All year long, ballroom studios around the country put in hours of work and miles of dance steps for four days in March: The National Ballroom Championships. For a little dance company in Idaho, this week is their Olympic Games. After considering dozens of other scenarios about how to juggle the boys at home, work, and piano festival, it was decided that Justin, alone, would forge through this four day competition. I was pretty devastated. I was missing McKenna's Olympic moment! But Justin promised to make me feel like I was there... and he came through. In those four days, I received HUNDREDS of texts and pictures updating me on McKenna and Extremes every move. Here is a glimpse of McKenna and Justin's trip to Nationals:
McKenna was missing three days of school, so being the good girl she is, she got right to work on her homework on the way down.
See how hard she is working?
The Marriot Center.
"Brother Bear" wins First Place in Latin Division 2.
(They were disappointed to not make division 1, but winning first place in division 2 was the next best thing!)
"Home on the Range" wins First Place in Smooth Division 1.
(And might I add that they beat out BYU Youth... this has only happened one other time for Pre-Teen Gold in 10 years!)
In the individual syllabus event, McKenna and partner Brady were thrilled to win 3rd place in Samba/Paso! Only one other couple from Extreme placed in the syllabus events. This was a huge honor! McKenna loves telling people that in Samba, she is "third in the Nation!"
At these events, there are usually some celebrity sightings... Recognize this profile? This is Louis Van Amstel from Dancing with the Stars. He choreographs for Center Stage Ballroom Company in Utah.
And this guy was a judge... Yep. That's also a Dancing with the Stars alum: Jonathan Roberts. (Marie Osmond's partner!)
Justin also sent me updates of the coolest and craziest costumes!
As well as all of the awesome food that McKenna and Justin were enjoying!
And all of their silly photos...
And you might think that the next photos are silly, but they are SOOOOO NOT! They were the.... wait for it....
HAIR PHOTOS!!!!
Oh yes, these were REQUIRED photos. You see, I was just a tiny bit nervous about Justin doing slick-n-shiny buns, gluing on fake eye lashes, and applying stage make-up... only because he has never held a mascara wand or bobby pin in his life! (Hey, I didn't want my 12 year old looking like a clown... or worse, a hoochy mama! Can you blame me?) I went to great lengths to prepare Mr. Mom. I grouped and labeled all make-up items, typed out step-by-step instructions and even DREW a diagram of how to do the ever looming BUN! This came morning one for approval:
I was so very proud of that Dance Daddy. But to tell you the truth, I had no doubt that he could do it. If the man can build a house, he should be able to pin a bun, right? However, I
was surprised at how quick my humble husband went from meek to mega cocky.
Me: "So, how was your first bun?"
Justin: "Pssshhh. So easy."
I then began receiving texts throughout the day that McKenna was dancing so well... probably due to "the most amazing bun she's ever worn." But I went from amused to officially annoyed when McKenna, herself, said that "Dad's bun was so so so, good, Mom! I think he does buns better than you."
Stop right there.
Crossing the line.
Check out Justin's work on Day 3:
(Just kidding! This was the work of a fellow Mom!)
Well, the battle of the buns will probably continue, but there was no arguing over the winners at Nationals. Move over Utah.... At the end of the week, it was announced that little ol' Extreme Ballroom from Idaho Falls, Idaho was the overall winner of the entire event! Utah pools from thousands of kids. Idaho Falls does not. We are lucky to get 10 guys on a team! With these odds, it is simply AMAZING what this dance company is creating. We feel so blessed to be a part of this company!
McKenna had a fantastic experience... And I am definitely sure that she had a lot more fun with her dad than she would have had with her el-cheap-o-mom. I, for sure, would have been too sensible to indulge in the late-night pre-teen swims and the All-Night-Party! This mother is too fragile... sleep is required! But oh, not party-hardy, Dad! They played twister until 4 a.m for crying out loud!!
Many moms have since commented to me about how impressed they were with Justin. Few dads would have (#1) taken work off to help his wife or (#2) attended at all or (#3) attended happily or (#4) sat through hundreds of syllabus heats--listening to the same dumb song over and over to the point of insanity and (#5) become Mr. Fabulous Hair Extrodinare!! Yeah, he's pretty great.
It was a week of fun memories! I hope we (meaning ALL of us) get to do it again someday!
And my buns are better. Just sayin'.
