Annika's Virtual Feis

Last month, Annika participated in her first virtual feis. She worked really hard to prepare for it and was thrilled to be back in competitive dance mode after a year of none. 

Because this was a virtual feis, her dances needed to be recorded and submitted to the feis' website by the deadline. Fortunately, she was able to work with one of the dance studio instructors to dance in the studio, which meant she was in a space that met the minimum requirement for the feis and the instructor was able to make some last-minute suggestions before she filmed Annika's dances. Win all around!!

She did amazingly well at this feis! She placed in ever single event she participated in... FIVE! The judges were great at complimenting her dances and offering suggestions on things to work on. Such a great learning opportunity!

She placed 3rd for her reel and treble jig, 2nd for her single jig, and 1st for her slip jig and light jig. 

To say she was over the moon with her results would be an understatement. Prior to this feis, she hadn't placed above 3rd before. Her hard work and constant dancing definitely paid off in this instance!

Great job, sis! We are proud of you and excited for you.

And now, for your viewing pleasure....

Conor's Leprechaun Trap

In years past, the kids have made leprechaun traps at school and creativity always abounds with this project.

This year, St. Patrick's Day fell on a Sunday, so there was no need to make a trap ... that is to everyone except Conor. Our boy insisted on trying his hand at catching a leprechaun. He was bound and determined to build a trap at home and catch himself a genuine leprechaun.

Unfortunately for everyone except Conor, he chose to dig through the recycling bin for cardboard boxes and, because we were all still asleep, the house alarm was still on .... and (I'm guessing you're seeing where I'm going with this) the recycling bin is on the other side of a door that has a house alarm sensor. YUP!! As soon as he opened the door, the house alarm went off in full-blown alarm mode. WAHWAHWAHWAHWAHWAH!!! (Annika slept through it ... Eric and I didn't.)

Once our hearts returned to a more normal rate and we caught our breath, I knew I was up. SO, Conor and I got to work on his trap. I did the x-acto knife work for him to preserve his cute little fingers and avoid any trips to the ER... yeah, that's the kind of mom I am. :)

Conor decided to lure his leprechaun to the top of this trap with the promise of a party.

PAR-TAY!

The leprechaun had two party entrance options - a LEGO staircase and a popsicle stick ladder. (We are nothing if not accommodating.) When the leprechaun got to the top of the trap and stepped on the white welcome (correction ... "welcom") mat, the hole below the mat would cause the leprechaun to fall and become snared in the lower (inner) cardboard box. At least, that was Conor's hope.

It appears that our house's leprechaun had watched some MacGyver episodes and figured out a way to climb out of the trap using some tape and a piece of gold ribbon. (We are still trying to figure out if the leprechaun escaped on his/her own or if there is a Leprechaun Freedom Force (LFF) that rescues all trapped leprechauns. Either way.... this leprechaun left behind 4 pennies for Conor's efforts... so Conor is seeing it as a win, even though the leprechaun got away.

Conor and his leprechaun party trap