Our 9 days on the Jersey Shore

 We just spent 9 days on the Jersey Shore with 80 plus dancers and parents.

Karrick and I stayed in a quaint little motel across the street from the beach.

The week was spent hanging out with friends at the pool, beach, water park, amusement park and  arcades

Karrick danced a total of 4 times in 3 days, so we had a lot of vacation time.

They did great taking 1st place in 2 hip hop routines in their division and a 3rd place over-all.

"How We Do" was chosen to compete in the special Saturday battle rounds. They didn't place but it was a huge honor for these kids

ADC seems to have the largest group of boy dancers that I've seen so far. They work well together due to the family mentality and non-stop group outings throughout the year. They have become a tight group of kids and it's reflected on stage

My first year as a competitive dance mom have been great. We have a great group of moms that really care about all the kids

Karrick was chosen to receive the award for Showtime. They pick a dancer after the routine that they feel 'brought it" up on stage to accept the award. Well Karrick was thrilled to be chosen. It also meant he would be in charge of that trophy until it is safely turned over to the studio for display back in lombard. Needless to say the cute little blond boy dancer received a lot of attention going through the airport

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed my Dance mom role and cant wait to continue. 

Karrick just love dancing and has really come a long way this year 

Our retro motel played Casey Kasem countdown from the 70's. Brought me right back to summer's at  our local pool  40 years ago

  

Can you tell where I missed with the sunscreen?

 A private catered lunch on the pier

big brother's ROCK

For the 3rd weekend in a row we went up to the lake (the only 3 times this summer) Callahan's buddy had 6 free tickets to the Renassaince faire in Bristol WI and Cal was thinking of staying home so he could go. Well, we decided we would drive him and Katie from Whitewater and stay with Karrick at the Faire. Callahan had gone a couple weeks ago with Katie's family and made his own costume (see last picture). I took Karrick to the Walmart up at the lake and we bought stuff to make him a costume. Two minutes into it, Callahan took over and I'm glad he did because he did an incredible job for his little brother.

Cal cut an existing shirt and laced it up with a shoelace

 I bought a clearance brown curtain panel, planning on cutting arm holes and making a tunic. That's when Calllahan stopped me. He made Karrick a cloak

A dagger

He used the tie back as a belt and rope as the weapon holder. He even cut a pair of pants

It was really a fun day..HOT, but super fun. Look at Cal's costume made from a linen shirt and pants

The kid has mad skills, I have yet to find something he can't do. He just whips stuff up from his head.

Karrick entered and won the "Best strut" contest...the kid is too much. I have had more people ask me "How do you get your kids to perform all the time"

Um, I don't get them to do anything....they do it because they like it. You can't make kids perform.  I couldn't upload the video to the blog, but it is on fb. Karrick was with all adults and he strutted and flirted like a pro. Ill try again to upload...it's precious

Magical Costa Rica

Last night TJ and I returned from a week long stay in the jungles of Costa Rica. We stayed with my brother, sister in law, nephew and niece in the small town of Samara. My brother Jim wanted to experience as much as possible the real costa Rican life. Not a tourist trap.

He rented a home "Casa Verano" for 6 weeks at the edge of town on a block that consisted of 6 homes (3 on each side). Darling homes surrounded by beauttiful tropical plants, trees and wildlife. Howler monkeys would wake us in the early dawn hours. Our home was the last home and butted up to the jungle. At night we had a security guard posted at the entrance of our street. A large stucco wall with security gates surrounded the property.

I found the Costa Rican people to be extremely nice, happy and welcoming. Never once did I feel or see any contempt for my lack of the native language. Its a gift I will take that away with me as we have a large population on non English speaking people in the US.

I have to be honest, it took a little time to actually see the beauty that surrounds this amazing little Central American fishing town. At first I saw the poverty, but within a few hours I couldn't get enough of these wonderful people. I see how American's go there and don't come home.

My sister Christine hit the nail on the head when she described it as " Magical"

Main street our home was just behind me off of Main.

Below is our street, our home in the peach one on the right.

 TJ on the porch.To sit here in the morning all you hear are Monkeys, birds and other animals. Humming birds and butterfly's fly aound the tropical plants and flowers that cover the walls. 

 My Sweet niece Lindsay and I were roomates and partners in crime. We snuck away more than once for ice cream

this picture of TJ was shot in complete darkness at our front gate...no streetlights here

 the yard facing the pool at Casa Verano

Our big weekend

March 8th, 2013 Tim and I celebrated 17 years of marriage 

We are really in a great place in our lives and

 have been blessed with incredible kids, great jobs , great friends and family

We have had a lot thrown at us and have been tested, but who hasn't? It just makes us cherish the good times so much more.

We booked a room at The Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva, IL

When we arrived we were upgrated to a 1 bedroom suite. It was enormous!

Also, Sunday, March 10th was Tim's Birthday so it was a magical weekend of celebration

One Bedroom River Suite South View This very spacious One Bedroom River Suite features a private South-Facing Balcony overlooking the beautiful Fox River and a King Size Bed with plush down comforter. Room has a separate living room, heated marble floors, a Private Fireplace and oversized whirlpool tub, high speed internet and wireless, luxurious bathrobe and slippers, wet bar, fax & copy machine, DVD & VCR, hair dryer, iron & ironing board, coffee maker, mini bar and in room stereo system. 780 sq. ft. Policies CXL 2days before arr to avoid 1 night charge plus taxes All reservations must be guaranteed to a credit card

Room Charges: USD 499.00 Fees: USD 0.00 Tax: USD 54.89 Total: USD 553.89 View Price Breakdown

Of course we only paid  for a single room!!

We walked around the quaint Geneva town, shopped, ate and walked along the river.

The weekend was just amazing. Sunday morning I had a 60min massage in the spa

Tim and I really have fun together!

 Our signature picture on the bed

 the bathroom was almost the size of a regular room. That tub- AMAZING. Any tug that allows me to fully stretch my legs is a winner. It was deep enough where the water line came to my chin..and the jets..too freaking much!

 heading down to dinner

 view from our balcony. It was warm enough to leave the balcony door open so we could hear the rush of the fox river water