A Few Snapshots

Waiting in line to see Santa

Chomping on some cookies..waiting to see Santa

Yahoo--they loved him so much!

That is the look of love!!

work Christmas party

Ornament tree at the library

Dance Recital: All I Had Hoped For

From the moment the girls enrolled in the summer session for dance, I have been dreaming of the recital.  It was a combination of my love for my dance dance (specifically recitals) and the thought of them just loving it and lighting up on stage.  As the summer session came and went and they both still loved dance, I enrolled them for the fall session with excitement.  The costumes came in and their faces lit up and boy once I mentioned that they wore makeup on stage-- they were ALL IN and ready. 

Now, I realize this isn't for everyone.  Some will even say I made them do this, and to an extent, that is true.  Even if they had wanted to quit, I would have made them finish out the term and do the recital.  Thankfully I didn't have to do that because they loved it so much.  The costumes and the makeup are just extra fun- things that my girls enjoy.  I have seen Amelia's confidence grow as she learns the steps and that thrills me to no end.  And Elise, haha, well that sweet girl just continues to blow my mind as nothing is daunting to her. 

The day of recital, I was a nervous wreck.  As in, you would think my daughters were preparing for the Winter Olympics with a chance of bringing home the gold.  I was DYING waiting for three oclock to get here.  And as silly as that sounds, it is the honest truth.  Have to record it for honesty sake, lol.  We pull up at the auditorium the same time as mom and dad and that eased my nerves.  No nerves for the girls, of course.  They don't even know what that word means and oh how I love that innocence.  Ross had saved us great seats and then it was time to wait for their numbers. 

Before Costumes

Being patient backstage with her iPad

Posing backstage (and the most EXCITED dancer ever)

 

 

 Right before they went on stage, I ran out the the audience with my heart BEATING OUT OF MY CHEST.  Would they do the dance?  Would they remember the moves?  Would they be sad that I was out there?  Happy?  The curtain lifted and they did great--fabulous!!  And, I got to experience another magical parent moment.  Once it is show time, you just don't care.  You don't care if your kid is the best.  Or even does the moves right.  You want your little two year old and four year old to have FUN.  To feel excited and free and important.  To feel beautiful and loved.  To feel special and fancy.  And I could tell by their faces that they did.  They felt all those things.  Ahhh so happy and proud. 

And this picture cracks me up because Elise added an extra spin in, you know, just because.

Then it was time for Amelia's jazz routine.  This routine was everything to her.  She loved it the most, practiced it the most, and COULD NOT WAIT.  It was phenomenal.  They hit every single move.  All to the music.  It was just awesome and I enjoyed myself so thoroughly.  

When she was done, we went out to sit with the fam (G, Pa, Gammy, Gampy, and Elise) and everyone was so proud.  We were just a big happy ball. They were too cute up stage for the finale too.  I felt so blessed all day.  LOVEEEEE.

More Snow Fun

We played in the snow every day and sometimes twice a day.  The girls are so patient to get bundled up and love it so much that it is definitely worth it to lug the gear out and dry it and put it all back on.

 One evening, some new friends invited us over for sledding at their farm.  They are Amy and Chad's best friends and it was easy to see why.  SO hospitable and friendly and acted like they had known us forever.  Here is Amelia, Finley, Bennett, and Elise before we went out.

Mike brought out two Gators to drive us around in and Amelia was SO tickled.  She loves that kind of stuff.  I was less tickled, but I was trying to be a big girl, haha.

Mike asked who wanted to go first and Elise screamed, "ME," and jumped right on the sled.  Here are her and Bennett enjoying their ride.

We had hot chocolate and a yummy supper.  Ross had to leave in the middle of it to make an emergency delivery, but still made it back to eat his supper and have dessert.  They had two older daughters and the girls fell in love with Quinn who was ten.  They had four dogs, a hedgehog, horses, two cats, and a bird.  It was a fun place to explore and we had a great time.

The next day we played in the snow some more and ventured out to watch Frozen at the theaters.  What a special family treat that was.  We rarely go to the movies and we had a blast and have been singing the songs from the movie all week. 

SNOWTACULAR

 When we were discussing moving to Mountain Home, Amelia asked about snowfall and I told her that we wouldn't get nearly as much as we had gotten in Ozark.  She was disappointed because winter is her favorite.  This girl could play in the snow for hours and hours.  NO complaining. 

Well, lo and behold if our first winter here (technically still fall) we don't get TEN INCHES.  It was so beautiful and such a fun little present from God.  It honestly felt like it was just for us.  Amelia even said, "God probably did this because you said we wouldn't have much snow."  Haha.  We played and played. 

November Birthdays

All these snow days and winter fun and I have let November slip right on by!  We had two special birthdays back to back- Meme and Livvy.

We had a fabulous time celebrating Meme's 77th with a teapot party.  A fun time at Mom's and Aunt Sherry had just arrived from TX that very day, so it was a great way to kick off her visit.

Elise clung to her Aunt Jen at Meme's party.  She hadn't seen her in a while and it was so sweet!

Sassy pie was posing and too busy to cling to anyone.

 My Meme and I have a very special relationship and we always have.  I am so thankful for texting and emailing and talking on the phone because I remember being so very afraid that when I went to college, married and moved away, and had kids, that things would change each time.  I was so worried we wouldn't talk as much, but I chuckle at those fears, because it just means that I have MORE to talk to her about.  I pray my mom is that for my girls and that at 77 she is often their go-to when they just need to vent to someone other than their mom. Someone to get advice from or a strong prayer warrior to see them through big and small life events. So proud to be her first-born grandchild.

Blurry, but I had to post a picture with the birthday girl!!

Awesome teapot cake by Jen

Ok, so she DID find someone to cling to, haha

So glad Aunt Sherry was there for the party

 Livvy Poodle had a Minnie Mouse party for the big T W O.  She is just talking up a storm and FULL of a lovable and wild personality. And she had a party just to suit her.  The house was full of loud laughter and love and Stephanie had it decorated perfectly (as per usual).  We had a brunch this year with delish breakfast burritos, muffins, yogurt parfaits, and cake pops and cupcakes.  Cereal, fruit, you name it.  Liv loved all her presents and was so cute opening them.  I was proud of the other girls too because they (mostly) let it be all about her and have her time with each gift. 

 It was a great day, but Liv Riley will always be our sweet baby of the bunch!