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

Let it Snow!

At approximately 11 pm on Monday night we received the anticipated phone call that school was indeed canceled for Makenna.  As all the surrounding schools were closing, we went to bed not knowing if Rylan would have preschool (their schools are in different districts) but with almost certainty we were sure to wake up and find out that his school was also closed.   And sure enough it was a universal snow day!  Yea!!  We were excited to spend the day together with no where to go and only fun things to do.

 The snow didn't start coming down until after 9 am but once it started it didn't stop for about 12 hours yielding us a total of 8.5 inches of white fluffy magic dust.  The kids took it all in and went out to play several times during the day.  While we were inside we played board games, colored pictures and watched the movie The Lorax (Rylan's current fave!).  

 Rylan's favorite thing to do when outside is to eat the snow.  He takes a big handful and brings it right up to his mouth, eating it like it's the best thing in the world.

 After Scott finished working for the day, he headed out to shovel our driveway and play with the kids a bit. By this time I had enough of the snow so I was glad to just run out and take a few pictures and run back in before my toes got cold.

And at the end of the day, a new snowman was built.

A delightful fun day but now that we have had our snow fun, it's time for Spring, ok mother nature? 

Party like a Rockstar, Makenna Claire Style

Today is a snow day for both kids.  The snow is falling eagerly outside and we have been outside several times to play in the snow.  It actually makes me remind me of Spring because our backyard is once again an extension to our home with all this snow play.  We've had an awesome day together...so I'm just going to take a few minutes to share MC's birthday party.

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Makenna Claire loves to dance,  loves music, and can belt out all the popular songs on the radio.    Naturally a dance party for her sixth birthday party seemed like a wonderful idea.  We had a certain plan on how the party was going to run, lining up all the supervising adults with different roles, making mental notes of our time table of events but of course the kids led it in a bit of a different direction.  They loved playing in the bedrooms, for instance, and had so much fun just being silly.  Most importantly though it was a great time by all.  Music piped through our sound system with songs lined up by the birthday girl herself.  We played some structured dancing games mixed in with a craft project, face painting and treat eating and the two hour party was over so quickly.  

There's that bedroom!  ;)

 This next series of photos are my absolute favorite from the party.  We were playing musical papers (like musical chairs but with paper ) and as the dancing crowd diminished to just a few, the rest became spectator "judges".  Everyone was into the game, laughing and taking their judge role seriously.  It was down to a five, then four, three and then two.  Just look at all those expressions!

 

 And when the winner was eventually discovered...the crowd erupted into a big family hug.  The adults just stood there in awe..here are a bunch of five and six year olds who couldn't be more happy for the one who won the game, supporting the winner with such enthusiasm.  Such a great moment!

Auntie DeChantel and Nana were our face painting artists and one by one the kids were transformed into their favorite characters.

 

All to soon it was time to sing happy birthday, eat treats and send the kids on their way home. I wasn't sure how it was going to be having that many kids in our home at one time but it really was great and we didn't have any issues or problems.  Everyone got along so well and had the best time.

Here is the addition layout that I will add to our family book as well as MC's own book.

                                                                                                                                                                             

 And I think that's enough pictures for today!  

Back to wiping my floors of melting snow.  :)

Project Life Week 8

Good morning!

This week was all about the lead up to Makenna Claire's big day. She officially turned six on Thursday and we had her friend and family birthday party on Saturday. Because I have so many pictures from her party I have decided to do a separate layout all together for those memories.  Look out for those photos tomorrow!  

to you, my girl

Dear sweet little girl of mine,

 There's this girl..she came into the world yelling and full of personality.  She made sure we all knew she was here (finally at two weeks late!) and that she was going to play by her own rules.  Today she is still the same, although she also has a heart of gold and a natural love and kindness for everyone, with a special heart for animals.  Today she turned six and yes that's you, Makenna Claire. 

 Six seems so fun, so exciting and so right for you.  I know that probably seems strange to hear..as it does to me to think and to write..but you just seem like you can hold the responsibility of being six years old so well. You are maturing right before our eyes...making more decisions like a six year old like volunteering to let your brother make a first choice and thinking of others before yourself more often than not.    

This past year has been big for you in so many ways.  You finished preschool and started elementary school as a full time, all day Kindergartner. And to no one's surprise, you have flourished in that environment and continue to love school.  As many other parents worried that their babies weren't ready for a 9-3pm daily education schedule (this was the first year our school district started a full day program), your Dad and I never had any hesitation and in fact lobbied for it greatly when we had the opportunity.  

You have grown so much.  You are now a reader and your confidence is advancing.  You see, MC, you can do anything but sometimes you can't see it yourself.  However, once you think you can, you make very fast progressions. For awhile you were frustrated you couldn't read the entire book on your own or the book seemed to long to you. But now?  You now pick up an easy reader book and read the sentences with grace.  You try and read signs and notice words everywhere. You are also becoming quite the speller and the writer and you are always leaving us little notes around the house (which I madly love by the way.) Your phonetic spelling makes me smile each and every time. I am also really enjoying all the things you bring home from school.  They are little presents to me...really.

The cover of your first book which is in progress

You have continued with swimming lessons and you are now comfortable in the deep waters, enjoying your freedom and the water slides immensely. We have hit a little bit of a snag in your swimming lessons as you have admitted to  your instructor that you are pretending not knowing some of the skills because you are afraid of moving up and having another teacher. Grr...MC, you are sometimes a bit stubborn for your own good.  

After visiting the irish dance competitions this summer with Nana, your heart was set on becoming an irish step dancer. In September you started taking weekly classes at Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and you are in love.  You practice every day and you can't wait to Feis and compete abroad in Ireland. Next month you are going to start to perform at nursing homes, parades and other hired spots and you. can. not. wait.  You have been practicing in ghilles and you just received your first dress and wig.  Let the fun begin.

You have lost your first teeth.  Three to be exact, including one precious front tooth.  

You still have so many people who adore to be around you and you make new friends so easily and everywhere you go.  My social butterfly you are. I love watching you come out of school in line with your class and hearing so many kids say bye to you specifically.  At the school fun fair a couple weeks ago, you ran up and gave so many teachers hugs and introduced us to your school family. The principle even knows you well (in a good way) and spoke to you in a way that I know she has inside knowledge.  You get around Makenna..and I love that you are that outgoing, friendly and always, yes always, a leader.  That in itself  is going to help you get so far in life. 

There is one word that I hear most often from people about you. "Sweet.  She is such a sweet girl."  As the saying goes.. if I had a penny every time I heard that I would be rich..  well, I would have a full piggy bank. 

You love to learn and you are eager to do so many things.  You are inquisitive and smart. You have an exuberance for life. If you had it your way, you would have a different activity every day after school. Momma...please can I do gymnastics. Momma..please can I take ice skating lessons (you said after you were on the ice for the first time). Momma...please can I stay after school and take a drawing class.  Momma..please can I.....  I admire your ambition and your desire to grow your skills and knowledge (but for now we'll stick with dance and swim :)). 

You are also very strong willed and independent minded.  There have been times where we butt heads and I wonder how rough the teenage years are going to be because I can already see a glimpse of who you are going to become.  I am still working on letting go a bit to allow you to be your authentic self (within reason of course..summer dresses still have to be worn in warmer weather and sweet treats are still not meant to be eaten first thing in the morning). I do love your strong drive and I know that even though it creates some problems,  I still admire that part of your personality.  We'll work through it together..we always do!

Makenna Claire, you make me so proud. Thank you for making me a Mommy.   You inspire me to be a better person every day. I walk this earth knowing that I have all my dreams answered with you, Daddy and Rylan.  You are my sunshine and I will forever love you with all my heart.  

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  You are one very special Six Year Old and it is going to be an amazing year. 

Love always and forever, Mommy xoxo

(written February 21, 2013)