Please Send Gas Cards and a Cloning Machine.

Our schedule is going to make me crazy this year, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Anyway, people only know me by my crazy.

If I was all sane and calm and content, people would think I was smokin' something herbal.

And, most people know I only enjoy smoke if I'm in the center of a casino.

So, here it is, the schedule of crazy for this school year.


Monday
7:45-School drop off
9am-Preschool drop off
12pm-Preschool Pickup
2:08-4th grade pickup
3pm-7th grade pickup
4:15-K Soccer
5pm-My Boy Soccer
5pm-DQ Dance
5:15-Soccer Pickup
6:30-Soccer Pickup
7:30-Dance Pickup

Tuesday
7:45-School drop off
2:08-4th grade pickup
3pm-7th grade pickup
3:30-K Dance
4:30-K Dance pickup

Wednesday
7:45-School drop off
9am-Preschool drop off
12pm-Preschool Pickup
2:08-4th grade pickup
3pm-7th grade pickup
5pm-My Boy Soccer
5pm-DQ Dance
6:30-Soccer Pickup
7:30-Dance Pickup

Thursday
7:45-School drop off
2:08-4th grade pickup
3pm-7th grade pickup
7pm-DQ Dance
8pm-Dance pickup


Friday
7:45-School drop off
9am-Preschool drop off
12pm-Preschool Pickup
2:08-4th grade pickup
3pm-7th grade pickup

That doesn't even include dr/orthodontist/dentist/eye appointments, playdates, or parties.

Not to mention, how much driving will I be doing?  I should put a Taxi sign on the top of my car and add a meter and make a buck!

Or we should live in the car.  If it had a hot plate and wi-fi, i'm telling you I would.

At least 3 nights a week dinner-prep and execution is going to be insane.
AND...2 nights a week, I have to be in two places at once.  Superduper.

Hmm...smoking a little something is sounding better and better.

Just kidding mom and dad.

Daaaaance the Night Away!

It's here.

Dance Recital, 2010.

DQ's week to shine, with an added bonus of little sister's debut.


5 costume changes.  A few quick-changes with only minutes to organize and my oldest daughter is a star.

Ballet. Jazz (competition), Lyrical, tap production, jazz, with competition tap tonight.

I'm so impressed always by her devotion to dance.  She arranges all her costumes daily to ready herself for the event.  She changes with attention to detail, applying just enough makeup, straightens her tights, lines up the seams.  Dances her heart out each and every time.

She is beyond needing mom backstage to help her.

Independent.  Beautiful.  In control.

Light on her feet.

K still needs mom.

At their first performance last night, I was line-mom for the eight 3 and 4 year olds.  Brought back memories from teaching Kindergarten except with ruffles and curls to tend to.

The girls did beautifully dancing to "It's My Party" and they were all smiles and singing.

Each girl with a mind of their own.

K says, "I'm SOOOO eeeksited! Mommy will you buy me flowers when I'm all done?"

Backstage waiting to dance then waiting for final bows, we kept the littles entertained with bubbles, coloring books, snacks, books, and cuddles into the dark night. (backstage was actually outside behind the theater)

Tonight is the final night, I get to sit in the audience and watch my girls shine.

DQ will receive a 5-year award with the studio and I am a proud dance mama.

Giving flowers to my favorite girls.

Live.Love.Dance.

The Color of the Week is Hot.Pink.

The sun did come out this week.

Just enough to put the needed smile on my face.

The sun wasn't yellow.

Nope, it was...

Hot.Pink.



Costume one of seven for DQ.

K's recital song, "It's My Party!"

And she'll cry if she wants to.


But, I'm pretty sure she won't.

"How many more SCHWEEP-aways until my cidal?"

About a month honey.

"Oh that is so close!"

Put a Ring on It

Single Ladies is running through my head non-stop.

Maybe because I heard it about 4,581 times today.

Dance competition season is upon us.

In between numbers they play music, the DJ must be in contract with Beyonce.

Anyway, she who shall not be named performed in two dances today.

Oh yeah, we can't even call her DQ anymore on my blog.

Too embarassing.

Don't talk about me on your blog.

Typing that is even worse.

She's sitting next to me right now laughing, so I know she secretly loves it.

Where was I?!

Oh yeah, two dances, rocked them both.

Jazz dance is super duper cute.

Tap dance is amazing.

Fabulous.

Tappers feet are just so cool to watch.

I wish I had an ounce of SWSNBN's talent.

