Dancing Queens

Apologies for being MIA lately. With summer activities, a new job (!!) and wedding planning, the ol' blog has been on the back burner. I'm not making in promises it'll get any better this summer, but I'll do my best :) 

But for today, I'll share some pics of my beautiful cousins from their LAST recital! They were phenomenal! It's been fun to go back and watch them grow into such incredible dancers - even though they are wrapping up their time at the dance academy, I have no doubt that dance will continue to be a be part of their lives.

Audrey is off to college and Jenna will be starting her senior year. Pretty crazy, huh? I know I'm young, but when people who I once babysat start going off the college, it really makes me feel a little more old. 

Jenna's solo.

Audrey's solo. 

Go Ceilings!

C-E-I-L-I-N-G-S! Gooooooooo Ceilings!

This was my Halloween costume at work. Get it??

Yes, I'm a ceiling fan. I cheer for the ceilings. Go team!

It's amazing what a little painter's tape and a high school dance team pom can do for you. Easiest way to win a Starbucks giftcard at our work Halloween party for Most Creative Costume.

While we're on the subject of Halloween, OH MY GOODNESS, I love trick-or-treaters. While it wasn't a factor in our house searching process, I would urge everyone to pinpoint neighborhoods that have a lot of trick-or-treaters. It's so much fun! (I may have had more fun than the kids themselves.) We flew through our first 3 bags of candy, so Joe ran to the store for back-ups, which got us through the night. Lesson learned for next year: buy tons of candy.

Hope you all had a cozy, fun and spooky Halloween!

P.S. Thanks to Autumn for the costume idea - you're brilliant!

The Nutcracker

Jenna and Audrey certainly shined on the stage! I had a perma-smile during the entire performance. They were breathtaking and so incredibly graceful (and tear-jerking for my Grandma!). I already can't wait for next year!
We also got to watch the adorable Katierie and Taryn, our close family friends. They love their Miss Koby. And Miss Koby loves them :)

Break a leg, ladies.

You know how parents always say, "they grow up so quickly!" Well, even as a cousin, I wholeheartedly agree. My adorable, sweet, little cousins who I used to babysit - Audrey and Jenna - are growing into beautiful women. Tonight, I'm going to watch them in the Skagit Valley Academy of Dance's Nutcracker performance. As two of the leads, Clara and the Snow Queen, I have no doubt they will dazzle the crowd.

Even though I turned my pointe shoes in for dance team pom poms (after nearly 10 years of ballet!), I still have a soft spot in my heart for the grace and beauty of ballet. Especially when it involves people you love! Good luck and break a leg, Audrey and Jenna!

Future Superstar

This is amazing. My 8 year-old self is uber-jealous. Shoot, my 27 year-old self is jealous. My pirouette record is a fraction of hers.

Speaking of dance, anyone want to hit up a hip hop class at Westlake Dance Center? Stephers?

TGIF

We No Speak Americano is on the UK Top 40 right now. How do I know this? Well, Joe downloaded both US and UK Top 40 for me and let me tell you, the UK list has much more of a techno vibe. Though I suppose that's not too much of a shocker.

When this song came on, I immediately started bobbing my head. Then started a little shimmy. Then I just busted a move. (Are you visualizing me busting a move now?) So when I found this video, I was completely transfixed.

So to welcome the weekend, I invite you to bust a move with me. You can even bust this move at your desk! (How many times can one say "bust a move" in a blog post? Well, I guess 5 for me.) Enjoy! TGIF.

Special Edition: Double Day Post

And because I know if I don't post now, it's going to be "old news" on Monday... Pretty cute!