Dance Competition: Complete

With a full calendar this month, it feels good to check something off.

It's done.

Dance competition:  Completed.

Sweet Cheeks did another fantastic job on stage!

Her group won a Ruby trophy and each girl got a ribbon.

We're so proud of her...

and she was proud, too.

By the way - the eyelashes came on and off without a hitch.

She looks WAY TOO MATURE with all that make-up.

She's approaching 10 years old and growing up!

Happy on one hand.

Extremely sad on the other.

I just love that her self-confidence is blossoming.

That smile tells it all!

Good job, Sweet Cheeks!

Dancing Divas

Dance competition....here we come.

I should clarify and say "here she comes".

Sweet Cheeks is going to perform in her first dance competition this weekend.

Full on make-up, blingy earrings and fake eyelashes.

That'll be interesting.

I'm picturing crying, whining and sheer pain from this new experience.

She'll be performing a tap routine with her class of last season.

The cute waitress costume fits perfectly with the song "Baked a Cake".

The lyrics are ridiciously funny, I think.

If I knew you were comin' I'd a baked a cake.

Baked a cake.

Baked a cake.

If I knew you were comin' I'd a baked a cake.

How ya' do, how ya' do, how ya' do.

If I knew you'd a be there I'd a made a tortilla.

Made a tortilla.

I'd a made a tortilla.

Yeah - if I knew you'd be there I'd a made a tortilla.

How ya' do, how ya' do, how ya do.

Now I don't know where you come from.

And I don't know where you bin.

But it really doesn't matter.

Grab a chair and fill your platter.

and dig, dig, dig right in.

If I knew you were comin' I'd a baked a potato.

Yeah I'd a baked a potato.

Goodness sake.

If I knew you were comin' I'd a baked a potato.

How ya' do, how ya' do, how ya' do.

She performed this same routine at her dance recital in June 2009.

She amazes me on stage!!

HOT STUFF.

Smiling and shakin' her

booty like she LOVES it!

Sweet Cheeks also performed a jazz number to the Donkey

version of Livin' La Vida Loca.

The costumes were adorable and the choreography was cute.

Sugar Nugget won't be competing because she didn't continue with tap.

It just wasn't her thing.

She banged it out at the recital, too.

She was shining on stage!

The next recital is in June 2010 and the girls will perform in 5 numbers.  Yes.....that's 5 costumes and cha-ching....almost $500.

Plus, the monthly dance lessons, plus the tap shoes and jazz shoes.

We're investing in our kids creative side.

I'm ecstatic that my girls are diggin' dance.

It was my thing oh so long ago.

I LOVED IT and still can cut a rug...

(what generation am I from?)

I meant to say...I LOVED IT and like to think I can still do a little groovin'.

(That's definitely more my era.)

Dogtoria Secret

We decided to embark on a new experience.

Breeding our puppy, Carly.

We knew that her doggie "period" would start any time between

7 and 9 months old.  And, here it was.

It happened about a week before Thanksgiving.

I'm not prepared in any way, shape or form.

What to do???

Since I was too lazy to go to the pet store for

the pet panty, I created my own.

I sifted through my girls' panty drawer and found a bunch

of old panties that the girls just don't wear.

Cut a hole for Carly's tail in each pair.

Took some panty liners and cut them in 1/2.

You get the picture.

Also, I had to use safety pins on each side to

make them stay on her body.

This is her big Dogtoria Secret photo shoot...

This pair of bikinis will fit any puppy nicely.

And, here she is sporting a pair of boy shorts.

To add some holiday cheer, try out this adorable Christmas panty...

And, finally, the centerfold.

Drumroll, please....

Watch out Playboy.

During this time of Carly's "heat", we went out of town for 6 days.

This left our very nice, cool guy/dog-sitter/house-sitter

to bear the responsibility of this burden.

He's a 17 year old Senior in high school.

What guy would want to deal with this, you ask.

NADA

NO ONE

I bought diapers thinking it would be a little easier.

A little snip to cut out the tail circle and viola...

doggie diaper is ready to go.

He got through it.

Hope it didn't damage him for life.

So, the saga continues as we wait for

the end of this first event.

Carly will go back in heat in approximately

6 months and we'll do this all again.

However, it will be a bit different

because that's when we get to

actually breed her with Toby, the stud.

Happy Things...

I've been tagged!  I'm so excited!

The assignment: name the Top 10 things that make me happy.

The bad news is that I'm going to have to post this after we return

from our Thanksgiving vacation.

I'll be back to blogging the week of December 1st.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!

Thanksgiving: Part I

Things are simple here.

This Step 2 white board is the welcome signage

for all our get togethers, celebrations, birthdays.

Here's the message for today

written by Sweet Cheeks:

We celebrated this day with my in-laws and some friends.

