I've waited long enough... time to talk Dance Moms

Alright, I have been faithfully watching Dance Moms since it began about 3 months ago.  I hurry home Wednesday nights so that I can flip on my DVR and watch the newest shananagons of the Abby Lee Dance Company... but I didn't want to post on it until I had more to grasp then just a few episodes. I've come up with some conclussions:

1. these mothers are bat shit crazy.  I mean, I've got to be honest with you... If one of the mothers in my studio acted like that to me they'd be out on their ass before they even had time to close their mouth.  I'm praying that some of this is scripted for ratings because these woman say some of the dumbest things ever.

2. Cathy... come on REALLY?!  She puts a bad flip on all dance studio owners simply because she's a nut job.  Who the hell has time to look on the schedule of a competition, steal a song, and teach your dancer (who sucked anyway) a new solo?!  And NEWSFLASH: your daughter doesn't want to dance... she's gonna end up hating dance and you!

3. Debate: do you think these kids have learned these dances ahead of time, and for ratings they're saying their learning new ones?  I hope so... I just don't get the point of stressing out the kids and parents like that.

4.  WHO THE HELL IS PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS????  I have some amazing moms that have no problem shelling out $50 for rhinestones on a costume, or traveling to a nationals every few years, or paying for extra rehearsals, but traveling 5 weeks straight all over the country?!  And who lets their kids skip this much school?  More importantly, does anyone feel like they always arrive at competition like 10 seconds before they're supposed to dance... get a clue ladies, MOVE YOUR CALL TIME UP! 

5. I've saved this one for last: I think Abby Lee is brilliant.  I truly believe in my heart that she's doing what's best for those kids... she just doesn't always "deliver" it in the best way.  The only thing I really disagree with is her little pyramid system... other then that, she's my idol :)   She's producing brilliant performers who are working after they graduate... if that's not what you want for your kid, or you think it comes at too high of a price in time and finances and emotional strain: GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.  Every studio owner is not right for every student... if you don't like her product, don't purchase it... but you also can't expect the results she gives.

There... I feel better now.

Happy Friday :)

Hello Strangers...

2 and a half months since my last blog post... woops!

Since then I have:

*Choreographed 51 pieces of choreo
*Taken a 10 day trip with my entire family
*Opened up another season of the studio
*Coached PVP to an amazing summer camp championship
*Taught and rehearsed a Christmas show through the summer
*Started a Pampered Chef business
*Hired some amazing teachers
*Had our first benefit concert for GIFT
*Celebrated 6 years of marriage with my wonderful husband

And most importantly
*Learned that the summer and beginning of fall is a crappy time to attempt to keep up a blog :)

From here on out, updates at least weekly :)

Finally Friday

Short blog post today, just to update you on the week.

I've taken an entire bottle of ibuprofen, used 5 bengay patchs, and said about a million curse words trying to get my body to stop aching, but in return I've spent a week watching some amazing pieces of choreography come to life.  I've gotten to spend time with some AMAZINGLY talented kids who more importantly are just great kids, that I love and adore more with each passing day.  I've gotten to spend the week working along side the most talented teachers in the world including my sister, my best friend, and my cousin.  I've gotten to even sit back on my lunch break today and reflect on this studio and realize how lucky I am to watch my dream unfold in front of my face every single day. 

I guess in the grand scheme of things, Ibuprofen is cheap, right? 

Happy weekend :)

"Hey Mom!"

I'm in the middle of Hell week... also know as choreography week 1.  It's wonderful, I'm just sore and a little tired, and missing my kiddos a bit at this point.  Anyway, even though this week is insanity, I had to post about Sam's comment this morning.

We're sitting on the couch and he says to me "Hey Mom, what's that black stuff in your eye?", I thought he meant my eyelashes to which he responded "Mom, I know what eyelashes look like... really there's something black in there!" so I of course go up to the mirror thinking there's something in my eye, and realize he's talking about my pupil... so I say "buddy, do you mean my pupil?!" and he gets a horrified look on his face and says "WHY IS THERE A PUKE BOWL IN YOUR EYE?!"

Oh Sammy :)

It's Monday!

Monday Monday Monday

" Never see success as a goal you pursue. It always comes from the back door when we derive happiness from what we know how to do best."

This quote is in honor of our nationals trip this week... I wish I could put into words how proud I am of the 2011 competitive team,  but it's simply not possible.  

Get out there and do what you do, with a passion you have burning in every single ounce of your being.  We'll be successful no matter what :)

Love you all.

Motivational Monday

Motivational Monday

"The test of courage comes when we're the minority.  The test of tolerance comes when we're the majority."

~ Ralph Stockman


Over the course of my lifetime, I've been deemed an "opinionated person"... There's few topics of conversation I don't have an opinion on, and when asked I've never been shy about sharing my opinion of something.  HOWEVER... I am not sure if it's my age, my point in life, or what, but over the past few months I've found myself getting frustrated with people that are intolerant of others.  Don't get me wrong there are certain things that I don't tolerate well, but I have noticed more and more people that when someones opinions don't match up exactly with theirs it's like it's the end of the world. 

I've noticed it on a national level: The Brown family from the TLC show Sister Wives... They're a polygamist family:  SO WHAT!?  It's the lifestyle they chose to live.  Would I want to share my husband with 3 other woman and have my children have 18 siblings, no, but that's the religion they were raised in.  And on 19 Kids and Counting... The Duggar Family chose to have as many children as God would allow them to have.  Would I want 19 children??  You must be out of your damn mind, but it works for them.  Her uterous has got to be about to fall out of her by now, but she loves her children, they're well fed, clean, and always have a friend around.  Who are we to judge what they do?  There's some people in the world that should have NEVER been allowed to have one child, but again, that's not our call.

