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 :)