Double Digits

 Whitney celebrated her 10th birthday on June 27th.  She is thrilled to tell everyone that she is now a "double digit."  The day of her birthday was a routine day and she complained almost ALL day that she was bored and wished we could do something fun.  Little did she know I had planned a "late night" with a few of her friends. :)  She was excited to have her girlfriends come swim, play, eat brownies and ice cream, and stay past dark.  We finally gave in to her many requests for an electric scooter for her birthday this year, and she was thrilled!

Words to describe Whitney... helpful, responsible, creative, organized, sensitive, talented, and SO many more!  She is a great big sister, friend, and daughter.  Happy Birthday Whitney!  We love you and hope you enjoy being 10!!!

Springtime equals Dance Competitions

Yep, you know it's springtime at our house when Saturdays are consumed with dance!  So far we have been to two competitions and brought home four 1st place awards and two 2nd place awards. We are excited that Whitney and her team are doing so well again this year!!  She will compete again two more times this month.  Let us know if you'd like to come and help us cheer her on.  :)

Elite Dance Productions at the Medallion Classic @ SLCC

The Fever...

Took this video of the girls tonight on the new Flip cam we got for Christmas from my parents.
This was take 7...so very funny!  Hope you enjoy...

Nine!

Whitney turned 9 years old on Sunday! She has been looking forward to her birthday for month's! She created a gift list a few weeks ago to give me some ideas on what she might like to receive from Chris and I. They included things like new bedding, music, clothes, gift cards, etc. Our favorite item on her list....a roll of tape. Yep, Scotch tape. She loves to create things and is always asking Chris for tape from his office. Guess she finally realized this was a way to get some without having to spend her own money like Chris suggested. :) (She received multiple rolls and is Thrilled!!)

We had cake and ice cream on Sunday evening and opened gifts from family members. Big "THANKS" to Nana & Papa, Grandma Great, The Jefferies, Grandma & Pops, and The Campbell's for the wonderful and generous gifts! Whitney enjoyed her birthday and appreciated all the phone calls and birthday wishes! Whitney's favorite birthday surprise...a sleepover in her new Roxy bed with her cousin Abbie!

Happy 9th Birthday Whitney!! We love you!!

(click on photo to enlarge)

Whitney was privileged to go with Shaylee and Kristen to have pictures taken for her birthday. They treated her like a princess and she loved the attention! Thank you girls for making her day special and capturing Whitney's personality at this age. We love you!!

Things I love about Whitney...
A loving and tender heart
Helpful
Organized
Talented
Smart
Beautiful inside and out!

Things Whitney loves...
Arts and Crafts
Dance
Her Siblings and Family
Shopping (Justice is her fav)
Otter Pops, Popsicles, etc
Swimming and outdoor activities
Golf with her dad
Chicken Pillows
Zucchini
Playing with friends
Her ipod and music
Collecting things...like zhu zhu pets

Dance, Dance

Whitney has been taking dance at EDP for the last four years.  This year she was asked to be a member of their "Mini Company" Team.  They will compete in five competitions this spring.  So far we have been to the Medallion Classic at SLCC and yesterday to USU in Logan for the Utah Dance Fest.  We are so excited to share that her team has received 1st place in both their jazz and lyrical dances at BOTH the competitions!!  Congratulations Mini's, and Congratulations Whitney!!  We are so proud of you and what a great dancer you have become.  We look forward to seeing you take first place again at the next competition! :)

Medallion Classic trophy

1st place EDP Mini's

Jazz - "Crazy little thing"

Lyrical - "Heaven"

I've attached a video of both her dances...she is front and center at the beggining of both. 

Here is the link to view it larger and with better quality.  Enjoy! :)

Utah Dance Fest - EDP Mini's

Whitney...the snow skiier

Yes, we FINALLY convinced her to try snow skiing...and now she LOVES it!

On February 13th Chris and Whitney (along with my dad, Cam, and Abbie) went to Alta for their first "daddy daughter" ski lesson.  They worked on the tow rope for the afternoon and then did one run on the lift before heading home.  Chris says she was very cautious and careful in the beginning and then started to feel more comfortable on her own toward the end of the day.  She came home quite proud of herself, and she even wrote in a school assignment that she had "recently become a skier".  :) 
Chris carried Whitney's camera in his pocket and was able to get a few shots...

Lesson #2 was yesterday at Brighton Ski Resort with Brandon & Jessica, and cousins Olivia and Alex.  Chris worked with her alone for the first few runs and described her as unsure of herself, cautious, and slow.  Once she became more confident in her abilities, she was OFF...and able to keep up with her cousins.  They even gave her the nickname "Fast Fry" (which she told me with a HUGE grin on her face)!!  I'm told they skied until the lifts were ready to close and that Whitney had INDEED "Become a skier"!!  (Sorry...forgot to send the camera)  Whitney was also excited to run into her friend Luke and his dad at the Resort! They were able to ride the lift once together and then ski for a short time. Maybe she has found a new ski buddy for next year??

She is hooked!  Already talking about her next ski trip, her own equipment, and next year when I can come along to see her ski!!  I am SO incredibly proud of you Whitney!  I knew that you would be a great skier and love it...that's why we pushed you so hard to at least "TRY".  xoxo, Mom

Holiday Gift Show

This year Whitney became a member of the "Mini Company" at Elite Dance Productions.  She has classes on Wednesdays for 2 and 1/2 hours and will compete with her team in 5 dance competitions this spring.  She is learning a lot and is becoming a great dancer.  She and her team had the opportunity to dance at the Holiday Gift Show at the South Towne Expo Center in November before Thanksgiving.  This was great stage practice for them and we loved having the opportunity to see Whitney dance. 
We look forward to more at the Christmas Recital on December 21st at Bountiful High School...
(She's the cute blonde in the middle, and of course the best one in the class!)