I've also noticed it when tragedy strikes:  In the aftermath of Joplin tornados, I was reading an article about the devistation and I was shocked and saddened by some of the comments about how "if those hilbilly people knew how to make it to the basement they'd still be alive" or "It's like the tornados knew what they were doing because they only ruined the poor people's houses"  HONESTLY?!  How indecent can you be?  Whether those people had a million dollar home or were renting a home off of a fixed income, it was their HOME.  It was torn from them with not enough warning and how dare people blame any of what mother nature created on the poor people that suffered her rampage.

I think the thing that is the worst is that we all do it.  We naturally judge everything around us... it's human nature.  All that I'm saying is although I think it's imparative that everyone has their own voice and their own opinion, we need to really watch how and when we speak it.  Tolerance is an artform.  One that unfortunitely is not being practiced too often anymore...

Happy Monday :)

Thankful TH-Friday...

I had all good intentions of getting this up yesterday, but I was sick as a dog and am just now feeling like I can at least halfway function!

Today I'm so Thankful for a man that has been such an inspiration for so many people for a lot of years.

I totally stole this picture from his facebook profile :)

Mike Gowdy is a friend of a friend... someone I saw at birthday parties, or cookouts, or first communions.  We always got along well, had a good time, and laughed a lot.  Since the developement of facebook, we've talked a lot more... gotta love social networking :)

Well a few days ago, Mike came up with a plan to head to Joplin to help the tornado victims there.  What an amazing idea... only to be executed by Mike Gowdy!  I always knew he was a nice guy, but what a selfless act for him to drop everything and head down to help people he's never even met.

We were all so excited that we wanted to help, so our studio raised $400 to send with him.  Along with our contribution, other friends of Mike's gave him supplies, money, and prayers and his plan is to go to Joplin and simply help whoever he can.

So today I am thankful for you Mike Gowdy, for you are living the golden rule, Treat others as you wish to be treated.  I am thankful there are still people in the world that have a heart of gold and you give me hope that my children will live a better life because of people like you.

Have a blessed weekend!

Motivational Monday's are back...

Okay, I'm going to try to get back into my blogging routine...

Motivational Monday:

To understand your parents' love you must raise children yourself.
Chinese Proverbs

I'm not so sure that this could be more true.  Today is my parent's 30th anniversary... that is amazing in this world anymore and I am so grateful that they stuck through the thick and thin to get to this point.  I do think it's true that children do what they see, and I attribute my successful marriage completely to my parents (and my husbands parents who have been married almost 31 years!).  My mom tells me all the time that the only thing her and Dad faught about was money and us kids (and the lack of having money because of us kids...)  I'm certainly not going to tell you that my parent's marriage was without problems.  They faught, and yelled, and said things they both probably regret to this day, but at the end of it all, they always loved each other and our family enough to pull it back together and move forward... together. 

Happy anniversary to the best couple I know :)

Thankful Thursday

In preparation for recital and graduation, I'm celebrating some of my favorite young women. 

The seniors at ATB this year have been amazing.  Alyssa, Lauren, Dani, and Jori (not pictured here) have been shining examples of leadership, talent, graciousness, and love.  The fact that we're gearing up for their senior recital SICKENS me (and frankly makes me feel a little bit old...) and enlightens me all at the same time.  I can't remember a class of seniors with as much drive to do great things as this class of 2011.

The idea of losing these girls makes me so sad, but the years that I've gotten them have been amazing... it is probably time I share them with the world. 

So today I celebrate you ladies.  I adore each of you as if you were my own children, and wish you all of the success, love, and health you so deserve.  This is also your fair warning that if you don't come and visit often you're in trouble :)

Here's to a wonderful recital and a magical graduation for you all :)

Celebrating Sam

How is it possible that my world could be flipped upside down in a matter of minutes and now, 5 years later, I can't remember a single thing about what my life was like before Sam Michael?  Motherhood is a crazy thing, but I sure do love it.  So today, on Sam's 5th birthday, I'm celebrating his entrance into the world... all 3 days of it!

Thursday, May 11th, 2006, I got a phone call from my doctor's office telling me to head to the hospital because they wanted to begin my induction.  I got to the hospital shortly before noon and began the process of IV's, gowns, monitors, millions of questions (to which Rob answered inappropriately... who's surprised?!), and finally they began Pitocin.  I was ready... I had my videos on, I was waiting for pain, and sending texts to all of my friends to let them know it was finally time.  And then I kept waiting, and waiting and waiting.  When I arrived at the hospital I was "almost a fingertip" dialated.  For anyone that doesn't know what that means the translation would be this "There's not a snowballs chance in hell that baby is coming out anytime soon, but we want you to have some hope".  So with the Pitocin it's supposed to speed that process up.  24 hours into the induction I had some pretty regular contractions and I was feeling a little more uncomfortable so I was pretty sure this medicine had worked and I had to be pretty close to having a baby... she came to check me around lunch on Friday and said "We're almost at a 2!" like it was the best news she'd ever delivered... and I wanted to punch her in the face.  Again, if you're new at this labor thing, this translation would be something like this "good work, at this rate you may have a baby by next Thursday!".  So the doctors decided on Friday afternoon to shut the medication off to give my body a chance to calm down a bit (and so I could eat something!) and we'd discuss options around dinner.  The doctor arrived to discuss options and said "I think we should send you home and maybe try again in a few days" to which I promptly replied "I'm not leaving this hospital without this baby out of me"  I believe at this point I was also a little frustrated and said something about cutting him out myself if they sent me home... whatever I said worked, because they just quietly started my Pitocin again and left my room quickly.  That night, while I was trying to sleep (even though Rob was singing "Rent" at the top of his lungs and bouncing on the birthing ball) I could definitely tell the meds were finally working.  They checked me around 4am and announced I was finally at a 4 (translation... not quite halfway, but getting there) and I could finally get some drugs.  As I waited for the epidural, I felt a little weird... I knew I needed to go to the bathroom so I heaved myself out of bed (heaved is for sure the appropriate word for this as I recall) and was MORTIFIED to find I had peed the bed.  The nurse cracked up at me and happily announced it wasn't pee, my water had broken.  As I was walking to the bathroom, she reminded me that after your water breaks things tend to get a little more painfull and all of a sudden it was like that *itch cursed me: I was in so much pain I couldn't even move.  From there all I remember is screaming at anyone who came in the room until they found me my anesthesiologist.  By noon I was ready to push (translation here: you think you're done at this point.  it's kind of a mean trick people play on you, because all you ever hear is you need to get to 10cm, and then you have a baby... they leave out this next part can take an eternity)  So I began pushing at noon... a vacuum, some swearing, and 3 hours and 16 minutes later we finally had our Sam :)  So for all of you non-mom's out there reading this, I didn't mean to scare you out of having kids...  

