Dance Mom

I am a dance mom.

I sit and wait in the lobby while Addison takes her classes. First is jazz class. I look forward to her bouncing out to change her shoes and get a quick drink of water before returning for ballet.

I don't mind sitting.. (let me rephrase. If Matt makes it home in time to stay with the boys... i don't mind).   I love to hear the ballet music from the back room. I know when they are at the barre .. that music is distinct.  The older girls in the front room are working a modern routine.  Hearing the counting.. 5 6 7 8! And 1 2 3 4........ it brings back memories. I danced for a long time growing up. I tapped. I liked it, but I always wanted to try jazz and ballet. (Actually, I think I would love modern.. but that wasn't a "thing" then). 

It never worked in my favor to try jazz and formal ballet.  But the turns and leaps of both -so different- intrigue me, even today.  I love the emotion of ballet.. the poise, free and connected at the same time.  Jazz is so up and spot on.. the placement, exact.

If i weren't so chicken now i would sign up for an adult class... but alas.. I'm old, much heavier, and get dizzy when i spin! So instead I sit a few more minutes and wait for Addie to come out.. undoubtedly on her toes and wanting to show me something she learned. She'll say she loves her class and had so much fun. *sigh*
I'm a dance mom now.. and I'm joyful seeing my daughter dance because she wants to.

eh?

Today is... Day 9 of Pass IT On!

Today Addie told me she now sits at table one instead of table 2.  I knew it meant one of two things.
     1. the teacher moved everyone around
     2. Addie was talking too much

Which one do you think we are going to assume here?

I need to find out the true story.. Addie tends to tell stories within her rendition of what goes on.. so I'm not sure.  It's either that she was talking too much at table 2 or that she was talking too loudly at table 2 (my money is on both) and so she was switched to table 1.  She told me that table 1 was the super quiet table and she was too loud at table 2 so her teacher moved her.  hummmmmm.... 

"So there would be one loud person at table 1?' I asked.  "Yes! ME!" she said proudly.

Obviously not quite getting it here, we just talked about obeying the important rule of not speaking when someone else is talking, especially the teacher.  I'll wait to find out what the real story is and revisit this accordingly :)   She didn't move her clip down... so I'm guessing it was not that big a deal.  ?

Hearing this story told loudly by ms Addie, I realized that she has been increasing in volume lately.  And she has been asking "what?" a lot.  She's had a lot of ear issues... her tubes are out though for now.  One of  her biggest issues is that she has a lot of ear wax build up (yuck!)  This is what's going on now... can't see her ear drum at all per the doctor.  The doctor didn't want to irrigate her ears... it's not tolerated well by adults or kids alike .. which means Addie would scream very very loudly.  So option B.

and here's the tip :)
The doctor told me to put a few drops of baby oil in her ears while she's sleeping.  This would soften the wax and help it to work out easier.  We haven't tried this before.  We've tried drops called "Debrox" and that worked.. sort of.  We've also done the ear candling... which is pretty cool if you ask me!  I'm thinking it's probably time to do that again.. maybe after a few nights of the baby oil.  Combine both remedies and hopefully that will get Addie quieter at table 1 :)

Now for talking too much.... as Garrett said one time looking exasperated,  "Does she EVER stop talking?"

30 seconds to better than nothing!

this is Day 8 of Pass IT On!

30 seconds.......... beeeeeeeeeep!

how many times do you warm something up in the microwave for 30 seconds (give or take).  If you are like me (please say there are others that do this)... you heat your morning coffee up numerous times before finally giving up.  I also heat bottles because yes, my 18 month old (3rd child) still takes his milk in a bottle and likes it warm.  Whatever. 

It seems like I'm always throwing something in the microwave and I am waiting right there for it to beeeep! It's not like I can completely walk away... not enough time.  and if I did.. I would end up heating it up again because it would take a few minutes for the reminder beep to register in my head what it actually is.  (again, I'm not the only one I hope!) 

So it's not genius .. or earth shattering.  I've read tid bits in magazines about standing in line at the grocery and making the most out of it... but.... one day I started applying that to the microwave time... and it has been really good.  I don't like to waste anything, especially time.  So I started playing a game with myself during those 30 seconds. .... how much of the dishwasher can i get unloaded, can i get the dishes in the sink done, clean off the table to prepare for the next mess.  It's kind of fun!  OR  I stand there and i do squats or leg lifts or my fave.. lunges!  It's a good way to squeeze in a brief partial workout.  and like Ms. Buckberry used to say in one of my speech therapy practicums ... "something is better than nothing.." 

and.... I believe that is true.  We do not always have time for a full out work out.  or even a full out clean the kitchen and surrounding area.  but... we always have 30 seconds to reheat that coffee!

Try it!  Something IS better than nothing!

Pass IT On!!!  Ideas for what to do during that 30 seconds??  I'd love to hear!

Who would have thought? Not me!

