Just Dance

Raising boys all my adult life, there are things I never expected to do as a parent.

Like not just shopping for, but researching the very best fake eyelashes.
Or recognizing good facials.  -And not the kind you get at a spa.
Or screaming like a little girl with each trophy Tina's dance team took home this weekend.

Our dancing Eagle celebrated her 15th birthday Saturday at an all day regional KDCO dance competition.

Oh, the weekend she had.

It began Thursday night with the youth group's annual trip to WinterJam.  This resulted in the kids not arriving home until after 1 am.  Friday morning's wake-up for school was a slow, sleepy one.  And Friday really never ended for Tina, as the entire dance team had a slumber party, complete with flashlight hide-and-go-seek.  

When I arrived Saturday morning to the high school, still yawning myself at 6:30 a.m., I found her already hard at work.  Full of bottled up excitement and nervous energy, she spilled some of it out at the mini birthday surprise I held in my hands for her - a mocha frappuccino.

Then she was off again, behind closed doors preparing for the big day, complete with applying those fake lashes to her sparkling eyes.

Dance has been so good for her.  It has broken the walls she'd put up for protection, from all she's dealt with in her young life.  Our family was grinning from ear to ear, watching her giddiness up in the rafters with her team.  She was a star in all three of their performances, beaming with eagle pride in each routine.

By the end of the day, our behinds had spent six hours warming bleachers.  And we even managed to dart away and cheer on our boy for another win in his undeafeated Upwards season.  In record time, the three of us literally ran back into the gym just as closing ceremonies began.  Thankful for the opportunity to catch some squeals on tape.

And yes, with no shame, I'll admit that is me with the glass shattering scream rooting on our girls.   Especially for one little eagle that brings such continued -and unexpected- joy to our lives.

We're very proud of the hard work and dedication she's given to this season.  I see the bone tired on her small frame as she comes home three nights a week from 8-10 hours of practice. With 1st place in every category, their devotion certainly paid off.

Now onto another first...preparing and planning for State!

No Snow, Snow Day

Ohio county is know to have taken a day off school for suspected snow, as weather predictions round here aren't aways accurate.  Usually you're better off to just to look out your window, if you want a true forecast.  Yet, we've known since Sunday there would be no school today and it had nothing to do with the sky. 

Unless you count the colors of the sky - typically blue and white.  Because, if you're an Eagles fan, you know those to be our school colors.  The kids were off today because the boys went to State.  And since it's over a three hour drive to Rupp arena, and most of our county bleeds blue, the school was smart to close for the day.

So, a random Wednesday turned out to be a bit of a holiday.  Tina went home with her Mamaw last night to spend the day with her sister, and Noah celebrated by playing a newly rented Xbox game well into this morning.  I was just happy to get thirty extra minutes of sleep, not having to send them off for school. 

It's the little things.

By the afternoon, all were awake and back home, hungry and ready for dinner.  With Tim, my picky eater, gone to a fire training, I opted for a treat I knew the kids would enjoy.  (Momma too.)  Chicken fried rice and egg rolls!

Before dinner though, we turned the couch around to face the computer screen and watched our home team.  The kids got a kick out of seeing familiar faces in the crowd - and on the court.  We even snuck in a concession stand favorite - hot buttered popcorn.  Our dogs didn't know what to think, with the living room turned upside down and kernels flying, but they had a good time cleaning up our mess.  Though we were sad to see the boys defeated, it was fun to experience some home town pride, all from the comfort of our couch.

The rest of the night was rather lazy and the kids got in bed much later than normal, but I figure they won't be the only ones sleepy tomorrow.  ...Maybe we'll luck out and wake up to snow!?