On the stage

I really think my girls' happy place is on the stage. The older girls both had a chance recently to perform at school. And with both girls, they were chosen to have a special part in the performance.

For Reese, all the first grade had a resident artist come in and teach African Dance. They performed what they learned for the whole school. The first video is the part where the class danced as a whole. The second video is the part where kids got to dance in small groups and do dances they made up themselves. Reese was chosen to be the soloist. She took her choreography seriously. I was a proud momma in the back row that day!

 The girls are really at an amazing school this year. They are doing so many neat events. Recently, they had international day where each cluster of classrooms transformed into a country then students flew around the world (or school) and experienced the culture. Brady's area was Russia. Her class learned a dance and performed it for the students. My little babushka made me so proud!

Letting Go

I have been struggling lately with my daughter's choice in extra curricular activities. This is an inner struggle that I realize and acknowledge, but I think I have let some of my innerness seep out.

My daughter is very talented (for her age) in ballet. She also shows tremendous potential. She was one of a handful girls advanced to the lower pre-professional level for the fall. Except she wants nothing to do with ballet this fall. Nothing. At. All.

Let me remind you this is something three years ago I wanted her to have nothing to do with. Now I am having a hard time letting her step away. Crazy mama here. I wanted to watch her excel. I wanted to have the kid that is advanced. I wanted to watch her do the Nutcracker just like I did when I was little. I wanted to be the costume seamstress. Then I realized I was saying 'I' instead of 'She'. So I have come to peace with the closing of this door. Yesterday was her last class.

This class was the parent observation day. The whole family came. I stated at dinner to Elli, "We are going to Brady's ballet class." Elli simply replied, "No, Elli's class." She had already had me do a bun in her hair when I fixed up Brady's hair. Luckily I had a tiny pair of dance shoes in the car as well.

Elli walked right into that studio and straight to where all the 6-8 year olds were. She honestly believed it was her turn to dance.

 We politely scooted her over to the side but she didn't stop imitating what she saw.

 Then today, she got into the bun making supplies, asked for a bun and her ballet shoes.

"When one door closes, the two year goes and opens it back up"

Sleepover without the Slumber

Brady asked for a sleepover for her 7th birthday. This momma isn't quite ready. We compromised... all the fun of a sleepover (pizza, movie, candy, PJs, staying up late) without my taking care of other children overnight. So her party was scheduled 5-9:30. I know, genius!

I will have to say, it may have been my favorite party I have ever hosted. It is also my first 'drop-off' party I every hosted. So that means the kids came adult-less. That means this momma was one vs. ten. Pure innocent fun without loads of mommas intervening.

I smiled the ENTIRE 4.5 hours. My cheeks got sore and I kept smiling. It was a blast to watch, so I am sure it was a blast for the ten kids.

Brady was the brainstormer behind most of the party. She decided the colors should be red ("boys might not like seeing only pink"). She picked "Sound of Music". She decided to have a candy buffet instead of a cake so it was like the movie theater. She came up with labeling the bathrooms and exit like the theaters.

Since the movie of choice was "Sound of Music" I made them all PJs of similar fashion. So after pizza, all the kids were eager to put on their new PJs.

Well, then right after everyone was dressed they all decided to run outside to play...in their PJs. But who cares let them have fun!

Presents were opened, and every kid gifted the perfect present!

What a great group with is!

The movie only caught their attention for about an hour. But we caught a couple classic slumber party moments.

After I put Elli in bed,  I let the kids fill one jar up with candy... exciting. Jack even got to try his first Reese's cup!

Jack asked for a drum roll before he ate his first Reese's.

Candy and popcorn!

 When I saw them all wavering, I suggested playtime again and then the dress up bin was raided! Perfect time to blast the Frozen soundtrack! Girls chased boys, boys attempted to do the worm, kids played zombie, butterflies fluttered, lyrics were belted, memories were made, FUN WAS HAD!

All the kids were well behaved and not a tear was shed. I consider the night to be a success. I love that I was the only adult because I wasn't distracted by my own conversations and I reveled in the childhood fun of just being!

Can't wait to throw this type of party again!

Get some popcorn

It is about to be movie hour!

I thought I would share some of our latest happenings with videos. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show(s).


Brady was choosen to preform in the school pep rally for standardized testing. She is the one in the lime green. She had to memorize this song in three days, but you know my girl, she had it down pat in one.

Reese demonstrating the skill of "skin the cat" awful name, I know, but cool that Reese got this. Her coach said only a handful of her preschoolers can do it!