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat knowing what a blessing this child has been to us.  He's truly the light of our lives and it's impossible to believe that today we are celebrating him "being one ENTIRE hand"!

Happy birthday my angel!

thankful thursday...

First and foremost I'm sorry for my ridiculous lapse in blogging this month.  Today I'm thankful I've made it this far :)

Today's thankful Thursday is all about...

Aunt Kat even lets the kids do her hair sometimes... pretty huh?!

Aunt KAT!

Kat was one of my first students I remember teaching.  I was like 12 years old and someone decided I was responsible enough to student teach... not sure how that happened, but I'm glad it did.  Kat was a wonderful kid, full of energy, excitement and talent.  She was an amazing student and I loved working with her any chance I could.  Our relationship (like a lot of dance relationships) grew into a sisterhood of sorts.  Kat didn't have any siblings, so I stepped into the role of big sister, and she fit nicely as my little one.  When she needed a solo, I choreographed it, when I needed help moving into my dorm, she helped me, when she got in trouble and needed someone to cover for her, I covered, and when I needed a little sister to remind me to have some fun, she was there for me.  Let's be serious though, when you're sisters life isn't always roses and sunshine either... we've definitely had our arguments, but have always came out stronger on the other side.

Kat was a candle lighter in my wedding (that was always our joke back then... "don't burn the church down Kat!"), we spent hours on my couch with her hands on my tummy waiting for Sam to kick, and she was one of the first ones up at the hospital when both kids were born.  Over time, she became a teacher at the studio, and our friendship kept growing.  My kids adore her and they've always known her as Aunt Kat.  They ask almost every day if it's "aunt Kat day" so that they can play and do ridiculous videos and pictures with her.  I've watched her go through some incredibly difficult times, and I've also gotten to see her sore.  She's an essential part of my family and we love her as if she was our own :)  So today we celebrate Thankful Thursday because we have an Aunt Kat :)

Happy Thursday everyone!

Thankful Thursday

My blogging has SUCKED these past few weeks.

This thankful Thursday is not going to be about a person... it's going to be about a group of people.  A group of people that has made certain that I don't pull every last strand of hair out of my head.  "My People" as I've began calling them, consists of mothers and staff members in my studio and on my dance team and they have been ANGELS this week. 

Let's begin with the fact that we had tryouts for my high school team last week and they didn't turn out as expected... no fear though friends, we made it work.  After that tryout "my people" and I had a four and a half hour meeting to figure out how to make my life easier... angels I tell ya.

After that whole fiasco began this week.  This is the week i call HELL on EARTH.  It is Evaluation and conference week and with it comes hours and hours and hours of preparation and planning.  With the help again of "my people" they have calmed me down and made me see that in a few days it'll be over... well sort of.  These angels of mine are also gonna be here with me the entire weekend, so that makes it easier too :)  On top of all of that we're having our non-competitive pictures tomorrow night AND the beginning of the year high school team parent meeting tomorrow night AFTER pictures... "My people" better have a large beverage ready and waiting when i am done with this weekend I tell ya...

So to "my people" (Jenny, Cindy, Rox, Pam, my lovely sister, and my wonderful mother) THANK YOU for helping me through :)

Monday Monday :)

Motivational Monday again....

Any human anywhere will blossom in a hundred unexpected talents and capacities simply by being given the opportunity to do so.

Doris Lessing

This quote is such a wonderful reminder that there is always a way to see growth and talent even when you're least expecting it... you just have to be willing to accept it.  Imagine for a moment if every time someone doubted you, you quit trying... this world would be a pretty boring and unspectacular place.

Have a beautiful Monday :)

Motivational MONDAY

Monday's come faster every week...

"For fast-acting relief try slowing down."

Lily Tomlin

Hmmmm... Lily Tomlin is the smartest woman ever.  I have a constant headache, continuous mountain of laundry, and a to do list that never gets crossed off before more is added to the bottom... but ya know, I do all of those things every day so that even 10 minutes of enjoying the benefits is well worth it :) 

Ms. Tomlin, thanks for the reminder to slow down, and take a breath

Soccer Diva

Miss Maicey played her first game of soccer last weekend... wanna know how it went?! See this picture:

It didn't start off this way... She started the morning at 4 am, waking me up and wanting to put on her "chin guards" and jersey.  She in fact did dress in her ENTIRE soccer "costume" and stayed that way until her 10:30 game :)

When she arrived at 10:30 she did attempt playing a little bit... however in Maicey's words "The ball was dirty and my socks are white"... hmmmm, I can't say I blame her.  She did however get in for the kick off of the second half:

and played until a boy stole the ball away...

When I told her she was going to have to come back and play next week she said "Yes mommy I'll come next time cause I get to get my pictures taken!!!!"  I'm thinking we may need to start on her dance solo sooner then later cause I'm pretty sure this diva has seen her last season of outdoor contact sports :)

Just another day in the life...

Thankful Thursday...

So thankful for this woman...

