Chester Bengals Are Number 1

Ok, well it has been a long time since I posted. The school year has started out with a bang and has been as busy as ever. Cheerleading is going great. And they boys FINALLY won a game this weekend. Here are a couple shots from the game

Emma at Halftime. The girls did great. We had to change some stunts around becuase of the rain, but they did awesome anyway. Maria, the little girl on the right, is a spitfire, and just a really fun little girl. The girl holding Emma on the right is Emma W. (yes we have Emma J. and Emma W.) and is just as sweet as she can be.

The girls stop for a pose with Coach Michelle. I have had more fun coaching the girls this year. Can't believe there is only 5 weeks left, and 2 competitions to go!!!!

So that's it for now. More pictures later.

Back to School

Summer is officially over and it was back to school today. The rains came for the first time in weeks. Diva was appropriately decked out in her red shirt, plaid skirt, white tights, black suede boots and black sequin hat from Justice. Although our bedtime was 8:30 we didn't fall asleep until almost 11:00 last night. We were both excited and scared. This is a big year, 3rd grade, no more E&S's we now get letter grades A,B,C,D &F. While we didn't get the teacher we wanted. Mrs. Lyons seems to be nice. Although if she is anything like the Mrs. Lyons I had, that may remain to be seen.

So after a week of hanging out with Ms Megan at our house, our teenager in training is back to the grind. Yesterday we cleaned out her room (again) made sure that there were no dead animals under the bed, and moved around her room. We managed to go through all of her clothes to see what still fit and what didn't. To diva's surprise, she actually didn't have that many clothes for a change. So after setting up a new homework area in her room, we hung Emma's reminder stickies all over the house. No more nagging from mom on what needs to be done. Everything is laid out clear.

This year is going to be a busy one. Cheerleading on Tuesday's and Thursday's through October. Our first game is this weekend. And I must say my squad is looking pretty darn good. Emma is flying again this year and has already mastered a prep and is working on a liberty with her stunt group. The girls while young have been like sponges, we have finished our halftime routine and will start working on the competition routine this week. The girls are thrilled as they got pom poms this year. So it should add another element to their routines. Our football team must of been inspired by our wins last year, as they have actually won their first 3 scrimmage games.

Dancing starts this week also. Emma was placed in a level 4 ballet class, which means 2 classes a week. These are pre-pointe classes, so she is really excited (hate to tell her that she still has another 4 years before she can be on pointe though). It also includes her getting character shoes this year, which is something she hasn't done before. She will also start training for taking the National academy of ballet exam. This is a great way for her to be eligible for scholarships in the future and is also a great training program.

So it was all kisses and hugs at the YMCA this morning as the kids reunited after a week break. And off on the bus. I have pictures from this morning and will upload them when I can.

Happy September everyone.

Outer Banks Part Deux

Emma and Morgan at the Aquarium

Daddy having a ball driving in the 4 wheel drive area at the horse tours. We had to keep yelling at him not to drive through the puddles even though he wanted to so badly. You'll notice very few pictures of Scott, as after today he lost his battle with the sun, and didn't appear again for 3 days.

Sunset on the dunes.

Our rag tag crew at the top of the dunes during the wild horse tours. We had the greatest guide. He knew all the little spots, and let us all climb the dunes and took the pictures for us.

We visited the light house in Corolla. Momma couldn't walk up the stairs becuase of her ankle, but Emma walked up all the stairs over 160 of them to get to the top with Uncle Eddie, Morgan, Missy and Michael. She got some amazing pictures.

I got these great pictures of mine and Emma's feet in the sand.

Shell and her new friend Morgan. By the end of the week, I got to put him to bed and read bedtime stories. He was so funny.

Emma playing diva in the waves at night, while we were filying kites.

Momma and Emma playing on the beach at night

Emma learned how to fly a kite. Even though it didn't go up that high, and almost ended up in the power lines. We learned that sometimes the fancy ones just aren't as good as a generic one.

Uncle Eddie helping Emma carry her big kite down the to the beach

Emma and Morgan building their masterpiece on the beach.

Emma having some girl talk with her new friend Missy

Watch out for the pipeline!!!!

Emma got some great shots of the horses, this little guy was around the first corner when we got on the beach. They are so pretty, it is amazing how they roam through yards

I love this picture of Emma, she was as happy as a clam in the back of the jeep. I'm so glad we opted to have the open vehicle, it really made it fun.

We had a great time. At least there was no tropical storm and evacuation this time, just sunburn, injured ankles, and a short trip to the ER for Morgan!!!!!!!

Outer Banks

So first I have to say..... Hello my name is Michelle and I am a photo thief. Sorry Missy, some of these were just too cute not to steal.

Emma surprisingly was very good with Morgan on vacation. She went down the slide with him

Played nice with him after dinner

They played in the sand together

And then the true bossy Emma came out........ But somehow Morgan was ok with it, as long as it was his friend Emma (who sleeps too late according to him)

We learned that Scott doesn't tan he just burns..... 3rd degree burns that is........................