Speaking of gymnastics, Elli has shown SO MUCH growth in her little class. I love seeing her getting stronger and leaving her diagnosis in the dust!

Now, can't leave the puppies out of this line up. I think this video needs no introduction. Simple happiness.

This one may be worth watching a few times. Pay attention to what the animals are wearing. Though it is hard to tell, Elli is identifying the color and clothing for a lot of them.

Another one that is simple happiness. 

Don't want to leave out yet another production!

Cousins playing together, I can't wait to see what they get into once they really can play games together.

I guess I must say 'awe man' alot!

Season Tickets

Karl and I are lucky enough to have lifetime rights to front row seats of the Orthner Family Theater. We make sure to renew our season tickets yearly.

This is a compilation of our show we went to see this morning.

Here are blurbs of some of the MANY wonderful shows we have been privileged to attend in the past years. They are posted roughly in descending order of time. 

Never a dull moment!

The Munchkins

I love my three little munchkins! They bring me smiles daily. Life doesn't get better than this. I am a little bit behind in posting on 'events' so here are some snapshots of life here in VB lately. 

 Love is in the air!

I try to play down valentines since I feel it is a holiday about have and have nots. I don't care for a holiday that leaves people out. What I did for them this year (last minute idea) was throw together place mats that highlight their best qualities. I want to teach them that they are individuals. I love them for who they are, and I don't want them to be someone else. 

Reese is spirited, inquisitive, brave, huggable, faithful, creative, unique and smiley. 

 Creative, spirited and unique...yes sirree. She keeps me laughing!

Inquisitive, not too many five year olds want to stay inside to read instead of playing and running outside. 

 Elli is cuddly, helpful, passionate, curious, animated, bright, loyal and independent.

She found the only puddle in the whole area. Call her curious George. 

 She is one bright star. At library PJ story time, the librarian read a story we have never heard before. Elli immeadiately walked over to the book rack in the room and plucked the same book off the shelf. She had memorized the books on the rack and wanted the matching copy.

Elli is in a early interventive parent child preschool class run by the city. She is thriving in this class. I was prepared to hate it and I love everything about it. She is so independent in the class.

Brady is dedicated, affectionate, kind, supportive, thoughtful, graceful, hard-working, and understanding.

This hard-working graceful ballerina has almost perfected her leap. I am in awe of her. I thought I didn't want a daughter that liked ballet, but I am really getting a kick (no pun intended) out of this. 

Brady LOVES being a big sister. She brought Elli in for a special show and tell.

Brady loves to put on shows with her middlest sister. Here she was exploring the idea that tears can be result of happiness or sadness.

I will keep them! All while counting my lucky stars!

2013 Bucket List COMPLETED

This post is a few months behind, but I can proudly say we kicked the bucket...list in the behind! We had it completed in late October.

I orginially made this list right after our move to get us excited about the new possibilities in this new town. Remember this list was created over a year ago.

Here it is:

-go on a rocketship (Reese)

We visited the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, VA in September. We explored all sorts of air vehicles including rocketship. We also got to see a rocket take off from our front porch one night! We kept the girls up so they could witness this extraodrinary event.

-go swimming (Reese)

-Perform an Ariel show with my doll (Reese)

This is not the Ariel show pictured... but we get 'shows' on a daily basis. No really, EVERY day. Sound of Music is the most recent theme of most shows.

-go for a hike (Brady)

No hills in our hikes, but we do enjoy the mile walk through our neighborhood (base). 

-go to the zoo (Brady)

-go to where Felicity lived (Brady)

The older two girls were treated to a couple trips to Colonial Williamsburg last year. They enjoyed learning about the differences in life and culture, including tea and curtsy lessons.

-go to the Botanical Gardens (Christy)

Among our multiple trips to the Botanical Gardens to play in the World of Wonder kids' garden. We also explored the Christmas light display during the Polar Express event. The girls also got their first taste of hot cocoa.

-go to the Great Wolf Lodge (Christy)

-go to DC and watch the Giants play (Karl)....

This one wasn't completed in its original form...instead Karl go to see the Giants play in San Diego, even better right!?!?!

-go see Kaddie's (now better known as Pop Pop) fish (Christy)

-go to the Children's musuem (Reese)

-go to the Aquarium (Brady)

-eat Cheesecake Factory cheesecake (Karl)

You know he ate this too fast for me to grab a picture of it!

We did so much last year, much of which is not even listed on here. Glad that we were able to kick the bucket...list!

Stay tuned for the post previewing this year's to do list.