Dance Season Has Begun!

I am so excited that competition has begun.  Sydney is so darling on stage.  She is on a team of 12 girls and I have had several people tell me that their eye is drawn to her as they dance.  This year they are competing with a tap number to “Hey Good Lookin’ What you Got Cookin’?”  and a jazz number to “Pink Cadillac.”  Here are some pictures I snapped while she was warming up for the first competition.

Sydney and her friend Kyleigh Archer.

Since I am teaching this year, Derek and Olivia are taking a Tap/ballet class also.  This is them at the studio the day they got their costumes.  The LOVE them!

St. Patty’s Day Parade

You would think since I have lived in Spokane my whole life, I would be out of “firsts.”   This year I took the kids downtown for our first St. Patrick’s Day parade.  The kids loved the abundance of candy thrown to them!  Plus anything is fun when the cousins all get together!

There is a sneak peek of my sister’s boyfriend, Lon holding baby Levi in the back.  He seems to be around for a while so he deserves a mention on the blog :)

This is What I Get

As I was on my way home from my girl’s weekend, I got a text asking when I would be home.  I responded 6:30 then I got this response and picture. . . “But we all miss you so much!”

To which I answered “if that dog belongs to us, I am staying at Heather’s tonight”

Response “See you in the morning…”

I do NOT like dogs!!! I have never wanted a dog.  I think they stink, I think they are ugly, I think I have plenty of other things to take care of.  But my family wanted one SO bad!  So while I was off shopping and playing in Seattle, they went and picked up Q.  She belonged to a family in Palouse who couldn’t keep her anymore.  She is a 6 year old blue heeler, house trained, used to being outside, good with kids, and the laziest dog you’ve ever met.  I suppose if we had to have a dog, she is a good option. 

Even for a “good dog,” she has caused some extra work.  She ate our dinner off the counter one night, when Derek abandoned his cereal when the doorbell rang, Q jumped up to get it and spilled it all over the floor.  I have to remind kids to feed her, take her for a walk, then without mentioning it, certain kids will head out for a walk without telling me.  I know they are minor issues compared to potty and house training a dog and I suppose that’s why I have let her stay around.  That and the kids love her!

Girl’s Weekend

A couple of months ago, Garth suggested I arrange a girl’s weekend for myself.  Amazing, I know.  I’m pretty sure he was prepping me for the fact that he is going to go to Nevada for a week long golf tournament, but it really didn’t matter.  I gathered some friends and we decided to go to Seattle to shop and see Cirque du Soleil. 

Jill, Heather and I left on Friday morning and we picked up my sister-in-law Amy up along the way.  We shopped for hours at the Marysville outlets and had so much fun!  The best part was not having to worry about snacks, potty breaks, tantrums, or anything like that.  We went to a yummy Mexican place for dinner,

then to Heather’s parents’ house.  We had this beautiful place all to ourselves because her parents are on a mission right now.  We watched a chick flick and stayed up WAY past our bedtimes :)

The next morning, after an “Insanity” workout and a couple of chores for Heather’s parents, it was off for more shopping.  I thought it would be fun to drive Garth’s Tourag, but by the end of the day, it was looking like we needed the Subruban!

We then headed to Redmond and checked into our hotel. 

And of course, modeled some of our favorite purchases…love Jill’s hot new high heels!

Then we were off to dinner and the show.  I saw Cirque once in Vegas but this was a new experience.  “Amaluna” was held in Maymoor park and was held in a huge tent!  I was so surprised!  It gave it more of a circus feel but the show was every bit as amazing as the one in Vegas.  The performers took my breath away!!!  I was in awe at what they could do!

This was the stage at intermission.  Not a great picture and then I got reprimanded for taking pictures, oops!

Sunday morning, we went to a church right by the temple.  Afterwards, we walked around the temple grounds, took pictures, and delayed the inevitable end to our fun weekend. 

I think this might need to be a new tradition!!!

February Fun

February was full of fun moments it started with a surprise birthday for my sister.  Her friend Annie arranged a super fun evening for her.  She gathered 14 of her friends, brought a babysitter and showed up at her house in a limo.  Kim was super surprised and excited!  The limo took us out to Coeur d’ Alene for dessert at Dewey’s then home. 

Valentine’s day is not a huge deal at our house.  I did come home to flowers from Garth, and of course, we had to do a variation of “heart hair” for school.  (this time it was three hearts)

Garth and I got to go on a date to “Rock of Ages” at the INB performing arts center.  I did some big 80’s hair (although it had fallen some by the time this picture was taken. 

While we were gone, Theresa watched the kids and did all kinds of fun Valentine’s crafts. 

The most fun part of the month was a girl’s trip to Seattle, but that will get it’s own post!

Basketball x 2

This year we had two basketball players.  Derek’s season started first and they overlapped for a couple of weeks.  And Carter’s just ended. 

Derek’s team was coached by our friend Justin Anderson.  I think bball is so cute at this age.  Derek ran like Fred Flinstone…winding up and running in place before making any forward movement. 

This year we tried AAU basketball for Carter.  This was the first year that Garth was not the coach.  It was an interesting adjustment for Garth and Carter.  AAU is a lot more competitive (no more equal playing time and trophies for everyone)  Carter started out the year a little slow but finished strong getting lots of playing time and lots of “positives” each game (points, rebounds, steals, assists).

We are not sure if we will continue with the Shockwave next year but it was overall a good experience in AAU.

With two boys playing, we spent a lot of Saturdays away from home and since we live far from game locations, we did some “time fillers” between games. . .

Mobius

3D movie

Burgers

So fun!