Jazz Hands!!!!~

I taught a Musical Theatre camp this week for ages 5-12.

I am used to the older, high-school aged kids, so I was reluctant at first to teach the younger ones.

It turned out to be a really fun and enjoyable week! (Even though if I hear any song from Annie or Lion King again for a while, I'm going to go INSANE!!)

Kids this age are really entertaining.

I had a few students show up early one day, and I swear, for 15 minutes they chased a single fly around the room.

Kids this age like to move FAST!!! Everything they do is energetic and 100%.

I had an adorable 5 year old boy who said, "Are you kidding?" after everything I told him or asked him. Even if "Are you kidding?" didn't make sense. And if he didn't answer with that, it was something related to Cars 2.

This age group is also very serious about their work. Everything had to be just right, and even though they have great imaginations, they still take things very literally. I gave them an assignment to improv a school scene. The girl playing the teacher said that they were going to have a party with cupcakes (of course). When she started passing out the "cupcakes", another girl asked what kind of cupcakes they were, because she didn't like chocolate ones.

They know EVERY word to every song on the radio.... And have choreographed dance moves to each song.

They don't forget ANYTHING!! If I said casually that we were going to do something the next day, they don't let me forget it!

It was fun teaching this age group. They worked so well together and were attentive the entire time. It was nice!

Today was "come to work with mommy" day for Charlie.

He loved watching the "big" kids and enjoyed looking at himself in the mirror :-)

Standing O??~

I'm so confused by the judges' reactions last night on SYTYCD.

EVERY dance to me was mediocre at best.

Melanie and Neil came on with a contemporary dance choreographed by Mandy Moore.

I was bummed when I found out Mandy Moore is still choreographing. PLEASE retire her from this show.

I was excited when the music started and it was Total Eclipse of the Heart....my JAM!!!

The only factors that kept me from clawing my eyes out were Melanie, the song, and the fly lift towards the end.

Everything else=disaster.

Neil is "ok". He's a better partner than he is a dancer. Mandy Moore=mess. That piece looked like something an amateur would come up with.

I was having all these thoughts when they panned over to the judges. And. they. were. standing.

?

I was confused.

Then, Allison and Marko performed.

And this was the reaction.

Tears? From guest judge, Lady Gaga.

Marko is FANTASTIC. Allison as well. But, the piece was nothing spectacular. And, Allison's CRAZY over-the-top facial expressions were KILLING me.

But, I'm glad that it was able to speak to someone.

This gal is going to win.

She's the best dancer the show has had in a while.

But her duet with Sasha. Did it deserve a standing O?

No.

Sonya Tayeh, I have officially put you in the overrated box.

Why wasn't I feeling the same thing as the judges last night? Am I crazy? Or are they?

I honestly hope that someone enjoyed the show last night.

I'm just ready to be blown away.

Ladylike Ladies~

I went to my cousin, Brittany's, baby shower a few weeks ago. Great shower, by the way.

On Aunt Karen's fridge was a quote that really stuck with me.

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." ~Margaret D. Nadauld, "The Joy of Womanhood"

I love it. I've been thinking about this quote ever since that day.

I've been having the biggest issue lately with ladies (women and girls) not acting like ladies. Is this a lost art?? What is going on with the women of the world today?

I am totally not for the whole submissive women thing. Not even close. No "barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen" frame of mind. (Even though, I happen to be barefoot AND pregnant in the kitchen at the moment) ?? hmm ...you get my point, though.

I'm talking about a lady who is confident, successful, AND lady like. Someone who has manners, who can hold a conversation with other people, someone who is kind and charitable, someone who knows who she is and helps other people become better.

Where are those ladies?

I find women on the cover of magazines, on tv shows, and in movies to have lost the ability to teach the younger generation how to be ladies. I find them somewhat vulgar, immodest, and crude in their language.

It's frustrating.

I'm sure there are still some "ladies" out there.

I was trying to think of some.

The only person that I could think of that embodies that quote perfectly is this lady right here.

That's right....my madre.

How lucky am I?

Can you think of a woman who still embodies what a "lady" should be?

What can we do to teach our daughters/younger generation to have the amazing qualities found in the quote?~

Farewell FNL~

A few years ago, Noel introduced me to the tv show, Friday Night Lights.

I was NOT interested. I saw the movie FNL and HATED it. The football team loses the state championship at the end. Who lets that happen in a movie??

I'm glad I gave in and started watching it.

This tv show=genius.

Noel loves it for the football. I love it for Tim Riggins the drama.

We BOTH love it for the incredible acting and for how real the scenes and characters are.

I usually hate when tv shows "graduate" their characters.

Not with this show. All the characters are so interesting and so wonderful.

I HATE that it ended, but love that it was such an amazing show.

Here's an article about the characters, casting, and history of the series.

Get Friday Night Lights on Netflix or go out and buy it on DVD. It's worth it.

