A year of lessons, and I still can't make a perfect ballet bun

Lenna had her end-of-year demonstration for her ballet class. She was so excited to go up on stage, to wear make-up, and dance in a real theatre.






Their philospphy was that there is so much to learn, there is no time to waste the last three months of the year practicing for a recital number. Instead, they keep learning right until the end, then do a demonstration of everything they covered in class that year.

Lenna enjoyed her ballet classes this year. She made a few good friends and loved her teacher. They did a great job of improving her flexibility and core strength. They also put those long legs to good use!

She found it to be a little slow for her tastes, however, and is leaning toward tap or clogging next year instead. We have been looking at all the school websites and hunting for the one with the most modest recital costumes.

Making the Cut

It was time for a change.
I made Lenna wait until after her ballet recital (no way I was stuffing a bob into a bun) to get her haircut. Andrew was way over due as well. They both happily climbed into the chair for a new style and emerged gorgeous as always, ready for the hot summer weather!

Camp W, Day 1

Camp Wannalaffalotta, Day 1.

Library to sign up for summer reading and story time.
Park, to play, splash, and explore nature.
Thought it best to not over do it the first day!

A good alternative to just locking them up-

Hose them off instead!

Leara, looking for Prince Charming. I don't think she kissed it, but am not completely sure. It was still a frog when we left.

Becca found a mud puddle that was fun to splash but out of reach of the sprayers.

Wet and ready to go home. Throw in lunch and a nap, and the day is nearly over. Success!

Welcome to Camp Wannalaffalotta!

Introducing Camp Wannalaffalotta-

For moms and kids who "wanna laugh a lotta!"

Just a little something I threw together for my kids as an alternative to the $100-200 weekly day camps that abound here. I am excited about it and they seem to be as well. If you a local, feel free to join us! If not, make up your own camp! You can print out the little brochure- it's not official until there is paper work, according to my oldest- and party with us.

This week- library, splash park, camp teepees, art class, pool picnic, and a s'mores cookout.

Hello Summer!

Last day of school. Swimming lessons. Ice cream cones. Sun-kissed freckle faces.

Must be summer time!

Let Me Count the Ways

Wordfull Wednesday Topic:
"Caring for your Family - How do you let them know you care about them? What do you do as parents to show your children they are loved? "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children." (Family Proclamation, paragraph 6)"

Well, I could go on about the importance of nurturing each relationship daily, or the importance of dating your spouse, or hugging your kids, or communicating to them in their own "love languages" but it is late and I don't feel like it! Instead, a quick list of everything I did today because I love my husband and children.

1. Woke up at 4am to put crying baby back to bed
2. Hit snooze on alarm clock instead of hitting the man who set the alarm clock for 430AM and went back to bed until 6
3. Kissed husband good bye, it doesn't matter if my eyes were still closed
4. Changed baby's diapers
5. Poured milk on cereal and did other "getting ready for school" tasks when I would rather be sleeping
6. Removed mad money cash from wallet and put it in an envelope labeled "lunch money" for second grader
7. Compelled baby to buckle into car seat so she wouldn't be smooshed if the lady behind me in the carpool line hit us
8. Compelled baby to buckle into stroller in case I collapsed while exercising and stroller rolled away into fence
9. Fed cat stinky food that makes me gag but keeps him healthy which makes my kids happy
10. Washed dishes
11. Picked up and washed husbands socks, even though he left them on the floor
12. Folded laundry that I didn't wear or get dirty
13. Put baby down for a nap so she could be happy not cranky (ok, this one was mostly for me)
14. Planned a dinner menu, made a grocery list, and went to the grocery store
15. Kissed boo-boos
16. Picked children up from school so they don't have to ride the scary bus home
17. Hugged children in greeting
18. Greeted husband at door with a hug and kiss
19. Put away groceries, including healthy yucky foods and not-so-healthy foods
20. Made dinner
21. Had kids empty dishwasher and set table
22. Limited TV and computer time
23. Read a book
24. Let 8yr old lead FHE
25. Prayed together
26. Ate ice cream (OK, that was for me, too)
27. Helped with homework by looking up "tawny" and proof-reading an essay on what we will be doing this summer
28. Glued a thousand squares of confetti to help with family art project
29. Washed glitter glue off baby
30. Made them brush their teeth
31. Turned off 8 yr old's alarm clock and confined her to her bed until at least 7AM
32. Wouldn't let 5 yr old sleep wearing his sneakers and assured him he wouldn't forget to put them on in the morning
33. Sang a lullaby
34. Dried tears
35. Force-fed baby antibiotics
36. Wiped many snotty noses
37. Washed more dishes
38. Located field day shirt and sun screen for tomorrow
39. Washed ballet leotard and tights for rehearsal tomorrow
40. Set ballet slippers on counter to remember to clean tomorrow
41. Helped pay bills
42. Waited up to go to bed at the same time as my husband
43. Hasn't happened yet, but  know I will be up at least twice with a kid or two in the night

