Dancing Queen's, Young and Sweet!!

Aren't they pretty?!?! They got their dance pictures done (which cost a fortune) and they had so many other cute ones. I shouldn't even have bought the ones I did but how could I resist?

Here are my own priceless pictures I took with my sometimes blurry camera...

Last week the girls had their dance recital, as usual I was running late. I thought I gave myself plenty of time but then one thing after another kept happening and there I was almost an hour behind schedule! We got there with out a moment to spare!! Literally!! I walked in and ran Chanel up to the front of the stage and she walked out with the rest of her dance class right then. We barely made it, but we did and that is all that matters. Right? I had to stand on the side of the stage or else I would have missed the performance which explains the weird angle of the pictures.

Chanel did her dance perfectly! She has really overcome her stage fright and she is always the leader in her dance now. I was so proud of her!!

Then it was Rori Ana's turn... Rori would not let go of my neck, she was holding on so tight I thought we were both going to pass out! After a minute I pried her hands off of me and put her in the line with the rest of her class and out she went before she had a chance to fight it. She was LIVID!!! She gave me a look like I was going to be sorry when she was finished!!!

Needless to say she took one position and stayed that way the whole time! She just stood there with her finger in her mouth glaring at me. I could tell she wanted to run over and jump in my arms then beat the crap out of me.

Still with her finger in her mouth. She didn't move once.

Then she ran off stage and guess where she wanted to be?? The safest place in the world. Her daddy's arms.

So, what do you do after you just paid a fortune for pictures, paid an arm and a leg for a big poofy dress they will only wear for 10 minutes of their life, paid a years worth of tuition so they could twirl around in circles in a school gym for 3 minutes AND that's IF they twirl at all?? You have fun with the silly outfits and you make sure you get good use out of them that's what!!!!

Ok, I know this is mean but its also a little funny too. I don't know about you, but I cant help but laugh when people fall... Only if its a little fall. Not like the kind that break something or might kill you but the kind of fall that happens when your looking at mom and dad run after you and your not paying attention to where or what your doing... This kind.

OH but don't you worry! She has sister who didn't immediately start rolling on the ground in laughter. They ran to her aid, like good little girls.

This is Chanel yelling at me to put down the camera and be responsible.

And this is Ava's concerned face. OR maybe she is thinking "What kind of parents are you??? This is what I have to look forward to??"

Yep, we will put those dresses to some good use. Not silly twirling stuff... real dangerous kind of stuff and they will still look beautiful doing it too!

Keep on movin'

Lately I have been a pretty busy mama, nothing out of the ordinary but it has felt a little different. You see, Rory picked up a really big job for Kennecott making some sort of "mold tipper" and staircases to go on those gigantic machines they have running out there. This is a really big opportunity for him and the business. Being self employed isn't always that great, matter of fact it is usually worse. I sometimes wish he would get a 9-5 job where we get a paycheck every week and I know that he will be home that night. BUT this will all pay off, big time I hope. He already has some more work on the way from them and I know that his little "one man show" business can keep up with such a HUGE corporation like Kennecott. He works his butt off, literally. He has lost some weight because of it! He goes to work around 7 AM and comes home around 1 AM and of course between those times the kids and I are dead to the world. Its been a lot tougher than I thought not having him around. Pretty big eye opener! Props to all the single moms out there and to anyone who's husband isn't always able to be home because of work or because they are fighting for our country. You are amazing!

Anyways... I'm done bragging about my husband now and I have gone way off track. Even though we haven't been seeing much of our daddy we have still kept busy! Here are just a FEW of the things we have been up to these last 2 weeks and MORE to come as soon as I get a minute....

We went to the zoo to see all the cool dinosaurs!! The kids LOVED it!

And we have had 2 field trips to Thanksgiving Point! One for Jameson's school and one for Nelly's.

