Aubrie and Teyah loved performing together in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" for their Spring Ballet performance. The Spring show is so much fun.
Teyah performed as a creature. We loved the stuffed tummy! So cute!
Aubre danced as 'fire.' She was pretty hot.
I enjoy helping backstage. It's fun to see the behind-the-scenes action. This is the creatures rehearsing behind the curtain before the show. Performing is definitely the girls' favorite part of ballet!
Growing up a volleyball player, I always wanted to be left-handed. I knew it would make me a better setter. So, I tried to switch hand dominance by doing everything with my left hand. I became obsessed with learning about hand dominance. So, when my first-born daughter was born a lefty, I immediately had lofty dreams for her!
We decided to give competitive volleyball a try this winter. Aubrie was a hard worker and improved tremendously.
Ballet is probably her ultimate passion, but it sure was fun seeing her play my favorite sport and with her left hand!
I'm dreaming of a white Easter....Not quite, but that's what we got for Easter 2013. No outdoor Easter egg hunts at our house!
Despite the downer weather, we enjoyed our typical traditions.
Beautiful eggs
It seemed a little strange wearing spring clothes to church.
This year all of our kids found baseball gloves and outdoor gear in their Easter baskets. It almost seemed cruel, since they couldn't really play with the gloves.
Attempt #1 at family pic. Nope.
The perfect Easter pic. Kyler was actually really sick and didn't even make it to church. Poor guy. You can't even tell in this picture though!
We had a crisis moment on our hands. A routine dinner at home (while Mom was away) featuring Mac 'n Cheese and peas, turned into a moment of panic and uncertainty for our little Teyah -- the one who planted the said pea in her brother's nose. Then, panic set in for Dave when he unsuccessfully tried to remove it. Even after googling and trying all kinds of solutions, still no luck. We even called the doctor for some advice since the pea was lodged so far up Kyler's nose you could barely see it. The pea was not coming out. In such a time of panic, what did Dave do? He pulled out the video camera and captured the moment.
After about 20 minutes, Dave was about to give up and take him to the Pediatrician, but before doing so, he thought he would try peppering up Kyler's nose one more time. Just when he was about to give up, the pea sort of just fell out. Right then, Teyah came downstairs and proclaimed that she had prayed for that pea to come out (she had fled the scene bawling and had disappeared into her room). She was so excited to have her prayer answered so quickly!
Teyah, then proclaimed, "I think Jesus is coming" as she pointed outside to an amazing sunset in which we could see rays of sunshine reaching through the clouds. It was a miracle and a small, tender mercy that reminded our family that God truly does hear and answer even the smallest child's prayers.
In our church, turning 8 is a special birthday because it means you are old enough to make the decision to be baptized. Ellie chose to have her dad baptize her, and it was a wonderful day.
Part of what made it so perfect is we had so much of my family here to be a part of it! Do you like how Kyler was obviously done holding still at this point?
Ellie shared her baptism day with her old Joy School buddy, Reece. It made for a huge crowd and extra memories!
We love seeing Ellie so happy! She doesn't love being the center of attention, but she sure loved her day.
The day was filled with family happiness.
The rest of the weekend was filled with lots of fun cousin activities!
Some of our favorite memories included a huge ice cream sundae party...
A fairy tale play that included a cute Little Red Riding Hood.
Thank you Grandma for being so giving and making such great efforts to be a part of these special events!
Rochester has been our second home this spring as we have had more than our share of appointments at Mayo Clinic, searching for clues to Ellie's medical mysteries. Ironically, these getaways have turned into some of the best "vacation memories" for our kids. It's a reminder that kids are sometimes just as happy to spend their Spring Break dancing with Chuck-E-Cheese, than going on elaborate trips.
And when else can you hang out at the children's museum with no particular agenda or schedule?
When else can you paint your face to your hearts content?
Oh my goodness! There are no words for this picture!
For the past couple years, Kyler has sported the surfer locks -- by Daddy's choice. But after a minor hair-cutting mishap, I convinced Dave to let me go short.
