Kenneth and Eetsy arrived late "Thursday evening, November 20,2015 for an Irish Dance Competition. I went to the airport for them. We also took Betsy's friend, Julia, and her mother to their hotel.
It is so great to have Kenneth here for a good visit and playing the piano.
Betsy is here for a Western United States Regional Oireachtas (which in Irish means competition)
I have been looking forward to the visit of my son and granddaughter for a long time.
Friday morning I made waffles for breakfast.
Betsy is also a good piano player.I am happy that she and her Dad like to play the piano
Kenneth works on the case that they brought on the plane with Betsy's dance costume.
We went by the hotel to take Julia and her mother with us to the Competition. This is the first time either girl had seen limes growing. They said they didn't know they grew on trees.
The competition was held at the Arizona Grand Hotel in Tempe/.
Betsy is excited for the competition. She took her first plane ride to come to Arizona.
This is the cover of the program for the competition.
Betsy's name is in the program on the page of Shelley School of Irish Dance where she takes lessons. This page lists all those competing from her school.
Betsy competes with the Mixed Ceilti on Saturday.
We watched several of the performer compete in various categories.
I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful dance costumes.
We stayed to support several of their friends dance from their school in Utah.
There were competitions going on in three different ballrooms with five judges in each one.
There were contestants from all over the western United States.
The music in each ball room was live with a piano, accordion and in some rooms a violin also.
It was fun to watch the various Irish dances.
We found the schedule for Betsy's performance.
Her performance was listed for Saturday at 11 am.
Betsy and I waited by the fountain while Kenneth went for our car.
The competition is being held in Tempe just a few miles from where Kenneth grew up.
We drove around the neighborhood to Tempe High School, MaKemy Jr. High, Broadmor and the Tempe Stake Center.
We also drove by the two homes where we lived.
The dental office brings back lots of memories.
Kenneth treated us to lunch.
Betsy wanted sea food. She ordered shrimp.
We ate at Joe's Crab Shack.
This was an interesting sea food restaurant.
Amy came over in the evening to visit with her brother and niece.
I made a chicken dinner for us.
I enjoyed so much having Kenneth and Betsyi visit.
Amy and Kenneth have a lot in common since they are both involved with hospitals.
Betsy set up the dominoes in a ring.going from the table up around the turn table
Then we watched them all topple over.
Saturday morning we were up early to get ready to go to the Irish Folk Dance Competition
Betsy had her costume all ready to take .
We got there in time to watch another group from Shelley School of Irish Dance perform.
We were happy to be there to give them our support.
They bowed as they finished their dance.
And walked off the stage as another group walked on.
Betsy in her dance costume all ready to perform.
They practiced in the courtyard before they went on.
One of the boys in their group was injured so they had to have a substitute from a younger group.
I enjoyed watching them rehearse.
Betsy's teacher helps them prepare for their competition.
They practiced their dance over and over.
Betsy and Julia dance together.
The team is waiting for their turn to perform.
Betsy's group in competition dancing what they call a Ceilti.
I thought they did really well with their dance.
They posed for pictures after. In this photo we hve the boy who danced and the boy who got hurt and couldn't dance.
Betsy's poses for a picture.
She is a beautiful girl and a beautiful dancer.
Betsy and Julia pose together after the competition.
They enjoy dancing together.
Rauna and Fred came to watch Betsy dance.
Betsy's fan club.
Betsy and her Grandma
I am happy that I could be with her for her competition.
Betsy and her Dad.
They had the opportunity to do some daddy daughter bonding.
Kenneth is very supportive of his children's activities.
How special for us that the competition was in Arizona.
Kenneth treated us at dairy queen.
We had dinner together before they went to the Sound of Music to watch Dale perform.
I took Kenneth and Betsy to the airport for their trip home early Sunday morning.
