Ballroom

The girls started ballroom last week!  This is Emma's 4th year and Lauren's 2nd year.  Lauren's first day didn't go very well, and when I picked her up she started crying and said she wanted to quit.  Apparently none of her friends are on her team and one of the boys she had to dance with was excessively creepy.  This boy had muddy, sticky hands and then started bleeding out of his head.  We later found out that he had gotten a bloody nose, but all Lauren knew was that he was bleeding and not doing anything to stop it.  Lauren insisted he was gay and had Asperger's.  (She wasn't trying to be funny, she seriously diagnosed him.)  When we got home I emailed Janie Fisher (the IBA owner) and asked her to switch Lauren to the other Pre-teen team.  Long story short, Janie re-did both team lists and now Lauren at least has one friend on her team and we're crossing fingers this week goes better.
Emma is on one of the two Junior teams and practices 2 hours a week.  She came home really happy and excited about this year.  She has gotten to know the kids on her team over the years and has formed good friendships.  The drawback to Emma's participation this year is the out-of-control fees!  In addition to monthly tuition, competition fees, and costume fees, she has to buy a team jacket, new shoes, make-up kit, fake eyelashes/glue, fishnets, etc. etc.  For Lauren, we just have to buy the regular stuff (shoes, team t-shirt, competition skirt/shirt). 
We're really grateful for Landon's family who pays the tuition every year!  We have the girls pay half the cost of their shoes, so they can minimally appreciate what it takes for our family to allow them this extra-curricular activity. 
IBA has created a new website in case anyone is interested to see a fuller scope of what the girls are involved with:

Idaho Ballroom Academy