Real Life.

Life has been pretty intense lately. That is the only word to describe it right now. These past few weeks have taught me so much. I have learned that I am stronger than I thought I was and that I can do a lot of things on very little sleep. 

I bought this journal the other day just because I liked what it says on the cover.

A few weekends ago we babysat for one of my team kids and she snuggled with me on the couch all night watching Disney Channel dance shows :) Pretty much the best thing ever. I got to tuck her in and was reminded why I do my job. I always hope that I can be more than just a teacher for my kids. I hope they are always a part of my life and vice versa. 

I discovered that QFC has my new favorite wine. Mmmm! Usually I'm a white wine girl, but the more and more I drink wine the more and more I like red. Last night I finished the bottle and when we get home from Disneyland I'm for sure going to get more :) 

Matt has been fully engulfed in his Giants. And...they have won the World Series :) I have a happy husband with his Giants and Disneyland all in one week. 

Poor Cogsy Wogsy got sick last week. Hopefully he has learned and will not be eating candy corn anymore..... yikes. Here he is during our visit to the vet.

When the Disneyland tickets came in last week, things got real.... :)

I tried to have a photo shoot with Miss Avery...they just wanted my phone. She doesn't sit still anymore :) I can't believe that she is already 10 months old!! 

After Cogsy got sick he was confined to the kitchen. This is how he felt when we finally let him out. Poor guy :( Look how he has his arm on Matt's chest. Seriously...! Cutest dog ever. He's human I swear.

Then, the girls costumes for Disneyland arrived and things got REAL. 

Um seriously, I have the cutest dance kids on the planet. She is my youngest going to Disneyland, just turned 6 in August. I'm so so proud of them! 

The girls have had practice everyday (Sat & Sun, too). My Junior team girls have shown such leadership with my little ones. This picture says it all. I'm so so proud of them! 

We leave for Disneyland in 2 days. The girls have one last practice tomorrow night. They all have Ballet from 5-6pm and then have rehearsal from 6-7:30...they don't know this yet, but Alex and I have decided to throw them a party tomorrow night instead of practicing. They're going to be so excited! I'm so impressed by all of their hard work and how they have pulled together as a team even with additional side drama going on. 

Matt and I are so ready to be at Disneyland. Tomorrow should go pretty fast. Wednesday I only teach in the morning and then we're going over to Alex & Matt's for Halloween. 

7:00am flight on Thursday and we'll be there!! 

Things are really starting to come together at the studio. My life Our Life, has officially been taken over by dance. It has happened. I'm so thankful for having such a supportive husband. He has come to every practice with me (body guard) and he has helped a lot with the kids and getting everything ready for Disneyland. I could not have done this without him.

I'm so excited now!!!

-Chelsea-

What We've Been Up To...

Time is just flying by. It's frightening actually.

In just 7 days we will be taking my team kids to Disneyland to perform in the Disneyland Christmas Day Parade taping for ABC. They have been working so incredibly hard and so have Alex (my co-director) and I. It's so much work getting everything together...

Making sure the girls know the choreography, making sure everyone is flying in on the right times/days, making sure everyone knows where to meet and when and what they should be wearing and how their hair and make up needs to look. They needed to get certain socks, shoes, tights......It's been crazy.

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind. 

The kids have practice with us everyday from now until we leave, yes...even on Sunday. I am going to take them there knowing I did everything I could to make sure they are ready and feel prepared so they can go and enjoy themselves and not worry about not making it in when we arrive (our team has to perform for the ABC/Dance the Magic staff when we arrive to be approved that we know the choreography). Yikes! 

I have been having an awfully hard time with one of our team parents that finally last night I had to ask to not come back after Disney. It was one of the hardest things I've had to face yet. She said hurtful things, but I shrugged them off and then proceeded to hold our team parent meeting while she rolled her eyes at me at least 10 times. (Knots in my stomach). Matt was awesome and sat with me for the whole thing, never leaving my side. He even talked to the parents during the meeting explaining to them all the behind the scenes Disney scenarios. I was really proud of him. 

I feel good knowing that as soon as we walk through those gates at Disneyland, all this drama is behind me and I will officially for real be pretty stress free. I imagine my job feeling fairly similar to any other jobs stress level after this. Well....at least for a few months until competition season hits ; ) No more knots in my tummy anymore though about mean moms :) Yay! 

Today I thought it would be a good idea for me to make a list of things that are currently making me happy (lots of negativity happening with this mom..she's trying to bring me down and I won't let her).

*Tonight I made grilled cheese with ham and turkey and we ate it with cozy tomato soup for dinner. Yum! 

*13 of my 15 Disneyland kids are making me the happiest and proudest dance teacher around. (2 of them unfortunately belong to that mom and they've been a handful)

*I bought new dance pants and a new work-out top to wear to work. Yay for new work clothes!

*We leave for DISNEYLAND in 7 days!!!! We will be there for 6 days total and only 2 of them require me to work :) We have some very special things planned that include a dinner at Club 33 with one of my team kids and their mom who got us in, and dinner at Carthay Circle with our good friends we met on our Disney Cruise! 

I'm so so pumped!

In other news, Matt is currently rooting for his Giants as they are winning Game #1 of the World Series! It's loud here right now.

Also, Cogsy ate an entire bag of candy corn and peanuts and was really sick yesterday. $137.00 later, he is feeling better. Lots of trips to the bathroom....and he is confined to the kitchen until he's completely better. We're glad he's okay though!

-Chelsea-

Wine & Sushi

Today I went out with Katie (Avery) & Ashley to Woodinville.

We did some wine tasting and had some fabulous sushi.

It was so nice to be with friends and have a relaxing, fun day.

I didn't eat before we left (oops) and was a little too happy after our first winery, lol. 

Sushi helped and then I was good to go for our 2nd winery.

Mmm Mmm! 

I was adventurous with sushi today and had a few new kinds.

I also discovered a delicious red wine at Matthews Cellars. (I loved that it was from Matthews) :) 

Super fun day.

{fussy baby...solution...my wallet :) }

{Ashley and I at Matthew's Cellars}

I really enjoyed today being out with friends :) 

-Chelsea-

2nd Annual Fall Feast Family Fun Day!

Yesterday Matt and I hosted our 2nd Annual Fall Feast Family Fun Day!

It was again tons of fun :)

I was pleased with the way things turned out considering I did absolutely no preparation until the night before. Matt was so helpful and cleaned our whole apartment, went out and got groceries/pumpkins and  helped make the chili while I was at dance. I had to work until 1pm and the party started at 2pm.

It was fun having everyone together at our apartment. I love it :)

We had chili, salad with Matt's homemade croutons, cornbread and biscuits for dinner.

I also made pumpkin pie bars & homemade butterfingers for treats.

Matt made the Nuts & Bolts this year & Marie brought a fruit salad.

Yum Yum!

We had fun with the kids. Clare is finally old enough to have fun with Cogsy and he was so good :)

Everyone (minus Megan, the kids and I) had a good time watching football and we all had fun watching and carving pumpkins. 

Good day!

Our apartment felt smaller this year which makes me worried that we won't be able to do it here next year, but I'm sure it will be just fine.