Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Could be a great opportunity!

I love to take pictures, I always have my camera right handy at home to snap that shot of the kids or the pets or the wildlife outside. But I also love to bring it with me on yes Dance trips to local and not so local competitions! I love to capture that moment that not every one sees but I do. The world looks so awesome through the lens of my Nikon! I was the official photographer in NYC on our Nationals Dance Competition and wow did I capture some great shots 1200 of them to be exact.
Well I was approached by a Dancer at the Centre that needed her Senior Pictures done because her photography had to cancel, I could not believe it when she asked me, I was nervous and excited at the same time.
So on Monday September 19th 2011 we met at Fort Williams it was a picture perfect day with not a cloud in the sky just beautiful sunshine. She was so easy to work with and each pose and smile came natural to her (must be all those years of dance and performing) I could not wait to get them loaded on the computer and see what shots I could use. They are going to have a tough time deciding they were all beautiful, some things I would had done a bit different but you know its a learning adventure.
As soon as I get approval from her and her mom I will post them so you can see them. I'm hoping this will be the start of a new adventure in one of my favorite hobbies.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Time to get serious!



Well the camping season is over for us for this year. We had some great trips and made some wonderful memories, Amber as much of a girly girl that she is loves to be outside and still do the camping thing. Lauren even though she was camping while still in the womb and first official camping trip was when she was only 4 months old she seems to be a seasoned pro ha ha. Both her and Amber love to gather sticks for the fire and explore everything. Lauren is quite lucky to have such a helpful sister that will show her the ropes.
Now its time to get down to dance well we really never stop. Well lets just say its not as busy. Well classes have started at the centre and Amber is taking 7 classes this year and we are down to just two days a week in Gorham. She is the dancing queen. LOVES it! Lauren loves to watch but also thinks that she can be a part of all the classes at well. But her turn will start on Thursday where she will take part in the Tumbling for Twos class this will be a blast for Lauren, so excited to see how she likes it. So our family time in the great outdoors now switches to family time at the Centre but we are so lucky to be a part of such an awesome Dance Family. We all have a really good time. Plus Lisa (AKA Christi) is there and its always a great time when we can hang out! So more to come on the class this week for Lauren and Amber has a performance this weekend too.
See so lets Get DANCE SERIOUS!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Everyone Dance mom has an inner "Dance Mom"

When I say the "inner dance mom" I'm referring to the new show on
Lifetime "Dance Moms. I'm not afraid to admit that this is my favorite show on TV, my addiction really. I'm not one to sit and watch TV just because its on but when it comes to Wednesday nights at 10:00 you can bet that the kids are sound asleep in bed and that my butt is not moving off the couch for the next hour. Its a show about the Abbey Lee Dance Studio in Pennsylvania. She calls herself the cream of the crop in the dance world of teaching and competition. Well I will give her that she is the cream of the crop of
DRAMA and well she does have some very talented girls. Well the moms are just crazy: They fight and argue with Abby, they fight and argue with each other, things get heated and a bit no wait quite a bit out of hand. Each one of the moms have a certain personality and well have their own issues that makes the show what it CRAZY. First is Melissa she is Maddie and Mackenzie's mom she is hmmm passive but lets the others know with a slight jab once in awhile that her daughter is the best! Christi is Chloe's mom she is very out spoken and not afraid to approach Abbey when she feels that her daughter Chloe is being treated unfairly. Kelly has two daughters that dance Brooke and Paige. She feels that she is always getting the shaft on everything her daughters are always last to get everything and is not afraid to call Abby out either on anything. Cathy is Vivi's mom lets just say she wants to be the dancer she wants to be in control, she makes the rules. Holly is Nia's mom she is professional on the team that wants her daughter to have fun and not feel pressured, Holly is the level headed one on the Dance Moms team.
OK well now let me get to my point here, can I relate to some of these moms hell yeah I'm not ashamed of it at all. I want the best for my daughter, I want her hard work to pay off (Top of the Pyramid) and hell if you cross me I would be afraid to let the inner Kelly in me come out. If those dance moms really think about it YES they too can relate to one of these moms maybe not over the top like they are but at some point they have indeed had the "Inner Dance Mom" come out. Its funny to watch because if I was to categorize myself with anyone of those moms it would be Kelly!  So be at one with your "inner dance mom" its ok!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

This is only the beginning. . . .

