What a crazy JUNE!

I just KNEW I'd be posting more often than this, but this month has not allowed for it at all!

First, it was finishing up school...report cards, last minute placement-testing, boxing up my classroom, etc. Then, we went to visit the Kelton clan in Georgia. We came home and the next day I started some teacher-training I needed to attend for 3 days. We had one weekend together as a family (but also filled with photo shoots and dance practices) and then I started my ESL Graduate Academy. Now this was a MAJOR deal.... I took 4 graduate classes in 13 days. They were very loooonnnng days (12 hours long to be exact), and while it was hard on ME, it was hard on my family too.

Luckily, everyone pulled together (THANK YOU!!!!) and made it happen. I'd take Liv to mom's house, mom would go to work late 3 days a week to get her to Mother's Day Out at 9, then Brian would pick her up. Or, Liv would stay at Emily's house for a day, or at another friends' house... Talk about a crazy schedule! THEN, in the middle of all of this, my kids had a dance recital. Seriously? Can we take any more craziness? Apparently so. My poor mom spent the day at Robinson on the Saturday before with Liv for SEVERAL hours--changing her costumes and fixing her hair for the dress rehearsal. And even took pictures at it for me!!!



















It was planned that I would be home for the recital itself (although I am going to have to make that day up with the academy...). My dad came in for Belle's first recital so it was helpful to have another set of eyes/hands around the house as well.




(I can't figure out how this one is turned sideways...)

I finally finished the academy this past Saturday. So yesterday was my first offical day of summer. I wanted to CRASH!

Oh yeah, we had a couple of fun birthday parties to go to at River City Gymnastics and at Junp Zone. Here are a few pics from one of those.





This week, Liv is having dance practice every night this week to prepare for Nationals next week... What a fun time!

Riverfest 2009

This past weekend, we attended Riverfest. Brian and I hadn't been in probably 3 or 4 years, and weren't planning on going this year either...but he won 2 buttons at the Greek Food Festival the previous weekend so why not?

We had seen that the B-52s were coming and debated all week whether or not to take Olivia (since she does the duet to Love Shack). Well, we couldn't get any of her friends to go with us (do you blame their parents...they didn't start performing till 9:30!) so we had Bella stay with my mom and took Olivia by herself. We had such a good time, and the food was good too (you can't go to Riverfest and NOT get a corndog and a funnel cake, right?).






We had great seats so Olivia could see. When they finally started the kid was jacked up on caffiene and sugar! Ha! But about half way through, I could tell she was getting sleepy. She kept asking when was Love Shack coming on? Well, of course it was the last song... Well, that perked her up and she was rearing to go! We left after that and got home at 11:15. I don't know if she's EVER been up that late!

Then we went back the next day as a family. We saw some really cool tumblers and did a lot of the kid activities that were going on. The girls had a good time!

All about the COSTUMES!!!

Ever since Bella first heard of their costumes for the dance recital in June, she wants to know where HER costume is. Well, it finally came in. So I took the girls to the studio and took their pictures in costume. I picked the Wild Babies one for Olivia because it didn't clash with Belle's PINK one... (she is SO excited it is PINK and HERS!)

I think my kids need to work on getting more personality, don't you? LOL!







And this one, I can't decide if I like the color or black/white version the best...so you get to see both! :)

Greek Food Festival

On May 16th, we went to the Greek Food Festival here in LR. We had never been before, but decided to have fun and go anyway. We ended up running into our friends, the Pate's (Tyler, Tracy, and Mary Ellen) and the Brazil's (Renea, Sydney and Kenny). We had so much fun. The music and dancing was interesting to watch, the food was good, and the children's activiites were a blast for my kids. They had some free things like bubbles, and various crafts. Then, there were some rides/games that cost tickets. We let the girls choose one thing to do. Bella only wanted to bounce in the moon jump, and Liv wanted to do this thing where she is strapped to a harness and pulled up in the air. Then she'd jump on a trampoline HIGH. Don't know what that is called...












It was a great afternoon. Oh yeah, and we also ran into Emily, Justin and Cooper. We had a blast. We will definitely go again!

Cooper 18 months!

I forgot to post these earlier, but it was from a month or so ago... Cooper is now half way to his second birthday (well, technically more I suppose). Isn't he adorable?







We met one Saturday at the Rivermarket and took him out to the park area. When he came to the playground, he saw the tunnel. Now, it had been raining a few days before, and the tunnel had a small stream of water draining down inside of it. So, when he walked through it, he walked right under that stream of water--not knowing it was there. He took one more step...stopped...turned around and went back under the water and stood there!!! It was HILARIOUS!!! So, that is why he is wet in a few of these pictures. :)

Gotta love the mind of a toddler!

And this last one, I just LOVE. Seems symbolic to me some how...

Love being a mother

This year Mother's Day was a little monumental for me. Not only was I remembering the illness my family had last year...yuck, but I started REALLY understanding what Mother's Day is all about.

I woke up to little voices tell me "Happy Modders Day!" (without being reminded) and it just melted my heart!

Then, on the way to church, Olivia said, "Mother's Day and Father's Day are my favorite holidays"

"Why? Even more than Christmas?" I ask.

"Well, I just want you two to know I love you. I don't need any more toys. I already have too much".

I about cried.


After lunch we went to the Victorian Tea Garden for their special brunch...talk about DELICIOUS!!! Then, we came home and I got a NAP! Woo-hoo!! That got me thinking... I really started realizing that I didn't care about getting gifts on Mother's Day. I just wanted to be appreciated. Isn't that what all moms want anyway? So, I started reassessing what I'd done/given my own mom over the years. I think acts of service are so much more important to moms than a gift.. Now, Olivia had been working on a special card for me all week, but it was the effort into it that I appreciated so much. And I got the best gift from Brian...to have a relaxing day where I didn't have to lift a finger... Talk about heaven on earth!!

I think I may start doing something for my mom each year instead of getting her gifts that may or may not be all that special... Besides, who needs more stuff? Ha!

A Whole Month??

Has it really been that long since my last post? I'm so sorry! It isn't the lack of material, that is for sure!

Ok, here goes several posts in a row... :)

One thing I don't have pictures from though... Olivia had her school talent show on May 8. She and 3 of the junior high girls performed Funk. She felt so big dancing with the 'big' girls. :) They looked great!

Here are a few random pics of BelleI just wanted to add in even though they are from a month or two ago...