One more 'A' to go ...

So, today the grades for my most recent class were officially posted  on the grades and registration page. So far, so good. Nine classes. Nine A's. I would love to finish with just one more. Hope my capstone project class goes well. One more week until we start ... and finish in seven more :)

RIP: Andrew Pitts

http://na3hl.com/news/story.cfm?id=8506

 

 

“We all need to have a creative outlet - a window, a space - so we don’t lose track of ourselves.”

- Norman Fischer

via http://gradnessmadness.tumblr.com/

Hall of Fame Dance Challenge Photos

Last week, you got a chance to see my daughter mostly in her jazz (Rock-off Shake-off) style. This week, we'll feature the Lonesome Butterfly ballet outfit pictures from the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge. Plus ... a video of her team practicing their tap routine (Pineapple Princess) backstage!

 

Future Hall-of-Famer

That would be my tiny dancer, by the way. She was a future hall-of-famer this weekend as she competed with her team at the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge at the RiverCentre in St Paul.

KDI Industry Babies performed wonderfully and were awarded First Place Platinum and a Judges' Achievement Award ("Pretty in Pink") for their ballet number, "Lonesome Butterfly." Their Jazz number, "Rock-off Shake-off" got them another First Place Platinum award; and they received a First Place High gold for their tap number, "Pineapple Princess"!!! Nice job girls!

Pictures to come later this week.

KAR Dance Competition - St. Paul

My dancing daughter had her first ever dance competition this weekend. Thankfully, she had all her dances on one day. She did jazz, ballet, and tap numbers for the competition at the River Center in St. Paul this Sunday. And. She. Was. Awesome.

Her group was amazing. Their first dance, "Rock-off Shake-off", was just spectacular. The girls knocked it out of the park. They ended up receiving Top First Place for it, also received a Judges' Movers & Shakers Award, and were the highest scoring group in their division for jazz. Their second dance was "Lonesome Butterfly", a really cute ballet number. They also received Top First Place for it and had to have the best 'pouty' faces I have ever seen while dancing. They nailed the concept. Their last dance routine was "Pineapple Princess", a tap routine. The girls were pretty cute in those outfits, too, and looked like they had a blast as well. They didn't quite get Top First Place, but did get First Place for that, too.

My daughter loved the awards presentation at the end of the night, and her studio raked in awards, including a huge trophy for best primary dance studio. Our neighbor girl's group worked the stage this weekend, too. They kicked tail and won a bunch of Top First Place trophies, as well. Since the emcee went so quickly through awards, I wasn't able to catch all of the accolades, but I do remember KDI taking 4 out of the top 5 top dances in their age division. All in all, a wonderful night for our studio.

We decided to get my daughter flowers for after the competition, and she loved getting them from her big brother. She had a blast, did wonderful, and we couldn't be more proud of her. Can't wait until next weekend and our next competition!

"Weather"

Yes. This is the current look outside my back window and front window. It is thunder-snowing and it isn't stopping anytime soon. I shoveled the driveway when the wet snow got to be about two inches deep. I really didn't expect shoveling to be my workout for April 11th.

The driveway was white at the top by the time I got to the bottom. I don't have a long driveway. Or a wide one.

Did I mention that it's spring and that we were supposed to have played three baseball games by the end of this week?

A Masters Degree

From time to time throughout the course of the past two years, I have used this blog to express my frustration at what I am doing to complete my masters program and receive my degree. For the record, I have two weeks left in my current class, with one class (capstone project) left to complete thereafter. My degree will be a masters of arts in education - differentiated instruction.

I am still frustrated.

Which is all I will say. And that is enough. I do not wish to get into it any further for fear that I may offend one of my cohorts, instructors, my current institution, or anyone else attempting to complete a masters program.

I will complete my degree. Of that, I have no doubt. What it will mean ... well, that is an entirely different blog entry. Maybe I'll publish it.

Maybe I won't.

Snow

Today.

It is spring.

Baseball should be played.

Golf courses should open.

Rain gear should be worn.

We should be anxious for summer.

It is snowing here in Minnesota.

Snowing.