Funny, feels like I've been away for awhile (Thanksgiving, party, Irish Dance have been all consuming).

My inlaws were in town since Thursday, left this AM. I have learned that it is easier to have house guests who are generally happy in nature, rather than crabby. Crabby people tend to cast a crabby shadow over everything. I was grateful that my inlaws were here to help out with the boys during this Irish Dance weekend. I just wish they were happier people, in general.

I learned that just because you're hosting a small Thanksgiving get together, get the big turkey anyhow! Side dish left overs aren't worth anything if there isn't turkey to eat with it.

I learned that sometimes it is worth it to go big in the guest list, too. My girls had a party and I invited their best friends and their families, plus my cousin and her family (this meant lots of kids). I also invited my brother's x-gf who had a good relationship with my girls. It was 40 people, but it was good fun, and laughing, and a nice time. I said there was a 9 o'clock end time. People were all gone by 9:30, and I had a "yes" Mom-moment when I left my oldest daughter's best friend sleep over before the HUGEST competition ever. Both girls were quiet by 10, up at 8, and pleasant.

I learned it is best to follow your gut and not tan your daughter's legs as dark as you think their teachers want them. Nothing as bad as having Oompah-Loompah orange legs on a stage and a face that doesn't match. I stressed too much about wigs, that problem didn't exist. The teacher cut the younger dancers wig, the older dancers wig was perfect.

This competition, the Oireachtas, is a qualifier for Nationals and Worlds. This was my daughters' 2nd time. No one recalls at their first, and mine both performed appallingly bad two year ago - like 102 out of 109, and 97 our of 104. Since then, they've matured and practice and danced and competed and etc etc. The dance pool is the best dancers in the Mid-America region (there are five in the US). The top 1/2 of dancer "recall", for the older daughter it didn't require a second dance, but it required a 3rd dance for the younger dancer.

Both of my girls recalled. The older took 16th out of 63. The dancers 17 to 32 were simple "commended dancers". The younger took 48th out of 102. She was up against stiff competition (lots of world and national competitors). Her friend from another school took 50th and the two of them just looked happy to be up among the talent. Youngest daughter happily declared she is either "worst of the best" or "best of the worst". That was a great laugh.

Life is back to normal. Inlaws left, all the kids went to school. Whew ...