Little Miss Southington 2008/ ADA Dancers of the Year

Little Miss Southington 2008

I finally got a photo done of Madison in her crown and banner. She won the title of Little Miss Southington May 3rd just a week after Dave passed away. Madison took center stage answering the question," How do your friends make you feel special?.. Madison answers, "My friends make me feel special, by giving me hugs after my father passed away". **gasp**!! I sat there wiping back the tears.. just thinking how someone so young can be so strong and poised. She performed her tap solo to Zip A de do dah.... and brought the house down! She had so many family members there, friends from the dance studio.. her school friends and neighbors to come see her.... And the winner is... Madison Yurgaitis! she smiled ear to ear..as if for a moment she put aside her sadness and was able to smile for Daddy!....he was there the whole time saying YOU DID IT MADISON...you did IT!!.... CONGRATULATIONS!... (thanks Robbie (next to Madison and Chase in the photos) for spending the whole day with my kids!! xoxox)

American Dance Awards Jr. Male Dancer of the Year 2008

It was also a special day for Chase as well. He was performing at the American Dance Awards competition in W.Hartford that same day... Dave was going to take him and be the stage dad .... ...but instead his Dance teacher (seen in the photos) helped him that day!.. Chase did his Tap solo to Dancing Fool.. did a FABULOUS JOB... .. we waited patiently until the awards were announced.... crossing our fingers.....ADA Junior Male Dancer of the Year goes to: Chase Yurgaitis from Rob Merante's Academy of Dance!... can you just see me now... PROUD MOM !!! and for sure a KODAK MOMENT!!.... although Dave didn't get to see his son win...He knew just how good he was... he had no doubts that Chase could pull it off!!...and HE DID!!!!

Madison also is American Dance Awards Young Female Dancer of the Year 2008, she will be attending the Nationals in Boston Mass July 1st and 2nd...She won that title in March and I am so glad Dave was there and not sleeping in the audience when she won that.. hehehe!! miss you DADDY!! XOXOXOXO

...cards for Daddy and Uncle D!

... I knew it was coming... the backpacks always have some kind of goodies in there for Holidays/ Fathers Day... but actually the kids were excited to show me what they made!! Carson came home first and he couldn't get off the bus fast enough.. He said he made a card for Fathers Day and he is giving it to Uncle D (Dave's brother) he was so thrilled he cant wait to show me, he made him a key chain too! ... then the other two get off the bus... and Madison pulls out the card she made for Daddy and began to tell me that her teacher was a little hesitant to do cards this year seeing there is two students who lost fathers in her class... Madison encouraged her to do so... and the class made them!....She also made one for Uncle D as well..... I had to hold back the tears these cards really meant alot this year... then Chase pulls out his... and then well you know .....you can just imagine mom was a WRECK!.... so here they are Daddy!!...hope you have a computer in HEAVEN to see these! xoxoxox LOVE YOU!

Happy Fathers Day!

... we shared Fathers Day with the Dionne Family!.. thanks Mike and Darlene for this race idea... and for having us run with you... Dave was with us getting us to the finish line in GREAT SPEED... go Mike for your FAST finish.. and CONGRATS to Darlene for running less then 10 minute miles with me... I'm so proud of what you accomplished in such a short amount of time.. you look GREAT GIRLIE.. keep it up!!! Looking forward to our next race together!!... My kids missed the FUN RUN.. but they got to take home medals anyways... Thanks Joanne for coming to the race... I know Dave was happy to see you there .. but wondered why you didn't have your sneakers on?..LOL.... thanks for watching the kids while MiMi Gloria and Auntie Donna came to cheer us on at the finish line!!... all and all a great day.. a good day to spend doing something Dave loved and enjoyed... I'm keeping the miles going on my sneakers... with wings and all......I LOVE YOU.... Happy Fathers Day... we MISS YOU!!! XOXOXO

2008 Red Dress for Women Race 5k July 12th

Want to run/walk? .. click the logo to get you to the Red Dress website to sign up! ...next up is just one for the girls! RED is the color!...We will be wearing Dave on our heart that day!!... so far we have the following on our team ...email me if you want to join in with us and I'll add you to our list!! mudpies@snet.net

Michele

Darlene

Marissa

Alyssa

Katie

Deb

Jenn B (if she isn't in Maine?)

