Stuff...

My heart hurts by things going on lately at the dance studio. Why do people have to be so negative? Especially in a positive family atmosphere where beautiful innocent children are being filled with the magical art of dance. That's really the focus at a dance studio. A school for dance. A place where learning dance technique occurs. Along with enhancing one's creativity, team building, critical thinking, responsibility, memorization, expression, not to mention technique, balance, poise and flexibility. Bet you didn't know you could get all of that in a dance class. This is why I do what I do, no other reason than to make sure my students acheive one or all of these incredible traits. I do it because I was touched by a dance teacher that wanted these things for me. One who picks teaching dance as a career is not in it for the money(or lack there of). It's not about choosing the costume, music, who gets what solo, 1st or 2nd place in competition, waiting room coffee tables and so much more that it pains me to talk about. When people choose a school for their child whether it be a preschool, elementary school, music class, dance school....it's because they like it and what it has to offer. Not so that they can try to change it and start petitions saying they will pull their kid out if this this and this doesn't happen.(this and this and this being either outlandishly silly never to happen in ANY dance school or things that are on my to do list in the future but patience is a virtue). How about turning around and telling one crowd that, and then telling another crowd the exact opposite. Ummmm, can't stand that. Be real, you know! So I leave you with this, actually I need to go over it myself, over and over again to convince myself once again that I love this.
"Praise His name with dancing."
"Praise His name with dancing and tambourines."
"David danced before the Ark of the Lord."
"Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation."

2 on Tuesday

• Maya woke up at 5:15 this morning. On normal days it takes all I have to get her out of bed by 8:30/9AM. Today was different. And she wasn't going back to sleep. Ben tried rocking, I tried having her in our bed. She just laid there looking at me as I kept my eyes closed hoping she'd get the hint. At 7AM, I put on playhouse disney. At 8- we made pancakes. It feels like midnight about now.
• I am going to take a nap. I am not a morning person.

In the car this morning..

Maya - Daddy, the sun is out!
Daddy - I see it, it's so bright!
Maya - Daddy,we can't see it, we need a stool!

Little Girl Stuff

I am in love with these!

10 on Tuesday..

1. I am eating Ruggles Cookies and Cream Ice Cream right now
2. Look twins!!

3. Loved gathering with some girlfriends last night to celebrate that kitchen stuff that we all love- Pampered Chef.

4. We toured our very first preschool today. On the hunt for this coming fall. Maya had a blast talking to all the teachers and playing with the "pizza shop" in their activity room. I wanted a morning class and they are full at this one for the morning, however, we did arrive a half an hour late due to a certain 2 year old sleeping in, so maybe that was a sign that an afternoon class would be best.

5. I am up to day 10 of my 12 days of Christmas album. Here is a peek...

6. I was talking with Ben last night about friends and friendship. Husbands can be very wise on that subject don't ya know.

7. My sweet girl loves holding babies. Here is the little momma with her new baby cousin.

8. Been thinking about my next scrapbook project. I have collected(bought) the new Crate paper line that's green and brown- and some wonderfully green senic route letters. A zoo album is in the works. Zoo from the summer- yes I know a bit behind, but I love all these projects that have nothing to do with each other. Keeps it new and different.

9. We went from below zero temps to a day of 48 degrees. Hmmmmm...

10. Scrappin with the girls on Friday - see #8. Also on Friday, I am planning to take Maya ice skating. Stay tuned for our adventure. Oh yah- the UPS man just pulled into the driveway- must be a big one!

Comfort Food

Here's our yummy dinner we had tonight!
Turkey meatballs and gravy over biscuits
for Meatballs:
1 lb of ground turkey
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 t of salt
1/8t of pepper
1 clove pressed garlic
dash of onion salt
Mix together and form into balls. Fry until all sides are browned but inside is still pink.
Bake in 400 oven for about 12 minutes.(it works right along with the rolls)
I used the layered rolls from pillsbury and then a Knolls gravy mix.
Follow the directions for rolls and gravy.
Put meatballs over rolls, pour gravy over top. ENJOY! Perfect for a chilly wintery night!

Digging Out

Back to normal today. Well last night actually. Ask me what I did in the 14 inches of snow and 4 degree temps. We went swimming! Maya and I both had enough of being cooped indoors for two days. When Ben announced at dinner he was going to the gym to work out- I said oh no you aren't unless we can come. So we did! And we swam. It was a blast! When you're swimming indoors you have not a care in the world what is going out outdoors. Gotta love it. Walked around the mall a bit today to get out some. Dont' get me wrong, the city is still way behind on the snow clean up. Schools are still off. But- it feels good to get out.

Here are some pics out my front door yesterday. I just cracked the screen door and snapped them. Crazy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So I have a date with my manual today as these images are just blurrier than I want them to be. Although it could be because my target was on the go go go!

10 on Tuesday

1. It is snowing like CRAZY!!! We may get up to 20 inches by tomorrow.
2. Made heart sugar cookies today for Valentines day....YUMMMMM!
3. Closed the studio tonight.
4. We were in our pj's until 11 this morning. Gotta love that!
5. Taco's for dinner tonight
6. Thinking of a card exchange theme for March. Thought about green, but by the time I get the cards to exchange them and send them back out, Patty's Day will be long gone. Hmmmmmm....
7. Maya wanted eggs and toast for breakfast today. That girl can put away some eggys. (that's what she calls them.)
8. Shower or no shower- what's a snow day girl to do.
9. Valentines day is tomorrow- picked up my Valentine something special today. How about you?
10. Tried to have a Valentine photo shoot today. Lots of blurry-ness. It probably doesn't help that my 2 1/2 year old subject was on the move! Results tomorrow!

