JOY

Utah Feis Countdown-3 Days

Not really much to report except I worked 5 hours longer than I had anticipated, which put me 5 hours behind.  Needless to say, I didn't get much accomplished today.

One good thing did happen today. I did get a ton of last minute donations (given by truly excited and gracious people) that helped me finalize my end of a really big project that was started by some of us at the dance studio.  It's really a wonderful thing and I can't say much about it right now, except that I can't wait to show pictures on this blog in a few weeks.  I'll have to ask her permission first though.  This was a hard and sometimes draining project to accomplish, but every week I was reminded why we were all working so hard. I know we are all breathing a huge sigh of relief that we're done, but I'm extremely humbled by the outpouring of support we received.  I want to shout it from the rooftops, print it in every newspaper...THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!  GOD BLESS YOU!!   

Utah Feis Countdown-4 Days

I feel so unprepared for the Utah Feis this coming weekend.  I have a bajillion thoughts and worries running through my head and not one of them is about Irish Dancing.  It's crazy.  I feel like I can't get my mind focused enough to concentrate on my children practicing for the upcoming feis.  

Chloe and Casey are doing great with practicing.  I'm really happy that Chloe has reached the point where she self corrects herself.  I don't feel like I constantly need to be right there pointing out the great things as well as the things she needs to work on.  I'm certain the extra private lessons have helped her learn that very valuable habit.  Casey self corrects, but only if he's being watched.  If I leave him alone he'll buzz through his dances and call it quits.  I don't push him, per say, but I do encourage him to stop and go back over what he feels needs work.  Mostly, he feels nothing needs extra work.  AAAHHHH!  LOL

Casey finally received his Novice outfit.  It's pretty much just his old outfit with a vest added on, but it makes such a big difference when he's on stage.  I'll post pictures this weekend.

Brenden and Braden are doing well. They are not much for practicing unless forced, but I figure how far they advance is up to them.  It's a good tool that teaches them if they practice they'll advance...if they don't, they probably won't.  Life's lessons are hard, but well worth learning.  They are ready for the feis.....well, except for one lost green tie.  I keep forgetting about that one.  I must remember to search high and low the next couple days to find it and call the tie store to get a new one!  I should also buy them new black shirts as the ones they have are getting really tight. I'm sure all the girls will be chasing after them.  Hopefully the boys will wait until AFTER the feis to concentrate on meeting them.  I know, I know... 14 year old boys priorities are not the same as their mothers.  

Caleb is excited about the feis, too.  He's in Beginner I levels and will be competing his Reel and Light Jig with 7-8 other competitors in his age range.  We got his hair cut, so he's looking great and not so shaggy up top these days.  I love watching him dance......he has this proud expression on his face. He knows what he's doing and he won't let anyone but Jill (our TCRG) tell him what he needs to change or work on.  So independent he is and oh so stubborn.  

Rob's Brand New Wife

The first two pictures are the day I got the haircut, this past Tuesday.  As you can see, Caleb also got his chopped a bit, too. He looks just like Casey now.   We were both sporting new do's. 

I was afraid to get my hair cut so short, but I trust my hairdresser.  I have a red streak on my "sweeping bangs" which luckily I can tuck behind my ear.  I got so tired of putting my hair up all the time and it was very heavy and hot.  Someday I'll grow it back long, but for now it's a good change. It's something different.  I thought it would make my face look "fatter", but I don't see that it does.  

The last two pictures are from today.  I took a shower last night and didn't do my hair.  Wow, I was in for a short hair shock this morning when I woke up.  I got my hair wet and styled it.  In doing so, I realized I need a new round brush and a couple hair products to help me out......but until then I think I did a pretty decent job recreating what my hairdresser did. 

If you don't see a difference in the two pictures...just know that I can feel it.  Mine feels a bit more poofy than after she did it.  That's all.  Otherwise, it's all good.

All finished and bored.

LEGO Indiana Jones

The game was way too easy.  I mean, I did have to use a couple helps from some internet junkies who spend all their time on the video game boards, but hey....a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do.  I was so close but couldn't find a few pieces no matter how hard I tried.  Ironically, the harder I searched the further they were.  I wasn't the only one that looked online either.  I didn't even have to ask the question.  Someone else had a hard time finding it before me and asked.  They even left a really nice, easy to find, subject line too.   I have to thank the LEGO maniacs...cuz without them...I'd still be playing the game.

I won't even spoil the end of the game.  I will say, however, that after already having saved up to buy all the x features.....I wasn't the least bit happy with the great prize it gave me.   All that saving and hoarding of coins to purchase the x features so early in your game isn't worth it. I'm just sayin'.  

I went back and tried to finish my Star Wars Complete Saga game, but it's really boring having played it 1.6 billion times already.  I think I'll just take a break from XBox 360 and get some laundry done. Oh and someone once said that kids really do need to eat.  ;)

Update on LEGO Indy....SPOILER ALERT!!!

Oh yeah.  

I'm the LEGO Indy Queen!!!!  

In saving all my valuable coins I have single handedly (well, my kids helped some) purchased the x2, x4, x6, x8 and x10 features.  This has given me a total of x3840 per coin value.  I have also purchased EVERYONE...including Han Solo.  I've also found all five of the Star Wars characters who are hidden throughout the game.  

The only thing I haven't done is get all the pieces for each levels artifact.  I'll get those sometime this week.

This game was much easier than the Star Wars ones.  

Can't wait till Batman comes out.  What shall I do until September?  Any suggestions?

Colorado Winterfeis 2008

I found this in my draft archives and feel lame for not posting it. This trip was back in Jan 2008. Gosh. Where have I been?

