Allie's First Dance Competition

WOW - what an experience this weekend brought!

Allie competed in her first Dance Competition called Showbiz. Luckily Allie's teacher who is also the owner of the studio (at the old age of 26 - she's amazing) only enters local competitions. She fells why travel to Kansas City, etc. when so many of them come to the Quad Cities. Anyway, we got the schedule and Allie's dances were scheduled for Sunday. She really wanted to see Carly's (the kids favorite babysitter) dance on Saturday so we went down to the Adler Theater for a bit to catch some of the Studio A dancers.  I was glad we did - we got a sneak peak of what to expect Sunday. The dressing room location, where the bathrooms are, etc. 

Sunday we all ventured down there at Noon.  The first dance was at 2:50 and the second was scheduled for 4:45. The competitions can run an hour or so early and they need to bee there 2 hours before they dance so we shot for Noon. Peter was such a trooper. I asked if he wanted to bring his DS and he said no he wanted to watch. I told him there would be a lot of times when other studios were dancing, etc. but he said he would be okay.

It was an great experience for our whole family. Frank loved it! He is becoming quite the dance Dad. We were all so proud of Allie!

We have 3 more competitions between Feb & April so I can't wait to see how they do!

I think Allie was born to dance. She really has found her love. It was hard for her to give up skating but as she gets older she is at the studio more & more and it is too hard to do more than one activity (well...she does have art). We've tried soccer, volleyball, skating & gymnastics and her 1st love is still dance.

So...dance Allie - Dance like no one is watching!

P.S.  The girls were phenomenal...2nd place in tap and 1st in jazz.  Allie got to go up & receive one of the awards for their wins.

Forgot to post Sledding pictures

Reconciliation

Busy Busy!

Okay so last time I wrote, I had nothing new - be careful what you wish for...

We have been so busy since Friday. We had some snow days, Reconciliation over the weekend, board meetings, game night with 3 other families, a surprise 40th for a friend, retreat meetings, Cooking class for Brownies, Communion Dress shopping, and now Frank in in California!   

Yesterday I left the house at 8 when I drove the kids to school & came back for 20 minutes to let the dog out and then we didn't "really get back" until almost 7pm.  I don't like days like that.  I did have a great day just very busy.

We went to mass in the morning. The kids school mass is usually on Wed. mornings but this week it was on Tuesday because the Bishop was there. Peter had a skit (all of 4B) and he had 2 speaking parts during mass (intentions and song introductions). After mass, I flew over to bowling - which I was already late for.  I love this bowling group I am in.  It started over 30 years ago with a group of ladies from Davenport Country Club as something to do during the winter when they couldn't golf.  They have opened it up to Crow Valley Country Club ladies as well.  we always have a blast & do lunch afterwards (quick & easy - like Panera).

During lunch, we watched the inauguration and then I was meeting my bible study group at the theater because we were going to see the movie "Doubt." What a thouht-provoking movie....

We got out & had about 20 minutes to discuss the movie before I had to pick up the kids.  Off to dance (Allie) and then soccer (Peter).  We came home, snuggled on the couch & watched American Idol (I love Central time) and the kids were in bed by 8pm (normal bedtime) and I crashed!!!!  

So much for the days when the kids were toddlers & our big event for the day might be a Gymboree class or meeting a friend for lunch. Well, I am thrilled that today I have NOTHING!!! I think I will stay in my jammies all day and wash sheets! 

Nothing exciting!

I haven't blogged in a while because there is nothing really exciting happening around the Zucker household.  I really haven't taken any new photos either. I guess January is sort of a boring month compared to the end of each year.  

This past weekend Allie actually slept at 2 different friend's houses (one each night - she is not Houdini). Friday while she was at Sophia's, Peter had a buddy Sam over. They had a ball & even went night sledding in the back yard. 

Saturday night, our friends Deb & Dave had us and another family over for dinner. We stayed until 10:30 so Allie just stayed over night.  Peter was out numbered - what a trooper. Deb & Dave have 3 girls and an 18 month old son and Jeff & Christa have 1 girl and an 18 month old son. So...needless to say, Peter entertained the two 18 month olds. 

I had an all day meeting yesterday for a Christian retreat coming up in February - 

I miss you all very much & will keep you updated if anything exciting happens around here!

Break is over

I am so sad Christmas Break is over. 

There is nothing I love more than being together as a family 24/7.  The kids are bummed about going back too (except that they get to see all of their friends in one place)! I am sitting here typing this at 6:30 a.m.  because I always get up before the kids get up to have some time for this kind of stuff. I check email, facebook, etc. I usually make coffee and enjoy the beautiful sunrise out of my kitchen window. I wake the kids at 7 and they are out the door by 7:38.  

We had such an AWESOME break! We actually got to spend more than 2 days n Ohio (4 full days) and saw 2 family movies at the theater. Although Marley & Me should have been rated PG-13 not PG (Do not take young children).  We watched a lot of football on TV, painted 2 rooms in the house, de-cluttered, went bowling, built forts, watched the kids put on a "show" that they created, had lots of family movie nights at home, played the Wii, went to friends' houses for get-togethers and NO ONE was SICK the WHOLE time!!!!!!!! 

Part of the attraction with Frank's job is that when the kids are on break, so is he.  He did some work over break but his schools are all closed so he did it from the basement! We are so blessed that Frank is able to be home and we know that.  It just makes it sad when break is over and the kids have to go back to the reality of school, soccer, dance.......I have to wake them in 8 minutes so I am signing off!

Enjoy the New Year!

New Year - New Goals

New Year's Eve was fun!

After an afternoon of bowling with 2 other families, dinner and then to a family party at a different friends house...we woke to a lazy day ahead. Frank & Peter didn't know what to do with themselves because the Michigan State bowl game AND the Winter Classic hockey game (Red Wings and Blackhawks playing at Wrigley Field) were on at the same time.  They taped the MSU game & watched it later...they lost :(   I met a friend for lunch and did a few returns.  It was nice to take a break from painting.

Speaking of painting...I have turned over a new leaf.  The purging leaf. I have always been the sentimental type and hung onto anything & everything that meant something. Sounds realisticright? But I am talking  - I saved EVERY single paper the kids brought home from school. Seeing that Peter had 3 years of preschool and is now in 4th grade that gave me 3 full tubs for him and 2 for Allie of "STUFF."  I have also saved every thing my mom has ever given me (knowing how hard she worked to afford the item, etc.) or my grandma or grandpa ever gave me.  I have all of the letters Frank ever wrote to me, etc.. you get the picture.

Well, guess what...I am simplifying my life! We moved some rooms around upstairs and in the process donated 4 truckloads of toys, extra bedding, lamps, nick-nacks, pillows, out-of-date Christmas decorations, etc. to GoodWill. In addition to what we donated, we also threw away several garbage bags of broken butterfly wings (for dress up), toys with missing pieces, broken toys, etc.  

We shipped some toys of to Bellie and have a lot to give away to friends locally.  It has taken 5 days but has been so well worth it.  The storage room is clutter free, the play room is filled with very little, and we are off to a great 2009. I bawled my eyes out donating Rescue Heroes and Allie's baby dolls but realized that Pete & Al are growing up. Maybe it was just hard to let go of the fact that my babies aren't babies anymore. But soon, I will need to make room for middle school things.... okay I still have some time.