A pretty Successful weekend

Well, the kids did well this weekend.

Dani's dances recieved all Gold Awards, as well as 2 of them placing in Top Overall Scores - her HipHop number placed 3rd overall in the Beginner Group, and one of her Tap Numbers got 1st overall in the Intermediate group! Good Job. Wes' HipHop number got a silver award! On top of that, Dani made the final cut of 5 finalists for the Tap Auditions for a Scholarship. This is out of the entire Intermediate Students, which was probably close to 100 dancers!

The only thing that made me sad is that we didn't get too many good pictures of the kids dancing. :-( I swear I need to hire a professional to follow us around during this time of year to get some good shots of them dancing. I am always too busy with costume changes to do it, and when I CAN do it, I REALLY suck at low light action shots. REALLY REALLY SUCK.

Two more weekends to go - if you want to come watch the kids, they are dancing at Glendale Glitters (at Murphy Park in Glendale) on 11/27 at 8pm and 12/5 at 8pm. Get there early and grab a good seat!

Its Showtime!

Well, to be exact tomorrow is showtime...

But its time for us to double check everything and head on down to Mesa! I always get excited. Yes, I admit it is a stressful time leading up to it, and Saturday night is always a bit hectic. But its the kids chance to really shine.

I am hoping to take my broke down laptop to post from, but I don't know if we get free wifi. Check for mobile uploads on Twitter and Facebook, for the pics I take with my phone. I think I am going to have to relinquish the camera to WO (as always) I can't wait until the Diva can change by herself, and I can actually take the pictures. Right now, since we have to race to get her changed...

So, until Sunday night...dance like no one is watching

Dance like No One in watching...well except for the pesky judges

OK, getting closer and closer to the big competition! For those of you local folks who may want to come hang and cheer the kids on, it's Dupree Dance Expo, and it is at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa and competition starts at 3pm. And the Diva is in the 2nd dance, so get there at about 2:30 I would say. And bring me a drink :-)

I have the feeling I am forgetting something. Something other than Thanksgiving (which I will be remedying tomorrow morning, thanks for asking) I have lists and lists and lists, but I just have this nagging feeling.

So tonight, after dance of course, I am doing laundry and starting to pack. I also still have to charge cameras and empty the memory cards for them. Double check costumes, make up and accessories. After the shopping trip, I will load up the car. After that, its time to relax (ha!) and enjoy the convention and competition.

I am hoping for great things for the kids. Wes and his class are great, as long as they focus. Last year they stole the show! Of course Dani's classes are full of talented dancers, as long as they pull together and really put it all out. I would love to see the girls bring home all Gold Ribbons, but it all depends on what the judges SEE. For once this year, I can't think of a number that the girls don't like. It seems like every year there has been one number that they aren't "In" to and it really shows, they just go through the motions. Of course, can't say any of this to Dani...we are proud of them no matter what they bring home, as long as they put their heart and soul into their dances! I just really want to see them NAIL these numbers! I know they can do it, it is just convincing THEM of that.

Yes, its time for the Mama Rose in me to come out, but I keep her in check most of the time (mainly by reminding myself that Mama Rose actually pushed her daughter into stripping...ok burlesque, but there aren't many burlesque shows any more) All I can really do is tell the kids, Dance Like No One is Watching...smile and have fun!

Crap, I totally forgot!

How does one forget a major Holiday? Especially a major holiday that centers around food.

Ok, I didn't comletely forget that Thanksgiving was coming, but I totally forgot that it is NEXT WEEK. Normally no big deal, right? Just pick up a turkey and the rest on my next grocery trip. Except that all weekend long I will be dealing with the dance Diva and her drama.  We check into the hotel Friday afternoon and check out Sunday! I suppose I could brave the grocery store Sunday evening...but if I do I am going to need to pick up some pepper spray first. The grocery store on Sunday Evening is SCARY.

I simply cannot believe I was unable to put 2 and 2 together and realize that Thanksgiving is next week. On all my calendars I have notes on the 26th & 27th that says "off" and "No School" but that doesn't mean a damn thing obviously.

So I am furiously trying to make shopping lists, clean out the fridge so I have room for this food, and find time in my schedule (which is currently full of dance rehearsals, rhinestoning sessions, and costume altering) to shop for this food. Hmm...

I'm Still Standing

So Hell week is just about on us, and I am still standing (barely)

Even though I was pretty much down for the count on Friday, I did manage to handle yesterday fairly well. And let me tell you that it was an insanely long day. Up by 5am to shower and get kids up and dressed for an 7:30am report time at the Y for Wes' last basketball game of the season. They won, no baskets for Wes, but more rebounds, blocks & steals. We will work on the scoring.

Off to dance, where we stayed until almost 4pm. Ok, I ran some errands, and we got lunch. But we were still at dance forever. Lucky for us @paigeiam invited us over for yummy Turkey Chili. Yay no cooking for me. So that topped off the day a little more positively! Always good to go to a friends house and laugh at your kids and fart jokes! Especially after am emotional afternoon...But thats another story.

So today is playing catch up on the house - which I am so sick of it's not even funny. There are times I wonder if I can just pack my bags and leave the mess for the people who created it. I am so having a family meeting and explaining that if they can not at least pick up after themselves, then I am NOT going to bust my butt to decorate the house to make it beautiful for Christmas and the like. Oh, and Santa does NOT stop at messy, undecorated houses. Yes, I use the Jolly Old Fat man as a threat to my kids, so sue me. One of the best parts of Christmas is using Santa as blackmail and coercion  for good behavior. 

Anyway, today is cleaning, fixing costumes, and starting to put everything together for Dupree next weekend. We drive down Friday afternoon, check in, have a fun afternoon with the Girls (New Moon, do I need to say more?)