Poor Chipper!!

Chip was neutered last week and then got a really bad infection. So the poor fellow has had the cone on his head for a week now and it is killing me. Cowgirl just thinks he's stupid, it's hysterical!!

Star Systems in Myrtle Beach

This past weekend was the last competition for the dance year!!!! We stayed in North Myrtle Beach. Tori had a great time doing the bump for all the mini's hair. She was so excited to go.

Madi's group won a high gold for their Jazz number and took four place overall. They were very excited about that!! They won gold for the rest, and Madi placed with a gold for her solo! She did an awesome job landing her turn, drop, split. Couldn't have asked for a better performance!!

KAR Dance Competition

So while I was enjoying Tori and her guests from prom, Cliff was on his way to Hickory, NC for Madi's second dance competition this season.

This was the first time the guys tried taking food and grilling for all the families who go. Cliff said it was a success and everyone enjoyed it!!

This was also the first time Madi tried her spin drop split in a competion. She feel forward slightly once down but pulled it off. The main thing is she went for it!! She did great. If I can ever figure out how to add a dvd to this I will post it. Her faces and arms are getting better with every performance. How proud we are!!

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Prom 2010

Last night was Tori's Senior Prom. There certainly was a lot of drama leading up to it, but it turned out just perfect!!

Tori and Zach went ot Maggiano's with Martina and Trevor. Then, while taking pictures of the kids at Prom, it turned into several people coming to the house afterwards, including the dates!! YEAHHHHH ME!! It turned out just perfect in the end. The kids came over and made s'mores with a fire in the firepit. Then they all came in and rented a movie. The boys left around 4AM without incident and I could not wait to turn the lights out and go to bed!!

Let's just get to graduation!! Less than 2 months to go!!

Easter 2010

Happy Easter !!!

This year we just stayed home and enjoyed the company of Nana and Papa. The girls looked for easter eggs and their baskets that the bunny hid. We enjoyed our traditional honey ham that was as delicious as ever and Papa snoozed to golf just like normal!!

It was a very relaxing day.

First attempt at a Slideshow!!

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CDM Competition in Albemarle.

CDM was the first competition for the 2010 dance year.

We stayed in Albemarle last weekend. On Friday night Madi danced in the solo competition. She won a high silver even though it was the best performance she has given yet for her tap routine to Rockin Robin. Her facial expressions and hands were the best yet. We are having a little trouble with judging since she looks 12 years old competing in a "cute" routine in the 9 year old group. Judges tend to forget what the paper says when all they can think of is, "Can we see a birth certficate for proof?"

Saturday was a long team competition day. Madi had a melt down for the first dance which was acro. Nerves and self-confidence all played a huge part in that. It was down hill from there. The group tap was adorable to "Grant Avenue" and my favorite. They placed high silver for acro, gold in jazz, and high silver in tap (which I thought was a crock!!)

All in all, Madi was beautiful as ever!! We are very proud of her. There is no way I could have ever gone out on a HUGE stage by myself, at her age, and perform a solo. She is always a joy to watch.

Getting Ready for the First Competition for 2010

This past weekend was a long one. Madi was at dance from 10 - 7 on Saturday and 1 - 5on Sunday. She has worked hard this year and is very excited and a little nervous for the first competition of the year. This coming weekend we're off to the rocking town of Albemarle, NC for Friday and Saturday. Solos are on Friday night. The group costumes are really cute this year.

Here are a few pictures of dress rehersal with some of Madi's friends.

New Dance Instructor

So while I was rushing to Raleigh with Tori and Jimmy, Cliff was taking Madi to her first session with Mr Paul from Triangle Academy of Dance.

He was wonderful!!!!

I was hoping to find an outlet to try to inspire her and kick-start her desire to become a great tap dancer once again. I think we have accomplished that. He has added a split to the end of her dance and improved her exit from stage with a very advanced step. I'm not sure we will get it worked in completely before the first competition in two weeks, but I am hopeful for the second one in April. We have another session scheduled for Monday night at 8:15pm.

We'll see how it progresses.

Couldn't Resist

This picture sums up how the original Queen of Hearts Gala was. I just got a copy of this from Abby. I couldn't resist!!

Another Black Tie Affair

This past Saturday Tori and Jimmy attended the Carolina Nights Gala at the Renaissance hotel at North Hills. What a beautiful event. Tori went and represented Chatham County for the ARC. They couldn't stop talking about how "upscale" the event was. Tori, Jimmy, Taylor and Garrett are becoming fast friends. It was a late night and we finally got Jimmy home around 1:30am so the two of them could get up and volunteer for church. It was a very early morning.

Getting Ready for the Annual ARC Gala

Let the good times roll!! Another week filled with drama about the annual ARC Gala this coming Saturday night. Jimmy isn't "allowed" to take Tori?? So the quest for the perfect date continues while booking hair, nail and eye brow appointments.

Madi is working hard on her first competition coming up the end of this month and starts lessons with her new choreographer this Saturday. She is very excited as he danced with some highly accredited dance companies in New York. She says, "You know New York is the dance capital of America!!"

ARC Gala

Aren't they adorable???

Queen of Hearts Gala 2010

It's official, Tori is the Queen of Hearts for 2010 for Chatham county. She couldn't have been any more excited.

It was a wonderful night! The girls raised over 45,000 dollars this year versus 29,000 last year. This was accomplished in four weeks!! Tori was also awarded a scholarship for her participation. Her first required engagement is this next weekend. There is the annual ARC Gala downtown where Jimmy will be her date.

Once the Gala was over, where else would the family go all dressed up but to Dunkin Doughnuts/Baskin Robins. The employees were thoroughly entertained by our family.

ARC Queen of Hearts Chatham Co. 2010

So much to do, so little time....

So I took Madi to her first concert the end of February!! We went to Charolette, just her and I, to see the Black Eye Peas. We couldn't have had seats any further away from the stage than if they were in the parking lot. It worked out though, Madi handled the noise level just fine and we partied like a rock star!!

We stayed at Aloft in downtown. What a great contemporary hotel!!

The ARC Queen of Hearts Campaign is over!!!! We celebrate and see who won at the Gala on Friday night. Can't wait!!

Pocahontas on Parade

So I realize Wednesday morning that Madi needs a costume for Thursday morning. She is supposed to dress up like the person she did her IRP on. Well of course it is Pocahontas. Well, with a whole lot of creativity from Rhonda, Shannon's artist gluing ability, a few "natural feathers", and 2 trips to Walmart we got it done. Rhonda was the perfect model.

Dad even helped out by gluing ribbon on during the battle of the blues!! Poor UNC!

Madi gave her stamp of approval on the outfit! She looked adorable with her little headband on and the feather directly in the middle of her forehead. Precious!!

Pocahontas on Parade

Queen of Hearts

Tori has been busy with her ARC fundraising. Everyone is being so generous, it's wonderful!! Cliff and Andy made some really big boxes for penny wars at the school. It's boys V girls. I'm pretty sure if they fill up the boxes Cliff will be going in for hernia surgery after they are moved and opened for counting.

Madi, Tori and I decorated them at school on Monday night. We learned that super glue doesn't work on vinyl table cloth!!! Good Times!!