This is how I spent my day yesterday, cleaning Amber's playroom well it has turned into well her dance room, this is where she dances and keeps most of her dance things, shoes, bags ect. Well going in there and seeing costumes rolled up in the corner, dance bags with some clothes and dance bags with just shoes. It was time for some organization. Was much easier to do it without her here. She tends to be a little pack rat hmm wonder where she gets that from.
So now the closet that once was home to games of Candy Land and Connect four is now a dance closet. This is just a small amount of dance costumes of recent competition dances and recitals the others have been packed away. Lets hope that this organizing system works a little better.
Its hard to believe that my 9 year old already needs another closet for her stuff and this is just Dance Stuff, wow this dance mom thing does not only involve spending time well hours on end at the center but it has now over taken a closet and leads into being home. Maybe we will need to add on to the house! Lets hope that will not be for quite sometime. I would still like to add some more shelves and would love someplace in her room or in her playroom to put up her ribbons and trophies, but I also have to remember that she shares the playroom with her always on the move little sister. This year I want it organized so we can just pack it and go and not hunt around for a missing pair of booty shorts or a hairnet at the last minute. We will see how well this closet works out! 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

I'm the same person I was but now I have come to reality that I'm a Dance Mom!

I decided to change up my blog a bit, It first started several years ago as a random blog about anything and everything. Then a little over a year and a half ago, it was changed to my life as a stay at home mom. Now it's still a little bit of both of those with an added twist of me being a Dance Mom!
Now when Amber started dancing in 2005 I never thought it would become her passion, maybe a hobby but not a full time life. From her first recital as a snowflake to her first competition in "Car Wash" she is now passionate about Dance. Amber has been on the competition team for three years now. Last year was her first solo "He's a Tramp" a tap number, and also her first duo "Anytime you Need a Friend" with her "big dance sister Liz.
From the moment that Amber competed in her first competition I knew she would be hooked, so it was just a matter of time before the life of just a class or two at the centre would change and boy it has.
Last year was Amber's first duo and solo competition as I said earlier. I will never forget it we were at the Dance Educators of America Dance Competition in Springfield Mass. Our first travel and overnight competition. This was the first time that Amber would perform her solo and a duo for a competition. I was so nervous I remember tossing and turning the night before as she lay sound asleep next to me.
The next morning it was time to do it, make-up check, hair check, costume check, oh and the dog check. The moment that the number and name was called I had tears rolling down my face (hey no one ever said that Dance Moms don't cry) At that very moment I knew that my life had changed for the better, I was an official dance mom. Having it be our first travel competition it was full of fun, trip to the mall with country bumpkins take on big city Springfield, to the centre game Scatagories, hmm met my match on being competitive (Mariel) and well learned that you can only let the Director cheat so much before you have to put a stop to it, and knowing that you can learn a lot about some people by just spending a weekend with them. Thank god no one was killed (right Christi) So now continues my life as a Dance Mom. The stories will get better and well you will just have to stay tuned. Oh and if I can add this is one Crazy Dance Family we belong to but man you gotta love them!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

March Showers Bring Spring Flowers Right

Well when I woke up this morning it was grey and yes snowing but the snow quickly changed to RAIN, so the first thing I thought was Great Spring is on the way, I hope anyway. I know that I'm feeling a little big of cabin fever and well Amber told me just today "Mom I'm so sick of this snow, the rain is better see it's making the snow go away." Plus Lauren has not had a chance to walk on the grass, or even on the dirt this Spring is sure to be a real treat for her.
As I walked through the grocery store I stopped and picked up a few green plants to admire and then looked at the tulips and thought maybe my tulips have poked up through the snow that still is about 12 inches in the flower beds. Maybe I need to treat myself to a nice flowering plant to bring Spring into the house or begin a nice through cleaning starting from the rugs to the celling well we will see about that I need some sunny days first.
So untill the sunshines and it reaches close to 50 I guess My sunshine will still continue to be my little ladies that bring the sunshine into my life each day.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