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite places on Earth was Maryland.  I loved spending the summer with Aunt Sue, Uncle Paul, Mick, Jenny, and Sara.  Sara and I always had a lot in common, we spoke our minds about things, we shared a passion for dance, and above all else, our family was always number one.  As we grew up, our dance lives intersected more and more.  She taught me solos throughout high school, she choreographed our group routines, and as I opened my studio, she helped me with the transition from dancing to teaching.  Still to this day I look forward to the week (or two) Diablo (as the girls lovingly call her) spends here in Iowa doing choreography for my girls. 

The day I got married she stood by my side and I couldn't imagine her not being there.  As I had my first child, she was there through it all, even though she was in Maryland, she called every week to see how I was and when "pop tart" was born she couldn't wait to visit.  We've never really figured out why she called him pop tart, but that was always his name to her.  We also have not figured out why Sam has always just called Sara "cousin"... but hey, whatever works :)  When my second child was born I had no question in my mind that Cousin would be her God Mother (or G-mama as we call her now)... I hope that Maicey grows up to be the strong and smart woman that Cousin always has been.  I was there as Sara married her best friend Dan, through his deployments, the births of her two beautiful girls, and beginning a foundation together... we honestly couldn't be farther apart in distance but I feel as though we're connected on a very different level.  She's my cousin, my professional partner in many ways, and more then anything one of my closest friends on this Earth. 

So today and always I'm thankful for Sara/diablo/Cousin/G-mama, there's no telling where I'd be without her belief in me...

Is it Monday again...

Put some motivation in your Monday...

“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

 - Christopher Reeve

This quote sums up my life right now...  I grew up dreaming big, because no one ever told me I was crazy.  My parents nodded and smiled as I explained that I was gonna grow up and change the world, my teachers pushed me farther then I thought I could go, and now as a "grown up" my husband and children still believe that my dreams are not out of reach. 

I'm also lucky enough to be the other side of the "dream big" theory... I get to encourage my children and students every day that they too have the ability to achieve anything they set their mind to... and maybe someday they'll be changing the world too.  It's like a big circle of dreaming...

Change someone's world today :)

Thankful Thursday

Although I was going to try to wait until his birthday to tell you all how thankful I am for him, I just can't wait any more...

Saying "thankful" about this man wouldn't even begin to describe it.  He is my everything.  I'm thankful he supports my CRAZY career, I'm thankful he's the most wonderful father on the planet, I'm thankful he's silly and reminds me that everything doesn't always have to be so serious, I'm thankful that he could fix ANYTHING in our house that breaks (even if it means ending up in the ER with 19 stitches), and more then anything I'm thankful that he is always waiting at home for me to chat about our day.

Rob and I have an unconventional sort of marriage.  He gets up and is out of the house by 7 each morning, works all day and comes home at a reasonable time from his "real" job.  He then takes the kids from me at the studio and I work until around 9 or so each night.  We get to see each other from about 9:30 til he heads to bed around 10:30... it's always our joke that being away from each other is the reason our marriage is successful :)  I honestly do believe that we are a happily married couple however because when we do get time together we know it's valuable.

So today and everyday I'm thankful to my confidant, my biggest critic, my biggest cheerleader, my best friend, and the love of my life... how lucky am I that he's all of those things wrapped into one, perfect package?

Just another thankful Thursday :)

Motivational Monday... a day late

It's been a long week already... sorry my Motivational Monday has just turned into a Motivational Tuesday...

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.

~Stacia Tauscher

There's day's that I'm so busy preparing my children to be good students, be good leaders, be good role models that somehow I forget that sometimes I need to live in the moment of allowing my children to be just that; children.  I forget that it's okay for them to throw a fit in the grocery store when they don't get something they want, or to cry when I won't let them wear flip flops when it's 18 degrees out, or to just want some time to snuggle with their Daddy instead of going to bed on time.  It's all okay because they are everything I've ever wanted, and I know that there's always tomorrow to get them to understand the difference between a "b" and a "d" or that life's not always fair or that not every person is as good as they seem... because let's be honest, there's so many days I wish I was as peacefully naive as my children and I will keep them in their "child" state as long as possible...

Happy Tuesday :)

Thankful Thursday

I don't really remember a time in my life without this lady in it...

No one believes us now that Jenny was my dance teacher when I was a kid.  It's true, she looks amazing for being old enough to have taught me my entire dancing career, but it's true. 

As time has gone on our relationship has changed quite a bit.  When I was 7 she taught me dance.  She was always such a great teacher... very hands on and fun.  When I was 13 or so I became more then just her student.  She somehow conned me into being her personal assistant... aka I got to spend like every weekend doing Christmas shows at nursing homes, going to perform Luau's at a resort in Ottawa, IL, helping with the production of the Miss Iowa pageant, and pretty much any other crazy idea Jenny came up with.  At the age of 18 our relationship grew when i became her personal attendant at her wedding.  She convinced my mom that I should skip school for a day and go with her to do last minute things.  I'll never forget her looking at me in a panic screaming "I forgot Mary's flowers!!!!"  I also can't name too many other people that would go out in a monsoon on her wedding day to find umbrellas for everyone... At 19 Jenny gave me my first niece and our relationship blossomed even more... Between planning her entire baby shower and getting that phone call from Mike right after she was born I realized that this family was part of my life that I was so thankful for.  I got to watch Emma every Thursday until she was almost 4 years old and those were some of my favorite days ever :)  Somewhere between the age of 19 and 21 Jenny and I became more then teacher/student... she became one of my friends.  As I was choosing my wedding party one of the people I had planned to ask fell through so I came to Jenny crying- I needed another person in my wedding party and of course Jenny was more then willing. Over the next 3 years of my wedding, having my children (where I called her at all hours of the night to make sure I wasn't the worst mom on the planet), and finally seeing her get pregnant with Aiden,  Jenny and I became like sisters.  I think back to that day begging her to fill in for my wedding and now can't imagine for a moment her not standing up with me on that day. Our kids are convinced they are cousins, we write "aunt" next to "relationship to child" on our kids' emergency forms, we go on vacation together, we understand what the other one is thinking before they even think it, and we would do anything in the world to make the other one happy... what in the world could I be more thankful for? 

