And so it Begins...

Today was the opening assembly at school. And Dance Company was in it. We introduced ourselves to the world! (Well, our little high school world, anyway.)We performed our theme dance, "transcenDANCE," the one we have been working on for the past two weeks. It was so fun!

I don't know why-maybe it's the adreneline- but I'm always nervous the few hours before I perform, but when I actually get on the stage and just dance, it's so much fun and all my nerves are gone! It's weird, but I guess it's a good thing. Anyway, I love to dance, and I really tried to convey that while I was on stage.

I'm a Smiling SOPHOMORE!!!

I'm not going to monologue about every little detail of my first day of school (as a SOPHOMORE in HIGHSCHOOL!!!!) but I just want to say how good it feels to see my friends. As I've mentioned before, I hardly saw any of my friends over the summer, and I missed them something awful. Heck, I didn't just miss my friends, I missed everyone. I just wanted to see someone I recognized. I figure that is one of the things that makes me very happy; seeing someone I know. Therefore, the crowded hallways today were bliss. Everywhere I turned, I was like, "Oh! Hi! I know you!" It seems like I'm finally coming out of my shell! In the words of Josh Peck: "[Mindee] is no longer a social caterpillar. Uh-uh... she is a beautiful butterfly!!" : ) Peace out.

Dance the Days Away

The pictures on Friday were way fun! We went to the Salt Lake City library and the Conference Center; just played around mostly, looking for cool sets to take pics. On the balcony of teh Conference center, we had to dance and move while the photographer did her thing. It was an awesome feeling, but the ground had been baking in the sun all morning and when our bare feet met the blazing hot stone, we all but cried in pain. So hot! It felt like we were dancing on a skillet.

So anyways, now it's Tuesday, and we are currently undergoing the "last-week-of-summer-worries." Only a few more days until school starts! and questions keep running through my head: Have I done all my school shopping? Who's in my spanish class? What should I do if I can't find my classroom? Am I really going to high school? (YES!) What do I need to do the night before to be completely ready for Monday morning? What am I going to say to my friends when I see them? What am I going to say to the stranger sitting next to me in English class? AAAHHH!!!!!! Stressful, exciting, and still the best feeling in the world. Almost.

Along with all the school worries comes the dance worries. Every day this week, Dance Company has practice from 12:30 to 4:00 to prepare for our performance in the opening assembly, in front of the entire school. Translation: We have two weeks to learn and clean an entire piece! Dancing so long and hard is exhausting, but it's worth it. I'm having the time of my life.

Did I Forget How to Dance?!

My mom came into my room this morning and woke me up, saying, "Get up, you've gotta dance!" The information packet for Hillcrest Dance Company (which I am on!) came in the mail today. And today was our first practice! I was so excited, but so scared too! I haven't danced all summer, and I didn't know what it was going to be like with Heidi Clark as my teacher. But, I swallowed the nerves and was in the dance studio at HHS at "10 o'clock sharp!"

I am so lucky that I have friends on the company also! Alicia, Taylor, Zoey, and Savanna were on the Union Company with me, and so I have someone to run to.

But, our first class was fun. Hard, fast, and somewhat confusing, but fun. After an hour or so of dancing, Katie Baker-Bonnie Story's daughter-came in and layed about two minutes worth of choreography on us! Then, we had to audition the new dance (to Rhihanna's "Take a Bow") in front of Heidi and Katie. They were apparently chosing the girls who would perform at Homecoming. I don't think I made it, though, because I had almost forgotten how to dance! I was so off balance, it was embarrasing, and as hard as I tried, I couldn't loosen up. I felt so stiff. So, I don't think I'm going to perform at homecoming! Oh well, I didn't really want to.

Before we left, we got our first costume. It's quite modern-looking. Very loose kind of stuff. I was excited. We get to go downtown on Friday and take company pictures. And we have to wear our costumes.

Looks like I'm going to have a ball in Dance Company this year!

Harvest Days

Saturday was my town festival type thing. Harvest Days. Mom and I ran in the 5K in the morning. I felt like I was going to die, but I ran the 3.1 miles in 35 minutes. That was my goal. Yay! And despite the burn in my lungs, I smiled because my friend Bryce cheered for me as I crossed the finish line.

There was also a parade through the neighborhood, and my family had a "float"-if that's what you want to call it-in the parade. It was just our truck filled with the bears that mom and dad carved. Dad and Tyler carved in the trailer as we drove down the road, past the people, waving. It was pretty cool, everyone loved the bears.

After the parade, everyone went to the park for food, music, and games. At seven o'clock, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband gave a free concert, and then there were fireworks in the park. Good times. (Despite the pouring rain, it was still fun!)

Run, Run, as Fast as You Can!

This morning, mom and I went running again. We ran a little over three miles around our neighborhood. We started off, and I soon found out that it was garbage day; rotten stench blasted my nose every time we passed a driveway. The thought of getting away from the smells encouraged me to keep going! There was one house, though, that smelled heavily of lemons. I guessed that the occupants had scrubbed the entire exterior of their house with Pine Sol! Citrus-y!

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Breaking Dawn-Unbreakable!

BREAKING DAWN IS OUT AND IT IS GOOD!!!!! 

The fourth and final book to the Twilight trilogy has finally been released--but I'm sure anyone who cares already knows, and has it!  Breaking Dawn!!!!!!!

 On our way up here, to grandma's house in Idaho, mom and I stopped at the Idaho Falls Mall and picked up Breaking Dawn. I was so excited! 

We continued on to Rexburg, Idaho, for our Clark family reunion. It was at a park, and I knew no one except for my few cousins that were there. My cousin KaeLee also had Breaking Dawn, and we sat on the lawn together and read. There was also another girl there that read with us. KaeLee haven't stopped reading for more than an hour or two since yesterday. It's such an amazingly surprising book! I'll write a review of it when I'm done, but beware, there will be spoilers!