February 1, 2008 @ 2:25 pm:

Sorry it's taken me a long time to post. I got sick on the airplane going to Denver which absolutely put a black cloud over my mood. I spent the weekend with razors in my throat and feeling extremely horrible. We arrived home Sunday and I've spent the rest of the week coughing up a lung. Or two.

Anyway- the Colorado Winterfeis was great. Both Casey and Chloe did very well. In fact, The Crawford School of Irish Dance novice class was well represented and placed in many dances. I am quite biased, but I must say that the whole class is amazing. They really seem to work hard as a team and this allows them to shine wherever they go. The parents of this group are wonderful. I consider them very good friends.

Casey won FIRST place in his reel. He danced with 11 other dancers, most of them girls. That is pretty amazing. Typically they have the boys separated from the girls, but not here. He still won FIRST! I'm so proud of him! Way to go Casey!! He now is Novice in all of his dances, except his Reel. That moved up to Prizewinner.

Casey also received:

FIGURES:

1st in 4 hand

1st in 3 hand reel

SOLO'S

1st in Reel (moved to prizewinner)

3rd in Hornpipe (stayed in Novice)

3rd in St. Patrick's Day (moved to Novice)

Chloe won FIRST place in her Hornpipe, which is a hardshoe dance.

She moves that dance up to Prizewinner and now has two dances in that level.

FIGURES:

1st in 4 hand

2nd in 3 hand

SOLO'S

2nd in Reel

1st in Single Jig

4th in Treble Jig

1st in Hornpipe

4th in St. . Patrick's Day

Chloe standing while waiting for her competition to begin.  She's standing because she cannot sit on her dress.  We use a padded bucket or a no-back folding tripod type chair for when she's waiting between dances.  She's so patient and I can imagine her legs are so tired by the time feis is over.  Good thing she has a mommy who will lovingly massage them after a nice warm bath.  


The lady behind her is counting for her.  Usually she doesn't need it, but I appreciate having them there.  A few times we've had someone counting off beat...good thing Chloe has good timing and is intently listening.


Casey waiting on stage for his 4 hand to begin.  There are girls next to him, but I cropped them out.  The adjudicator was late for this one.   Doesn't he look like a mini Michael Flatley?

Dancing the 4 hand with fellow Crawford dancers.

Waiting in the SLC airport for our travel mates.  Of course Chloe had to bring her American Girl doll.  :)

The drink I firmly believe was made in Heaven and brought to us by a very energetic angel.  I cannot live without my Starbucks.  

**Edited 6/15/08**

I REALLY hate that gas is $4.00 a gallon.  It's cut deeply into my coffee fund.  :(

My Favorite Picture

A really good friend of mine took this shot.  I fell in love with it immediately.  It's Chloe.  Pretty sweet turn-out wouldn't you say?  

In case anyone asks......

LEGO video games are not the reason I have not been posting in awhile.  

Really, we've been so busy with Irish Dance, work, contemplating moving AGAIN and just life in general.  I'm not sure why 5 children keep me so busy.  You would have thought I'd have figured out all that time management stuff by now.  

I've also had a huge writers block.  Not that I write about anything interesting anyway.  I just haven't felt like doing much more than surfing my favorite blogs when I'm online...oh and researching Cognitive Left Brain Disability.   More on that in another post.

Anyway- after writing about my LEGO adventures I've realized my kids are still up.  So, I guess I must remove myself from my comfy chair and put my kids in bed (it's almost 11 pm) and then (since hubby is still at work) I guess I could go play a few more levels to see if I can get a bit further into my game.  Oh, I should also eat something since all I've eaten all day is a handful of chips, half a hot dog and a diet coke.  Yeah....healthy huh?  A sure fire way for me to hold on to the extra 10 lbs I've gained in the past 6 months.  I have been walking more though.  Thought I'd through in a positive tidbit.

Can't life just stop for a few days?  I really need time to catch up. 

Oh, and just so you can see what I'm up against.  Here's a picture of my LEGO bully sporting the sign for "I Love You!"  Just remember he's the one who pushes you off cliffs and wouldn't think twice about cutting you in half with a light saber.  Don't say I didn't warn ya.

 

My newest addiction.....

Da dadada, da da dum, dadadada, da da da da dum.............

Yep.  LEGO Indiana Jones.  That's my latest, newest......most worthwhile addiction.  I absolutely love the LEGO Xbox 360 games.  We have them all.  

LEGO Star Wars 1, 2, and 3,

LEGO Star Wars 4, 5, and 6,

LEGO the COMPLETE SAGA (both Legos compiled into one...it's SWEET!!!!!) and

LEGO Indiana Jones

There's just something very satisfying about demolishing everything in your path, building things that give you a prize or lead you somewhere and earning MONEY!  Right now I have a little over 1 million with the x2 feature.  I'm working my way up to 2 million so I can buy the x4 thus giving me x8.  HEHE.  I love collecting all the coins. 

There is one thing I do not like about these games.  My 6 year old and I actually argue about them.  He's mean.  He beats me up so I break apart and then grabs the thing I was going for.  How rude!  He'll jump on a rope or do something so I can't do it.  Oh, and one time (this was the final straw) we actually had a fight about who was going to build the object and we both sat there.....for like 5 minutes......saying:  "You build it!" "NO!  You build it!"  "That's not fair! You get to do everything!"  "It's my game"  "Fine!  I'm not playing with you anymore.  You're mean!"  Then I threw down the controller and stomped upstairs.  The nerve of that child.   I swear!  

And coming in September to further my LEGO addiction and quite possibly prolong the LEGO battles with my 6 year old son.............