Our little irish dancer, and then some...

 This past weekend MC had another feis (irish dance competition) and loved having so much family there to support her and watch her on stage.  She loves to perform so she is in all her glory each and every time she competes.

I l.o.v.e. all of the different facial expressions in this photo.  LOL!

I am jumping around a bit while I finish the final catch up to our weekly scrapbook.  I was short on photos the week Ry had surgery so I decided to something a little different.. and I love it!  I see more of these type of pages in the future. 

And because I was already editing the photos from last week, I decided to go ahead and do that layout.

Bam Bam Sister Sam! :)  Be back soon.

The first of many

A couple of weekends ago we drove to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a quick overnight.  We picked up Nana and then Makenna from school and drove to the city where she would have her very first feis, or irish dance competition.

To say she was excited was an understatement.  We arrived to pick up her registration information and for her to take part in a one hour class with the older girls in preparation for the next day. After grabbing dinner and heading to the hotel, she then stayed up until after 12 am and woke up at 4am asking her Nana if it was time to go yet?  Ha!  Despite her lack of sleep, she handled the dance floor with ease and grace and much enthusiasm.

Hello Delta Center..

A few photos with the family before practicing on the stage for a few minutes. She was quiet at this time and I am guessing a bit nervous although she wouldn't admit to it.

 All the first feis dancers are grouped together by age group. Coming from all different dance academies, each dancer wore their school dress.  Dancing to live music for the first time,  they had a little help from the older dancers leading them to the stage two at a time and counting the music notes to begin their dance...and then they were on their own.  Makenna is learning the light jig and the reel in class but danced the light jig for this competition.  There was one judge in front of them taking notes on each dancer and giving them a number score.

As soon as it was her turn, she stepped up with the biggest smile.

 One. ..Two..Three...

And she did awesome.  After her dance was done, she was so excited to cheer on her friends and see them through their competition as well.  Love this girl's heart.

Well done MC.  We are all so proud of you, love seeing you in your element and so very happy and look forward to seeing you grow as an Irish Dancer.

Project Life Week 10

We have had a week full of illness here which is a great reminder that if you have your health, you have everything.  After spending over 24 hours in my bed yesterday, I am very thankful for feeling well again and I hope it's gone from our house now since 3 of the 4 of us shared the experience. 

Here's a few layouts to share.  A big week it was with many exciting events including lots of snow fun and the beginning of the two week dancing performance schedule.  

The parade was extra special for us so I decided it to be on it's own layout.

Have a great weekend.  I am looking forward to spending time with my now healthy family.

Life of an Irish Dancer

"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another" - Anonymous

Back in September Makenna started taking weekly dance classes at the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance.  The steps, the fun, the dance that comes from putting all the steps together, the stage presence along with the pretty dresses, curly hair, special shoes and potential for makeup all has MC intensely passionate about the sport.  She skips around the house doing her hop 1,2,3's and is always practicing her jig moves.  Always.  In fact just the other night she was in her room and was of course supposed to be asleep.  Scott was showing my mom and I a video that included Irish Music and all of the sudden we hear the pounding of steps upstairs in tune with the music.  We all had a laugh and told MC to go. back. to. bed.

Last month she was added to a performing dance troupe and in the past week she has performed at a nursing home, a brunch for an association, a doctor's week celebration at a local hospital and the Elmhurst Irish Parade. Each time she gets on stage she has the biggest, widest, sustained smile I have ever seen and she takes in each moment with unified glory. She is in her element and she shines.   

Trinity is much more than a dance company.  They make it fun without the pressure and teach the kids so much more than the jig and the reel.  They reach out to the community and show the kids the gift of entertaining others and making them smile. The older dancers lead the younger dancers and Makenna will eventually be exposed to the beauty of winning and losing at competitions as well as cheering on her friends. They have a track for the dancers to follow as they learn the dances which eventually leads to earning a solo dress; of course MC already has her eye on that goal.  Actually, she already has plans to compete in Ireland just like her older dance friends. Wherever this sport will lead her, it is so great for right now and we are all really enjoying seeing her excel and so very happy. 

 Last Sunday we headed out to the parade ready to share our irish spirit and watch Makenna dance through the streets.  She couldn't of been more excited.

Silly face Rylan.

The show captain paired the younger girls with an older dancer and they marched  beautifully through the streets of Elmhurst.   She waved, she danced, she smiled and enjoyed her first parade experience. The photographs I think say it all.

Gaga and Pop Pop enjoying the parade.  MC was thrilled they could come see her. 

Hi mom!

 Even though these couple of pictures are a bit blurry, I can't resist the beauty of that big happy smile.

And at the end of the parade a little girl came up to her and asked to take her picture with her.   Of course Makenna was happy to oblige.

We are gearing up for one more full weekend of sharing the luck of the irish with  a few more performances.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  xo