Construction fun......yippee!

I tend to start big things right after my recital. Why? I'm stupid. So the night of my recital, instead of celebrating and sleeping, I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. packing up my kitchen for a major remodel. New cabinets, flooring, fireplace area...basically the whole enchilada.  We had a band of happy helpers coming on Saturday, and I had to be ready. 

We are 10 days into the project. Bill and his dad have done the bulk of the work so far (of which I'm pretty impressed). They are in process of finishing electrical and I can't wait to get my hubby back. 

 The new fireplace, but it will look even cooler with the stainless panels added to it. 

 Projects seem to grow.....because of the double-sided fireplace, the living room had to be dismantled as well. I miss couches. 

 I have used every nook and cranny to store stuff so we aren't tripping over it. 

This is my makeshift  kitchen. 

 Along with this.......gourmet living isn't an option right now. Paper plates and microwavable food. Yummm!

 The converted dance studio/kitchen. It's hard to get through meals since Macy and Emi keep checking themselves out in the mirror. 

 This is really the best part. As we don't have a sink downstairs other than the bathroom sink (please don't ask why....it's kind of my fault that we don't. Bill NEVER brings that up...yeah right). White trash living!

 This whole process has really screwed up my old cat. He's so exasperated with us. 

Needless to say, I'm getting tons of exercise. I have the little fridge downstairs, but am constantly running up and down the stairs to get stuff. 30-40 trips a day these days. Legs of STEEL!

The finish line is still far away, but at least we should be in the right direction soon. No more destroying and more building up. I'm so done with making decisions. This is not my strong suit and it actually exhausts me to no end. The food has been interesting, but not too bad. I have super friends and neighbors that have made sure we haven't starved. I refuse to be all fast food, but it's tempting and an expense we don't need right now (or the calories). I received a bunch of restaurant gift cards for recital, so I'm rationing them. Coldstone for dinner, yes?

Thanks to all of the wonderful people helping us....so far, namely Bill's dad and mom, Lisa, Jim, Ian, John L., Mitch, Paul, Linda, and Joelyn. We love you all!

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.