What a weekend!

Julia and her dance team did a fabulous job this weekend at Starquest!  Both Julia's junior and senior acro teams won the Apogee Awards for having the highest scores in the entire four day competition!

That's some big trophy...

Her trio won big too!  They won a platinum plus which is the highest award given and 1st place!  They put in endless hours so it was well deserved for sure! Here they are with their teacher and choreographer, Miss Hope.  She is super nice!

The little one in the middle below, Jada, is only 6 and crazy good!  Of course, she is the teacher's daughter.

Here are two members of the trio...my Julia and her friend, Alyssa.  Cutest costumes ever!

Steam Heat...

Oh, and forgot to mention that Julia's solo "Colors of the Wind" won a High Gold.  She was beautiful.  It was a tough competition this time though with over 70 girls in her division.  So proud of my girl!!

Starquest

Last night, Julia competed her solo for only the second time.  You would have thought it was an everyday event for her.  She was so relaxed and just lit up the stage!  I cried before she danced, while she danced and after she danced.  I was a mess but she was as cool as a cucumber!  I don't know how she does it.  That stage is HUGE and she is a tiny little thing.  Oh my baby girl.  I'm so proud!!!  Her group dances are this weekend.  Good luck Julia Rose!!!

Father Daughter Dance & Skip Day

Tonight was the Father Daughter dance....

 

My girls are starting to look so mature...don't you think? 

Gianna was having fun posing.  I know she felt so pretty tonight!  When I first told her about the dance, her first reaction was that she wasn't going to go.  She doesn't like wearing different clothes than the ones she wears on a regular basis.  But I let her decide what she wanted to wear and she picked one of Julia's dresses.  I think she looked gorgeous!

Friday, I surprised Nicholas and dismissed him from school.  Remember how I did this with Julia in the fall when we went to the American Girl store?  Well, he has reminded me every day since that it was his turn!

I took him to Dave & Busters!

He played tons of violent video games...

Later on I took him clothes shopping and he picked out the CUTEST outfit!  He looks so handsome in it! Of course an ice cream ended our day.  I love spending one on one time with my babies.  There's nothing like it.

Later that day I told Gianna it was her turn next!  She replied, "No thanks Mom. I like school way too much."   Great.

Hall of Fame Dance Challenge

Platinum!!! She won platinum! (Platinum is the highest you can get!)  She did a beautiful job today. I'm so proud of my girl! She placed 2nd overall out of 34 dancers. All that and it was her very first solo!

Congratulations Julia!!!!  

Junior • Solo • National League (Top 4)

#1   Alexa Houle in Man Of Lamancha

NEW ENGLAND DANCE CENTER

#2   Julia Digiacomo in Colors Of The Wind

NEW ENGLAND DANCE ACADEMY

#3   Ashlyn Mercier in Baby I'm A Star

BOUCHER SCHOOL OF DANCE

#3   Cecilia Milbrandt in Lullabye Of Broadway

NEW ENGLAND DANCE CENTER

#4   Kalyn Lavallee in When I Sing

BOUCHER SCHOOL OF DANCE

#4   Katherine Jacobs in Sabre Dance

NEW ENGLAND DANCE CENTER

#4   Ava Rooney in Home

NEW ENGLAND DANCE CENTER

#4   Bailey Mcguigan in Amazing Mazie

LISA MENNILLI DANCE ACADEMY

Julia's solo "Colors of the Wind"

This is Julia's very first solo. She's still working on it but I think it's beautiful! I'm so proud of her! Her Auntie Kerry did a gorgeous job with the choreography. Julia is competing it in two weeks!

2011 in review

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It DOES go by....and way too fast

When you're in the thick of it, it feels like an eternity and your mind races towards the future..."I can't wait to sleep through the night"..."I can't wait for them to be out of diapers"..."I can't wait to move all the toys out of the living room"..."I can't wait for them to be in school".

But before you know it...those days are behind you....forever. And you can never go back.

Our Nicholas...


Our Julia...
Our Gianna...
This woman took the words right out of my mouth. It says it all for me.

A wonderful reminder.

It brought me to tears.

I know I'm just like every other mom out there. I had those feelings. I said those words. Those days were HARD. But I do know that I enjoyed my babies so very much. I remember trying to memorize their tiny little bodies and the squeeky little sounds they made so it would be etched in my mind forever. And it is.

I know the next ten years will fly by as fast as the first ten. I wish I could slow them down. But I can't. All I can do is enjoy them and live in the moments.

They are my joy. They are my everything. I am so very lucky to be their Mom.

Our Weekend

Lots of playing in the snow this weekend for the kiddies. Street hockey, sledding in the yard, forts...

I heard banging on the backdoor and this is what I found. A little girl covered in snow head to toe but still smiling!

A sleepover Saturday night that ended at 10:00 p.m. A little boy wanting his mom. So cute.

Lots of dancing for Julia. She is getting so good but I worry that she is dancing too much on the weekends. So much for her tiny little body sometimes. She had her physical the other day and she's only in the 20th percentile for height and weight. "Petite" is what the doctor called her.

Nicholas had a hockey game last night which they WON! So proud of my boy in the net.

Sister Kerry's birthday celebrated yesterday. Made her a yummy cake. Fun to get together and celebrate with family.

And another week begins...

It snowed!

Finally...it snowed! Here it is, nearing the end of January and we haven't had any snow since October. We woke up today with a pretty blanket of about 3" inches of snow. Tomorrow it's supposed to snow lightly all day too. The kids are really looking forward to it!

Pretty crafty

I'm not a "crafter". I never enjoyed art classes when I was a kid. But now the kids bring home all these "family craft projects" as part of their homework. But I have to admit, I'm actually starting to enjoy these projects. Look at what Julia and I have made recently...

Aren't they cute? The little snowman was something Julia found in her new American Girl magazine. And the bigger paper snowgirl was one of those "family projects." I helped make the tutu!

On another note, Gianna gave these little guys some breakfast while she ate hers. So cute.

Funny of the day

Since the kids had the day off from school today, Danny took Nicholas to Lynwoods (our favorite pizza place) and I took the girls to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D. After the movie was over, Gianna looked at me with a super serious face and said, "Wow. I should have gone to Lynwoods". What little girl doesn't like Beauty and the Beast?

A girl can dream

Welcome to my fantasy home! Come on in! Make yourself comfortable while I get us a glass of wine before dinner. I'll be right back...

I may be just a minute though. I have to tend to the fireplace in the kitchen...


What was that sound? Oh, yes. The buzzer on the dryer. I'll be right back. I have to toss in another load of laundry. Oh, how I love my bright and sunny laundry room. It's such a joy to do laundry these days I tell you.

Would you like another glass of wine before dinner? Oh, you want to see the rest of our home? Sure! Here is our bedroom. We just love the sunshine that pours in through those large windows...


Would you like to freshen up before dinner? There are plenty of clean fluffy towels in that basket under the sink cabinet...

Are you ready for dinner now? Please take a seat at the table. Oh dear. The kids left the orange juice out from breakfast. I'll get the table cleared so we can start our meal...


Did you have too many glasses of wine? Of course you can stay the night! I don't blame you if you don't want to leave our home. (Giggle.) Please feel free to spend the night in our comfortable guest room. I'll help set up the daybed for you. I left some water and fruit for you on the table.

I'll see you in the morning!! : )