Ok, at least 43 and today didn't include any dead things, bug catching, band-aids, or fist fights. Those count double, along with diapers and snot.

How do I love thee? More than I can count, or to quote my oldest- To infinity and back!   

Good Morning Mom!

Andy was out catching turtles in the backyard for show and tell before breakfast this morning. He wasted no time getting messy with wet grass, mud, and turtle excrement. Combined with the dead mouse the cat left on the door mat and the baby stepping in the turtle poop, it has been a fabulous morning- all before 8!

Equal Partners

Today's Wordfull Wednesday topic:
Being Equal Partners, What does that mean to you? "In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners." (Family Proclamation, paragraph 7)

I couldn't think of anything witty or entertaining to say about this. I really didn't want to be introspective and write about how much more I could be doing of "my fair share" or all the times I felt like I was over worked but brought back to reality by my tired husband and my messy kitchen on the days I spent out with a friend specifically avoiding the dishes. I didn't want to make a list of how we divide the responsibilities around here because I was afraid of whose would be longer. If mine was, I might just let it go to my head and get lazy. If his was, I might have to actually do more and don't think I could handle that either!

Instead, I have been paying attention this week to some ways we help each other as partners. Here are a few examples that illustrate what our marriage partnership is all about.

I usually do the meal planning and cooking because if we waited for Mike to do it, we wouldn't eat until bed time. On Tuesday, when I called on the way home from the pediatrician and said, "We all have strep, even me and the baby," he didn't hesitate to pick up the prescriptions on his way home and take care of dinner even though he had just put in 10 hours at work.

We usually tag-team bedtime, but I do it all during "24" and he takes over during "The Amazing Race."

Mike gets a rash from weed whacking and mowing the lawn, and I have allergies to grass and flowers. So we pay someone to do it.

He goes to work every day to earn money even when the crying baby kept us up all night and when he really doesn't want to. I try not to spend it frivolously. He spent three years in night school to earn a degree so he could better provide for our family. I was basically a single parent on the weekdays while he was at work and school and I didn't complain too much about it, except on scout nights.

When we were buying our first house and needed more income, I got a part time job and Mike did his own laundry on the days I never got around to it and never complained about the days when he couldn't see the living room rug.

The kids know that a "No" from Mom means just as much as a "No" from Dad so there is no point in getting a second opinion.

He drove to ballet practice while I coached soccer.

When the home teacher left last night at 6:45 and Mike was searching the kitchen for leftovers and realized that there wasn't even firsts made yet, he went out and turned on the grill while I cut fruit and we had dinner ready in 20 minutes.

And the greatest illustration of equality in our marriage this week- I voluntarily handed over my Khol's cash so he could go get a killer deal on new shoes today while I stayed home with the sick baby, instead of socking it away for a retail therapy session next week.

Want to read more? Head over to Chocolate on my Cranuim for Wordfull Wednesday!