So today, I'm thankful for both of my sisters :)






All of the "Dettlaff" kids.  They're inseperable :)



Why is this legal?!

I've never claimed to be the best studio owner in the world... I've also never claimed to teach the best technique in the world, but I'm telling you after the past few weeks of judging at various cities throughout the country I look like I'm running the Joffrey Ballet around here.

First and foremost the unprofessionalism is astounding... I've witnessed students wearing one shoe on stage, tights that were ripped, hair flying in their faces, and people wearing costumes that appear to have been ordered 9 years ago.  As a teacher, your job is to prepare your students for something bigger and better then what we are.  If you think that the Rockettes are allowed to walk on stage with one character shoe on you're nuts...

Next, B-A-L-L-E-T.  It's simple people... all you have to do is require that they take it.  I'm sick and tired of watching people with sickled feet, no turn out, and pirouetting the wrong direction. 

Choreography- Again, I don't claim to be the best choreographer in the world- but I'm telling you there's times that I see these children doing choreography that is worse then something Maicey Munn could construct with all 3 years of her life experience behind her.  I also want to state that hip hop is not in fact a style in which you just shake your ass on stage.  There is actually technique that goes along with it... I know that's a new theory for some so go ahead and take a moment to process that.  I just can't fatham allowing my child on stage jumping around like a goon... but apparently tons of other parents see no problem with it! 

And lastly, it is not okay to allow your students to dance to a song such as "DINOSAUR" (where they actually say the words "you look sexy with your oxygen tank"), or "Raunchy" (I can't make this up people... it's honestly a song title).  It's also not okay to allow them to dance in a hot pink costume with skulls on it and no tights when they're 8 years old.  On the tights debate: I don't wanna see your business while I'm watching you dance... it's just wrong.  I hear all the time "you wear less at the beach", yes you're correct friend, but I don't usually do leg hold turns in my swimsuit... do you?!

I've always said I think it's interesting that you have to go to school and get a license to cut someone's hair but to be a studio owner all you have to do is find enough people that believe in what you're doing... that's a scary thought isn't it?  Some of these studio owners should be convicted of robbery...

Alright, had to get that off my chest... Going now to teach dance and spread decent technique through the world :)

Motivational Monday

Is it really Monday again?!

All you need is love.

John Lennon & Paul McCartney

After a long weekend away from my family I just couldn't find another quote that fit better.  I love my job, I love my husband, I love my children... what is there to complain about??

Happy Monday!

Thankful Thursday

As promised... part 2 :)

Although Sam taught me what it felt like to love a child... Maicey taught me that loving a second child was not taking love away from the first.  Somehow the magic of love allows your heart to multiply itself and all of a sudden you love two of them more then you ever dreamed you could love one.

Maicey Kay Munn entered my world on January 18th, 2008 at 11:59pm.  She's stayed true to that "hold out to the last minute" personality to this day.  She's the child that let's you get to "2 and a half" when you threaten "If I get to three you're getting a spanking!", she's the kid that lags ten steps behind you in the grocery store, and she's the child that can make you forget how mad those things make you and melt your heart with her sweet smile and bright blue eyes. 

When Maicey was born she shook up our world in a way that I hadn't ever experienced.  I, for once in my life, wasn't in control of the schedule, she was.  She would wake up in the morning and foreshadow for you the entire day... we always said she either comes off the pillow with angel wings or her horns emerge from her head.  My mother has always told me that my doctor when I was a little girl told her "she's not stubborn, she's simply 'persistant'", well I'm finding that trait a bit frustrating with my 3 year old :)

I'm so thankful for Maicey for so many things.  For being my hopes and dreams of a ballerina baby, for allowing me to put her hair in ridiculous bows, for smiling at me when I'm having a bad day, for teaching me how to be okay with my schedule not working out everytime, and more then anything for teaching me that persistant children bring more tolerence, patience and joy then anything else in the world!

Just another thankful Thursday...

Another Motivational Monday...

Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they

didn't have anything to do with it.

~Haim Ginott

I really don't even think I need to explain this one or why I love it...  Keeps you in check as a parent :)

Thankful Thursday's

Today's thankful Thursday and next weeks are linked together... I don't want anyone thinking one of them is more important than the other... I'm simply going in birth order!!!



One of my favorite pictures of Sam on his 2nd birthday. 



Sam Michael Munn changed my life on May 13, 2006 unlike anyone else ever has.  I didn't know the ways I could love until I met this little man.  When he was born, I was instantly in love with his sweet little face, his gorgeous eyes, and the sweet baby sounds he made.  Even after 3 full days of labor, I would have lived it all over again a thousand times to get to know the love he brought to me.

As he grew, I fell in love with the way he mispronounced words (helicocker, boops, and lellow were my favorites), I loved to watch him do his first dance recital (even though he didn't move a muscle on stage), and I adored seeing how he became a big brother with ease... and taught her how to love too.

Now as a busy 4.5 year old, I love to see him play (and excel at) every sport imaginable, I love to see him figure out problems on his own and how you see his eyes light up when he figures out how to write another letter, and nothing in the world fills my heart like the words "I love you to the moon and back 1101002001 times mommy"

Everyday I'm thankful for my children, but today especially I'm thankful to Sam to teach me how to love, how to appreciate, and how to give myself so selflessly to someone.

Just another thankful thursday :)

Motivational Monday :)

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure- Try to Please everybody."

Herbert Bayard Swope

You know, I have no idea who Herbert Bayard Swope is, but I'm guessing he was a dance studio owner to have come up with that profound quote :) 

Honestly, this quote is something I wish could be something that was easy to live by.  Most people are natural "pleasers".  We try so hard to keep everyone happy that we often end up making everyone upset... especially ourselves.  We live by a rule in this business... please the greatest amount of people in the long run.  That last little part is most important because if you're only looking at pleasing them for the moment you're work will never be done.  It's not an easy quote to live by, but if you can get a grip on it it makes your life a lot easier to live.