I gave Kyler my phone to help him hold still while I did the chopping, and he conveniently snapped this self-portrait of the cut in action.
It's a new look! I have been having fun giving him faux-hawks, spikey do's, and the slicked back old-fashioned do. With Kyler's fun personality, he can pull off any look!
Eight years old is a big birthday in our family. So, we had to have a big celebration! Ellie opted to have a friend party -- which she hasn't had in a couple years.
Ellie chose an American Girl craft party. This mom wanted to make it extra special for the big birthday and also since she hasn't had a 'real' party in a couple years. However, this ended up being the most work a birthday party has ever been! In the end, I realized, I got a bit too carried away with this one.
We had star-shaped sugar cookies, star shaped Jigglers and fruit skewers
in sizes appropriate for the girls and their dolls, along with crepes!
This is the miniature table set for their dolls.
The girls ate it up -- literally and figuratively!
We also made tutu skirts for the dolls, pipe-cleaner crowns, wands and gave the dolls and girls sticker earrings. They looked lovely.
And, I made my first rainbow cake. Making it dairy and fructose free, and all the layers was SO. MUCH. WORK. I do not recommend doing this! It was pretty, but for how much work it was, it wasn't even that good. Oh, and did I mention that just after spending um like six hours or
something ridiculous on this cake, Kyler dug into it with his hands
right before the party started! I don't mean to post all the drama
behind the fun, but sometimes it's good to record what life is truly
like!
But, I think Ellie, and the girls enjoyed it -- and in the end that's all that matters!
Happy Birthday little Ellie!! We sure love you!
About Ellie...
•Ellie is a quick learner
•She is reliable, focused, efficient and driven
•She started piano last summer and has flown through her books. Between her dedication, natural music talent, and ability to learn quickly she has picked up piano at an extremely accelerated pace.
•Ellie does not seem to be growing much. She is just under the 5th percentile in height, which has mom and the doctors a bit concerned. She has her fair share of doctor's tests and appointments and we still have no real answers for her chronic mouth sores.
•With Ellie, you ask her to do something just once and it's done before you even turn around. She is amazing!
•Ellie started competitive soccer this year. The coaches love her work ethic, skills and tenacity! She participated in an indoor winter camp where the coach said she is one of the best players he's ever seen at her age! He thinks she will go far! And with a work ethic like she has, we agree!
•She is intense, but has the best smile! A smile that will light up any room!
•Ellie has the best sense of fashion. She has started to do her hair (and it looks good!) and her outfits are often original but always contemporary.
With the Atlantic ocean on the left and the Caribbean Sea on the right, yep....we were in paradise. Amid a long Minnesota winter, this six-day dream vacation to St. Kitts, West Indies, is just what we needed!
One thing we didn't have to worry about was the weather.
Dave's Uncle Maughan has traveled throughout the Caribbean, and decided that St. Kitts is one of his favorites. We were quick to jump at a chance to visit family in a tropical paradise! We joined Uncle Howard, Uncle Maughan, Aunt Debbie, and two cousins Nicole, and Kelly in the West Indies. The kids adore Nicole and Kelly and loved the occasional ride in their wheelchairs.
St Kitts had a unique, raw flavor -- it recently opened up to tourism in the last decade. We felt safe, but it definitely felt like a different country when we meandered away from the Marriott Resort. The kids felt excited to acquire their own passports for the trip.
It was a relaxing week with plenty of time for soccer games on the beach...
"Para sailing" above the waves...
Going on walks on the beach...
Relaxing on the beach and sipping coconut milk,
Zip-lining high above the rain forest with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea...
Scuba diving for 1st timers; Aubrie, Jeni, and Dave...
Aubrie and Jeni got the "mermaid experience" in the pool, while Dave got scuba certified and went down 60-feet deep into the ocean. Some of his adventures are included in the video below.
Perhaps the kids' favorite activity was the hike up to the old fort where the locals would fire at intruding ships from a far.
The view at the top was simply, well, stunning!
As per tradition, the kids (and Daddy) needed to do some cartwheels in the West Indies too.
Thank you Kelly and the gang for having us along for the ride!