We also learned lots on the wild horse tours. A horse is pregnant for 11 months. 11 MONTHS!!!!!!! I hope they don't have morning/ all day sickness like we do.

And that taking a jeep up the sand dunes, can cause an 8 year old to screech in delight.

Emma learned she likes steamed clams, but not steamed oysters at Awful Arthur's

And the dunes have the most amazing sunsets

We're Back!!!!!!!

Emma had a great time during her Buffalo visit. She got to play with her cousins, and visit with all the grandma's. Momma had a great short visit too, with a stop at Louie's, Mighty Taco, and for 8 pounds of JewJew Bee's for Scott.

Here is a great shot of Kaylee, Olivia, Lilly and Emma playing it up for the camera. I think the diva had an effect on her cousins. I can't believe how much Lilly looks like my brother, and Kaylee looks like Emma.

And Emma snuggling in the cold Buffalo weather after swimming at Uncle Dan's. Seriously, is it ever going to get warm for Ya'all??????

Our plane ride home was pretty rough. The flight from Buffalo to Philly we had a lot of turbulence. Though that didn't stop Emma, she added Philadelphia to her stack of cards collection. Momma and Emma played a couple rounds of go fish and Trash in the airport while we waited for our next plane, I mean toy (who flies on Prop planes anymore, I mean really!!!!!)

Diva thought she was so hot in that hat, and wore it the whole way home. She is such a good girl to travel with, never complained about lugging the 50 million bags that she had........

So it is back to normal, cheerleading starts, and thankfully the doctor said that I don't need surgery on my ankle. Just to take it easy and be careful, but I can get back to working out again. Zumba class here I come.......

I also got to say goodbye to a dear person Miss Genie. Unfortunately Miss Genie has passed on but she will be missed. There is no one who can choreograph a routine while driving like her, or finish a dinner while never missing a sentence of the conversation. She was a true artist. I can only hope that she is now in a comfortable place, with Mrs. Z and Auntie Alice, teaching spot turns, and Rita Right and Larry Left somewhere in the sky!!!!!!!

Missin our Emmie

Emma has been on vacation in Buffalo, and while the first couple days are nice, to sleep in, and not have to rush to the Y in the morning. Scott and I miss her terribly. It just isn't the same watching Wipeout on Wednesdays without her commentary. The dogs are moping, and her friend Elizabeth just doesn't seem to get that Emma is in Buffalo for 2 weeks........

I can't wait to pick her up on Saturday, as well as have some wings, mighty taco........

Miss you baby girl, hope you are having fun.

Sad day for the arts in Buffalo, NY

As many of you know, dancing was such an important part of my life. Miss Genie of Eugenia's Dance Studio or Studio E, as it is now know, has been a fixture in West Seneca for almost 50 years. Miss Genie is one of the most loving, creative, and absent minded people I know. Unfortunately she has also become very very ill, stricken with cancer. How such a wonderful person who has enriched the lives of so many children can be left to suffer I don't know. I found out today, that the end is very close for her. Miss Genie is a mom, grandmother, Aunt, and mother to many children who passed through her studio. A former partner of mine Andy Delo, and nephew of Miss Genie, (who I did my first duet with, and will never forget the song "Put on your Sunday Clothes") asked that former students take a moment to write down a memory of Miss Genie for a board he was creating for her. Trying to write down all of the memories I have of her is impossible. But here is what I tried to say:

Trying to think of a favorite memory of Miss Genie is impossible. Whether it was arriving in Pittsburgh for our first competition (Going to the Chapel) moments before a tornado touched down, scheduling a trip to Poland right before Chernobyl happened, traveling to Myrtle Beach, SC for the Showstoppers Dance Competition, sitting for days at East Elementary for WNY Dance Championships, or sitting in the studio on a Saturday afternoon teaching the mommy and me class, it was fun. Years ago, I didn't understand, but now being a mom, I can appreciate the excitement on Miss Genie's face when we learned a new step, or she announced our costumes. Always just one more sequin to make it perfect, or one more special effect to make the recital just right. Anytime I wear her signature Red, Black and white colors, my mind is drawn back to the first days of Talent Express, and that dubious honor of being one of the first dance troops to dance on the World Stage in Epcot Center. No parade is complete without wearing a 100 pound wool jacket in the middle of summer to show off the unusual costumes from Poland. Or spending a summer day with Ponie Boshina teaching us new routines. Because of Ms. Genie, I love the arts, music, dancing, choreography. I now live that joy through my daughter's eyes. The world has been made such a colorful place (and sparkly) because of her presence. "FIESTA" Miss Genie, we all love you. Michelle Hamels-Jeziorowski

Be at peace Miss Genie, I'm sure you will be dancing again in the clouds soon.