Happy Monday friends...

Thankful Thursday

Last week's Thankful post is tied to this week too...

Katie and I riding Space Mountain in DISNEY :)

You see I've never known my parents without my sister.  She is only 13 months older then I am and I've been told that when I was born, Katie was sitting at home on her play phone talking to me about how I was her best friend... she was one smart 13 month old :)

I was due on her birthday, December 27th... I was born on January 21st.  I decided that we were so special we not only deserved our own day, but our own month.  I wanted to be good and sure we never had to share birthdays :)  Other then a birthday, we don't have many things we don't share.  We grew up dancing together, only one year apart in school, sharing friends, clothes, we cheered together, we even went to college together.  We were so close we even became college roommates.  Until my honeymoon when I was 21 years old, we'd never been away from each other more then 5 days.  Katie was crucial in my relationship with Rob, she is the god-mother of my first born, and she is still my best friend.

Katie and Maicey at her wedding rehearsal, June 4, 2010

Katie's personality is much more laid back then mine... she tends not to get upset easily (unless you mess up her organized drawer, lose the cap to her favorite pen, or rip a piece of paper out of her notebook without getting all the "frillies" out too), she gets things done in her own timeframe (makes me crazy), and she takes time for the important things in life way more then I do.  I'm really trying to act more like her in that aspect of her world.  She is a school teacher and the way she talks to her students could make me laugh for hours.  She also still teaches at the studio with me, and is a vital asset to our team here.  The best job she has though is co-coaching our high school dance team, Platinum.  Each year we find great comfort in knowing we'll be going to camp together in the summer, state in December, and Disneyworld in February.  It's "our" time without kids and husbands to get in the way of our "reconnect" time.  On the other 355 days of the year however, it's all about our families... we spend a ton of time with our husbands and children playing and laughing all together around a bonfire, mom's pool, or at my house over a few glasses of wine. 

So on this Thankful Thursday I'm so thankful for my sister.  We lead our own lifes, and we're so different from each other... it's just that together we're better people.

Angel Babies...

I began reading Jodi Picoult when I was in college.  Disabilities Literature class my Jr/Sr year of college was one of the most intriguing classes I've ever taken.  We had to read "My Sister's Keeper" and that was that; i was hooked on Jodi's books.  Since then I've read a ton of them.  I anticipate them being released and when I have time, I'll go back and read one of her older ones.  They're the only books that I actually take time and read for fun.  So for the past 2 months I've been anxiously awaiting the release of her newest book, "Sing You Home".  I didn't really know a ton about it except the controversial isssue it was talking about was same sex marriage/parenting.  I began reading it this past weekend while I was judging in Arkansas...

Within the first 10 pages I knew this book was going to be super hard for me to read... It's about a woman's struggle with infertility and the heartache of a miscarriage.  I wouldn't necessarily say that Rob and I experienced "fertility issues"... we wanted a 2nd baby and we began trying- unsuccessfully for about 6 months.  This seemed like an eternity to us since we had conceived Sam while on birth control and had no desire for a baby at the time.  We then found out we were pregnant and it was like I could finally breathe again.  We were so excited... until the morning I was 10 weeks pregnant and knew instantly that it had ended. 

The flood of emotions is not even something I could begin to describe to someone who hasn't gone through a miscarriage.  It's something I've not spoken about to ANYONE up until the past few months.  As I was reading this book there was a part that struck me so profoundly that I began crying (alone in my hotel room) because it was so real to me.  In the book, the woman is speaking to a friend 2 months after she's lost the baby and she laughs out loud about something and then quickly hides her face and composes herself.  Her friend reminds her that it's okay to laugh sometimes and she responds with "I feel like it's not.  Like it means none of this mattered to me".  This moment in the book made me go back to the moment I found out I was pregnant with Maicey.  It was only a month after the miscarriage and I found myself feeling something other then heartache for the first time in weeks... and I was guilty about it.  I was so excited that God had given me another chance to carry a baby, but it still didn't take away that emptiness in my heart for the baby I lost.  I felt like I'd be betraying the memory of our Angel Baby if I whole heartedly accepted this new baby in me.  It was something I struggled with for months.  

A lot of people were there for support when I went through that time in my life, and I'm so greatful to them.  I'm sure I'd have never gotten through it without them.  I mean no disrespect to them when I say this, but unfortunitely nothing any of them could say could take away the pain that I had.  Not one of them knew what I felt like when I woke up in the morning and felt like I couldn't even breathe.  None of them stop every year on December 9th and wonder what that baby would have looked like.  It's still a struggle for me... but of course if that angel had stayed with me, we wouldn't have our Maicey... who I wouldn't trade for the world.  So now I get them both... one I can hold in my arms, the other just in my heart. 

The second "loss" (which I've always found to be an ammusing word to describe a miscarriage... it's not like a set of keys or something) I didn't know about until well after it happened.  When I went back for my 6 week check up after Maicey was born, my midwife said to me, "we got the lab results back and found that Maicey's twin "expired" somewhere in the first trimester."   That was unexpected... and as I attempted to process, Maicey began screaming in her car seat- and it made perfect sense.  There was no way in the world I could possibly handle two of her...  The only way that I know to describe the difference between the two miscarriages is this: Imagine finding out that you were passed up for a job a year ago that you didn't even know you were being considered.  It stings a little, but you move on.  In contrast imagine preparing for an interview, getting your resume polished, and picking out your furniture to put in the new office.  Then being offered the job only for it to be taken away in a poof.  Now, obviously in heart I love both of those angels the same... I just had a different connection with them.  Jodi Picoult says in her book "You have to understand what you're missing to know what you've lost"... couldn't have said it better myself Jodi :)

I never thought I'd post about this... I have tried for 4 years to keep this story to myself, because I can't stand the thought of bringing up these emotions again, but strangely enough I'm feeling a little lighter now.  I guess it's because even if no one reads this post, I will still know it's always here; sort of like my angel babies on my heart...

