We went back to Branson for Nationals again this year. We booked a room at the convention center Hilton because it would be convenient (especially with Isabella). Olivia did not begin dancing until Thursday evening, but we had booked Wednesday - Sunday...so I took the girls up on Wednesday to get them settled before duet practice started for Olivia and Kenny, and to see as many solos as we could from our own studio.
On Tuesday night, Brian and I went out to decorate the car... It was to be a surprise for Olivia. However, it was Isabella that seemed the most excited about it. :) We left for Branson at 8:00 in the morning and got there about 11:45 or so. We grabbed some lunch and were able to make it in time to see Kenny's solo. The kids went swimming with Abbey and Jace while I checked into our room. It was a NICE hotel. I was very impressed.
We walked over to Branson Landing and ate dinner at a pizza/gyro place before heading back to the room for an early night. The next morning, we got up and went to watch some of the older kids do their solos. Karen was planning on running through
Love Shack that morning as well. So after that was done, the girls and I walked over to Clocker's and had lunch. Abbey was having birthday cake at noon by the elevators so we made sure we were back by then.
I have to be honest and say that at this point, I thought I was going to go crazy. Brian was not going to be in Branson until later that afternoon and I was having a difficult time entertaining and keeping up with the girls (who wanted to run different directions in this very large hotel/convention center...) So, I had decided the afternoon would be rest time. Kenny's dad had offered to take Olivia with Kenny, Sydney, Faith, and Caleb to a magic show that afternoon at 3. It was supposed to be over by 5 so we could start getting Olivia ready for Love Shack by 5:30 (she danced around 7:20ish). So that is what we did... I put Bella down while I had Liv take a shower and watch a movie. After the movie, I dried and straightened her hair before the show so it was THAT much more I didn't have to cram in after the show (just in case they were later getting back than they planned).
While Liv was gone, I also showered and straightened my hair--what else was I going to do in a QUIET hotel room with Belle sleeping? LOL. In the meanwhile, Bella woke up right before Brian walked in the door. We left to get some dinner real fast at McDonalds. After we grabbed happy meals for Liv and Kenny, we were on our way back to start getting her ready.
Brian had to take Bella out of the room while I dressed Olivia. She did not understand why we didn't bring HER pink costume and why SHE couldn't get on stage... Poor baby! WELL...come to find out, the competition was running ahead of schedule so we barely got her lipstick on before we were running down to stage 2.
We first watched Gage and Abbey do their duet to
Lost. They did a very good job. Then, we went out in the hallway so that Karen could warm up Kenny and Olivia. She told us 'mamas' we could leave so she could have them alone to focus. The next thing I knew, she brought them in and headed back stage. I was SO nervous I thought I was going to puke!
When the music for
Love Shack started, it was the most amazing thing. The kids were AWESOME! They were dead-on together and Olivia had her HUGE-BEYOND-HUGE personality! I noticed others in the audience beginning to clap to the beat so I joined in, and before long the majority of the room was clapping as well. I screamed like I have never screamed before. I can't even describe the feeling I had at the moment. I was SO proud of her (and them)!
When it was over, we knew they had done the absolute best that they could have done. We went over to get seats at stage 1 for the announcement of the dance-off. Now, I have to say that this was a little nerve-wrecking for us. If Love Shack made it into the dance-off, it meant that Lost didn't (and vice-versa). Either way, it meant that at least one of them wouldn't make it because only one duet/trio can be called per age category per studio.
Brian had stayed with us for the announcement of the dance off. The plan was that he would take Bella upstairs for awards since it was so late, but we had decided that he would stay if they made the dance-off and then go back... When the announcement was made,
Lost was called.
There was a break before the dance-off actually began, so Brian took that opportunity to take Bella swimming with Sydney and Mary Ellen. I got a call from Renea, Kenny's mom, and she told me that Olivia was pretty upset that they had not made it in. I had her come sit by me. She was indeed upset, asking what had they done wrong. I about lost it. I was literally holding back tears. What I told her was that she and Kenny hadn't done anything 'wrong', but that these judges weren't tap judges and they must have been looking for something different. She asked if she could go back to the back and look at the items for sale. I told her yes.
