Little Ballerinas

Living vicariously though your children... Today was one of those days. Kate had her first ballet class, and it was a toss up who was more excited - me or Kate. I started taking dance classes when I was three and continued through High School. I loved to dance and it is probably what I remember most about my own childhood. Needless to say, I was so excited that she wanted to take a ballet class!

Yesterday we went out and bought ballet shoes, tights, and a leotard. Kate would have slept in it if I let her.

All day long today... "Mommy is it time yet to put on my dancing clothes?"

She even let me pull her hair back into a bun, because that is how ballerinas wear their hair. Parents were not allowed to watch the class, which I am sure makes the children focus more on their instructor. However, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall, ...with a camera of course!

Kate and Madeline came bounding out of the classes, doing jumps and twirls and telling us all about the fun stuff they learned. They could even point their toes!

The girls do not have class next week, due to the 4th of July holiday. It is going to be a long two weeks until there next class. I think they really enjoyed it!

Kate - "Could it really be time to start ballet class?"

Patience is a Virtue

Ever since Kate was little, I have told her patience is a virtue. Sometimes I would even say it more than once... Truth be told, I was usually saying it to myself and digging down deep to find it. Funny enough, Kate now says it to me and to Stephen, she even remarks to complete strangers the importance of patience in the grocery store. It doesn't hurt to have a reminder does it?


Well, I had to dig down deep today. (I would like to start this story with a truth of mine. I think TV is great for kids, there are tons of good kid shows and I love that they can be entertained for 30-45 minutes. This blissful time allows me to get dressed or to get things done and therefore stay sane. ) So, in the process of watching cartoons this morning, Kate decided to help herself to my bottle of water on my bedside table. She did not put the top back on and instead placed it on my dresser (because it was closer to the TV). Needless to say she was not focused on the water because I come back into the room with clean clothes out of the dryer hearing a constant drip... to find my entire water bottle spilled all over my dresser. It was everywhere... all over my jewelry, my pictures, anything and everything up there. It was a mess and one that made me have a major organization project the rest of the day. I have to put everything away. Not for Stephen, but for Kate! I am double baby proofing - one for a 9 month old and one for a 3 1/2 year old.


I guess it wouldn't have pushed me so far over the edge if she wasn't testing the waters in so many new ways at this current time. Her main one is listening, that is choosing to listen. She can hear, loud and clear, she is just processing weather or not she is going to do what is being asked of her because she really wants to do what she wants to do. And during these trying times of mine, she is getting into everything of mine. Anything that is left out, she gets into my jewelry and make-up, and pretty much anything she sees that she wants. I know what you are thinking, put stuff away, keep it up high.... I do, but as any other mom knows it doesn't always get put away right away...


Every stage has that time in the begining when you are trying to figure them out. We are currently at this point in this stage. She is the girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead...

The purpose of this blog was not to focus on the bad, but the good. Here are some hillarious pictures of Kate and Madeline. They are re-inacting High School Musical 2, while in princess attire watching the movie. (I thought you might be confused with the costumes.) Yes, Kate is holding Troy and Gabriella so they can dance with her. Madeline is my kind of girl, keeping her hands free so she can do all the dance moves. Here is a funny "auntie-ism"... since I used to dance, (a long long time ago,) I know some of the moves from the movie - because I have watched it so many times. I thought it would be fun to teach them to Madeline, because she loves to dance along. You should have seen her face when she recongized the dance moves that I was attempting to do from the movie - LOL! It was priceless! (Both me and Madeline I am sure.)

In these pictures they were dancing to "What time is it." You can see Madeline holding Kate's hand and leading her down the hallway, just like Troy and Gabriella.

Big Heart

First I would like to give a big shout out to my sister, Josie, for her fabulous job in coordinating the Mended Little Hearts Golf Tournament. Not only was it a huge success in raising money for an great cause, it was also a lot of fun. She poured her heart into this event and I am really proud of her. Tune into Josie's blog for photos of the day.

When we got home, we hung out with the kids and Kate's conversations continue to provide entertainment... Josh was over yesterday playing "handy man" on the tool bench, "repairing" the imaginary playground.

(Kate) "Josh... Josh... come over here and fix the slide!"

(Josh) "Yes Mame."

(Kate) "I am not a man! Josh... Josh... come over here and fix the tire swing!"

(Josh) "Yes Mame."

(Kate) "Josh, I am not a man!"

David and I were LOL needless to say. We had to laugh at how such a young age they are playing housewife and repair man.... LOL!

Anyways, I have taken some great pictures of the kids over the past couple of weeks and I am going to try and get them up here to share, plus all the Father's Day photos. Oh, and by the way... Stephen is really crawling now, he can go where ever he wants to go and get into what ever he wants. Watch out Kate, he is going to get into your stuff!

Funny Kids

Lately I have not been able to post as often. We had been out of the house enjoying the wonderful weather in May. However lately in the heat of June, we have been inside during the day. The kids have been keeping us busy.

Stephen is (almost) crawling... he can move around in short distances. He has not taken off yet, but once he can, he will be following me everywhere! He is clapping and waving. When people wave hello and goodbye, he lights up and waves back to them. (I swear he is also saying hi... I know too young, but it really sounds like it!)

Kate... where do I start, she is so entertaining! Madeline introduced Kate to "High School Musical & High School Musical 2," and Kate is really into it too. I must say, if that was what High School was really like, I would not be afraid. Kate has watched the movies so many times that she can imitate the dances the characters do, and be just like "fabulous girl" aka Sharpe.

In the car the other day..

"Mommy, um.. um.. Sharpe wears something shimmer on her eyes. I want to wear that on my eyes too."

Kate, honey, you want to wear eye shadow?!

"Yes, Mommy, I want to wear eye shadow like Sharpe."

Kate, um.... you need to wait about another 10 years and then we can talk about it again.

Needless to say I was taken back... just a little. I am sure that will not be the first time she asks to do something earlier than I did it. Kate loves to wear dresses, and high heels or her shiny red shoes. She carries a purse and a baby doll when we go places. The funniest thing, is to look in her purse after she has packed it to see what is in there. One day I looked to see what she had packed, plastic food - a roasted chicken and some eggs. LOL!

Anyways, they are so much fun... here are also some fun pictures of them too! I always say, the biggest surprise for me as a parent is just how darn entertaining they are!

Ice Cream, Temper-Tantrums, and The Pool...

Blogging has become very theraputic for me... a way for me to recount the good of the day, what I want to remember at the end of the day. I have to laugh because as every nomal parent knows, there are many moments of chaos to go along with the good of the day.

Yesterday, David and I decided to take the kids to the pool, a fun Saturday family outing. Well with this crazy heat, we left late in the day but with food for dinner for the kids. Needless to say by 6:30 everyone was melting down, so we decided to head home and promised Kate ice cream on the way out. However, the snack shack was closed and trying to explain to a 3 1/2 year old why we can't have ice cream anymore is just not even possible. Kate is bawling her eyes out as we are trying to tell her that she can have ice cream when we get home. In her temper-tantrun state she refuses to hold her Daddy's hand in the parking lot and continues to get even more fired up. I am carrying Stephen, a cooler, and a large beach bag. David is carrying wet towels and a bucket of pool toys and then proceeds to pick up Kate. As Kate continues to kick and scream, she kicks out some pool toys. With no available hands free to pick up these items, David and I begin kicking them through the parking lot to our car.....

Comical is really the best term that comes to my mind. I am sure my parents are getting a really good laugh right about now. And, in case you were concerned, Kate eventually did get her ice cream when we got home.