It begins. . . . Dance Competition

I love this time of year at the Centre of Movement where Amber had been dancing for the last 6 years, and been on the competition team for the last two. This year is extra special for she is doing her very first solo a tap number call "He's a Tramp" and a duo with her "Big Sister Liz" to the song "Anytime you need a friend"
So this past weekend we headed to Springfield, MA for the first competition of the season. Dance Educators of America were the ones that put this competition on. I was so nervous, because it would be Amber's first solo and duo, and the fact that this would be the first time being away from Lauren even though I knew she was in good hands.
The trip down we crammed three teenagers, an 8 year old and three adults into the Yukon and made a memorable trip to say the least. It was fun to keep the girls laughing I remember what it was like to be 12 and 15 and 16. We well I tried to get the truckers to honk and well I was successfull with two honks all the other truckers were too busy talking on the cell phone and texting and oh yeah reading, how the world has changed so much.
We made some fun memories that night was we explored the city of Springfield and the city bus system, what an experience, for being the only white people on the bus and at the mall they were all very nice and helpful and I think they were talking about us most of the time. Well at least we made them laugh.
The morning would come all too early but I was so excited to see the team perform. Hair, make-up and costume and we are ready to go.Amber's first dance was her solo oh yes.
My nerves were far from calm and as she walked out onto the stage I cried and never stopped until her performance was over she did awesome, we were so proud of her. Oh yeah Matt cried too and so did the stranger in back of me. She was so happy with how she did and I was glad to hear her teacher give her kudos on how hard she worked and that she did great.
After a quick change Amber would be ready for her next number which is her duo with her "Big Sis Liz" They looked great on stage even though the music stopped before their number was finished and Liz being the experienced dancer that she is continued and so Amber followed suite.
Then it was not long and the first round of awards were given out. Amber received a Platinum for her Solo and a special "Broadway Bound" award and for her duo with Liz they received a Gold and a special award.

Amber also performed with her group to the song "Dancing in the Streets" they earned a Gold for that performance. It was a very successful weekend for the whole Centre of Movement Competition Team. Our next competition is only two weeks away and so more practice and perfecting of the the numbers are in order, I hope that next time I wont be as nervous but I can't promice there will not be tears.

Monday, February 28, 2011

A New Year



Well It's a new year and I have some great ideas on staying up to date on my Blog, (I will do ther best that I can) The Holidays have come and gone and it was wonderful I love to see the magic of the season in the eyes of Amber the older she gets the more of the magic of beleiving comes out. It was also Lauren's First Christmas well she had the stomach flu so that was how her first Christmas began she did take a break from vomiting to open her gifts and enjoy them.


But now with the new year I watch my Amber take such pride and acheivement in her dance classes and look forward to a couple of months of dance competitions. She continues to grown into that beatuiful ballerina (I wont push those years)


Lauren started walking a month before she turned on so she is a now a confident little toddler. She had a wonderful birthday with a trip to the Cracker Barrell and her first piece of cake and she is definitly her mother's daughter CHOCOLATE. Also had her family birthday party she is such a people person not afraid of anyone that she has seen at least once. (but she also does make sure i'm not too far from her. She is growing so FAST.


Well January also marked a year since being laied off from work at CMP a year ago I looked at it as a curse and how were we gonna make it with a seven year old and an infant and now I look at it as a blessing, don't get me wrong we have given up on a lot sold the boat and got rid of the car and got one that we did not need payments on. Yeah some meals are just grilled cheese but It's so worth every minute and every dollar that I no longer make.


Being a stay at home mom is a dream come true, I never thought chasing my daughter through the house or rocking her to sleep or even cuddling with her during an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would make me look at things so diffrently now, I know I can't wait to get Amber off the bus so we can do homework together and play just us girls. It has been such a snowy Winter that I pray for snow days right along with Amber. Even though Summer can't come soon enough and that Spring Vacation as well.


Well I hope that I have caught up with my Blog I have included all the important details and then some so off to try and revamp this site, here are some pictures from the new year.