Auntie Maria

Auntie Christine

Joanne

MiMi Gloria

Betty

Joyce

Debbie J

Kim

Kim's mom

Jenny D

11th Annual Red Dress Run for Women A 5K run/walk celebrating women’s fitness Saturday, July 12, 2008 Start Time: 8:30 AM Asylum Avenue, Elizabeth Park West Hartford, CT

Join Go Red For Women

Taking care of your heart is more important than you might know. Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women -- and of men. About 460,000 women die of cardiovascular disease annually, more than the total number of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in men or the next four causes of death combined.

Thursday....

.. Today I found myself really thinking about how this is really my "FOREVER"… living each day with the children without our Dad, husband, friend. Each day passes and a new day starts....just like the mail... it comes each day and Carson and I are together for the first part of the morning until he gets on the bus for noon…. The highlight of his day is waiting at the curb for the mail truck to pull around to greet him.. A pile of mail, bound by an elastic that he likes to take off and shoot at the dog….he often asks," is there anything for me"?.. I crack a smile knowing he will be satisfied with those store flyers... always something in there he can haunt me about...or those fake credit cards they send you in the mail, he likes to put those in his wallet.. But what comes each week and came today.. and a reminder of how much Dave is missed… is his Thursday Sports Illustrated Magazine delivery. That has been coming to our house for 12 years…and it hit me hard today because I found myself piling them up with last weeks and the week before and so on… I used to tease Dave about him not really reading those.. how he just looked at the pictures… (is it really possible to read front to back in a half hour?) …and he then would be looking forward to next weeks issue. Some I could pitch out.. Some I had to save.. Then there were those that could be worth something someday?…(he said!) ...LOL...
Well… on a up beat note.. We got to see Aunite Maria this morning and she gave Carson this really cool tee shirt… (thanks Aunitie) ..I took his picture next to the roses that bloomed the other day, these are the roses that Dave chopped down last fall and he thought for sure those bushes were never going to live?.. But they did !!!...they came back this year so full and beautiful…so here is a picture for you Hun… they are doing well!… xoxo LOVE YOU!
~Michele

LITCHFIELD ROAD RACE 7.1 MILES and we all surrived the heat!

It was a great race...thanks to all who showed up to run for Dave...(Jenn and Lyssa were back for more.. thanks girls) ....thanks to the beer band who handed us a BUD along the way... (I had one for Dave and I dont even drink) it was something really cold to down at mile 6... well worth it... we all cheered up to Dave (I drank his...) with Derek and Maria... a few carbs to get us up the HUGE HILL!... woo woo... we finished in that HEAT even if it wasnt our best times... hehehhe! .. a few photos to share.. Thanks Tommy for the professional photography photos and being there waiting for us... LOL... and Congrats to cousin Alyssa.. her first race and finished in record time!! HALF NEXT TIME GIRL.. hehehhe...!!!GREAT JOB!! Dave was so missed this race.. this is one he ran quite often... I know you were there with us... #$%^&*($%^&*(^ up the !!! Missed you Hun..xoxoxo

***anyone looking to run with us?..**** if you have sneakers and and hour....we take walkers and runners....want to join in on the fun... email me mudpies@snet.net.... I'll add you to our club and send you a free tee shirt... I know there are some UHC runners out there.... would love to have you at our next run... TBD.... KEEP YA ALL POSTED!!

xo Michele

upcoming EVENTS....

Don't forget... this Sunday Litchfield Road Race.... look for the aqua blue tee's!...

also.. lot's of photos and stuff to post coming up after this weekend... our trip to Bermuda, Dereks ROCK and ROLL Marathon... go UNCLE D! and UHC FAMILY DAY at LAKE COMPOUNCE!..