Friday, January 21, 2011

Ballet!

Maddie decided that she really, really, really wanted to take ballet. She had already taken a mommy and me (it was actually a Grandma Kathy and me) class when she was three and she just really didn't enjoy it all that much. So I was hesitant to sign her up.
Lets just say I'm glad I did! If not for anything else but for the pure joy on her face when she got to put on these brand new (yes, her very own!) ballet shoes. She insisted on me taking multiple pictures of her new shoes!

She and her friend Macie are in the same class. Maddie did an amazing job of following directions and participating without hesitation! Here are Macie (in the pink) and Maddie (in the black)...I can't resist cute buns in leotards! :)



Maddie is so excited to go back next week! Every morning she asks: "Is it Monday today?" I'm one happy momma! I love that she has something to call her own and that she is loving life!
And to all family members....coming near you in June...hold your breath.....wait for it.....a DANCE recital in June! yes, Papa, this includes you! You are due for a nap right? :)


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Basketball, a flat tire and a baptism!

It has been a busy start to the new year in our house! You forget how easy it is to get into "no school" mode and how brutal it is getting back into the groove of things. After 2 weeks, I think we might be back on track :) Here's what's been going on so far this year!
Basketball:
Much to our excitement Taylor decided to play basketball this season! On one condition....that Dave be one of her coaches. Upon signing up, we learned that there were already two other's coaching- thank goodness they let him join them! Let's just say that the team is hysterical, horrible and full of surprises. One of the boys loves to get the ball and run as fast as he can with it to the other end of the hoop- ending with a big slide on his knees, some can't stop talking long enough to hear what's going on ( I love to hear Dave tell me about this! Welcome to my world all day, every day!) and then there is Taylor....our sweet, shy, timid little girl! Picture this. First game. No idea what they are doing. Taylor's stress level shoots up. We all know what happens when she gets stressed out right? She cries. We had to do the whole :"Taylor, you are going back into the game. We know you don't want to but you have to" bit. It was horrible. But you know what? She went back in and even ended up having FUN! She has been practicing all week with Dave- lucky him, outside in the rain. She had her second game yesterday and guess what? She shot and she SCORED!! Of course, did I have my camera? nope. Her face was priceless. I thought, yes, she's got this, she can do this...and then. the most dreadful. thing. happened. she fell. and got a floor burn. You would have thought her world was ending! She did go back in, limping and then managed to fall again on the same knee. And that was the end. Can you say knee pads anyone? Kate Starbird wore them..... We would love for family to come check her out sometime! They play every Saturday until the end of February. All games start at 10 and are at Reeves Middle School. We will you feed you lunch afterwards :)


Taylor's number 59




The big deal in the games is to pass the ball in or to be the one who catches that pass.


I swear...she IS having fun. We just have to work out a few kinks :)


Mom: "Maddie, do you want to play basketball?"
Maddie: "No way mom. I want to do ballet". (She's set to start on Monday!)


Daddy the coach....for those of you who know Dave and his coaching style- you'd be proud of him! Laid back and calm....you should hear him in the car though :)

Go Taylor!

Flat Tire:

Taylor and I were driving up to Everett last weekend for Kylee's baptism (Maddie had to sing at her preschool church that day) and on the way up this is what happened to us. Thankfully, we were only just outside of Olympia and Super Hero Dave came and rescued us.

Baptism:

It was worth it. You have to love watching a new family member being baptized. Look at this beautiful family! L-R....Katie and Kylee, Brent, Jill, Mike, Tim and John.

Happy 2001!

We ended our 2010 and brought in the year 2011 with our friends the Kovals, Gentrys and Longmuir's. It's become a tradition to choose a house, make a ton of food, graze all night on it, play board games (our favorite is Things) and let the kids play together. I love it because it's low key, stress free and FUN! This year was no different! In fact, all the kids are getting older and have become so much more dependent that we even broached the subject of maybe, just maybe next year leaving the kids with grandparents so that we could go stay the night somewhere and have an adult New Years. We are thinking that might be fun for a year and then we would go back to our regular tradition :)
We wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope it's been off to a great start for everyone!