Another manic monday...

Motivational Monday #2

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Harriet Tubman

I get the pleasure of working with "dreamer's" every day. I adore seeing kids come in here at 4 years old and tell me their wonderful dreams of being a dance teacher, Hannah Montana, and a animal doctor, and then when they're not busy they want to be Ariel too :) Somewhere along the lines however, some of these kids lose that fire and settle for so much less then being everything they aspire to. Some of them however, continue to keep those dreams alive and well (although redefined for the most part), and remind me how lucky I am to have had such big dreams when I was little...

Enjoy your manic Monday... and if you're not busy, put a little motivation in someone's day :)





Here, There, Everywhere...

Here's my schedule since New Year's Day... Normal teaching schedule and studio "stuff" schedule, Platinum season in full basketball swing til Feb 10th, I choreographed the North Scott musical, plus on the weekends I have had, January CRAZY rehearsal weekend, another crazy weekend of rehearsals and solo rehearsals, plus Maicey's birthday party, yet another weekend of solo rehearsals, competitive solo dress rehearsal and group recital, UDA nationals in Disney World, outside choreographers coming in for even more flipping rehearsals, our first competition in Cedar Rapids, our second competition in Davenport.... deep breath in.


This weekend I'm judging in West Memphis, Arkansas for Star Systems.  Judging has always been one of my favorite parts of my job.  I love traveling the country and seeing what new things are happening.  New trends in costumes, choreography and teaching styles keeps me current and on my game and it also gives me a great chance for networking.  I love giving advice and feedback as I know how important it is in this industry.  It also gives me a chance to just get away from the crazy midwest and be a professional in this field.   I don't necessarily love the 14 hour days, the hotel rooms, and especially being away from my heart and soul that's waiting for me at home.  I keep thinking as the kids get older it'll be easier to leave them on these weekends because they'll understand.  They'll be okay without me for a weekend... I'm wrong.  As they grow it's becoming harder to leave them.  I hear them on the phone asking me when I'll be home.  I listen as they play and don't have time to talk with me because they're too busy having fun with Daddy while I sit alone in the hotel room.  It's the hardest part of this job, but let me tell you, when I meet them at home tomorrow, it'll also be the best part.  Absence only makes the heart grow fonder, right??

So when i arrive home tomorrow I have another full week of craziness.  Catching up on business work, teaching classes for the week, sam starts tball on Tuesday, and then I judge again next weekend... But then, the glorious, well deserved, wonderous SPRING BREAK.  I've vowed that no matter what I'm going to spend at least 75% of my spring break AT HOME, with my family, cleaning drawers in anticipation of warmer weather, and putting out Easter decorations, and just remembering what it's like to not be pulled in 49 different directions.  I'm going to savor every moment because after that glorious week of break, I judge another weekend, two more weekends of my own kids competitions, another weekend of judging, EASTER!!!, evaluations and conferences, and then the craziness of summer can begin... I am so lucky I love my job.

Now I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.  I'm gonna stop and try to take a breath before I get overwhelmed again...

Thankful Thursday

Some days I just want to let people know how thankful I am for them.  So I'm going to attempt to do a Thankful Thursday every week until I've thanked them all... it may take til I'm 40, but that's okay :)

Today's tribute is to where it all began...

My parents have been the building blocks in which I've built my life upon.  I grew up in the same town I live in today... for no reason other then I can't imagine living without them 10 minutes away.  I grew up in a small but cozy condominium with my parents and sister.  Both parents had amazing jobs that provided for every need and almost any want that I could possibly think of as we grew up.  They put me in dance when I was just a two year old hellion, and if we've calculated correctly they could have bought a small island with the money they "invested" in my dance career.  That still continues today as they are actively involved in my studio.

My mom is the diplomatic one... "Kimberly, let's weigh our options here..." She's the one I'd cry to in the car about how unfair the world is and I'd simply get the response "it's a tough lesson isn't it?".  She was also the first one at bat for me if she felt it was necessary.  She was the one who took me shopping for my Easter dresses, my prom dresses, my wedding dress, and now all of my children's clothes.  She couldn't imagine for a moment anyone else being the one to experience that.  She was the first person I told when I knew I loved Rob... she was the first person I told when I miscarried our "angel baby".  She's been there through it all... every high and every low.

My dad is the spontanious one... "You're grounded until your 34!" He's the one who'd decide one morning we were going on an elaborate vacation and no one could stop him (he's still like that a bit... can you say YELLOWSTONE?)  He was the parent that never asked me to talk about what had hurt my feelings because he knew when I was hurting and couldn't handle watching me cry.  He was the one that would remind me quietly after he bought me ice cream not to let Mom know.  He's the one that taught me that "tough times don't last, but tough people do"  It's no secret I've always been a bit of a daddy's girl... until my kids came along and have nusseled their way into that spot of "opa's" heart :)

They are so different, but the best team of parents anyone could ever have.  So on the first Thankful Thursday, I can't imagine thanking someone different.  Thank you Mom and Dad for being a shining example of love, commitment, and compassion.  If Rob and I can be half the parents you were, our kids are pretty dang lucky.

Some pretty talented kids...

This is sort of going to look like I'm reposting my post from last week around this time... however it's most certainly ANOTHER competition that ATB rocked at. 

If I honestly had to list all of the amazing awards we won we'd be here all day... so I'll highlights some of them:

First of all we won the highest honors possible: the Sportsmanship award.  We were voted on by the staff of the competition on the friendliness of our staff, the sincerety of our dancers, and also on following the rules of the competition.  It is one of the best awards, because it's not saying we're great dancers, it's saying we've raised great human beings.  The kids were all so happy to have won this award.

We also took home 6 choreography awards, just a testiment to the amazing people I have working for me :)  This is just part of the "Dream Team"  This is the part that was up at the crack of dawn getting kids dressed and ready!  Love them...

