Visitor's Week

Visitor's Week at dancing is always a bit of an adventure.  Yes, it's super cute to be able to watch your little dancer(s)...but I never quite know how the baby/toddler that is watching will behave.  THIS time, however, it went off without a hitch and both Britta and Ju Ju behaved extremely well during Kari's class (and Britta also did well during Juliana's class).  Woot!

 Just look at Kari's cute little smile!

And Britta got to wear her own little ballet slippers!
Just look at those cute little feet!

Ellie, Alice, and Kari (two of Kari's friends!)

 Kari got to start tap this year and that's exciting stuff for these kindergartners!

 Next up, Ju Ju's class!  Preschoolers prancing around in a circle--sooo cute.  Juliana was so excited that it was HER turn to have visitors in dancing!

 Mary Lorraine is her teacher as well and is just soooo engaging with the kiddos.  She makes class so much fun for them!

Service With a Smile

It's not very often that I can get multiple children motivated to go do some service (sad, I know, but true).  However, getting them to rake the leaves in our sweet neighbor, Marcia's, yard, got them out there!

Backyard Fun Timers

Britta, enjoying her turkey dinner (and possibly filling her pants??)

 Our backyard is the site of so many fun timers for my children.  Our friends all come over and their imaginations take over from there!

Brooklynn and Em playing ball--bc who doesn't like to play basketball in dress up?

The boys often commandeer the trampoline for their fun. 

 Britta plays her own version of basketball.

Ella and Kari...not sure what game they're playing, but kudos to Ella on the bee costume!

And finally we find Ju Ju and Madison up in our little tree house area.

We are beyond blessed with wonderful friends and neighbors who love to play outdoors and know how to use their imaginations!

Slices of Heaven

 When the weather is warm enough for short sleeves in November, you take advantage of it!  For us that means heading over to a nearby park.  The girls had a great time exploring and soaking in that fabulous vitamin D!

I love the focus on Juliana's face.

...And the dismount!

She didn't stick the landing, but we'll give her the gold for her happy face!

 Then there's her counterpart, Miss Britta, lots' of funny and happy faces.

Britta ended up discovering some leaves.  Lots of good, crunchy fun.

 Britta then found the path and decided to venture out for a walk.

 Juliana joined her and I think that these two little sisters walking along are just precious.

Sleeping Beauty

It's not very often that this girl takes a nap these days--it's worth documenting!  (Especially when she has little drool bubbles--both funny and sweet.)  I just love this busy little girl!

Strike That Pose!

I've been working hard to coordinate outfits for the WHOLE family for our upcoming family pictures.  I try to pull from clothes that we already have (bc as much as I would like to buy all new clothes for everyone, its just not in the budget!)  But sometimes, I just don't have what I'm envisioning.  Or, your 3 yr old finds the cutest little outfit on sale and it fits perfectly what I was thinking!  Just check out Ju Ju's pose--all her own, folks!

Halloween 2015!

What a gorgeous night for trick-or-treating!  We got all gussied up and headed out with our friends to bring in some loot!

Uncle Kyle and Lindi came along as Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.  How cute are they?!

Emily was a purple minion, Christian was a ring wraith (LOTR), Kari was Kit Kittredge, Juliana was a "rainbow butterfly,"and Britta, of course, was the cow.  Quite the group!

Emily and Brooklynn--yellow and purple minions

My beautiful rainbow butterfly!

Britta walked quite a ways--I was surprised at how well she did.  I timed it just right that arrived back home just as she got tired and chilly.  Cubby and the other children stayed out a bit longer, each bringing in a good bundle of candy.  It was a great Halloween!

School Halloween Parties

 I was fortunate enough to be able to head up to the big kids' school to be a part of their Halloween parties.

When I arrived, everyone was in an assembly...making a human hot dog of their new principal!  He seems like a quiet man, but, obviously, he's a good sport to have not only ketchup and mustard squirted on you, but also chili and a 2 liter of coke to top it all off!  Yuck.

Since I had a sitter at home with the little girls, I was really able to float around to each of the classrooms and take part in each of the kids' parties!

Kindergarten is just so darling, including Kari's teacher!  Mrs. Doster is just wonderful.  She is not only extremely sweet, but she is incredibly in-tune to each of her students, their individual needs and how they learn best.

 Em's class party was extremely well-organized and, for a party, it was pretty chill.  The kids all had a great time though--their class has a lot of very nice kids!

 And then there's Christian's class...I walk in to them all dancing to the Whip-Nae-Nae.  Hi-larious to watch 3rd graders do it.  They're having a ball and they know how to par-tae.

 Christian loves to goof off--funny selfies with his buddy, Alex, and finding the Hersey kiss in the whipped cream!

Again, such a fun little afternoon and I was so happy I could be a part of it!