The table was set.

The place cards were made.

We gathered leaves from the front yard.

They were wet so we placed them

inside a large brown grocery sack

and hit them with the hair dryer.

Once dried, the girls took permanent

markers and wrote names down on each.

The food prep was enjoyable.

Finished it the day before, which made for a lot less stress.

My job was our wonderful stuffing, sweet yams and cranberry sauce.

To add some flare to my stuffing, I add sausage.  Sometimes

turkey sausage...but this time I tried chicken basil sausage and it was

delicious!  I also add chopped apple, chopped celery, chopped

onion and walnuts.  It brightens up a basic, boxed stuffing and adds

some extra flavor.

My husband is a good man!  He loves to cook!

He made a new recipe for the turkey and followed a brine recipe

that came in Sunset magazine.  That turkey melted in your mouth!

Helpful hint:  If you follow the brine recipe, I would suggest rinsing

the turkey with water before serving because it was a bit salty for

our tastes.

Sugar Nugget announced several days ago that she wanted

to eat the turkey leg.  Here goes...

Ah, I can't forget about a delicious appetizer that

my Mother-in-law brought.

A delicious cheese ball.

Simple recipe, too.

2 - 8 oz. pkgs low-fat Philadelphia Cream cheese

1 - 8 oz. can crushed pineapple

2 Tbsp. finely chopped green pepper

2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion (optional)

2 Tbsp. finely chopped marishino cherries

Mix above incredients together.

Form into a ball.

Roll ball into finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Serve with Wheat Thins.

Homemade apple and pumpkin pies were devoured.

Thanks, friend.

Let me say that I'm so thankful for my in-laws.

They are great people!

Fun to be around.

I am very thankful because they raised a cool guy

who turned into my wonderful husband.

He is handsome, caring, funny, and most importantly,

a God honoring man.

Thanksgiving...

It's only just begun (can anyone hear Karen Carpenter singing in

the background?) as we head out of State to

spend the holiday with my family.

Can't wait!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Count your blessings as I do mine.

Disclaimer:  This blog is a bit out of order, crazy, mixed-up but done

at the end of the day when this gal is tired....and preparing

to leave town tomorrow.  Had to get it in before I left.

Simple things...Santa Letters

We're a little early on Santa letters this year,

but Santa needs to know what the kiddos want.

And, for Pete's sake, the letters have to be mailed to the North Pole.

It probably takes a while to get there.

His Elves have to make all the stuff in their workshop.

Pack the sleigh.

Plot his route.

Lots to do.

You get the picture.

Sweet Cheeks wrote this letter:

It read...

Dear Santa,

I have been a great girl!

What I want for Christmas is a sewing machine.

If you cannot bring a sewing machine, you can bring me a ZuZu Pet.

I want the brown one.

Thank you Santa for all the presents you have given me.

P.S.  My daddy really wants the movie Star Trek.

My mommy wants fancy earrings.

She drew a Christmas Tree, fireplace, stockings on the fireplace

and presents all around it, too.

Precious!

Sugar Nugget wrote this one:

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl for a long time.

Here is my Christmas wish list.

1.  little pet shop pig toy.

2.  a diamond that is blue.

3.  Printies.

4.  ZuZu pets.  The white one.

5.  talking pig toy.

But what I wish for from you is Chixos.

Thank you for your happynis.

She drew a Christmas tree with presents,

and the 4 of us standing around it.

Love it!!

Oh, Santa, please bring Sweet Cheeks that sewing machine.

I believe that I'd like to try it out.

Maybe I can get my "craft" on like some of my friends.

My Mom and Nana (Grandma) used to sew many of our clothes.

There were 4 of us girls.

That's a lot of sewing.

(That's a whole different blog.)

Happy Santa Letter writing!

Simple things...Love notes

It's the season to appreciate the simple things in life.

To be thankful.

I am thankful for my 2 beautiful daughters.

My "professional students".

I call them "professional students"

because it's their job to go to school and learn.

I congratulate them on doing a good job at work.

Studying hard.

Getting good grades on their tests.

Doing their best.

Well, my little professional students are gone for 6 hours a day.

I throw in these little love stickies into their lunch boxes.

E-V-E-R-Y   D-A-Y!!

A little encouragement.

('cause elementary school can have some rough social spots)

A little love.

('cause everyone wants to feel loved)

A little reminder that Mom is proud of them

and always thinking about them.

Come to think of it, years ago I would write

T-Bone sticky loves notes.

I'd put them in his briefcase.

I'd stick them to the bathroom mirror.

I'd stick 'em to the steering wheel of his car.

I'd even stick 'em to the potty.

I think it's time to write some stickies for my Love.

I am sooo thankful for him.

I can't imagine life without him.