Beach Week 2011~

We escaped the crazy heat last week to enjoy the ocean breeze.

We stopped first to see Mimi and Grandpa.

After playing with trains and getting lots of love, we headed to the beach and met up with Noel's family.

Fun in the sun!

Playing

Highlight of Charlie's trip? Race car ride in Food Lion with cousin Ande.

Visit to the aquarium

More beach time

Remember this post? Charlie found the tv at dinner.

Beaufort=one of my favorite places

So long, beach!

See you next week!!~

The blog and I will be on vacay this week!!

Hope everyone is doing well and having a fun summer.

See you next week!~

Favorite Floral Tricks~

I LOVE decorating with flowers.

My entire house is full of all different types of flowers in all different types of vases.

Instyle Magazine asked designers what their favorite "floral trick" was.

I loved floral designer, Jeff Leatham's, response.

He uses the glass containers from old candles to display his floral arrangements.

I thought that was a great recycling idea!

For more on his idea, and other cute ways to display flowers, go to Instyle's page here.

Are you ready??~

Do you have your wands ready?

And your glasses on??

Because tonight marks the beginning of the end.

If you haven't read these books...DO IT!!! I read all 7 in 4 months. Not going to pretend like I didn't.

I used to think that Harry Potter fans were the biggest nerds.

I still think that...but now, I'm one of them (and proud of it) :-)

(Angry Harry Potter)

Can't wait to read the books to Charlie, and can't wait to see HPDH Pt. 2!!!!!~

Do all guys like Sports Center??~

Yes, yes they do.

I pulled the awesome mom move the other night.

I turned on the tv so I could make dinner without feeling a tug on my leg the entire time.

"Big" kid shows were on Disney and Nick Jr.

I was getting kinda desperate, until I remembered that the sports channel Noel watches always has some kind of ball being thrown or kicked.

Jackpot!

Thank you ESPN. Charlie loves you and I got dinner in the oven.

Bachelorette Thoughts~

Because someone has to say it out loud.

Bachelorette Ashley is driving.me.crazy.

Thoughts about Ashley.

• Why do I have to share a name with the worst Bachelorette of all time?
• She thinks Taiwan is the most romantic city? I'm pretty sure if I ever went on a "romantic" vacation, Taiwan would be the last place I would choose.
• Ashley has to make up for her extremely unattractive face (those wedding pics from last night? buhhh) and super annoying voice (have you heard her say "perfect"...ughhhh) with her smoking hot body. Where did that amazing body come from??? She didn't have it with Brad. But, good for her.
• Do they skip taping during that month that she gets mono from making out with all those guys?? Has a Bachelor/Bachelorette every gotten mono?? I'm sure they have.

And, because Ashley is so boring, that's all I have to say about her.

On to the guys.

Do these guys look EXACTLY alike??

Constantine

and

Ben

Identical.

Noel keeps calling them both Rafael Nadal. Whoever that is.

Constantine:

• You do NOT like Ashley. Go home.
• To prove my point, you were more excited about that train ride than Charlie would be.

Ben:

• There is something wrong with you. I just can't figure it out...yet. (Noel added that there is something wrong with all the people that are on this show. True.)

Now, to my FAVORITE.

Ames

• Oh Ames, I don't know why I like you so much.
• Especially when you show up to Taiwan wearing a flannel shirt with wind pants.
• And you always seem to look confused.
• But, I do hope you win. (Even though you're not going to)

THIS guy???

Ryan

• How did he stick around for so long??
• He MUST drink start drinking as soon as he gets up (Noel says he thinks it's weed) Regardless, he is too excited.

Last point. Ashley's fashion.

This blue shirt from last night??

Get yourself together Ashley. Every time the wind blew I got nervous.

Here's to hoping that Ashley can calm herself down and stop messing with that dang bang.

Oh, and JP is going to win, right?~

Trip out West~

To the Western part of the state, that is.

Friday morning we headed out to Winston-Salem to pick up Sarah from the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

She attended for Drama, and had a performance Friday morning.

Some behind the scene shots.

Yes, Sarah is the cute blonde with the red(ish) leotard.

I attended UNCSA back when it was just NCSA. It's been 10 years, but I seriously recognized NOTHING on campus. It's changed so much!

Charlie enjoying the performance.

Outside the theatre with his aunties.

Sisters.

Charlie very proud of his Auntie Sari, and mesmerized by the buckle on her leotard.

Taking a walk around campus with Auntie Jessie.

We then left Winston-Salem and headed even further west to the mountains to visit Noel's Granny Galloway.

Charlie in his great-grandaddy Galloway's truck.

Love Charlie's expression here.

Caught!!! Great Granny Galloway feeding Charlie chocolate ice cream.

Noel, Charlie, and Nana at the site where Great Grandaddy Galloway was buried.

I hope you all had a great weekend!~