Cinderella Dances

Well, the big day arrived and tonight was Carmen's big recital. Going through my head are a few things: will she get on stage? will she cry? will she dance or just stand there? is she going to cry when I leave her backstage? The lessons were all worth it because the look on her face when she ran to me after the show was worth a million dollars. She loved being on stage and said she wants to do another show. She was so happy and proud of herself and the most important thing was that SHE LOVED IT! She had so much fun.
Her dance was Bippidi Boppidi Boo. She did as well as a 3 year old can as far as remembering the steps. The audience was laughing at the end as they went to find their wands on the floor. It was very cute. At one point the instructors had to come on stage and get them regrouped but it all worked out.
Carmen Bibbidi Boppidi Boo Dance Recital Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhVy7qvtiUE

The tear jerker of the night was the Daddy Daughter Dance. Some dads participated in a performace to the song "Cinderella". The song describes a little girl who begs her daddy to dance with her when she is a very small child. That is the part that Carmen danced to. By the end the song talks about how she aks her dad to teach her how to dance for her wedding day! Ohh the tears were flowing. People whose kids were not even participating were crying.

Daddy Daughter Start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX96njPHDhA
Daddy Daughter Finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wraso-3fw2w

Cinderella - Lyrics By: Steven Curtis Chapman

She spins and she sways

To whatever song plays

Without a care in the world

And I'm sitting here wearing

The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day

And there's still work to do

She's pulling at me Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle

And I've been invited

And I need to practice my dancing

Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh, I danced with Cinderella

I don't wanna miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed

She wants to know if I approve of her dress

She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away

And I need to practice my dancing

Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh, I danced with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand

Just glowing and telling us all they had planned

She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away

But I need to practice my dancing

Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh, I danced with CinderellaI don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

Felt bad because this is all about Carmen. Gianni actually learned the backstroke on Friday and can do it without much assistance because he floats very well. Go Gianni!

Summer craft time. Week #1 is officially done and summer is great so far!

I owe it to them!

You are looking at two very important people in my life: Holly and Michelle. Many of you know that in 2009 I began my weight loss process and I am proud to say that I have lost over 65 pounds at this point...and I have kept it off. It is all about finding something that you are truly passionate about. Exercise was not my thing until I met Michelle. Michelle is the third lovely lady from the left and she is my kickboxing teacher. She pushes me, yells at me when I am trying to cheat, pushes my body to new limits, and motivates me more than I think she realizes. I owe so much to her! I am in the best shape of my life and my kids are proud of me and believe that I am strong and that is the best feeling in the world.
Now, Holly has gone through this process with me. We talk through our meals, we plan our workouts, we cry together when the scale goes up a smidgen and celebrate together when it goes down. We motivate each other and there is no other person I would rather be with during this process. We changed our lifestyles together. On Friday night, we went out to Scottsdale with Michelle and a few other instructors at the gym. It was an amazing night and we have earned it! Thank you Holly and Michelle for helping me change my life! I could not have done it without you both.

Summer is HERE!

Last week was the end to school! Whoooohooo we made it! Gianni graduated from kindergarten and we are so proud of his academic progress. He did great. There was a small performance and then we said our goodbyes in the classroom. He will miss his teacher pictured below (Mrs. Luckow) but is very excited to start summer.


Last week was very hard because we said goodbye to Caleb Burgard. The Burgard family moved to Missouri and we will miss them so much.
The Palm Vally Kinder Crew (from left to right): Gianni, Sydney, Evan, Caleb, Jonah

We started our first summer weekend off with a bang. We were invited out to Jenni Roseland's parents house for a day at the Estrella water park and then for food back at their place. The kids loved playing with Kyan and Lola. Jenni's parents remind me a lot of my parents. They treat Jenni's friends like family. I have always felt like my parents do the same with my friends and we had so much fun hanging out with them. Carmen climbed under the waterfalls and actually went down a baby water slide multiple times.

Gianni went down the slide over...and over...and over again!

On Memorial Day, daddy took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda while mommy recovered from a horrible little stomach bug and sinus cold that knocked me down for the count for about 2 days. This week the kids began swimming lessons. I am so proud of them! Gianni and Syd are learning many different strokes and side breathing. Gianni loves the male teacher of course.

The first day was kickboards but in no time he caught right on to the side breathing and today was learning how to dive (which is still a belly flop at this point but at least he is trying)

Miss Carmen started class as well in the "big kid" class. She could be swimming if I could just get her arms and legs to move a little faster. The teacher keeps telling her to wake her arms and legs up. She loves her teacher Sabrina and so far has had no fear what so ever.

Today I did not have my camera but the kids went to the dentist. Gianni did great as usual. Carmen did it...but by the 4th x-ray picture there were tears rolling down her face. She completed the rest of the exam and cleaning but with tears. I was informed again that Gianni has a crowded mouth and will definitely need braces and possibly some teeth might need to be removed (sound familiar mom!) As for my daughter...perfectly straight teeth. She has perfect spacing, so much so that we don't even need to floss! Both received a perfect check up and I am proud of them both. I cried at the dentist as a teenager so I am pleased with how well they did.

Tomorrow is dress rehearsal for the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo dance recital which is Saturday at 4:30pm. Be checking back!

Our Trip Home

This is pretty much what Youngstown and Niagara Falls have looked like for the past month! We went home for my cousin's wedding and it looked like this everyday except the day of the wedding. We did our best to make the best of the poor weather.
Ahhh...pancakes with Nonna! A family tradition!

We are also getting to the point where Abel and I can run while both kids ride. Look at my husband! Down 35 pounds since November and RUNNING WITH ME! He ran everyday while we were there and we ran twice together. Of course we had to run with all the food we were about to eat on this trip!

Now that the exercising was out of the way it was time to eat cannoli number one of the trip. I'm not really sure how many times Abel and Gianni went for a jog (which I believe was code for going to get a cannoli!).

We took Carmen to Fort Niagara for the first time. In the past we have left her home thinking that she would not enjoy the castles and loud noises but she loved exploring all of the rooms and old buildings.

Saturday morning arrived and Carmen was off to gether hair done for the wedding. We did a side ponytail of tight curls. She did great and looked so beautiful!

The church had horrible lighting and this picture is fuzzy (probably because you now who took it!) but I did my best to do what I could to save it. We had gummy bears in her basket to get her to walk down the aisle.

Tracy and Chris both looked amazing and their ceremony was very relaxed and really represented them as a couple. It was perfect! Congratulations you guys!

In the back of the church is a sign thanking the people that helped the church get started. It meant a lot to see my grandparents name on the wall. I remember going to Prince of Peace as a child. Many family events, both good and bad, have happened in this church.

After the ceremony it was off to Beaver Island to take pictures.

After two hours of taking pictures and snacking on the "limo bus" Carmen hit the normal 4pm crash. Lately she has been not napping but the 4pm crash has become the norm!

Papa and his "sweet pea" share a dance

My wonderful family! We had so much fun at this wedding. It was so nice to have the kids talk with people that we don't always get to see. Mary, I hope you are reading! We had so much fun catching up with you, Tom and Charlie. It was also nice to be with my Uncle Mike, Aunt Julie and her hilarious and so much fun to be around sisters, Uncle Tony and his family, my cousin Marie, Aunt Helen and the Frisoni Family, and all of our other relatives.

We danced the night away. Gianni wanted to dance with me all night long. He requested songs and we danced to all of them. It was a truly special time for our family and we were so thankful that Chris and Tracy made us such a special part of their day. Thank you Chris and Tracy and congratulations!