'Cause this is Thriller!

It's close to midnight... and something evils lurking in the dark....

Happy Halloween from Mrs. Brame and dancing zombies!

Some Things I've Learned...

I've learned a lot so far in my long two month stint as a high school dance teacher...

1- I've learned that "mums" aren't an English lady's term for "mom"... But a gob of ribbons and bells worn for Homecoming. Weird.

2- I've learned that to "shuffle" is neither a tap nor a clogging step... But a dance craze brought upon by the song "Party Rock". Mrs. Brame is no good at said "shuffling".

3- I've learned that girls fight. I'm talking full on punching each other. This was a bit of a shocker.

4- I've learned that there's a big "Mexican vs. Black" fight at the end of every year. Can't wait.

5- I've learned some ebonics- like the words "trippin" and "sugar boo".

6- I've learned that we pledge allegiance everyday not only to the flag of the United States of America- but also the Texas flag. Well... I don't but the students do. 

7- I've learned that BYU taught me REALLY WELL how to teach white, Mormon kids.... 

But not other populations :)

8- I've learned to pick my own battles. In all my dance Ed classes they told me to use music they've never heard before so you wouldn't have the problem of them singing along or getting distracted, etc. ...Yeah right. My students wouldn't do anything if they didn't know the music. That's just how it is.

9- I've learned that students have no qualms about dropping the "f" bomb.

They get in trouble for it- don't worry.

10- I've learned that my first period class is awesome!

But unfortunately I think I owe it to the fact that it's 7:00 am and their bad attitudes haven't woken up yet :)

A Week of Shocks...

We made it.

We made it through our first week of school.

Normally this wouldn't merit such accomplishment- but this year it definitely does.

We both have new roles this year.... roles that require us to wake up at 5 in the a.m.

Jon is the early morning seminary teacher and I have a job teaching high school dance... 

and school starts at 7:00!

It's been quite the adjustment.

I've been kind of jealous that Jon gets to teach from the scriptures everyday... because my first week has been a little less than spiritual ;)

I thought I was used to Houston and it's diversity, but everything came as one big culture shock this week.

My school is 60% Hispanic, 30% African American and 10% white.

My kids speak in Ebonics or Spanish... and half the time I can't understand them.

I say "What?" a LOT.

If there is a white kid in my class- they're Emo and hate life.

Some of my kids are homeless...

A lot of my students already have kids... and if they don't have kids- they're pregnant.

I found a condom on the floor during one of my classes...

"What is this?!"

"Mrs. Brame, Mrs. Brame- it's for science class!"

"Riiiiiiight..."

"Well at least we're being safe!"

I never knew that Sex Education fell under my position as Dance Teacher.

Go figure.

But besides the shock- I couldn't be happier. 

We went to our high school football game on Friday...

and were in shock again.

Texas football is KIND of a big deal.

We loaded up on the bus with the Drill Team...

(P.S. the bus had no AC... but don't worry- it was only 107 degrees)

We had always heard that there is nothing like football in Texas-
and we are slowly learning why.
These people LIVE and BREATHE football.
This was an away game.
But no matter- we still brought the band, the cheerleaders and the drill team.
12 buses in all.
And we had our own police escort.

I helped with the drill team off and on throughout the night and the biggest shock of all came as I rounded the corner to bring the team over to the field...
They were praying.
It's good to know that the world isn't completely terrible.

And although we didn't win-
we sure enjoyed being among the great hordes of Texas football lovin' fans.

Nap Time Dancers

So- a little while ago, I came across this website made by dancing BYU alumni...

"The Nap Time Dance Project"

The premise is this...

As dancers- we love to create and we feel the need for artistic expression.

The problem- we don't all have the outlet for this creative expression.

THUS- the project... moms and wives creating dances across the world using technology.

I had to get in on it.

So I joined the second season of "Nap Time Dancers"-

and it's been a ton of fun.

Here's the duet that we've been working on the past couple of weeks...

We filmed these separately of each other and then pieced it together.

It's not perfect-

but it makes me laugh. 

And thus is it's purpose.

The inspiration came from people watching a few weeks ago. 

I mean, seriously, who DOESN'T love to people watch?

And I could relate while I observed the unaware...

because really- who hasn't been in this situation before?

It's Been A Long Time Coming...

The search for the perfect job...

It's a long road!

I've wanted to be a dance teacher my WHOLE life, but in 9th grade I had my "Career Exploration" teacher tell me that dance teachers didn't make any money... so I couldn't pick that occupation.

Real encouraging, huh?

For several years I was so confused about what I wanted to do...

Dietetics, Elementary School Teacher, Exercise Science-

none of it fit.

That is, until I stumbled upon the "Dance Education" program at BYU.

It was perfect.

I loved every second of it, and was so excited for student teaching and being able to teach in a public education setting.

Enter Jon Brame.

I fell pretty hard, and pretty fast for this boy.

I had two years left of school... he had one.

After his graduation he was planning on leaving and going to grad school...

 and I didn't wanna lose this kid.

SO I changed my major to Dance and graduated with him.
I knocked off a year of school, but that meant

no teaching certificate.

