My Ballroom Babies!

Yesterday was the Spring dance recital for the Idaho Ballroom Academy.  Kyle, Kailani, and Karen had been so excited for the big day to come! Karen told her entire Kindergarten class all about her costume when she got it. Kailani made some handmade invitations to give to a few of her friends inviting them to come watch her. They were thrilled to have Grandma, Grandpa, Grandma Nelson, Brian, Carol, Bailey, my cousin Rachael, and a few friends come see the big show.  It was such a chaotic day that I felt bad after when I realized we didn't get any pictures of our dancers with our visitors.

Karen danced to "Scooby-doo". She was Daphne (which is good, because she said if she got the Velma costume, she was "gonna freak!"). 

Kailani danced to the chipmunk version of "Shake your Groove Thing", and she was a chipette. She knew the moves really well, and loved every second of this experience.

Kyle had 2 numbers to preform. His first one was "Greased Lightening" and then he did "Burn, Baby Burn" with a huge afro and some great disco moves. He had a dark costume in both dances, which made pictures not work so well. This is as good as it gets:

This is a picture from a previous show, but you can see him a lot (well a little) better:

We had to be at the auditorium at 7:45 in the morning for the dress rehearsal. They had 2 shows (both about 2 1/2 hours each) that they later preformed. All-in-all, they were at the Auditorium for about 12 hours. By the time the day was over, they were all danced-out. It was a very long day-- especially for Karen, who had to wear a hot, itchy, orange wig all day! When I asked them that night, they all said that it was a great experience. Kyle is looking forward to doing it again next year, and Kailani asked if she could do it forever. Daphne (AKA Karen) will need a little time to forget the l-o-n-g day of hot, itchy dancing before she can think about another round. We shall see...

PS-- This afternoon, when I passed Kyle's room, this is what I saw on his door. I listened and heard some great instructing going on in that room!

Another Great Birthday & An Art Show

Kyle turned 11--
He is such a fun boy! On his birthday, He had a full itinerary for us to do. We started the day with opening his presents, followed by Jamba Juice for breakfast. Then we had a little "cool down time" so Kyle could play with his gifts. For lunch, we went to Pizza Pie Cafe (all you can eat) because we are healthy like that! After lunch we went and played mini-golf and laser tag. It was my first time playing laser tag. I had creed in one arm and the gun in the other-- which made me a real asset to my family team! The miracle of the day was that I somehow managed to get 7th out of 13 players. Booyah!
We had cake and ice cream for dinner (yet again... soooo healthy). That night, Kyle said the family prayer. The best part of the day was him thanking Heavenly Father for "the perfect day". It made it all worth it!
Here is a little about Kyle:
His favorite food is pizza.
His favorite color is green.
His best friend is McKay Rawlings.
His favorite school subject is science.
His favorite scripture story is the battle tactics used to capture cities without bloodshed.
His favorite saying is "Be the change you wish to see in this world" -- Gandhi

Also, the girls had their Elementary School Art show this past week. They were so excited to show off their pictures. Personally, I thought their pictures were the best in the school-- but I am probably a little biased.

Kailani's is the picture on the top. It is called "Willow Wisp"

Karen's picture called "Family"

A Couple Birthdays, A Few School Programs, and Some Giant Strawberries!

I've been busy. Here are a couple things that have been going on around here:
Cameron turned 13! I can't believe he is a teenager. He tries so hard in school, and is such a responsible young man. I sure love him. At 13, here are some things about him:
His favorite food is Cheesy Potato Soup.
His favorite color Gold (metallic) & Orange.
His best friend Kyle and John Rindlisbacher.
His favorite school subject PE.
His favorite scripture story Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty.
His favorite dessert Jamba Juice.
His favorite saying is "Knowledge is Power".

Kailani turned 9! She is such a little Mother-in-training. I love spending time with her. Here are a few things about her 9-year-old self:
Her favorite food is spaghetti.
Her favorite color is turquoise.
Her best friend is Karen.
Her favorite school subject is art.
Her favorite scripture story is Nephi getting the plates from Laban.
Her favorite dessert is cookie dough ice cream.
Her favorite saying is "If you run into a wall, don't give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." --Michael Jordan

Kyle was in a patriotic school program. He was 1 of 3 students who opted to use a British accent for their speaking part (man that kid has gumption)-- and the only student who actually sounded British. (In fact, one of the 3 students used an accent that could have easily been confused for a Muppet accent as opposed to a British one--- but you didn't hear that from me!) I sure love my boy.

Karen was an elephant in the Kindergarten Circus. She was so excited to sing and dance. It was a little difficult to focus on her when all the other kindergarten boys were having such a hard time holding still-- and thus causing quite a bit of unscripted entertainment. Karen played her part very well. I was proud.

Lastly, can you believe these strawberries? Wowser!

