Brinley Dance Competition- Bravo

Tonight was the last competition for the season, Bravo, and the girls really showed up! 

Jumanji was nearly flawless tonight and scored Platinum, as well as the category winner, 2nd overall, and a Judge's Choice award for costume.

Wolf scored Platinum and placed 1st overall, along with a Judge's Choice award for Outstanding Entertainment. 

It's a little bittersweet knowing this is the last time most of these girls will compete as a team, since many of them will be going in different directions next year. A lot of them have been on the same team for 4 years, and classes together before that for even longer. But with age always comes change, and I'm excited to see what they all do in the future!

New Orleans!

Cahl had a training down in New Orleans this week, and I was lucky enough to tag along! We flew down Sunday, and got there with plenty of time to start exploring the French Quarter. Our hotel was right at the top of the quarter, so it was perfect for walking. We first walked down to the river, checked out the river boats and Jackson Square, then made our way back through downtown. We were both in awe of the amazing architecture and everything going on. 

We even stopped to compliment a really nice older lady who was cleaning her front yard, and she was kind enough to visit with us and even gave us a tour of her incredible home, built in 1895. We met up with the Cahl's co-workers, had dinner, and enjoyed beignets at Cafe Du Monde. 

Monday Cahl headed out to his training, and I started my day at Louis Armstrong Park. Then I headed down to Jackson Square and found a great little jazz band. I followed that with lunch at Cafe Beignet, then headed back to the hotel to meet up with Cahl and the rest of the group for dinner. We loved the charbroiled oysters at Drago's, and walked along the river to Cafe Du Monde for dessert, then back through downtown before heading in for the night.   

Tuesday I spent most of the day with the other spouse who had come along, Adrianna, and we spent time listening to the band at Jackson Square, having lunch at Felix's, and visiting the Museum of Pharmacy- which was super interesting. In the evening we all met up for our river boat dinner cruise, on the City of New Orleans riverboat. 

Wednesday I wasn't feeling super great, so I laid low for the beginning of the day. Cahl had the opportunity to drive over to Mississippi and visit the Stennis Space Center, before we all met up again for a boat tour of the Louisiana swamp. The swamp is really beautiful, and was saw a ton of alligators, racoons, turtles, several types of birds, and wild pigs. We also saw some cool houses along the river, as well as some that had been destroyed by hurricanes. We picked up dinner after our tour, and relaxed for the night at the hotel. 

I had to head home the next day, but Cahl got 2 additional days in the city and he enjoyed spending as much time in the French Quarter as he could, and enjoying beignets before heading home.