May-June 2011

If I am going to print these out every year for the kids, it might be nice if I keep up with the blogging. It always seems like there is something else that is more important that needs to be complete. I hope as well this is a way for family to stay caught up with our happenings here in Virginia, and perhaps not feel like we are so far away.
Our ballet recital in June was a very busy weekend, two days of rehearsals and shows.


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Alexandria has enjoyed gymnastics so much this year, she sees ballet as something boring and does not want to take it this fall. I think it is something that she could do well if she keeps at it... But I have to let her make that decision on her own. I am certainly not going to be one of those parents that forces their children to do things they do not want to do just because I think they could be great at it.
But I can't say, I haven't tried convincing her not to give it up.

I wish the pictures could be better, but you have to sit in the back of the studio, so we are not a distraction to the kids rehearsing. I need a bigger telephoto lens...

Elizabeth's hip hop class, her first year taking the class. I think she did really well for her first year.

I have seen a huge improvement in her ballet this year as well, after switching to a new studio. Though this dance was a little different, I still think she did really well.

Some catching up to do. . . .

I know, I have been a bit scarce the last few months. No blog, no facebook updates....etc.. LOL.... If only I didn't feel like there is something constantly in need to be done, worked on, cleaned, or driven around.

January started off with some early spring cleaning in the works. Deciding what stays and goes is getting easier and easier each time I have to do it. I can be such a pack rat, but I am finding with military and moving every few years, there are just some things you have to let go.

January was also the time to see the girls' progress in their dance classes, other than Elizabeth's ballet class we got to see the girls practice for a day.

3 weeks away now to recital time! I can't wait to get pictures of them in their costumes and for the break in dance classes four days a week! This will be the first time that John is not deployed during recital time! YEA! Help with one of the craziest days of the year!

Than I spent a couple of weeks in February and March making 6 smock aprons, with sleeves, for Jennifer's daycare, which was a little tricky at times....
Here is Lexie trying to model them for me.... LOL I am not sure what kind of fashion shoot she thought this was.... LOL

Easter this year... girls Easter egg hunting at the new church we are attending now. Our Chaplain retired in January from the military church we were attending, so we decided it was time to look for a new church.....

I have also decided this fall to head back to school and work on my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography.

Elizabeth who continues to bring home honor roll grades every nine weeks, made straight A's this last time and also won the spirit award this year. Her guidance counselor was so inspired by her attitude towards her future goals and things that she does, like her willingness to help others, after school extra curricular activities, doing Odyssey of the Mind, helping out with the KICK program at her school and her dancing, that she thought Elizabeth should get the spirit award for this year, which was out of all of the 5th graders at her school. They had a nice luncheon for all of Newport News school district. A child is selected from each school, from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. They hold a very nice luncheon and the kids are presented with medals with their names inscribed on the back.




Well, I think that gets me all caught up. Just crossing my fingers that Anthony passes the SOL's and trying to teach him the importance of his grades these final 3 years of high school. He has goals, just needs to learn that sometimes you do have to work for them.

More Pictures

Now this is snow!

After the snow finally stopped in the wee hours of the morning.... Just some of the pictures that we have taken of the snow so far today.... Quite a lot of snow...
Unfortunately it is to powdery for a snowman just yet, but I am sure in a couple of days like before, it will harden a bit then the kids will be able to make snowmen, snowforts, so much snow.... LOL
Hopefully we can make our way to the park and get more pictures to post.


Our neighborhood church.

Behind

That about sums it for me.... between, school, dance classes, getting my wisdom teeth pulled the week before Thanksgiving that had me bed ridden for about four days, (I'll leave out the not so pleasant details of that experience)... working on Christmas gifts for family and friends, other than getting my wisdom teeth out.. it has been great. I love keeping busy. I just haven't had the time to post any new pictures.. though I have them.

The girls participated in a Christmas dance program through the studio to raise money for Operation Happy Smile, a charity that the studio has been helping to raise money for the last 12 years. Elizabeth is also doing Odyssey of the Mind again at school this year, which is cutting into her ballet time at the studio, but she doesn't seem to mind it. She is also on the honor roll again, and has been put into a lottery for a magnet school for next year for the arts, cross your fingers...

A few pics of what we have been up to, decorating a tree, making Christmas cookies, and me making scarfs for my nieces and nephews and friends.

We have had our first snow of the season... not a lot... but apparently enough to call off school for two days, (I didn't think so, but then again, I am a Kansas girl....)Snow, is just not something Virginia is used to, so I have been told..

School Pictures

Well it's that time of year again, school pictures.... They sure have come a long way since I was kid. Now there are several different background choices and sitting positions for the parents to choose from. Elizabeth has been begging to buy pictures. "Buy some pictures, please, can we buy some pictures?" Why? When now I have a professional camera and can go out and take my own. AND, do the different and interesting background and psp tricks. So Saturday we took the kids to a dock and took there pictures with the Chesapeake Bay and the setting sun as our background. I think they turned out really good except for a little hair malfunction, it was a bit windy on the docks.
I might have to do Anthony's again, his hair has gotten pretty thick lately and is a mess. LOL But hey! At least I got some of him. It's not easy to do.








Next weekend I think we will go to Newport News Park and take some fall pictures.