Thursday, February 26, 2009

So you think you can dance?...

...Future Julianne Hough...Charley!

Can't wait for SPRING!!

We have gotten some nice weather this week...so we've been able to take advantage of it. Charley got a bike and a scooter for Christmas, and this was the first time we've been able to take them out. Charley has been going crazy inside...and so I have I, so it has been nice to get out. Plus the last two days I've been running outside with my running stroller!...I love that thing! I will be sad when baby #2 comes and I wont have much use for it anymore.



Thursday, February 19, 2009

Pregnancy Pains!


There are a lot of people that love being pregnant....I am not one of those people! I know this is an exciting time in our lives, but I just wish we could just skip the whole pregnant part! I can live through most of the pains, however, with both pregnancies I have had gall bladder problems.

Your gall bladder is what processes your fat. For some women, when they are pregnant, it decides that it doesn't want to process it. So when I eat fat I get these sharp pains under my chest. It feels like someone is sticking a knife in me. If I eat too much fat, and start building gall stones, they will have to remove my gall bladder after I give birth. The goal: no fat!....which SUCKS!....especially when you are pregnant and are very aware of food, and cravings. I am grateful for Ben being the Food Police, but I just want to eat and feel satisfied. I have been eating a lot of salad with either no dressing or fat free dressing, and yogurt, and veggies, and fruit. However, I can only eat so much of it before it doesn't even interest me anymore....I am only 18 weeks, and I still have a long way to go....this is going to be a long 22 weeks!

I have found a few recipes with chicken and rice that are low fat, but I am running out of ideas....If you have any good recipes that are pretty low in fat please send them my way....I am willing to try anything!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

*most people who read this have my email...if it is easy to send them that way. If not just ask and I can give it to you.

Thanks Everyone!

Monday, February 9, 2009

World Hoop Dance Championships....it's a doozy!

I guess I'd better first thank Ben...it was hard for him to arrange his schedule so he could come with me to Arizona, and then he drove the whole way there and back...plus sat at the competition all day and helped with Charley! He is amazing! I have the best Husband! And also Thank you Brooktynn and Ryan. We stayed at their house, it was perfect, they literally lived 2 minutes away from the competition site! And then they stayed all day with us, and helped with Charley....which she absolutely loved...she adores her aunt and uncle (mainly Ryan...it is quite funny her little obsession with him!). And also Terri Goedel. Terri is my good friend Erin's dad! Erin could come to compete this year, but her dad has come for the last 13 of the 19 years. He helped me with all my million questions and introduced me to all the right people.

I was at a meeting with all the judges at 8:00am on Saturday. Then Grand Entry was at 9:30am. Charley danced in Grand Entry with me. while we were waiting she saw everyone with their hoops and started trying to copy everything they were doing...it was so cute.



After Grand Entry they asked all the dancers to leave except the Tiny Tots. Then they introduced the judges, the MC, the Arena Director and the drum groups. At that point Charley was already done dancing and wanted to go play. So I spent most of her little dance chasing her back to the arena. She danced for a little bit, but got mad and threw a hoop, and it landed on the forehead of another little kid!...It wasn't good for them to take 15 minutes to introduce everyone before hand...



They started the competition with the Youth (6-12 year olds). They were amazing. I couldn't believe it....I was thinking maybe I could hang with these little kids! Then they went on to the Teen division (13-17 year olds). And they were so creative...kids were break dancing and doing cart wheels. I was really impressed. Then it was the Adult Division (18-40 years of age). There were only 3 girls in my group, and the rest guys. I tried not to watch, but it was too hard. Ben kept saying ..."did you see that!?" referring to all the cool things they were doing.

When I was on deck I went to the drum group that would be singing for me and told them I was 4 months pregnant and I needed a slower song. They laughed at me and told me I was crazy for dancing while pregnant!



My dance went fine. We were on a time limit, and decided that I wasn't going to do my whole routine. Most people weren't. I eased up and got less nervous after my first hoop, and things went great....I made all of my formations and didn't drop a hoop. I think I was pretty graceful dancing and then I almost fell!....not so graceful anymore!..heehee....I had placed all of my hoops on the ground and signaled the drum that I was done and continued to dance while they finished the song...and as the song was ending I was dancing right by my hoops and stepped on my hoops as I was stopping....and almost fell....when that happened you could hear everyone gasp! I just laughed and collected my things and went off!...I didn't fall, but it was really funny!...of course I got points taken off for that!

When my division was done dancing they had our scores posted within five minutes. (they had been tallying while everyone was dancing.) I was pretty pleased with my scores. Of the 5 categories my scores matched all of the top dancers...except the speed category. I knew me dancing slow would cost me some points, but I didn't realize that I would lose so many. I got 28 out of 50 points, and everyone else got in the 40's. I was 16 points from the top 10, and if I had just danced a little faster, and not tripped at the end, I would have made it to the finals. I ended up tied for 12th place, and 2nd of the females!

I wasn't upset or disappointed with the scores. I learned a lot from this trip. It has always been a goal to compete and I did it. I had people come up to me after I danced and told me how beautiful my dancing was, and even when I wasn't wearing my regalia I had people come tell me how great I was. It just made me fell good, and know that I don't suck and am actually pretty good. I am hoping to go next year, when I am not pregnant!

I'll post a video later!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Karly

So I am leaving to Arizona tomorrow, and I have a million things to do...but I decided I wanted to make a cake!....It calms me in a way! I have gotten so weird in my older years...heehee. Anyway, Since it is Karly's birthday tomorrow, I decided I should make her a cake!

So Happy Birthday Karly!...Here is your yummy cake!

Thank You!

I just read up about the hoop competition...and it looks pretty hard!...They only take the top 10 dancers from each age division (which mine is the biggest division) to compete in the finals. There are so many dancers that go down there....This first time will have to be for fun! But I am glad Ben was able to work out his work and school schedule so he could come down with me. It will be a nice little get a way for us.

And thank you everyone for all your warm wishes and support!....I have the best family and friends! I'll update on the competition when I get back.

And thanks to everyone who made my Birthday special! It was a great day! 3 more years of the 20's before I hit the big 3-0!!!

Thanks again!