Art "Monday?"

Whoa- crazy weekend I tell ya. Took about 25 girls between the ages of 8 and 17 to a dance convention and competition. I am exhausted! Maya and I had some quality time today. We missed eachother(and it was only one night that I was away- well 2 long days and one night). Anyway...I always wanted to make home made Valentines with my kids and we got to start this year. Maya's not in school yet, but she does have dance class with about 5 little girls. We had a blast and I love watching her create. I precut everything- she just glued and stuck to her littleheart's content!


my little cheesy head.

finished products. Yes- I did the ribbon too. At that point she was done with the project and in the living room dancing around.

A Conversation...

Me -"Maya, do you want plain milk or chocolate milk with dinner?"
Maya -"Juice"
Me- Plain milk or chocolate milk, you had juice for lunch."
Maya - " Plain milk, mmmm with some chocolate."

You may not think that is halarious, but Ben and I were almost on the floor laughing so hard. Gotta love that cheap entertainment.
By the way- the cards from the card exchange arrived today in all their glory. All I have to say is I was giddy with excitement like a little child! You gals are amazingly talented and I am proud to say I know you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my cards!

10 on Tuesday...

1. This is the 2nd day in a row we've had severe cold weather. No school for Ben and I cancelled dance classes. Too funny cuz I bet in Canada they continue with life as normal in windchill's of 15 below.
2. Good thing I'm off work, I have tonsilitis and strep. I don't think adults should get this stuff anymore. It's just not right.
3. Busy workin on my 12 days before Christmas album.
4. Give a two year old a glue stick, buttons, ribbon and paperscraps and she can play for an hour!
5. I am hopin for a nap this afternoon.
6. Last night I cried at every single show I watched. What is with this? (yes- I parked myself on the couch for 3 hours cuz I felt so yucky- caught up on DVR shows.)
7. I can't wait for a certain package of freshly made cards to arrive!
8. This weekend holds a dance convention and competition that we're bringing our girls too.
9. I noticed the last couple mornings that Maya is outgrowing her winter clothes. We're into the 2 month stretch to make them last until spring. My how fast they grow!
10. I think I can recite High School Musical the movie as it's Maya's new favorite. Of course I kinda like it too!

and even more pics.....

A wonderful friendship is forming between Maya and Lily- just like their Mama's!

Maya holding Caleb under Amber's careful watch. Amber- you lit up her world with this.

JennyM with her youngest, Grace, talking on the pink Barbie phone per Lily's instructions.

Katy and Maya sharing hugs!

Susiebeezie Ohio Convention

I continue to be amazed what scrapbooking can do in a person's life. I just read lately that scrapbooking is more than a hobby, it's a lifestyle. I now truly believe this. My word for 2007 is goodness. I need to find the goodness in people. Don't get me wrong, there is goodness everywhere! The challenge for me is to pull it out in situations where I think it is lacking. Friday- all I can say is Oh my goodness! It's funny because I have friends where I live. Close friends. Close friends that I can meet for dinner and catch up. Close friends in that we share a piece of our lives-say college memories. Friends that I get together with for coffee as our kids play. Then there are friends that I scrapbook with. There is an instant connection there. I am so blessed to have met my new friend Amber - a missionary in Kosovo, mother of two- a beautiful person in every way.

(Amber and Caleb)

Katy - a mother of three boys, dedicated to her family and church. JennyM - also a mother of three(2 are twins) and one on the way, sweet and smiley full of happiness. Marie - whom I've known for awhile, loves her husband and daughter till no end and whom with I have sooooooooooo much in common it is scary.

(Marie holding Maya)

This experience was overflowing goodness. We talked as if we were old friends. We shared kid stories, scrapbooking experiences, our love for Archivers, Cord and LSS, our Canon Rebels, our jobs, our families, our hopes, our youth and our future. We shared peeks into our daily lives in hopes that we could get to know eachother a bit more. We vowed to keep getting together as schedules permit. It was wierd because this day some of us met for the very first time, but it felt like we had known eachother forever. And...it was hard to say goodbye. Bittersweet my friends. I thank God every day for the people in my life that challenge me to be a better wife, mother, friend, scrapbooker, photographer, teacher....It was good. They are my friends.

My sweet Maya!

Marie's sweet Lily!

The Friday 5

1. Pumpkin roll tastes just as great(if not better) in February as in October.
Yes at 9:15 last night I decided that can of pumpkin had sat on my pantry shelf a little too long and needed to be cooked. Plus a warm oven on a 15 degree night just seemed nice.

2. My eyes are bigger than my wallet as I am drooling over all this new product in the cha cha cha reviews.

3. Tomorrow I am going with Marie to meet Amber. We are also catching up with Katy and Jenny. One can never have too many internet friends. whoooo are you scared? Creepy talking about internet friends but I'm telling ya - Scrapbooking brings people together. Good people. Now if Marie and I can only talk our little girls into what fun the car ride will really be.

4. Maya goes "ummmmmm Sure!" when you ask her a question and yes is the answer. Now I'm trying to figure out which one of us says sure all the time.

5. Can't wait to scrap with some friends tomorrow night! Missed it this week. Do you ever have one of those weeks where the weekend just couldn't come soon enough?

Good night- off to read the fabulous new Simple Scrapbooks that came in my mail today. The layouts this month are amazing and I feel a lot of lifts coming on!