Recital 2012: Salute to Broadway and Movie Musicals

Every year, I swear this is going to be the last recital. My recital, which lasts about an hour and a half, takes hours upon hours to get ready. This year particularly burned me out. There is a lot going on in my life right now (to say the very least), so it was tricky. However, I think it was the best yet.

It was "Salute to Broadway and Movie Musicals"

My first piece meshed all my teens into a medley of Broadway music through time. Very, very fun. I will try to post that dance sometime.

 Castle on a Cloud (from Les Miz)

 Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Wizard of Oz)

I Whistle a Happy Tune (King and I)

 Singin' in the Rain

 Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (Annie)

 Circle of Life (Lion King)

 Ease on Down the Road (The Wiz)

 I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)

 Life's a Happy Song (The Muppets).....there is my sweet Emi

 Let's Go Fly a Kite (Mary Poppins)....the poor girl in the sling had a broken collar bone. She walked carefully in for the bow.

 Defying Gravity (Wicked)

 Star Wars....a total crowd favorite

 ....and the best part, Parker got to participate in the show as Darth Vader. He stole the show.

 You'll Be in My Heart (from Tarzan)

 Fabulous (High School Musical 2) There is Emi again.

 We're All in this Together (High School Musical)

 Ordinary Miracle (Charlotte's Web)

 and yes...even the teachers. "One" from A Chorus Line

 Footloose (the new country version...yee-haw)

 You Can't Stop the Beat (Hairspray)

 Every year I feel like recital is going to look like this....crazy and confusing.

 But is somehow comes together to turn out like this......I don't understand how that happens!

 It was my 10th anniversary recital. Hard to believe I've done this that long. I guess it won't be my last, that is why I have summer to regroup. 

Happy girls (Emi and friend Jade)

Props to Mom

We hacked into Mommy's Blogger account (really Dad got us in) so we could each share a personal reason why we love our #1 Gal. Mom would never knowingly allow us to gush out heaps of wonderful praise and affection in front of her close friends and relatives. Who wants that? ... especially on Mothers Day!?!

So without further adieu...

Parker : Besides all the "standard" things Mom does for me ...like taking care of me, "feeding me yummy food" (Parker's exact words), helping with my homework, and supplying me with cool books and toys... I really like how Mom takes me to the thrift store and buys me old electronics and appliances so I can dismantle them. She even got me my own tools I get to use on these projects. I think that's pretty neat!

Emi: I love how Mom always takes care of me. When I am sick, Mom always does extra-nice things to make me feel better. Like today - she made me a Lime slushy and let me take a nap in her comfy bed.  She is the best!

Quinn: Mom thinks of everything. I really like to swing in the backyard, but the chains on the swing pinch my skin and it hurts. So, Mom got some bubble-wrap and put it around the chains. Now I have these really soft handles to use when I swing. Thanks Mom!

Macy: Mommy lets me be me. I'm only 2, but I already have plenty of personality. I love to dance - I will bust a move anywhere or anytime I hear a good beat. I love to help Mommy teach dance classes. I love to watch the dancers and Mommy, but I also like to jump in and learn the choreography myself. Mommy thinks that is pretty cool. Recently, I've developed a new love - StarWars! My brothers and Daddy may have had something to do with it. My latest favorite pastime is lightsaber dueling with my siblings and Daddy. Mommy is very good to not dissuade me from learning the ways of The Force. She is a very good sport - maybe because it's a lot like dancing - but with flesh cutting lasers.

Thanks for all of the above and for ALL the other things you do for us, MOM

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Park, Emers, Quinny, and Macy Mace

I'll be back....

Don't leave my blog. I'll come back soon. I'm just in the middle of about 20 things, including a dance recital for my studio, registration for next year, and starting a kitchen remodel. Life is fine and well, but frantic. It's kind of the norm for me, which really HAS TO CHANGE. I'll be addressing that soon. I used to thrive on the craziness, but it's starting to create big issues for me, my health, and my sanity. Love life, love the changes ahead. Wish me luck. Hope all of you (I act like I have a big following...I don't) are doing well in your life.

I have a super cute family.....at least in photos.

I've been with them all day by myself, so they aren't so super cute anymore. But I digress.....

As you can see from my header, we did some spring photos. Why, why, why would I add this stress to my life during recital time? I have 2 year old pics of all my kids, except Macy. She is 2 1/2 and time is ticking away. Plus I'm a sucker for tulips. There was major stress before. It was pouring rain most the day, even on the drive to Thanksgiving Point. We were lucky that it cleared up enough for us to do it, though it was really cold! The photographers camera battery died, and it took a bit to get the new one, but we survived without getting too ugly. I loved the photographer. So crazy and good for the kids. 

Let's start with the individuals:

(she should be a model, don't you think? This is the same little angel who ran full force into Quinn's soccer game today, donning her "Super Macy" cape)

 And the  groups.....

What do you think? ( I could use some love and gushing today about my family and their cuteness)

Spring Break....the Arizona experience

So after Bryce Canyon, we drove to Arizona. We stopped at a Pizza Hut on the way and sat by 2 guys in Raiders shirts. I wonder who these cars belong to? Really, I don't love anything the wayRaider fans love their team.

But then to the warm and wonderful Arizona heat. We had several pools at our disposal (including a super-splash pool), air hockey, ping pong, giant checkers, playgrounds, lazy river, and a waterslide. We hardly ever left the property. So BEAUTIFUL. And the best part? Bill's parents met us there and we loved spending time with them.

The wildlife in the area was so fun. My kids went on several bunny hunts. We fed quails, bunnies, and the occasional lizard from our balcony. The lady giving me my pedicure did tell me to beware because the hawks often scoop up the bunnies. She always worries about her little puppy. Really glad we didn't have a "circle of life" moment on this trip.

My kids were like fish. They hardly got out of the water. Which made for this tired trio. (Quinn, grandpa, and Li-Li)

Easter is always tricky when you are away, but the Easter bunny was smart enough to find us. And what a novel idea to have eggs outside that weren't buried in snow? I could get used to this.

Macy loved the lazy river. I was hoping she would decide to nap there so I could just float around with her and not have to watch 3 other kids.

(in case you are wondering, my husband has no leg hair for reasons that have to do with his biking. Yes, it is strange, but I love him anyway. I once didn't go on a second date with a guy who did the same thing....for that reason.)

Instead, she napped like this.

Quinn was quite accident-prone this trip and I'm seriously amazed he never rolled into a cactus or anything. Loved this one on our LONG drive home. It wasn't too bad, except Macy lost her breakfast an hour into the drive. 9 more hours of the smell. But we survived and I want to go back!

Back to reality.