Family Dance Contest

During the cold winter months, it's hard for my family to find the motivation to do anything energetic. We seem to prefer watching movies and munching popcorn instead of doing something that requires getting off the couch.

But after yet another lazy weekend, I knew we needed to get moving again and turned to one of our favorite television shows for inspiration. That Sunday evening, our family hosted our own version of "So You Think You Can Dance."

Our rules were simple. Each person would choose a song and do their own choreography. After performing for a few minutes solo, everyone else would have to join in and try to match the moves. The crazier the motions, the better chance you had of winning. After everyone got a turn, we would vote on the craziest dance of the week and the winner would be allowed to choose Friday's take-out dinner.

Ally went first, belting out her favorite "High School Musical" song "All For One" as she twisted and twirled, shimmied and shook to the beat.

"Bet you can't do this," she said, executing her grand finale with the splits. I bet she's right, I thought with a grimace.

Brittany's dance to Hannah Montana's "Rock Star" was equally inspiring, and Trevor didn't disappoint as he rocked out to Cheap Trick's "Surrender" on Guitar Hero. But my husband Gary really stole the show when he slid across the floor to the beginning strains of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock 'n Roll" a la Tom Cruise in "Risky Business."

"Wow, Dad, I didn't know you could dance like that," Brittany said in part-wonder, part-horror, as Gary strutted out his best '80s moves. "Please don't do that in front of my friends," she said, laughing hysterically with her siblings.

I didn't fare much better attempting to strike a pose to Madonna's "Vogue." My supermodel impressions didn't impress them either, but we were all sweaty and panting by the end of the dances.

Daddy won that first week, thanks to his spectacular sliding entrance and unexpected hip swivels, which meant hot wings for takeout night. And it was all so much fun, we agreed to host "So You Think You Can Dance" again next week, when my wacky version of "The Macarena" is sure to earn me a veggie pizza.