This is Day 7 of Pass IT On!

Short little tid bit for you today..  I love nuggets like this!

Did you know Sears has a crazy good return policy??  We did not.. but we do now!

We purchased an outdoor patio set (non dining) to give us seating besides the table and to have a comfy place to enjoy those cool fall Saturdays watching football.  Ok, so i'm dreaming about the cool part her in Florida.. but seating was a must.  We liked what we got.. for a while, but then it became clear that it just wasn't what we wanted.  It had large gaps where the cushions (or Micah!) would slide through.  We were getting so frustrated with it that Matt even suggested we sell it on Craigs List and start over.  Then he found the receipt in a pile of receipts (which is kind of a miracle in the first place) and realized that it had a 90 day return policy.. satisfaction guaranteed. 

So Matt starts packing it up and declares he is taking it back... he's not satisfied.  I am thinking he is nuts because there is a small tear in a cushion and there is no way they will take it back.  Oh! and no sooner he gets it all loaded in his truck.. it starts pouring!!  Off he goes though.. Sears bound.

Well, I'm glad he didn't listen to me :)  The salesman at Sears said they will take it back .. they just needed a receipt and a reason.. even if that reason was, "We don't like it."  WELL!! Who would have thought! (not me).

This all worked out even better as i found us a new wicker set on craigs list.. much more the stile we wanted for super cheap.  We just need to get some cushions. 

Win.

Go Sears!

girlie bday gift with personality!

This is day 6 of Pass IT On!! 

Here's a quick girlie birthday gift for you with a little personality!

We are new to the area.. but that doesn't stop the birthday parties!  Addie especially has found her group of friends at school.  She says they are all "best friends"!  They are all girlie girls.. and I can only imagine what type of things their teacher hears about all day long... God bless her!   The very first day of school Addie came home and told me what the girls had on... it's been that way ever since!  This is, no doubt, how she befriends her girlfriends.  hummm.. we probably need to work on the whole beauty on the inside thing..

These fancy girls love playing dress up and making jewelry.. so it was only obvious that we would get her friend one of those jewelry making kits with about 8,000 beads in it.  I figured the least I could do was to get a container to keep it all in.  So Addie picked out the appropriate 8,000 piece set and i grabbed a clear container and took it home to wrap.  The container was just too boring though.. so i added a little no fuss extras.  Girls love when their names are on things.. boys too.  So i stenciled Addison's friend's name on top and then used my trusty hot glue gun (that is seeing some action again after a few months off!) and just glued some felt pieces from my stash.  So so easy.  Much Prettier :)

If it wasn't very close to the time of the party .. we could have blinged the container a little more.. but alas, we had to go.  and .. it didn't matter :)  The birthday girl really loved it!  (and the 8,000  beads!)

I had to include this... It's the heart felt card Addie made for her friend.  ... 

"I <heart> U. So happy to see you again at the birthday party."   

She cracks me up!!

Addison and one of her new besties, Aislynn.  Don't they look like they are perfect together!?

get your glitter on for fall!

Day 5 of  Pass IT On!

It's October 5th.  I really need to start thinking about PUMPKINS!  If it wasn't 90 and humid every day i think i would have an easier time remembering it is fall.  I really need to go and get some pumpkins.. I love decorating with them.  They are so easy.. all different sizes and colors!  Last year I glittered some for my mantel and i just loved them.  The key was the extra fine glitter (from Micahels). They were so easy.. just some Modge Podge and the glitter :) 

ignore the green nail polish.. I'm just showing you the glitter :)

Get your glitter on this weekend!

Wraps to Clips.. easy!

Day 4 of Passing IT On!

Addie has been requesting "piggie tails" a lot lately.  She loves how long they are and how they shake all over.  Seeing as how my sister and I used to use baby blankets for "long hair", i can totally understand and support her "swingy hair".

Today was one of those fun mornings where she knew exactly what she wanted .. and i could not make it happen to her satisfaction.  Cute dress ... check.  Cute piggie tail ribbions... check.  BUT the ribbons were hurting her as i tried to wrap them around her piggie tails.  We have a few pony tail wraps from Gymboree.. none of which are easy to use in her hair.  Due to my lack of coffee at this time in the morning, i was not at all willing to listen to whining or arguing.  So i did what any caffeine deprived DIYer would do.. I got out the glue gun, scissors, ribbon, and 2 alligator clips (though it's still horridly unorganized.. i love having a place for craft stuff under the stairs in a closet!).

I snipped the pony tail holder off the ribbons. Then cut a short piece of ribbon that would fit inside the alligator clip.  It doesn't really have to match.. you won't see it.

Put the ribbon piece in the alligator clip and put a strip of hot glue on it.  Then lay it on the back of the pony tail holder.  And... Poof!  Easy enough to make a caffeine starved mom and a tired princess .. Happy.

When it doesn't work for you... Make it!