Observation Week- Tumbling

I have very mixed feelings about this years tumbling II-III class. Tiffy likes the class and has a lot of fun with it. However, they've had some problems with teachers this year and so they have changed teachers several times. In addition to that, there are girls on many levels. There are girls in this class who can't even do sommersaults and then there are girls almost doing aerials and backtucks. So, the diversity in skill levels is great.

While I can appreciate the need to practice cartwheels and whatnot, I do NOT like that 1/2 the class is wasted on those when Tiffy realy needs to be working on her backhandsprings and her valdez's. I have tried talking to the teachers, but the response I got was very weak. This especially ticks me off. Sigh. The biggest problem, is that she hsa both valdez's and backhandsprings in her solo's and they are very critical of gymnastic's moves in the dances. If they aren't done properly, they get docked points for doing the move wrong. This of course, is completely stressing Tiff out, which in turn stresses me out a bit too. Like I need more stress in my life. LOL.

Anyway, this week,I got to come into class and really see what they are doing in class, which is fun, but it also really got me to see how much work they need to do on the individual levels and how much they really need a tumble III and IV. Here is Tiffy in the middle of some of her back handsprings. For those, who know the technique of them, you know that your legs should be together and not frogged apart as they are. So, that is one thing she is working on. Another thing is not leaning so far down so that she has more power to spring up.

Observation Week- Lyrical

I got to come in for the last hour of her dance class since it was observation week. They worked on pirouette prep. Josh got to come to this one, so Tiff was happy bout that.



They worked on Pique's. They each get individual work in this class which I really like.



They worked on leaps.



They worked on their single and double pirouettes.




Then, they worked on their dance. Tiffy is at the very front, which I of course love. She is the best (from a technique standpoint) in the class and has great facials and is on count. All of which count for a LOT! Especially at competitions. Anyway, I love watching her.



Towards the end of their dance, Tiffy has a solo in their lyrical dance. Nothing major...just a double and a 4-point pique'. They are all doing floor work while she does her solo. The reason for that is becasue she is the only one in her class that can do them both and it adds a lot of point value to the dance. So, it is cool. Plus, it looks so great when they are all doing it.



At the end of practice, she made a pose while working on their attitude turns. LOL. My daughter...such a poser. :)

Observation week- Ballet

This week was observation week at dance. On ballet day, I got to come in and watch what they've been doing. Josh couldn't come since he had to work, and Tiffy was a bit upset about that, but oh well, what can ya do?

They first warmed up, and then ran thru their positions and worked on plies.



They worked on releve' and going on point as well.

Next, they worked pirouettes- Singles and doubles. Then, sautes'.


Then, they worked on leaps, tour je'tes, chaine's, and then they moved on to flexibility at the barre. While working on her tour je'tes, she was wearing her ballet slippers and slipped and fell. She got so mad. LOL. She took off her shoes and refused to wear them the rest of the time that she was working on her tour je'tes and leaps. She said that the material at the bottom of the slipper made her fall and she wasn't doing that again. Her reaction was kind of funny, in a not so funny way.





Tiffy and Taylor took a super cute pic at the end of class. They are like 2 peas in a pod and have been ever since they were 1 1/2. LOL.



It was a lot of fun to watch her.

Tiffy's Birthday Party

This year, we decided to keep Tiffy's party low key since we just went on vacation and wanted to save some money.So, she invited a couple friends to go watch a movie and then play some games and have a sleepover.

The girls came over at 3p and we fed them pizza and a Coldstone ice cream cake.



Tiffy opened her presents after that. She got a lot of cute things.





Josh was great enough to take the names and presents so I can write thank you cards.



We played a "who knows Tiffy best" game. After that, Aubrey had to go home since it was her sisters birthday. After that, we took the other girls to the movies. We saw the movie Megamind. The girls really liked it.

After that, we went home and got ready for the next game. It was a scavenger hunt called "bigger or better". We split up into teams of 2. I took Taylor S. and Taylor H. and Josh took Tiffy and Jaci. After half an hour, we were back at the house. Josh's team brought back a coffeemaker. Our team brought back a digital photo keychain and a x-mas blanket. It was a lot of funand the kids really liked the game.

After that, we went downstairs and played a game called "name that celebrity". I had tried to make it easy, but I think it was a little hard for the girls. Taylor H had to leave at that point because it was getting late and she had church in the morning.

After, we decided to play an ice cream game and see who could eat it the fastest without hands. LOL. It was pretty funny. Tiffy ended up winning first and neither Taylor or Jaci could finish theirs. It's fairly hard to eat without hands....especially ice cream. It was a fun game though and they enjoyed it.






We then did manicures and pedicures and makeovers including getting their hair done. They chilled and read magazanies and chatted while they got their stuff done.







After that, thegirls played on the Wii downstairs and played board games and did their own thing. Jaci and Taylor slept over. The girls all had so much fun and really enjoyed themselves. They went to bed super late.

The following morning, The girls didn't even stir till after 9Am. LOL! Josh made sausage and strawberry and banana crepes. It was pretty good.

All in all...it turned out great!