This morning Hallie and I leave for Dallas for our 4th Dance Revolution Convention.
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| Dance Rev 2018 Yep, they're in the ballroom of a hotel at 11pm at night in their matching pajamas. |
In the past I have used the adjective "whirlwind" to describe the Dance Rev weekend, and I anticipate that when we arrive home on Sunday night I will choose that same adjective to describe this year's event. But if I'm willing to dig a little deeper, beyond just an adjective, I can come up with a comparison to help you better understand Dance Rev: Dance Rev is like giving birth. There are bright lights and loud noises and SO MANY PEOPLE coming and going. There is organized chaos, followed by hours and hours of waiting, and then organized chaos once again. Emotions are amplified and everything is intensified. There are highs and lows and highs and lows. There is laughter and there are smiles. There is yelling and there are tears. There is joy, and there is pain (though not as much much physical pain as childbirth). When all is said and done, and when we pull back into College Station in two and a half days, I'll say to myself, "I can't believe I survived Dance Rev. I don't know if I can do it again." And yet, here we are, doing it again, and feeling somewhat excited about what's to come.
Here's to Dance Rev 2019!
Two
At the end of October, two friends/committee members and I coordinated Ballet Brazos' participation in Brazos Valley Gives, a community-wide day of giving created around strengthening nonprofits, empowering donors, and building community. I hadn't flexed my fundraising muscles in many years, since my time with the American Red Cross in Iowa and Michigan, and it felt good to use that part of my brain again. I also enjoyed learning about how the nonprofit world has changed since I walked away and better getting to know the organizations that make up the Brazos Valley's nonprofit network. We look forward to participating again in 2020!
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| What we looked and felt like at 6am. |
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| What we looked and felt like at 11pm. |
Three
Between a pajama day fundraiser prize, a sock hop day prize, a soccer "spooktacular", Halloween, and Red Ribbon week, the last couple of weeks have involved A LOT of dressing up. While I'm ready to go back to the kids just "getting dressed" in the morning, I think these events are lots of fun.
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| 50s Day on the 50th Day of School |
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| Pajama Day |
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| Twin Day (But isn't every day Twin Day?) |
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| Crazy Hair Day |
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| Soccer Spooktacular Will planned to wear Hallie's butterfly wings, but minutes prior the event was rained out. He would have rocked that butterfly costume. |
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| Costume Day They were bummed to have to wear pants and shirts under their costumes, but it was 36 degrees outside. |
I don't usually go out and buy new outfits, costumes, and/or accessories specifically for these special dress-up days. We have accumulated lots of each over the years though, so we do what we can with what we already have. (Halloween is the exception, and I should give another shout-out to Grandma Brenda, who made Hallie's poodle skirt and all three of the girls' baker costumes!)
Four
Speaking of Halloween... Tom missed out, having to spend the holiday in Seattle for a conference (what kind of insensitive conference organizers plan a conference the week of Halloween?!), but the rest of us had great fun with friends at our annual Halloween gathering.
Five
Happiness Highlights
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| New cleats for the birthday boy! He's reached a level of play at which he wants/needs higher quality cleats than we can buy in College Station, so new boots means a trip to Houston. |
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| Hello, old friend... |
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| Happy birthday, Natalie! |
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| Round #2 at the pumpkin patch! |
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| Painting our teal pumpkin in honor of her brother. |
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| So many late nights up watching the World Series. |
Happy Friday, friends!
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