And we put Tank in a lure coursing race... HE LOVED IT! I was so proud of my fur baby and he even won a cute little bronze medal! Not too bad for his first time if you ask his proud mommy!

I also signed up Rori Ana and Nelly for summer school and we finished dance, had first grade programs, preschool graduation, parent teacher conferences, recitals and we have our last soccer game next weekend (all of which I will post about really soon!) Everything is coming to an end! My schedule is opening up more and more all just in time for SUMMER!!!

IF it ever shows up.

THREE and FIVE!

Happy birthday to my 2 GIRLS!! On May 6th my little mischievous Rori Ana turned "Fweeeee!!!" It's so hard for me to believe that, it really is crazy how fast time flies by. She has caused me more headache in the short 3 years she has been alive than I could tell you. But she brings me so much joy and happiness, she makes up for her naughty behavior with her funny, witty, playful and loving personality. She makes me laugh so much everyday, even when she is being bad she has a way of making light of the situation. Nothing could bring this girls spirits down... NOTHING. Not any punishment in the world could make her hesitate from painting my walls with lipstick. Nothing could change her mind when it comes to pouring any thing that might stain all over the house. I truly do love that about her. Sometimes I wish she would understand what stress it causes mommy but even then I wouldn't change a hair on that baby's head. She is a blast to be around and when she warms up to you, you will find that she has quite the sense of humor. That is IF she warms up to you and decides your worth her time.





A few short days later... On May 10th my oldest princess turned 5! Chanel is the best big sister to her little sisters and a wonderful little sister to her big brother. She is so kind, almost to a fault!! She will do anything for anyone! She is so caring and enjoys taking care of others and helping in any way she can. She has become a really big help to me in the last year. She now puts her younger siblings in the bath and then she will take them out, put lotion on them, put a diaper on Ava and then dress both of the girls. She does dishes, cleans her room everyday, babysits (with supervision of course) and keeps everyone in line and going where they need to be going. She really is so sweet and has such a passive, loving personality. She has grown up so much, so fast and is far more mature than any other 5 year old I know. She is so smart and is doing wonderful in school and asks so many questions about so many things, she wants to everything about everything! To the point where if I don't know the answer she will tell me to "google it". She loves to learn and she loves to teach.

These 2 girls couldn't be any more different than what they are and yet all of my girls are best friends. I love to see how much they rely on each other for so much. And they admire their big brother like you couldn't believe. I have been so blessed to have had these kids (and I need to remind myself of that everyday). Turning 3 and 5 is a BIG milestone for Nelly and Rori, that means Chanel gets to go to that "big school" she has been dreaming about for the last couple years. And for Rori that means she finally gets to go to school!! She has been begging for the last year to go with Chanel and I kept telling her when she is ready, well the time has come and both of my girls are moving on to bigger and better things. I'm just not sure I'm ready to let go, though I know that no matter how tight I hold on I couldn't hold them back even if it was possible. They have way too much to look forward to.

(this is a small portion of the people that came)

Their birthday party was a success, just as it is every year. We were surrounded by family and friends and we all celebrated my girls birthdays with lots of love! Thank you to everyone who joins us in our festivities, you make it very special for us!!!

I tried my hand at making cotton candy.... Not my calling in life. It may not have been in a perfect swirl but it tasted good just the same.


I found out that Ava does NOT like it. She doesn't like the taste or texture and she especially doesn't like how it sticks to her bitty fingers.

Ava also got to hit her first pinata!! She LOVED it and caught in really quick, it was hard to stop her!!

Little cousin Oliver on the other hand did NOT like it. He was terrified of it!!

Nelly finally got that "white puppy with a pink leash" she has been begging for since Christmas!! She was thrilled!

Rori Ana hates to be the center of attention! She will usually hide or cry, this time she hid...

In her daddy's arms of course.

After a minute she warmed up and blew out her candles

It was so much fun, now I want to take time to enjoy this next year. I hope it slows down a bit?! Doubt it.