Nordic Fest

Main Street of Decorah
At the chick hatchery
Sese and a chick
Norwegian folding chair ( I didn't make that up! there was a sign!)
After the performance


We had a great time at Nordic Fest! My cousin Elliot was one of the Nordic dancers, this was his last year doing it so we came to see his last performance! He's been doing it for 10 years.
It was terribly hot until some clouds came, that was really nice. We bought some stuff at the Decorah shops, and had fun looking at the chicks in the Decorah chick hatchery! There was a lot of good music and a LOT of GOOD lefse!! Uffda!
(P.S.: inappropriately, Selena wore an 'Irish' shirt! Good Grief!!)

Badger State feis

In the car
At the Marriot Hotel Uno's!!
At the feis
Waking up on Sunday morning
We just got back from the Badger State feis in Milwaukee. We drove down on Friday, swam, went to Uno's for supper and registered. Next morning we woke up early and went to the feis. It was in an ice arena! It wasn't the greatest venue but okay.

We had a great time, I didn't place but there were huge groups for Prizewinner U11. Split ones were up to 23 dancers! My friends in my group hardly placed at all. But all the sisters who are in not as hard of a level placed pretty well, Selena got 1st in Slip Jig, 1st in Jig, and 4th in Hornpipe, Isabel got 3rd in Reel, 1st in Jig, 1st in Slip Jig, and 3rd in Hornpipe, and Miranda got 1st in Reel, 4th in Slip jig, and 1st in Hornpipe. This was Isabel and Miranda's first time performing their hornpipe (hardshoe) and we were very happy they placed so well in it.

After the feis we ate at KT (Kwik Trip) and went back to LaCrosse. On Sunday we went to church with my Grandparents, and after lunch all of us girls went to the pool. Late afternoon we went home. Phew! It was a good trip. And we're leaving home again on Friday (maybe Friday. or else sat.) Stay tuned for the Nordic Fest trip report!!!

Sese's haircut

Before After


Now Sese looks way more like she did when she was little. It's way cuter, and not as frizzy and messy now. Comments??

Nationals

Quinn's in blue and yellow
Maria
Can you find Jenna with the dark hair and red & white dress? (well there's a lot of those.)


Our school sent ten dancers to Nationals, and eight of them recalled. Our Ladies 20+ Cassie placed 28th, Ladies U18 Kailey placed 40th, Girls U16 Jenna placed 34, U14 boys Kellan placed 8th, our two U11's Quinn & Maria got 22nd and 33rd, and U8 Tess got 34th. Good job everybody!!

We really enjoyed following the competition on the nationals web site and especially the photographs -- if you haven't seen it take a look at:

North American Irish Dance Championships

Anyway...
We had a good fourth of July. We stayed home and ate corn on the cob. And slushees. It was fun to just lay around the house!!