My Only Sunshine

iPhone Thursday - Do A Little Dance

We do so much related to dance around here that it is inevitable to catch some dancing on my iPhone.  I have pictures to prove it.

This is my favorite.  It's Bug's class waiting back stage for their spin on the stage at recital.  It looks like a setting Degas would have painted.

We do a little crazy dancing at home too.

This last one doesn't show dancing.  Instead it shows dancers.  These are the Owner/Directors of our ballet studio/company.  They are seen here having a photo shoot with three of the graduating seniors.  We will miss them.

Going to the Circus

This year for our annual Spring Dance Recital we had a theme.  Tuzer Ballet's Circus Circus.  It was fantastic.  We had a wonderful backdrop that set the mood and dances based on our theme.  Both of the Girlies did ballet and jazz though they weren't in the same classes.  I have to admit, I do like when we have classes that match up here and there.  Next year I think we will.  I should warn you, these pictures are from the dress rehearsal.  We are not allowed to take pictures during the actual performance.

This is Bug's Lyrical Jazz class. Lyrical is new to Tuzer this year and Bug loved it.  Next year there will be more than one lyrical class and she won't have to be the tiniest little thing in a class of big kids.  I'm betting she will miss the bigger girls though.  Please excuse the tights in this photo.  She had to go straight to her next dance, ballet.

This is the dance of the Black Scarves.  I'm not sure what else to say about this dance other than Bug was lovely and elegant and I was very proud of her.

 

Next up was Bitty in Everybody's Got Their Somethin.  I'm not sure what the Circus tie-in was for this one, but I don't care.  It was WONDERFUL.  Just like Bug's lyrical class, Jazz was taught by Tuzer's new teacher who is a former Tuzer student.  She's terrific.  This class and dance were perfect for Little Bit to just revel in her Sassiness.  She was the cutest thing you have ever seen bopping around that stage in her sparkly outfit.

After jazz, Bitty had ballet.  Her ballet class had an ice skating theme and they were so dang cute.

I can't help but share another pic or two of this class. Their costumes were perfect and they had such a great time with their dance.

Isn't she something else?  The recital was a great success in more way than one.  The dances were great and I was proud of my kids.  More importantly, I think many of our dance issues have been cleared up.  As we got to the end of the year, Bitty started to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The payoff for all the hard work she did all year really made her feel good.  Since we got done with the year of dance she has already started working towards next year.  She's practicing dance at home and stretching every day.  I love to see all of this enthusiasm.

I have to include one more picture because it cracks me up.  The last pose for the lyrical class is all of the dancers standing in a long group pointing towards the edge of the stage.  It's a very striking pose but it's even funnier in this picture with Ms. Pat.

iPhone Thursday - Cousins

Knitting Books!!

Check it out, Knitters, we're reviewing knitting books on Craft Critique today.

Dance Party

It was a busy weekend at my house again.  It started with a Friday night at with the nephews.  My BIL and SIL went out for a nice dinner and some good beer while Dude, The Girlies, and I hung out with my lovely nephews.

Aren't they the most handsome boys you have ever seen?  I love spending time with them and I love watching my little Girlies playing with them.  They are the best of friends.  There isn't much better in the world than cousins!

 On Saturday we had recital pictures with our favorite photographer.  Each year Sharen comes to the dance studio and sets up for a day or two of nonstop dance photography in recital costumes.  We get pictures made in each costume and a couple of shots with both girls together.  It's the perfect way to commemorate a year of dance.  If you took a look at Sharen's website from the link on her name you'll notice that she has my Bitty on her front page slide show.

 In the evening the Girlies went to their first lock-in which was also held at the dance studio.  They ate pizza, painted t-shirts, had their favorite hip-hop teacher teach a class at midnight, and then danced the night away with their dance friends.  Bitty even called me at 2:30 in the morning to tell me she was still awake.  When we went to pick them up at 10am the owner of the studio (who is also their ballet teacher) told us that Bitty was one of only two kids who did not sleep a wink all night.  Silly Bitty.

On Sunday morning, while Bitty was getting a tiny bit of sleep, Bug and I made cupcakes.  We were tasked with bringing the dessert for an end of the season ballet party for Bitty's class.  I had seen a picture of cupcakes simply made to look like mushrooms.  My kids are Mario crazy so that is what Bug and I made, Mario cupcakes.

 

Once the cupcakes were complete we packed them up and headed for the park.  It was the most absolutely perfect day.  Beautiful sunshine, no mosquitoes, not warm, not cold.

 It's also wildflower time right now in Richardson.  You can't beat that.

See, the cupcakes were a hit.  The kids had a great time playing together in the park and eating hotdogs.  We took the kite that Bug got for Easter but didn't have much luck with it.  The kids didn't care, all they needed was a soccor ball or two and open spaces to jump rope and play duck, duck, goose.  I do have to warn you.  If you should try this at home (taking your kids to a party the day after a night of no sleep) you may have moments that look like this.

and this.

This is an amazing give away

Take a look at this.  I admit it, I'm posting this because I want a shot at those Copics, and everything else too.  You're in luck, now you can go enter to win too.

iPhone Thursday - A Bug's Life

You've all met Bug, at least through my blog.  Much like her sister, in my world she is a super model.  In this picture she is trying on a jacket and giving us her best super model look.  Stunning isn't she?

As you can see, she's not just a pretty face.  She's also a very smart cookie, uhh Buggy.  This is her award winning science fair project.

I call this her "What you talking about, Willis?" face.

I think Stitch is eating her head!

If you have to catch a flight really early in the morning, you can't do better than a giant Mickey to keep you company.

He's good for airports too.

Even super models have to pose with fruit now and again.

This concludes iPhone Thursday - A Bug's Life.  Remember to send me your camera phone pictures so I can make iPhone Thursday even more fun!  Don't forget to tell me who is in your pics.

Yay ME!

Most of the people who read my blog probably don't know who London Tipton is.  If you do, just imagine me saying Yay Me! just like she does.

Today is my birthday, the big 35, and it's a great day.  I love getting older.  My life gets a little better every day.  As an example, today is my first post on Craft Critique.  If you go take a look you can learn all about the Purple Cows 13" Hot Laminator and see some fun pics from me.

Another pic of the Bitty

It's hard to have a bad day when you take a picture like this in the morning and then realize, "I made that."

Dizzy