A Piano Recital & A Dance...All in One Night.

I've never had an evening packed with two special events on the same day at the same time! I hope to never repeat that again, but we survived the evening, and all went well. This is how it is to be a mother running around in different directions in an evening at the same time where one daughter is getting ready for her eighth grade semi-formal, and another for her piano recital....on the other side of town.

Lexie didn't want to miss her sisters recital and so we all rushed out of our house to make it to Chelsea's recital by 6pm. After looking at the program we saw that Chelsea was going to be one of the last kids to play her piece. By the time she's done Lexie will have missed half of her dance, and being that it's her last year in middle school we didn't want her to miss out. We hustled out of there as fast as I could to drop Lexie off at her dance in hopes to make it back to hear Chelsea to play, but to no avail. I missed it. I wasn't as sad as I thought as I was going to be. Probably because I was too busy running around, and hearing my stomach grumble. (I was starving!) I've been hearing her play the same piece over and over again in the house so that too could be another reason why I wasn't so distraught. Jon told me that she did phenomenal, but because I had the phone that records he didn't get a chance to record her playing. That's okay. She's nine, and there will be more recitals. Hopefully not at the same time as another activity!! 

I realized this evening that I hated the way things were planned. I'm hoping that next years recital won't fall in June where there are weddings, dances, and hello...Father's Day all in one weekend! Anyway...I digress and so here are a few photos of Lexie with a few of her buddies at the dance...

Crazy girls...still sporting their short hairdo's, and loving it more each day. Don't blame them...it's too hot to have long hair right now!

and just a few from Chelsea's recital (sorry mamas!) 

It's funny how I look at these photos seeing how life seems calm in the eyes of our children knowing that one day they are going to be going through "life" and challenges, and schedules with their future posterity! Balance is key kiddos, and try not to pile up your schedule like this mama did this past Friday night!! No bueno! Enter hashtag... #tooblessedtoobestressed 

Love you all!

**Past recitals you can see here, here, & here.

mini youth conference.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the mini youth conference for our church. Being in the Young Women Stake Presidency sure has it's privileges. I get to hear the youth bear their testimonies & not only "observe" but participate in the youth dances that are held afterwards. 

Mini youth conference was held all day Saturday & consisted of classes that taught the youth on the atonement and ways we can return back to our heavenly Father. "The classes were interesting & I  really learned a lot from them."said my daughter who is now 14. This was our first MYC together & we both enjoyed it very much. 

Testimony meeting is by far my favorite part of any youth activity. The youth are given the opportunity to bear testimony on their thoughts, feelings, & beliefs of the Savior. I love that their testimonies are simple, touching, & to the point. There are times when some of us adults take too much time when sharing our testimony. Because there are quite a bit of youth the meeting goes on for about two hours. Sitting in the chapel listening to their testimonies strengthened me in so many ways. They are young, and have a whole life ahead of them. They each carry a special spirit with them, and whether they realize it or not the Lord is there for them...always willing and waiting to listen. 

I see them as the "lucky ones". Lucky because they each carry a uniqueness in them in which one youth can learn from another. Lucky because they are given the "tools" (such as prayer & scriptures) that are necessary in which will help them grow spiritually as well as finding out if this church is true. Lucky because I didn't grow up in this church with standards & going to youth conferences, or any activity. Lucky because they belong to a church that teaches them important values in which can help keep them clean & pure. Lucky because this is one way where they can "find themselves" knowing that they indeed are sons and daughters of God. Lucky because they have the scriptures which is the "creator's perspective" in which will help them understand "why the world doesn't make sense." 

Lucky because this is one place where they can nurture & build their testimony.

The testimonies that were said were so heartfelt. These kids are awesome & even though some of them may not fully understand or "get" the purpose of the youth program, why they're here, & why we have testimony meeting...the main point is that they came, they participated & gave the conference a chance as to how it's going to benefit their life in a spiritual aspect. 

And then...there's the dance afterwards. Now that's what makes any mini youth conference even more fun!

For four hours I had the pleasure of hanging around a bunch of crazy youth dancing their tushes off. I myself did a little bit of dancing among the youth, but have to admit grew a bit weary after about an hour (yes, I'm a wimp...I don't think I'd be a right candidate for Zumba either) & came home with a bit of a headache! 

