A trip to the Falls...

We took a trip to the Falls one night as a family and enjoyed a beautiful and a little wet evening.  We had a lot of fun and got to see some awesome clouds, a beautiful rainbow, and lots of planes.  Here are some pictures from the evening.

A beautiful rainbow...

Happy Birthday William!

We all say it..."I can't believe {insert name here} is already {insert age here}.

But that saying is so true.  For me, I can't believe William is already TWO!

We have had a year of adventure and learning with William.  He is DEFINITELY all BOY, a hard adjustment for me after two girls who would freak out if they got just a little dirty.  I love him for all he is and all the challenges I face with him.

Over the past 2 weeks we have had fun celebrating William.  As a family we celebrated at Pizza Ranch and Texas Roadhouse.  Then we celebrated with Grammy and Papa.  Finally we celebrated with family and friends tonight.  William LOVED it all!

This year he loves all the attention and when we sing Happy Birthday to him he grins from ear to ear.  He loves to blow out the birthday candles and I have to re-light the candles to do it again.  He enjoys the cake.  He loves to open presents.

As William turns 2 he is enjoying playing with trucks, rough-housing, and bouncy houses.  Enjoy the pictures from all his birthday celebrations and here is to another wonderful year full of adventure!

 Opening some gifts...

Enjoying his time on the saddle at Texas Roadhouse. 

 Enjoying his birthday cake when we celebrated with Grammy and Papa.

 PRESENTS!

William's Cars birthday cake at his birthday party with family and friends. 

We had a joint party for William and Katelyn so Grandma Kay and Grandpa Dick could join us for both their birthdays. 

 More presents...

William trying to get into County Fair to play some games during the birthday party. 

Chillaxin' with his Papa!  What a great end to a wonderful weekend.

First...

Julianne's first day of 2nd grade...

Enjoying a little breakfast and getting ready for an exciting day!

First pictures with Dad and Mom as a 2nd grader.

 No matter where we are, a first day of school pose by a tree.

 Julianne and her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Livingston.

Julianne by her first locker, no more cubbies.

Julianne's first day at Fred Assam Elementary. 

My heart melts as I look in the eyes of my first born, my baby girl.  She is growing up.  Each day I see how she changes, how she matures, and how much she learns.  The day she was born and I held her in my arms I knew she was going to be a shining star.  She is kind, loving and brave.  She is smart, caring and beautiful.  She is strong, spunky and full of energy.  I miss her when I drop her off at school, but I look forward to our conversations when I pick her up.  She will always be my baby, but today she is a 2nd grader.  

Julianne, I love you to "infinity and beyond".  As you grow up, remember who you are and believe in yourself.  Happy first day of 2nd grade!  Love, Mommy

Sense-sational (Dance Recital 2011 - Part 1)

The Farm Girls

(Bianca, Katelyn & Sarah)

 Five Senses

(Julianne, Emily & Abby)

Julianne posing...

My girls...Katelyn and Julianne (in her Ice Cream outfit)

Sarah, Katelyn & Bianca

(after a great job dancing on the big stage)

Celebrating a great weekend of dance...

Dance, dance, dance!  The girls love dancing.  This was Julianne's fourth year of dance and Katelyn's first year.  It is hard to believe that 4 years ago Julianne was in just one dance.  This year she was in five dances!  Both girls did a wonderful job and their faces lit up when they were dancing on the stage.

I AM SO PROUD OF THEM!  

Brian also did a great job with his dance part.  He got to dance with Julianne in a father/daughter dance called "When I See an Elephant Fly" (these pictures will post later).  

My girls made me so proud this year in their dance classes and dances on stage.

Katelyn learned the basics of ballet and teaches me what she learns each week at class, including 1st position, 2nd, and so on.  When Katelyn can't remember she asks Julianne.  It is great that they are learning to work together even more.  They both have learned discipline, patience and listening.  I look forward to watching each one blossom thru dance as the years continue.  They will continue to point their toes, flex their hands and smile on stage.  Their smiles light up the stage and warm my heart.  Some days I don't know if I should smile or cry because I am so proud of Julianne and Katelyn!

Life moves on...

Some days I sit wishing I could freeze time, rewind time, and even at times fast forward time.  Over the last month I have been savoring each day, each hour, each minute.  I knew the time would come that we would be moving, I have been preparing for this time for over a year.  I knew it would happen, but I thought I would be more ready for it then I am.

This past month has flown by.  I have watched as my daughters finished their last days of school here, danced in their last recital with Ballet Arts, did the last gymnastics practice at the Y, and many more things.  While experiencing all of these lasts, I remind myself of all that the future holds.  The future holds so much.  My trust in God is stronger than it has ever been.  That trust gets me thru each minute, each hour, each day.

In the next week I will experiences many more lasts with the kids and Brian here in Chillicothe, but I will also experience so many firsts.  I will also have some agains.  We will have Julianne's first and last sleepover in our house here.  We will move, again.  We will live in Sioux Falls for the first time as a family. So, there is so much to look forward to.  We will plan weekends with friends, we will now call Chillicothe a place to visit, and we will reconnect with friends.

I thank God for these opportunities and experiences.  I trust in God and his plan for us.  I praise God for the glorious days ahead.