We also won the Most Entertaining award for Fame... they looked like little kids when they announced their names... they were jumping up and down like crazy people :)  They sure were entertaining... I'm not really talking about on stage however!

This is just an amazing picture of Alyssa and Paige's duet... wow what a moment, huh?

These are my little "Boyfriend's Back" terds... could they be any cuter?  And they won Katie and I a choreography award... love them

Well, the divas won AGAIN.  I'm starting to think I may have to buy stock in Whitey's if these girls keep it up.  They seriously rocked it out this weekend and they were so proud of themselves.  They should have been proud- each of them won their solo divisions too.  Kayla took overall intermediate jr soloist and Paige took overall Elite jr soloist.  I make sure to let them know they're really not that good yet :)  Gotta keep them working hard...

Paige's solo to I Will Rise... gorgeous moment :)

Kayla's gorgeous baby face with her trophy after her win :)

These angels are "Hallelujah" and they won overall jr. small group of the weekend.  They were so unbelievably amazing.  The choreography by Miss Sara was breathtaking (it also won a choreography award).  They were beautiful as always :)

These little "terds" are Shake a Tailfeather and they won Petite Jr. duet/trio of the weekend.  They are so dang cute I can't even stand it!





And these big terd won Sr. duet/trio of the weekend... good work ladies

Here's just some fun pics from the professional photographer:

VEGAS!!!!

The Dance

Tangled Up In You

Our entire team, relishing in the glory of being so dang successful!  We're so proud of all of you girls!

Motivational Monday's

I'm going to try something called Motivational Monday's... I find so many quotes that I love and want to share... this seems like the best way :)

Here's the first:

It requires less character to discover the faults of others, than to tolerate them.

-J. Petit Senn

I love this quote.  Unfortunitely I have some trouble at times taking good old Senn's advice... I hate when people chomp their food near me; It drives me bonkers when people wait til the last minute to do thing; I dispise when people are inconsiderate of other people.  Honestly this list could go on forever... and growing up I'd make sure that EVERYONE knew when I disagreed with their faults because I'd point them out and try to convince them they were in the wrong.  As I'm growing up, I'm trying to be more tolerant... it's just not something I'm great at, but I'm putting this quote at the forefront of my mind at least for today. 


My mom always told me "If everyone were as great as you Kimberly, you wouldn't be special anymore"... I hope I'm as smart as her someday :)


Hope that you have a wonderfully motivating Monday

ATB should really stand for AMAZINGLY TALENTED BABIES!!!!

If you know me at all, you know that the weeks leading up to the first competition season tends to be a little rocky... I scream and yell and cry A LOT.  This year was different... it was still stressful, but I was so excited to see how far the kids had progressed and how ready they were for the competition. 

We traveled to Cedar Rapids (which my kids were super mad about because they thought we were going to See The Rabbits), and competed our 63 dances of track and elite dancers.  We won diamond after diamond and placed in the top 5 over and over again.  Every time I thought the kids couldn't dance any better they proved me wrong.  I have never been so proud! 

Honestly they danced super well, and the awards were awesome, but the best part of the weekend was seeing how all of the families came together.  We all sat together, ate lunch and dinner together, laughed and celebrated together... it was something I've never experienced before: pure excitement for being there.  There was no drama, no crabbing, it was honest to goodness a celebration for the entire team's accomplishments. 

Here's a picture of our RIDICULOUS team at the awards ceremony on Sunday night... they're so dang funny :)

As I returned home late Sunday night, I celebrated our team and prepared for this next weekend in which we have yet another competition.  Although I'm certain exhaustion will soon set in, it's so worth it to see these kids soar to new heights.  I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

Here's some more pictures of the weekend:

Here's our gorgeous elite team (well most of them are in this picture...) We unfortunitely didn't get pics of all their costumes because they were in a different costume every other second.  They won Diamonds for all numbers except 2 and placed in the top 5 for small groups and WON senior large group for their dance Fame.  The outfit they're in here is Tangled Up In You.  They were all AMAZING!

My God Put The Rhythm In Me kids... they're the funniest, silliest and most hard working kids ever.  They performed this piece with so much passion and heart, it honestly made my heart overflow with joy to watch their hardwork pay off... they're SO great!

My children were SO well behaved this weekend... Sam was dressed as a cowboy, running around with the girls and having the time of his life.  Maicey thought she was such a big help to Mama... I loved every moment of spending the weekend with them.  A special thank you to my husband Rob for making it a possibility to have my inspiration and support team with me during the weekend... it made it so much better to have them there to celebrate with me!!!

This is our Kayla :)  She just came to our studio a few years ago and she has brought nothing but sunshine to our lives since.  she works her tiny little butt off every single day she's at the studio and it sure has paid off.  Miss Kayla won overall junior solos doing her gorgeous lyrical dance to Cinderella.

The name of this duet is "divas"... I'm not so sure I could have come up with a more appropriate name for a duet with these two sas-a-frasses.  Kayla and Paige are 9 and 10, and they are dancing a duet that many 17 and 18 year olds couldn't do.  They have a natural God given talent and a work ethic to go with it. 

Me and these terds made a bet before they danced that if it was up to my standards I'd go get them ice cream.... They won Junior Duet overall, so I guess I better get them to DQ asap... 

Once these three terds heard about my promise to Kayla and Paige they threw a fit.  I'm telling you these girls have been dancing with me since they were like 5 years old.  They're now 15 and amaze me every single day.  I adore watching them perform this trio "Nothing Compares 2 U" because it's so graceful and passionate and beautiful.  It's also very serious which cracks me up because when they're not competiting, you'll find them making fools of themselves in a hallway somewhere :)  I guess I do owe them ice cream as they one Senior Trio...



So that's Symposium weekend in a nutshell... it was amazing in every way possible.  Who's ready for round 2????   Let's get it ATB!