Ode to Back Seat Drivers

Been Doing

We did a Father's Day lunch at SPIN. Beautiful day. Beautiful Father, there.

The kids had Gelato and lemonade.

Potty training while it's raining.

He relaxes.

We saw Dragon II in the new Prime theater.  Talk about sound quality!! It was fun!

Meet Corduroy

This is going to be one of my very favorite posts...I can tell already.  We adopted a puppy!!

The kids were at Vacation Bible School at Christ Church. Derek and I had 2 hours to do something fun before picking them up. We went out for a margarita and dinner at the Salty Iguana. Then we went for a walk around Corinth Square and found ourselves at The Land of Paws.  Well, it was love at first sight. We took him out to hold him. And then we couldn't put him down. So, we decided to surprise the kids with a new friend. It couldn't be a more perfect gift for a family on Father's Day weekend.

Greta named Mimsy, so this naming job was Jack's. He was leaning towards Floppsy, Casper, Trotter,  Steve, Dan, and then Casper again.

By morning, Jack named him Corduroy. He said it was after his pants, not the bear. He is a wonderful little Corduroy. Roy. He is the sweetest little puppy.

He was born March 30, 2014 and his mommy is a Calvalier King Charles Spaniel named Countess and his daddy is a Cocker Spaniel named Handsome Rusty. This makes Corduroy a Cockalier Colling.

He enjoys watching TV.

He has plans for Mimsy the cat....big big plans. She now wants outside more than ever! But seriously,  Corduroy is very exited to play with Mimsy and she is tolerant and not too upset, but just wants him to slow down a bit and mind the tail wagging.

The tail is my favorite!

Dancing Day

I've got these little hipsters that make me really proud. 

They are ready to hip hop!

I seriously cried when they came out for their dance. I love them so much and feel so much pride for their awesome efforts.  I told them to have a ball, and they really did. 

Jack even got flowers. Sunflowers!

Curtain call, and there are so many that your hands loose feeling while clapping.

The girls, Zoe, Gracie, Maura, and Greta backstage. I love the little diva on the right! HA! That is Gabriella.  Greta's ballet/ tap and hip hop jazz teacher is in the background. Her name is  Miss Victoria. (She is really good!)

Gracie, Maura, Greta and Lilly.

I hope the kids enjoy dancing as much as I enjoy watching. 

Kentucky in the Spring

We took a drive to Kentucky over Memorial Day Weekend and spent a bit of time with Grandma and Poppy and Aunt Shelly, Uncle Robert and Olivia. Kentucky is so beautiful and I enjoy it very much. We were lucky to be there on a weekend with some fun events. There was a Beatles Festival by the river! (Derek says, Yay.) (He is not a Beatles fan!!) There were many stages set up with each band covering  the Beatles with perfection. Derek says, "What's worse than hearing your least favorite band play? Hearing cover bands of them play ....all day...long." But the finale was The Beach Boys. And Jack did some break dancing.

R2D2 looked at Jack...he turned his head all the way around and whistled at him. We heart R2.

We were painted and so happy.

Jack picked a leopard face...a boy leopard.

The people were all so friendly and loved on Greta's pretty smile.  It was fun to be in such a happy place.

And this is the drink Derek earned by being with us all day.

Break dancing makes you extremely sleepy.

One of the reasons for going to Kentucky was to give a dōTERRA Essential Oils class and training for Jayne and all of her friends that are using the oils and wanting to build a business with it. We had a wonderful time sharing and trying delicious food they all made. Let me tell you how good the peppermint patties were...and healthy, right?

We spent Memorial Day with Shelly and it was beautiful. We enjoyed the sunshine and grilled burgers and brats and were thankful.

Another Year in Pictures...

We are getting good at this. Buns, tights, lip gloss and tap shoes....we know the routine.  This is picture day at our dance studio. We love to see all of the pretty costumes in anticipation of recital weekend. This year the recital is called The Gifted.

Greta is tapping with a paint brush to a Bob Ross remix.

Happy little clouds!

Look at those legs! 

And this year, we added a hip hop/ jazz class. And, it was extra fun...

Because Brother Jack joined in! 

He said he wanted to perfect his breakdancing skills. He said he wanted to see what was back stage after sitting through 3 previous recital weekends (that is 6 recitals that run about 2 and half hours long.) We asked if Jack could join the class even though he is a bit too young, and they said they would love to have him. Greta warned him not to eat any crackers found on the floor back stage.  Sound advice for anyone back stage.

Her Elsa Period

A certain 7 year old may be obsessed.

We are finished with the rainbow faze. And the happy family faze.

Now it is picture after picture of Elsa...

And, pictures of Anna and Elsa....

And Olaf.

She even asked for a name change.  (I told her if we hadn't named her Greta, her name would have been Elsa...she screamed for an hour with glee!)

I am...

Greta's First Dance

Jack sends her away with hugs at every single goodbye.

The sweet couple is ready to go, and all dressed up!

And, Jack and I get to go out for a pizza!

Someone is excited !

Waiting patiently for cheese.

And, we all lived happily ever after. (after meeting up at Peach Wave to hear all about the dancing).

(Which was totally awesome...and included a love at first taste relationship with Lemon Drops, and sparkling punch in plastic champagne glasses.)

May

May day is one of my favorites.  We made little baskets with candy and flowers and ran over to our sweet neighbor's, Mike and Dottie.  We have done this every year since we moved into this house and I know Mike looks forward to it, but not more than me.  The kids ran up and placed the basket and almost forgot to ring the bell before running. Jack ran before the basket was down, but mostly in circles in the grass.  We ran and hid and peeked as he found our delivery and we giggled and fell out of hiding.  I hope little ones bring me flowers on May Day when I am old and wrinkled!

Then we ran and placed baskets on Caitlyn and Cam's door step and hopped in the car to visit nearby friends.  We also got treats on our doorstep and ate almost every piece of candy before dinner!

Bedtime came at dark, and right after everyone was tucked in tight, we got another knock at the door. Derek opened it to find a basket and a sweet little friend of Greta's giggling in the driveway. Greta came down in her pajamas and ran outside for hugs and some girl talk. How sweet to see gestures of kindness in children. I love it, so.  Happy May!

A Fabulous Field Trip

The Firsties at Bethany went to Crown Center for an ice skating trip and a tour of Chips Chocolate Factory.  We laughed so much at the chocolate factory! The fudge maker was hilarious and absolutely great with kids! He was flinging fudge to the ceiling tiles and dipping marshmallows for all of us.  He might actually have the best job in the whole wide world.  We found a group of tables in the food court and ate sack lunches. And, then we made our way to the ice after lacing up hundreds of ankles.  Was I scared? Yes. That is why I went on this field trip. I was there to try to hold my children up and to save their tiny fragile bones. I would sacrifice my own old bones to do it.  I was surprised to find that Greta's little crush swooped in and took her by the hand. He said, "I've got you." And, my heart exploded. Her smile has never been bigger. It was a Disneyland sized smile. And, Jack was left to me and the wall in his major distaste for this whole situation. Jack doesn't share Greta well. He also doesn't ice skate well. The trip ended up being thumbs down for him.  Together we chased Gigi around the rink with her bo, Topher. Jack's little voice screaming, "Gigi, you come back! Gigi, you wait for me!" made my heart shrink back to normal and I realized once again how this life thing is so bittersweet.  Good thing there is chocolate.

Gigi and Topher are holding hands...see the pink coat sliding away towards love?

Gig and Jack, together again.

We escaped without breaking bones and found someone didn't fare as well in the Oz exhibit.