Halloween! 2010

This year for Halloween Drew dressed up as a Charleston Dancer (For Maddy's Birthday Party) which changed to a GoGo Girl (For the church party and her school parade) and then everyone kept saying she looked like Taylor Swift so that was her final costume.  I think her most favorite was Taylor Swift.   Drew wasn't too thrilled to go trick-or-treating, especially because it was pouring, but we went around a few houses and she was done.   

Frankie in the other hand didn't want to dress up or go trick-or-treating at all this year.  Not surprising since he's never been a big fan and he is 14.  So the only time he wore a 'costume' was to the church party which was his football uniform which he just happened to be wearing since he had just gotten back from practice. That was the extent of his effort. ( Sorry...no picture)

Our pumpkins went as ghosts and Frankie's as a Frankenstine.  We made one for Pax (orange hair) and one for Baby (of course)

This year we went to our best friend's Halloween Party.  I'll let you take a peek at our costumes and see if you can guess what we are....

OK...if you didn't get it, I'm a "Bun in the Oven" and Grant is the cook ...wink wink.

Grandparents Day! 2010

Until about a week or so, I haven't been able to do much of anything.  Because of this Grant has had to kick it up a notch.  This has us both pretty drained and our kids get only the bare necessities. 

The good thing is that Frankie has been busy with school and football (pictures coming soon) and Drew with dance and school and the rest of the time she just tries to entertain herself.  This usually means some huge mess somewhere in the house or in this case outside of the house.  The good thing is that she has been expanding her imagination and independence.  Lately she has been grabbing every blanket and pillow in the house and setting it up outside as a tent.  Lots of fun for her...not fun for us when we have to tell her to clean up.  I guess it's a risk we were willing to take.  

On this particular day (grandparents day) Grandma and Grandpa just happened to stop by and visit.  As great the grandparents they are, they joined in the camping fun with Drew.  They helped her set up and hang out with her outside. 

Thankfully I am somewhat better and things are getting a bit better. 

We are so thankful to have Grandma and Grandpa close by and for all the great memories they create with us!

Happy Grandparents Day!




 

1st Day of School 2010-2011

Wow! I can't believe how time flies!  Frankie is now a 9th grader. Unofficially a freshman.  For open house, Grant said a lot of girls were so excited to see him.  Although I know he's too young to date...I can't help to smile.  He is a cutie!
This year he has Honors Biology, Geometry, Geography, English, Spanish 3 (immersion), Encore (choir), Seminary, World Civilization and of course P.E.  He's definetly got a full schedule. 

On top of that he is doing tackle football and he's loving it!  He's running back and tight end.

Drew started Kindergarden today!  She was so excited, she has been counting the days.  Last night she didn't put up a fight when I told her to get ready for bed eventhough the sun was still up.  That's so hard for kids to understand.  I wonder how Alaskan moms do it.  She was in bed by 8:30pm on the dot! Then she slept all night and woke up at 8:00am on the dot all on her own.  Next thing I know, she's getting ready with out me asking her to.  PHEEEEEEEEW...what a relief.  She was ready by 8:30am, ate breakfast and we headed to school.  When we got there, she unbuckled herself and said "bye mom".  I explained to her that today parents were allowed to hang out with their kids to have cookies with them. 

While we had cookies, we ran into some preschool friends.  They were all so excited. 

Somehow, it slipped our minds to tell her that she would have recess.  When we told her, she was even more excited. Her favorite part of school as of today...RECESS! 

One thing we told her this morning was to make sure she try to meet new friends and if she saw anyone that didn't have anyone to play with to go play with them.  As I talked to her I asked her who she played with and she said she played with a new friend today.  I was so proud of her, because she could've easily stayed within her comfort zone and played with her friends from preschool.

I can tell that Drew is going to be more worried about fashion than Frankie.  Frankie is ok wearing whatever and still looks cute.  But Drew...she had to have High Tops and Twinkle Toes!   She was definetly trendy today.

Kaleidoscope 2009-2010

I've meant to post pictures and videos of Drew's performances with her dance company Kaleidoscope as they have happened, but for some odd reason I never got to it.
Drew and her friends performed several times this year and competed against other dance companies.  They had lots of success, but most of all, they all grew individually and together.  They are a very talented little bunch.  I think I speak for all of us (the girls and families) when I say that we all loved it.

Their performances included the

>>>"Cat In The Hat"<<<

and

>>>"Apples with Happy Feet"<<<

 

Here's some additional pictures:

At the Gateway

At Dancing Under The Stars

With Louis Van Amstel

Just for fun...

Drew has recently tried out for a company and made it to the Pee Wee company at Center Stage.  She is very excited and so am I...of course.  I hope to post pictures and updates at a timely manner this time around.

Camping

Grant took the kids (including Pax) camping this past weekend.  They had a great time along with their cousins.  This was Drew's and Pax's first time out camping and they both loved it!
Here's some pictures: