What I've been up to...

Emma and I with all her six babies, stroller, 'high seat', bouncy seat, and bike stroller.
Emma close-up
Baby sister, Lydia
THE SCARF

Lately I've been going over to our Pastor's house, his wife just had a baby. (Her name is Lydia Grace.) Their toddler, Emma, is the same age I was when Selena was born! I went over twice this past week to help keep 'Em' entertained. We mainly play with babies and all their food. She has: 1. New baby- 2. 'No' baby- 3. Other baby- 4. Emma's baby- 5. another Emma's baby- 6. Funny eyes baby (it has those blinking eyes.) We have a lot of fun! Her baby sister adorable, isn't she? She was born August 11.

Also, do you remember that knitting I had started a long time ago? It had been sitting in my closet until recently when I picked it up again and finished it in almost a week, I think. Yes, it is rather long... but that's going to be handy for when it's really cold, I'll be able to wrap it all around my face!! (Almost, at least.)

Tomorrow we are leaving for Broadwater Lodge- we're going Up North with my dad's side of the family for a week. Last year we went for my Grandparent's 50th, and it was so much fun we wanted to do it again this year! There's limited internet access up there, so I won't be able to blog. :( Unlike my father who is in getting-ready-to-relax gear, I wanted to blog every day with pictures, but I can't. So just know why I haven't blogged for a week.
I'll be sure to blog at least two posts about our trip after. We'll be having a great time up there, no doubt about that! See you in about a week!

Irish Fair 2008!!

talking before the show... Izzy and Miranda before their tv spot
the corda mor dancers take over the football field
After the Friday night show with Aunt Jan
Q: why does teacher have the football? A: the boys were being distracted with it so she took it away.

We had a great time at Irish fair! We did one full show Friday night and our school did two numbers in the showcase later that night. We were only in one of the numbers. It was me & Sese's first time wearing out solo dresses for a show! It was so fun! We did three shows on Saturday, but Izzy & Miranda did four counting their TV Spot. Lots of family came. (Thank you all for coming!) It was terribly hot in Solo dresses but there was a lot of shade in the tent where the dance stage was thankfully! We had a great time hanging out with friends in between shows. It was a great weekend!! Check the corda mor website gallery soon for more pictures!!

Nordic Fest

Main Street of Decorah
At the chick hatchery
Sese and a chick
Norwegian folding chair ( I didn't make that up! there was a sign!)
After the performance


We had a great time at Nordic Fest! My cousin Elliot was one of the Nordic dancers, this was his last year doing it so we came to see his last performance! He's been doing it for 10 years.
It was terribly hot until some clouds came, that was really nice. We bought some stuff at the Decorah shops, and had fun looking at the chicks in the Decorah chick hatchery! There was a lot of good music and a LOT of GOOD lefse!! Uffda!
(P.S.: inappropriately, Selena wore an 'Irish' shirt! Good Grief!!)

Badger State feis

In the car
At the Marriot Hotel Uno's!!
At the feis
Waking up on Sunday morning
We just got back from the Badger State feis in Milwaukee. We drove down on Friday, swam, went to Uno's for supper and registered. Next morning we woke up early and went to the feis. It was in an ice arena! It wasn't the greatest venue but okay.

We had a great time, I didn't place but there were huge groups for Prizewinner U11. Split ones were up to 23 dancers! My friends in my group hardly placed at all. But all the sisters who are in not as hard of a level placed pretty well, Selena got 1st in Slip Jig, 1st in Jig, and 4th in Hornpipe, Isabel got 3rd in Reel, 1st in Jig, 1st in Slip Jig, and 3rd in Hornpipe, and Miranda got 1st in Reel, 4th in Slip jig, and 1st in Hornpipe. This was Isabel and Miranda's first time performing their hornpipe (hardshoe) and we were very happy they placed so well in it.

After the feis we ate at KT (Kwik Trip) and went back to LaCrosse. On Sunday we went to church with my Grandparents, and after lunch all of us girls went to the pool. Late afternoon we went home. Phew! It was a good trip. And we're leaving home again on Friday (maybe Friday. or else sat.) Stay tuned for the Nordic Fest trip report!!!

Sese's haircut

Before After


Now Sese looks way more like she did when she was little. It's way cuter, and not as frizzy and messy now. Comments??

Nationals

Quinn's in blue and yellow
Maria
Can you find Jenna with the dark hair and red & white dress? (well there's a lot of those.)


Our school sent ten dancers to Nationals, and eight of them recalled. Our Ladies 20+ Cassie placed 28th, Ladies U18 Kailey placed 40th, Girls U16 Jenna placed 34, U14 boys Kellan placed 8th, our two U11's Quinn & Maria got 22nd and 33rd, and U8 Tess got 34th. Good job everybody!!

We really enjoyed following the competition on the nationals web site and especially the photographs -- if you haven't seen it take a look at:

North American Irish Dance Championships

Anyway...
We had a good fourth of July. We stayed home and ate corn on the cob. And slushees. It was fun to just lay around the house!!

Twin Cities Felie

This feis was very competitive! there was no split groups and often you were against your own classmates. Selena got a lot of places (it's obvious.)! She got 1st in Slip Jig, 2nd in Light Jig, 2nd in Reel, 2nd in Hornpipe, and 4th in Treble Jig. I got 3rd in Slip Jig, so now I'm qualified for Oireachtas in 2 of my dances!! now I have to qualify in only two more.... Miranda got 2nd in Slip jig, Isabel got 2nd in Reel, 2nd in Light Jig, and 3rd in Slip Jig.
The musicians at my stage were very unexperienced. They must have just been session players, it was clear that they had never played at a feis before. they were not playing with a metronome and so some of the dances were very fast for girls who didn't have that speed. girls from our dance school were doing their hardshoe steps so fast it was almost impossible for them to do in with good form!
Selena did wear her new dress. it must have luck in it or something!;)
Over all it was a very fun feis (even though it included a lot of waiting around). It was fun hanging around with friends, and another fun thing was getting some clip on earrings to match my dress!