Wordless Wednesday

First Day of School 2011

It isn't a big secret that I despise the first day of school. While growing up, I'm pretty sure I cried  E.V.E.R.Y. year on the first day of school.  In general, I'm a fan of school.  Learning is a good thing. I did well in school.  It isn't even really the rest of the school year I had qualms about-- just the first day (or week).  I thought I would outgrow this hate-hate relationship once I graduated. Unfortunately, not a lot has changed.  I still cry on the first day, only now I have to "fake" excited and happy in front of my kids-- and cry later. Truth be told,  I think my dislike for the first day of school has grown even more now that I am a Mother.  I love having my children home. I love knowing what they are doing. I love knowing who they are spending time with. I love doing things together. I love watching them experience new things.  When they are gone I miss them tremendously! 

Now, don't get me wrong-- I am so grateful that they have the opportunity to go to school, and learn. In all honesty, I suppose "The first day of school" is really just an innocent bystander-- that, to me, has come to represent the inevitable passing of time (AKA my babies growing up). Seriously? How did they grow up so fast?

Three of the four school-aged children started at new schools this year-- one of them being half-day Kindergarten. As a result, I am beginning to realize this is going to be a year full of A LOT of schedule coordinating and taxi driving-- but, then again, that is what they pay me the big bucks for!

Here are the little scholars all ready to conquer the world!

Don't they look so excited and happy? I am so glad they have adventuring spirits and didn't inherit the start-of-school-blues from their Mother.

It's A Wonderful Life-- Act 2

This has been a busy week. There have been a few things worth noting. Here they are (in no particular order):

*Today Karen came to me with a handful of change ($0.82 to be exact), and asked me if she could pay me to finish cleaning her room. She looked up at me and said in her most persuasive voice, "C'mon Mom... you'll be rich." I said, "Well, I suppose that depends on how messy your room is." I was surprised to see that she was almost done. I don't know what a "good mom" would do in this situation-- but I know a good deal when I see one. I finished straightening her room, she happily paid me, and we both walked away feeling great about our deal.

*Creed had his first haircut. I haven't ever had to give a "first haircut" to a kid this young before-- but he needed one...

--Before--

--After--

I know how to cut boys hair short, but I realized that I don't know how to do long hair without making it look a little too "Lloyd Christmas".

* I cleaned out the garage, and found a box of old letters and pictures-- including the WORST picture of me E.V.E.R!!! It was taken at the start of my "awkward phase" (the one I'm still waiting to outgrow). I had been asking my mom to cut my bangs for way too long -- I think I would have even settled for a "Lloyd Christmas"-esque do.  On a completely unrelated note, this was taken the year my whole grade started calling me "Leo Lion Bangs". --- Hmmmm?  I can't seem to figure that out. Anywhoooo, back to my point. When my kids saw the picture, they all said, "Yikes! Who is that?"  I said "That is me." Then I may have told a little fiberooski (which I'm not proud of), and said "That was the style then!"  

I make that button sweater look good!

The journey through the box of pictures didn't end there, next they found a picture taken my sophomore year in High School (still awkward).  On this day,  people kept asking me why I was so dressed up, or if I was going to a funeral. I even had someone think I was a substitute teacher. Why didn't I just wear a t-shirt and jeans like every other 10th grader?

 There were a few more "lovely" pictures in the box... but perhaps I will save those for another day.


*The other day, I snuck into the bathroom to quickly remove the polish that was on my toes. Now, I'm sure you are asking yourself, "Why does she have to sneak to do that?" Well... it is because I have a little girl who makes me give her a mani/pedi everytime she sees me even go near the fingernail polish. And lets face it... just because this Mommy finds 2 seconds to remove her toenail polish, it doesn't always mean she has time to play beauty salon for a half an hour. About a half a second after I had successfully removed my polish, and cleaned up, Karen was knocking on the door. I opened it, and she came in sniffing the air. Sniff sniff, sniff sniff. "Mom, What's going on in here?" I said, "Oh... not too much. I was just going out." She said, (as she looked closely at my naked toenails) "But, Whats that smell?" I said, "I just took off my toenail polish." To which she quickly replied, ... drum roll please ... "Will you paint my toenails?"


*I went to the Lost and Found Sale at BYUI. I was going for a one-of-a-kind hymn book I had seen at Ryan's work a couple weeks before. I went to wait in line an hour early (eye on the prize), but was disappointed to see it had been taken by the time I got into the sale. Later, Ryan surprised me with it!!! He had bought it as his "one item" that the sale employees get to buy. I was so happy.

I wish the picture turned out better. It says "Tom Marvolo Riddle" (if that means nothing to you... Google it!).

* Ryan celebrated a birthday!!! He had a busy day at work, but we managed to go visit him for a little while. He got a few gifts from some of his students. I made him cheesecake. He was so grateful for all of his gifts and every little thing we did for him today. I am sure in love with this boy!

Whooowwweee!!! There are a few of the weeks highlights (and I didn't even mention losing Karen-- twice, or the 3 contractors who came to our house, or even Kailani's bike getting ran over by the neighbor!).  No wonder I'm exhausted.