But it was ok- because I had Jon :)

I took a job teaching at a dance studio.

It was a great learning experience- but not quite exactly what I envisioned with my life.

I dreamed of teaching older kids...

Not pre-schoolers.

I love how sweet 2-5 year olds are, 

but I just wanted to be doing something more with my degree.

 So I went back to school this past semester and got my Texas Teaching Certificate.

Lots of Saturday classes, lots of online classes, and lots and LOTS of applying for jobs.

With the budget cuts this year, I lost hope in getting a teaching job.

I was prepared to go back to the studio I previously worked at, 

or work at Burger King ;)

But this past Monday I traveled BACK to Houston to interview with three different schools...

an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school.

I had to cover all ages...
 AND

 I'm so excited to say that I accepted a full time dance teaching position at
North Shore Senior High School!!!!!!!!!!!

 I am now a Mustang-
and proud of it!

A Big Brame Weekend

Along with all the dancing...

we had some visitors this weekend!

Visitors are our favorite thing (right along side chocolate and Blue Bell ice cream!)

The purpose of the visit was three fold...

1- To visit their favorite kids (of course!)

2- To see our recital

3- And lastly to bid farewell to this goofball! He's leaving on his mission in a month and we won't be able to make it up to his farewell :(

 We had fun chattin' with each other...

 Cooking together...

 Going to NASA together...

 And of course- eating together.

What can bring a family closer together than a little Texas BBQ at T-Bone Tom's?

I'm not quite sure there is anything ;)

Another recital, what?

It's true- I guess we just can't get enough of this recital business.

Jon and I took dance classes again this year, and decided to stick around for recital before heading out to Mississippi for the summer. 

(Gypsy lifestyle... I know...)

Anyway, we danced all weekend-

and we sure did love being on a stage again ;)

 The Can Can

 Hip Hop

 Self portraits backstage

 dancing buddies...

 Clogging buddies

Jon did a solo!

And my Jon

 

A bit of crazy...

Wow- hello May.

How are you half way over?

Our life since Thursday has been a marathon...

Ready, set, go!

Thursday was my birthday.

The big 26- I know, I know. 

One step closer to 30.

Don't remind me ;)

I tend to have a mid-life crisis every birthday. 

But that's a story for another day!

Jon made me cinnamon rolls...

 And we opened some presents...

Photoshop Elements- yes!

 Hilarious b-day card from my fam...

 Along with a one pound box of See's chocolate.

Oh yeah.

After our morning celebration... I had to take Jon to the airport.

Everyone feel bad for me... it's ok ;)

Thankfully- my friends saved the day...

Old mission companion took me to Thai food for lunch which was DELICIOUS!

 My naughty sweet kids made me b-day cards.

 For dinner- my cousin and his wife took me to Niko Niko's... the best Greek food ever.

They even brought me cupcakes kuz they were worried I hadn't had a cake... and they were right! 

No birfday cake for me this year.

Friday I had a clogging performance in the morning... and then the rest of the day went a little like this... cleaning, packing, cleaning, packing, cleaning, packing, cleaning, packing.

Luckily my friend Nicole saved me from the madness and took me to get ice cream at the mall.

I'm all about birthdays lasting all weekend :)

And then today was recital day. 

Oh yeah- 14 hours up on my feet, running around after sweet little dancers is just how I love spending my Saturdays.

I'm exhausted and my husband is in Switzerland for a conference.

I think I'll catch a plane to Switzerland and see him tomorrow.

Yeah- good plan :)

Here We Go a Clog-ging

Every Mother's Day weekend our clogging team performs in San Antonio!

So here we are again- kickin' it in San Antone...
We caught a ride with some of our other team members-
and of course had to stop at Buc-ee's.
The biggest, nicest rest stop I've ever seen in my life.
It's a Texas phenomenon.
This place has 49 toilets.
Really- it's big!

Once IN San Antonio, we did some...
Walking along the Riverwalk

 Our stage! Wahoo!

 This building is crazy! It looks like it's just single faced...

These policemen were escorting this mama duck and her baby chicks down to the Riverwalk!

 They had traffic stopped and everything- so funny!

We did some eating!
(TOO much eating... oy)

The Ellsworths came to San Antonio, too!

 Addie LOVED the salsa.

 Eating with our team...

 Jon became known as the "Garbage Disposal"...
he ate everyones leftovers!
See all of his plates?

We did some "remembering" of the Alamo ;)

 Our annual Brame photo in front of the Alamo...

 We promise- this was NOT planned!
(and yes we are wearing almost the exact same thing)
hahaha

We did some wandering in the mall...

and dressing up like Jack Sparrow....

We definitely watched a lot of clogging!

Oh yeah- and I guess we did some dancing, too ;)

These videos are for our mommas who we know WOULD have been at our performance if they could have been! Happy Mothers Day! We love you!

Our intro dance... everyone either has a solo or duet.

Jon and I are the ones in green!

This dance Jon and I choreographed :)

Just a good ol' classic clogging routine

Time bomb... 

Everybody

(If you listen closely you can hear the people video-ing talking about one of the girls losing her tap on stage. The stage was brutal! It would rip our taps right off of our shoes! We lost three taps in all...)