She just told me she's not talented.

Bupkis.

That I could be as good if I took a lesson.

But, I won't.

I can't.

I'd make a mockery of the dance biz, yo.

I just like to dance in the privacy of my own living room.

To Beyonce.

Single Ladies.

Booty shake and all.

While popping kisses in my mouth.

I've digressed again.

So two Platinum awards later, my girl did so great at her first comp of the season.

We get to do it all over again next weekend.

Double Platinum girls, you can do it!

There's a New Dancer in Town!

And her name is K.

This girl is so excited to be in dance class.

For 3.5 years she's been taking sister to class.

Watching sister's recitals, competitions, and learning all her moves.

We told her "after we get home from Tahoe, your dance class starts!"

Since then she'd say, "after Tahoe, my dance cydal [recital]."

Um...okay, close enough, just nod your head at her.

Now the girl is donning the pink tights/black leotard/pink ballet shoes/black patent leather tap shoes/pink skirt uniform.

Oh and is she just LOVING it?!

She is NOT shy.

Warming up Hamming it up before the class gets there.

Stretching with her "SRiends" [friends]

Across the floor.

Oh the beauty of it all!

Point your toes.

If only it were Dance Class day, everyday!

A Winner in My Book

Sic Kicks...yo.

Ya so ite, ya so ite, ya so ite, you such a showoff.

Oh the sass is too much!

Glasses, check. Boa, check. Leopard stools, check.

Attitude, uh uh no you di'nt, check.

Gahjuss dahling!


-gangsta words or song lyrics may be totally 1997, just trying to ..represent, yo-
Even more winners? Check out Sarcastic Mom

All in a Day's Dance

Competition dance season is upon us.

DQ is competing in both jazz and hip hop this season and Saturday was our first comp.

It's all definately a rush.

For her mostly, but as a "dance mom" I must say that I really love all that goes in the big events.

The chaos in the dressing rooms is a blur of sequins, feathers, and makeup.

Makeup.

Yeah, not hubby and my favorite part.

I understand it's for the stage and to be seen, but well...anyway.

There's always that last minute anticipation too.

Sweating because the last girl hasn't shown up and they're running ahead of schedule for once.

Adrenalin pumping as the next number up is yours and your teacher and the music is just parking the car.

You're announced and then you are on stage, the lights bright and hot. It's hip hop, and her team rocked it.

Hats stayed on, knee-hi socks didn't roll, totally on, in sync, and just nailed it all.

Second rush...because we started a little late we need to get back out there quick with our next number approaching.

The dressing room is stagnant with adolescent sweat. Costumes flying, new ones yanked on.

Tights pulled tight (please don't rip), makeup, hair, arm bands adhered with double-sided tape.

Jazz.

Think tutus, pink leopard outfit, diamond shades, feather boas, and a pink leopard step stool prop.

Props. So many things can go awry.

Song aptly named, "Fabulous" from High School Musical.

Don't. Slip. Off. Stools.

Phew.

And, they were fab!

Final awards, 5 hours later....

Earning High Gold award, Darling Divas Award, plus top 3 overall performances for their age group. Holla!

Despite the 12 hour day, my shy, quiet, bookworm is a shining star on the stage and just loves it all!

They're off to a great start, we do it again in 2 weeks.

Maybe this dance mom will actually take her camera out of the car next time.

More Than Thumbs & Kicks

It's Observation Week at DQ's dance studio.

First on the agenda, Tap III.

I feel bad because most of the time when my oldest daughter pulls her tap shoes on, I run for the nearest earplug or ibuprofen bottle. I've developed a tap-tic, because ever since our kitchen, dining, and computer room got laminate flooring, our home has become a regular dance hall.

But in the studio, with a class of talented young ladies and one amazing teacher, the sound is a foot-powered symphony.

Today I welcomed the strong beating of the wood floor and watched in awe.

Tap dancing is one of my favorites to watch. I study everyone's feet and just wish I had an ounce of ability in me.

I dance like Elaine Benes, from Seinfeld, at best.

This is me. Thumbs and kicks.


But my daughter is a dancer. She is committed, she is self-disciplining, and she is good at it!

I love seeing DQ in her element.

Away for a moment from the sibling rivalry, the resisting chores, the sassy tween-atude. She is confident, strong, and capable.

I've always known it, I just love to see it, to feel it, to learn from it.

Tomorrow's class, Hip Hop II.

