JD and the text read, "Braydon just got in his first fist fight". I started panicing. I called JD immediately to find out if everything was ok. He then told me that Braydon had fought a set of triplets that live across the street and another neighbor bnoy, Braxton. I asked if Braydon was ok and when I found out he was I told him I was going to leave and come home to get the rest of the story.
Here's where some of you might get offended...and if you continue to read, please remember that this is my opinion. If you have another opinion of the people mentioned, that's your opinion.
There is a set of triplet boys that moved into a house across the street last summer. For some reason, unknown to us, those don't like Braydon. He tried from the beginning to invite them over, and at first they would come play, but quickly, like within the month they moved in, we started having problems with these boys, They told the other kids on our street not to play with Braydon. Braxton listened, but Brennen didn't Brennen even told them that he would rather be friends with Braydon than them, and that they shouldn't be like that to Braydon. They also told the kids in his primary class and scouts group not to be his friend. (Remember, Braydon does not remember doing or saying anything to these boys to deserve this.) So, alliances here formed on our block and it became apparent who Braydon could hang out with. (Although, if the triplets aren't home, Braxton will come over and play with Braydon and Brennen.) It has been a very hard winter for Braydon. These 4 boys (the triplets and Braxton) have really picked on Braydon. They have even thrown snowballs at my car as I drive by. So, now as the weather is getting warmer the kids are playing outside more. Well, a couple of months ago, while I was teaching dance, I had the windows open and all of a sudden there is a outburst of yelling my backyard. It is the 4 boys yelling at Braydon and Tylar. It was acutally a misunderstanding that they never apologized for. What happened is the triplets little sister went home to go potty and the triplets thought that my kids told her to go home. So they came over just screaming at my kids. When their sister came back over and they saw that she was playing, they just took off and never apologized. My kids' feelings were hurt terribly becuase they called some really mean names and said some really mean things. So, that night after dance I got on the phone to all the families involved to ask if they would have a neighborhood meeting. The only one that agreed was Brennen's mom (Braydon's friend). She thought things wre getting bad too. Braxton's mom did not think there was any sort of a problem and that "kids are just going to be kids". I finally got a hold of the triplets mom and went over and talked with her. Her excuse for the triplets being mean was, "they have always just had each other, so I guess they don't really know how to get along." REALLY!? Is that your excuse? How many times have you practiced that one? I was soo mad. I even asked one of the triplets what Braydon had ever done to them to deserve this type of treatment, and he had no answer. So, I just advised Braydon to nt hang out with them. That simple. So, basically becuase it is not happening to their kids, its not a big deal.
That brings us to Friday night...
Here's the story I got fro Braydon and Jaren (my friends son that witnessed it...):
Braydon, Jaren, Braxton and the triplets were playing dodgeball at Braxtons house. Everything was going ok and then Braxton's dad went into the house. The teams are now made of Braydon and Jaren against the other 4. Fair??? Anyway, one of the triplets threw the ball hard at Braydon and pegged him in the side (which he had a welt from). Braydon picked up the ball and tossed it back. Just as he did that one of the triplets ran right in front of the ball and got out. He was so mad that he turned and rat a Braydon with his fists flying. Braydon saw him and grabbed his hand and threw him down. That made the rest of them mad. The other two triplets joined in and started punching Braydon. So, Braydon fought back. He started punching too. Braxton eventually got in on it. WIthin a few seconds, Braydon had single-handedly beat up the 4 of them. They all went home with either bloody noses, fat lips, or holding their stomaches.
Braydon did get a bloody nose too and a swolen lip. Now, I don't condone fighting, in anyway, but I do support defending yourself. I have told my kids that they had better NEVER throw the first punch, but they had better finish the fight!
I have now told Braydon to stay away from these boys. Really, if there were to plan an attack and rush him without him realizing it, they could do some damage I'm afraid. This is not right to live in a neighborhood full of bullies. My children are at risk everyday. I have also had a problem with Braxton's mom. One day the triplets and Braxton and her 2 daughters were being mean to Tylar and she came home crying. One of the triplets called her a ball baby and she agreed! Braydon heard it! So, instead of stopping these kids and telling them its NOT ok to do this, she was totally condoning it. I HATE IT! I will not live in a pkace that i feel is not safe for my kids, and I do not feel safe anymore.