I love that the kids are not dancing too close, and when the girls don't have a boy to dance with (which is their loss because they're missing out on some awesome cuties) get with their girlfriends and goof around by dancing with each other. 

Here's a perfect example...

^^ a blurry black & white photo of  how members of the opposite sex should be dancing to a slow song ^^

It's been about two years since I've been to a concert where extremely loud music is played & this was pretty close. It could be a sign of old age, but I have a young heart & did enjoy myself. Getting better acquainted with some of the youth instead of just hanging around and observing them to make sure there's no funny business going on was the highlight of my evening.  

Knowing that these kids are in a safe environment where clean fun is taking place without any booze, unclean acts, or crazy shenanigans really puts me at ease. Like I said...they truly are the lucky ones. I've never been to any church dances before (even though I have an older daughter in college now who once participated in these youth activities for the past five years), and I have never seen a "cleaner" more fun dance with a group of great kids dancing the night away to clean music that won't hurt you, or put thoughts in your mind that are not good. 

The dances I attended while growing up throughout my middle & high school years consisted of inappropriate music that was never approved before being played, couples making out in dark corners of the room, and kids dancing a little too close for comfort. Teachers would let us get away with murder, and the example that set for me was not good. Luckily I survived any unclean act that came into my life throughout my days as a youth, and that I am teaching my children true principles of the gospel that has a purpose. 

It makes me extremely grateful to be raising my kids in the church where they are taught morals, and values that will help them make wise choices. 

Lexie willingly went to said activity on her own motive, unafraid, and willing to learn what the Lord has for her. Her first mini youth conference was a great experience, and even though it took her an hour to bear her testimony...she did it, and it was simply beautiful. She enjoyed the dance, and the fact that everyone was having clean fun. 

She sees a lot of "unclean" acts in the middle of the day during school, and personally has no desire to go to any of the dances. However, she is willing to go to her eighth grade dance only because it'll be her last year in middle school. I'm sure they'll be shenanigans going on throughout the dance, but luckily she has the talent to block out anything unclean, and that she has the capacity to build her own kind of fun that is clean & pure.  

And when you give your heart to The Lord, He will help you lose the desire to make poor choices, and strengthen you to make the right ones. 

dance like it's 1980.

lovely young women enjoying an evening of dancing like it's 1980.
-photo source Tom Hawkins

This polar vortex that we've been having sure didn't keep us indoors. This past weekend was planned with fun places to go one being New York to see Jon's cousin Kenzie, and beating the clock against New York traffic to get Lexie to arrive safe and sound for her first youth dance at our church. 

Darkness began to fall and it was already after five pm. We had planned it very carefully to leave at a certain time so that we can make it back in time for the dance, but to no avail.  

We didn't leave the city until past 5 & by the time we hit the Polaski skyway it was close to 6! Although we knew we'd be arriving late we tried to make up time without trying to speed. We obviously enjoyed Kenzie's company way too much that time spent with her flew like a leer jet, and we lost track of time. We just had to keep her until the very last minute!

We arrived close to 8:30 so that gave Lexie an hour and a half of 'boogie time" As we drove into the parking lot of the church and pulled into a parking space I could see some of the young women waiting for Lexie. I told Jon to reverse slowly so that I can catch a clearer glimpse of who they were. Not that I worry about who the girls were, but I was glad that Lexie's reaction to entering wasn't nerve wrecking (although I think she was hiding it very well.) I saw the girls welcoming her with open arms & greeting her with hugs. I can see Lexie smiling, and laughing from a distance, and that's when I knew she was going to have the time of her life. 

And I wasn't worried.  

Lexie had a great experience attending her first youth dance. It was an '80's themed dance, and I think the youth committee is doing a great job in planning these activities to accommodate the younger crowd. 

She turned 14 two weeks ago, and was pretty excited about going. I have no clue how one feels to be anxiously awaiting to turn 14 to go to a dance at the church. Sometimes I wish I was able to experience how Lexie and Sierra felt when she began going to youth activities. I know that it's a totally different feeling as opposed to a youth outside of the church turning 14. At 14 I had a boyfriend and doing things that were not "spiritual"...if you know what I mean. 