Andrea Shaw, Samantha's mom, came up to me and we talked a while. When she left, Lost was about to go on and I asked her to send Olivia back to me as she went back to her seat. When Liv got to me, she was still sulking. I told her that I knew she was sad, and it was ok to be sad and upset, BUT, that time had passed. Abbey was about to dance, and it was time to be happy for Abbey. She said ok and started cheering and screaming for Abbey and Gage. I was so proud of her!
Come to find out,
Lost came in 1st place in their age category.
Love Shack came in 9th place and got a Diamond Elite. We left the awards fairly early because
Funk was to begin warming up in the morning about 8.
Funk started warming up Friday morning and we could all tell it was WAAAYYY too early for most of these kids. They looked completely asleep! They went on and performed early (in fact, Brian had to run down the escalator to get to the stage in time to help the boys with their shoes). The dance looked ok, but it was certainly not their best performance. Then, we ran to stage 1 to watch
Aaron's Party--which looked awesome! We stayed around to watch a few more duets/trios while Brian ran to Starbucks. Then we hung out until the dance off announcement was made that day around lunch time.
Funk was not called. So, we went to lunch at Joe's Crab Shack with Scott, Laura, and Julianne. While we were sitting there, we got a phone call saying that Aaron's Party had made it into the 9-12 dance off. We were so happy for those girls.
On our way back to the convention center, we stopped off at Ride Makerz so that Olivia could build a remote control car. She had almost enough money to pay for it herself (her year's worth of winnings from dance). She really needed a pick-me-up, so we told her we would give her the rest. She built a pretty cool car, and she couldn't wait to show the others. (driving these remote controled cars was 'the thing to do' in the lobby of the hotel. They really are pretty neat)
That evening for dinner, we went to Macaroni Grill with Renea and Kenny. The plan was that we were going to go early enough that we could get Bella's ear's pierced on the way back. And that is what we did. She had been working to earn earrings for a while now--being potty trained over night and cooperating at nationals while I had them alone. She was SUCH a big girl about it. I honestly don't think she knew HOW the earrings got in her ears, but she never cried. We had both ears done at the same time, and all she said was a whispered, "ouch"--and even that was a few seconds after it was done. She was SO proud of those earrings!! She was showing EVERYONE!
We went back and watched the dance off and prepared for awards. Brian had taken Bella to bed.
Funk received an Elite Top First and got a special judges award of Great Teamwork. Then, they let the little ones 8 & under leave the stage (just like the night before) because it was so late. So, I took Liv back, and we went to bed.
The next day, Saturday, we took our time getting ready. We ate an early lunch since the kids were going to meet up around 1 to start warming up. So after lunch, I started baby-curling Olivia's hair and it looked really good. I really took my time and did it so it would last throughout the day.
Angels Among Us was the first dance, so I got her dressed in her teal costume and brought the rest of her gear downstairs to the dressing room. Then it was off to warm up!
All of Liv's dances that day were on stage 1--the big one.
Angels looked better than I'd ever seen it look, and then it was time to get dressed for
Wild Babies. It looked pretty good, but didn't quite have the energy I've seen at other competitions. Then it was time for
5678. It looked awesome! We were hopeful that
5678 might make it into the dance off, BUT the age division for large groups was
12 & under!! Well, we sat around the concession stand for a few hours waiting through all of the other large groups for the announcement of the dance off. Not one of our dances from our studio was called. We were so disappointed! However, during the awards, we realized that
5678 was THE ONLY other dance to get a Diamond Elite that was not in the dance off. It also came in 1st place in the 8 and under age group (and they won $200).
Angels got 2nd place with an elite top first, and
Wild Babies got 3rd place with also an elite top first. Olivia was chosen by Ms. Karen to get the trophy from
5678 so she was SO excited to get a big one. She said getting the big trophy was just like being in the dance off to her. Such a sweet kid. :)
I didn't mention this before, but Diamond Elite trophies were new this year. It went out to entries that scored at least 95 points out of 100.
So, after the awards were over, I was exhausted, but Liv was EXCITED! Brian decided to take her to Steak and Shake for a milkshake (and he was hungry...LOL). They ran into Abbey on their way to the car and asked her to come along.
The next day, we were scheduled to be out of our hotel room by 11. We got packed up and went to watch a few dances and order pictures. Then, we ate lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ before we headed back home.
One of the best parts for Bella was that she got to see her teenage friends... She is crazy about these guys...and they are pretty crazy about her too! (Brandon, Angel, and Chloe)