Gold Diggin'

Christmas Time, 2006
My Boy was feeling the urge to "move it move it" so I got a little of his moves on video.

Yes, that is Gold Digger by Kanye West. No, he had no clue what the lyrics meant.

Turn up the volume, it's kinda quiet!

He Goes to the "Gym"

Remember, I'm a people watcher.

While waiting for our lanes at the bowling alley on campus last weekend, we hung around and watched all the kids/college students hang out in the arcade.

I was fascinated by this guy who was working one of those Wii-type dancing machines.

He totally was rocking the steps, I couldn't even keep up with what color was where, but he looked like he's been doing this a while.

DQ, the dancer, even was impressed by this guys fancy footwork.


Wow, I thought, this guy probably tells his parents/friends/girlfriend? that he works out in the gym every day. All the while he feeds the arcade machine quarter after quarter, rocking out to some anime-style rock videos. Nonetheless, it's a fab workout.

At one point the game ends with a big "FAIL" on the screen and he pouts off to the soda machine for a drink, dripping with sweat. Only to come back 10 minutes later for his revenge.

The next two songs, aced, he get's A's for his effort and apparently proud of himself, he leaves.

Gym membership, $250. Arcade dance-machine workout, $2.50. Blog fodder for The Mom, priceless.

I'm totally jealous, he lost like 10 pounds just dancing while I gained about that much watching.

Things Sisters Do

I never had a sister, so I didn't get to dress anyone up or be the human Barbie doll as my girls enjoy playing. It's sweet, it's fun and I'm shocked that just last year DQ was wearing most of these outfits!

K is pretty easy to please. When big sister is giving her all the attention she thrives. Their fashion show was adorable and K was a ham posing.

"Dancey Dancey" K says about all her outfits as big sis has worn them in her recitals over the past few years. It's only a matter of a year that K will hit the stage, I think she'll be a natural performer.

This Week at Dancers Anonymous

Wednesday
9:15a.m. Go to dance studio and await Limo.
9:55a.m. Get picked up in Limo with best-dance-friends to be taken to the local movie theater. It's student appreciation day and the studio instructor treats the girls












10:00a.m. Arrive at the movies. Parents wait patiently as 7-8 limoloads of girls arrive and walk the "red carpet" dressed to the nines.

*Sorry this is sideways, I don't know how to fix it!*


10:15a.m. Popcorn and soda is purchased and they enter Alvin and the Chipmunks.
11:30a.m. Pickup time...until later.
3:30p.m. Arrive at dance studio dressed for picture day.
3:45p.m. Wait in the heat-filled upstairs studio as the photographers are about 30 minutes behind schedule.
4:15p.m. Take first picture-ballet-then change into hip hop costume.
4:45p.m. Take HH picture-change into Jazz costume.
5:20p.m. Take Jazz photo.
5:40p.m. Take Tap production photo, luckily same outfit.
5:55p.m. Take Jazz Duo photo, change into Jazz comp. outfit.
6:10p.m. Take Jazz comp photo, change into Misfits costume.
6:30p.m. Take Misfits picture, change into studio sweatsuit.
7:25p.m. Take solo photo and comp team pic. OUTTA THERE.

Thursday
8 a.m. Wake and dress for auditions
8:45 a.m. Arrive at studio, half-grumpy, wait for Hip Hop Auditions for next year's competition team
9-10a.m. Learn dance, perform, get judged.
10-11a.m. Audition for Juniorettes Tap and Jazz competition, learn dance, perform, get judged.
11 a.m. Come home and organize outfits for Dress Rehearsal tonight.
6 p.m. Leave for Dress Rehearsal
6:05 p.m. Arrive at auditorium and set up Kaboodle and Costume carrier, get dressed for first dance.
*approx.* 9:30p.m. Finish 6 dances of 39 studio performances.

Friday
5:30p.m. Arrive at auditorium for day 1 of Recital
7p.m. Recital begins, dress and undress 6 times and perform dances
*approx* 10pm. Final Bows

Saturday
11:30a.m. Get to auditorium for day 2 of Recital
1p.m. Recital begins, dress and undress and perform 6 dances
*approx* 4p.m. Final Bows
*approx* 5p.m. End of the year pool party for competition teams, secret sisters revealed.

---1 week off before summer dance classes begin---

Gotta hand it to DQ, she's focused, determined, and dedicated to dancing. It's her world. She promised to be a good girl, keep her grades up, and not complain about her schedule. She has kept up her side of the bargain.