There is so much fun that goes on within the youth of our church both spiritually and temporally. Mini youth conference is coming up next month, and Lexie is definitely excited for that. Her favorite part about being 14 in the church aside from going to the dances, & seeing her friends from other wards is learning about the gospel at the level she is in. She is anxiously engaged in wanting to know more about The Savior & His restored gospel so that she can serve others, and share it in hopes that her level of spirituality will reach an all time high. I believe that it will.  

I am so grateful for these activities that keep our youth safe, and actively strong in the church. Having clean fun surrounded by happy youth is the way to be. I'm happy that Lexie enjoys learning about the gospel, attending her meetings, and learning from her leaders in her class. She is another daughter of mine who is unique in her own way. One of a kind, and it's so fun to watch her spirituality grow, and to see the love on her face when we talk about the Savior, and the gospel. It is a priceless look that I never want to go astray!

Noah's dance scene.

Noah's obsession with Footloose gets stronger everytime I play this song. He is so smart that he knows exactly what buttons to push on the computer to hear songs on my playlist. 

As I was cleaning up in the kitchen I heard music coming from my bedroom. This is the time where I am grateful to have had my phone on hand because I knew that he was about to do his version of Ren's angry dance scene from Footloose. 

I sneakingly recorded him.

I love the beginning of this video when he starts singing, and begins to dance. He cracks me up at 2:20 when he starts shaking the crib as if he's in a fit of anger relieving stress (just like Ren did in the movie.) It was so fun watching him! I tried not to laugh, and make it obvious, but I lost.

Luckily it was close to the end of the song when Noah shut the door on me. 

Cute huh?

I'm seriously thinking of getting him into gymnastics or dance lessons this year, because this boy has got some moves. 

But first I need to potty train him!

Don't need no accidents on the dance floor in class!

Don't you forget about me.

For these kids this will be their last Halloween youth dance as they will be graduating high school next June.

Salt & Pepper, and the geek squad

Before Hurricane Sandy arrived these kids had their share of their Halloween, and it was a great evening! 

Scenes like this remind me of "The Breakfast Club" except that these kids are not rebels, jocks, basketcases, nerds (not in real life) or princesses. Well...the girls may all be a princess underneath the costume, and if you read a lot of books you might be considered a nerd, but according to our daughter these kids all had a great time tonight.

My version of "The Breakfast Club" after all...they all do wake up early for early morning Seminary! 

It didn't matter that there were only a few youth that attended. The storm didn't stop them from dancing the night away, and acting like a bunch of goofs!

I just love this girl, and our kid! With this being their last year of attending youth activities including dances (unless they are chaperoning) I know that these girls will keep in touch, and that they will never forget about each other. 

Same goes for the rest of the youth...don't y'a'll forget about each other!

Glad y'all had a great time!

Ballet love

"Dance like no on is watching"~Alfred D. Souza

One of Chelsea's little friends from school recently gave her a 'free pass' to go to a dance session at her studio. I opted to take her, and Chelsea loved it!!! Chelsea took four classes after school which consisted a total of two hours at a dance studio, and out of gymnastics, hip hop, tap, and ballet. Can you guess which one was her favorite? By the looks of this photo it was ballet. She has a natural talent when it comes to dancing. She absolutely loved it, and it's official...we are getting her into ballet classes as an early christmas/birthday gift for her.

There are only four other girls in her class and they all got along and danced so well. Look at that bright pink tutu! That little girl sure had fun with Chelsea. 

Her class will consist of a half hour of tap as well. She still prefers ballet. There's that pink tutu again! She came home exhausted. She didn't even finish her dinner and went to bed at 8:00!!! That never happens in this house! I'm glad she is doing something that she absolutely loves! I think she prefers ballet over piano lessons, but we are not giving up on her with the piano. She plays it at home, but always wants to dance while her sisters play.

Who knows...maybe in the near future she'll be a party girl like her older sister was in "The Nutcracker".

She had a wonderful time, and seeing that look on her face...is PRICELESS!