Summer Week 2 Review

We only had a day or so to recover from our Florida vacation before it was time for the much anticipated Cole-Smith Wedding.   I am still trying to reconcile the fact that Andrea is married.  I met her when she was just nine months old and its been a joy to watch her grow into an amazing young woman.

On Monday we made a quick trip to Lewistown to visit Mom-mom and Pappy.     As we arrived in town McKenna asked to drive through the neighborhood where I grew up.  It's hard to see my side of the house hidden behind the big tree.   The other side belonged to Megan. The kids are still in awe of the fact that we didn't have to leave the porch to play.  That was an amazing place to be a kid. 

After lunch with gram and pap we treated the kids to Sweet Frog.  

Before we left to come home we stopped to see Amy so I could stock up on my Mary Kay!  The kids were all thrilled to be able to spend some time playing with Levi. Levi, however, just wanted his mom to retrieve his toys from the top of the fridge.  

I'm glad we had the chance to visit before the summer calendar gets down right obnoxious with camps and bible school, etc.

I had some appointments early Tuesday morning.   McKenna filled in the role of babysitter. It's wonderful that I can trust her to hold down the fort for short periods of time. It definitely makes my life a bit easier. 

On Wednesday we headed out to pick strawberries and blueberries.   Last year was our first berry picking experience and it will most certainly be a yearly tradition.   We spent the rest of the week baking everything strawberry and blueberry we could come up with to use the berries.  The plus side was that we were able to surprise several people with fresh berry desserts and muffins. 

Kinley and I traveled to Danville Thursday morning for her six month ENT appointment.  Her ear tubes are out which is fine.  Hopefully she has grown enough that ear infections are behind us. What is not fine is apparently the size of her tonsils.  We were asked to consider a sleep study for her to help determine if she needs them removed.  So far we haven't made the call to schedule the test instead having decided take a couple of weeks to see how she does in terms of her snoring at night.  

I perhaps have the only kids who like to go to GMC for appointments because it sometimes involves seeing their dad which always means cookies and milk. That's a pretty good deal for getting your ears checked. 

Friday morning we were in Williamsport by 8:30 to pick up Cale and Cody.  They came to play for the day and help celebrate Cooper's birthday.   The kids all had a great time playing together and prepping for a much anticipated wiffle ball game.  Those pictures are on my camera and definitely deserve their own post. 

And that, my friends, just about rounds out our second week of summer vacation!

Happy Father's Day

I didn't want to let this day go by without wishing a couple of important fathers a happy day!

This guy, who grew up without his dad, is a wonderful father to our kids.   He is the father you will find playing wiffle ball with the kids and their friends, shooting hoops with Cooper and snuggling the girls while watching movies.  He tells them all the time how important it is that he spends time with them because he didn't have a dad to do that with him.   That sentiment makes me both sad and proud all at once.   

Earl, thank you for being the best dad you can be for our kids.  You teach them about hard work and about the importance of family.  I love you. 

And to my own dad, well, I don't know what words adequately convey my appreciation for you.  For the things that you have taught me, modeled for Earl and teach your grandkids.  You support all of us unconditionally in so many ways. We are blessed to call you dad and grandpa.

Happy Father's Day!

All In

We are one quarter in to the sixth game of the NBA finals.   I've never been a huge fan and rarely ever have I watched beyond March Madness.  But with this passionate little Cav's fan in our house it's been hard to not get into this series. 

I've learned a lot about basketball in the past month, including the definition of a triple double and who's who on the Cav's team.  All my new knowledge has come from Cooper.  

While we were in Florida we had dinner at NBA City where he got to learn a little bit about some famous NBA players.  He had a great time seeing how he measured up. 

I am hoping the Cav's win the finals doe various reasons but mostly for my best buddy who has been living and breathing his team and all things basketball lately.

Dance Debut

It's hard to imagine being three years old and having dreams of being on stage.  However, "Dancin' on that big stage" has been a high priority for Kinley since she saw McKenna dance last spring. 

She finally had her chance to shine last week and boy, did she ever.  The dance teacher took the girls backstage before the performance and I was pretty sure I was going to lose my lunch.  I was SOOO nervous.  Clearly, Kinley was not.  

She danced her little heart out with a huge smile on her face the entire time.  I met her in the lobby afterward where she beamed and exclaimed that she loved being on that stage.  That thrills me and scares the crap out of me all at the same time.  

Dance has been wonderful this year.   Kinley has made some wonderful friends and so have I.  These three love to see one another each week and the moms look forward to time together, too. I see many more play dates in our future. 

I had to include this picture of all three girls.  McKenna and Siena encourage Kinley in dance and set such an example for her.  They also take so much pride in watching her dance and parading around the auditorium with her. 

I also love this picture of Kinley and daddy.   It's just so sweet.  The recital was the first time Earl saw her dance on stage and he was smitten.  We all were, really.   

Great job, Kinley!   We can't wait to see you on stage again!  

2015 Dance Recital

"Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it."

Misty Copeland

I have been sitting staring at this picture for the better part of twenty minutes without being able to write a word or know where to start.  I only can feel the huge well of pride inside for this little girl who has spent this past year working so very hard at every single thing she has set out to do.

This past week was the much anticipated dance recital.  If you were around any of us or talked to us last week, chances are you heard a lot about dance.  It's a big week and it should be.   There are no games for dance;  no tournaments;  no first place.   There is just nine months of being at the studio three plus hours a week.  In the hot, in the cold.  When you're sick.  When you might rather just curl up in your pajamas and take a break.  But you don't.  You work hard.  You take your ipod so you can take video to critique yourself and then you work harder.

Finally, you get one night to show those people who have loved you and supported you through it, what you have been doing during all that time away from them.   And you dance your heart out and  it's awesome.  That's what you do if you're McKenna. 

If you're one of those lucky people who get to love her as fiercely as we do you get to feel nervous and proud and maybe even wipe a tear or two from your eyes.    You  have a sense of immense pride, not just in watching your beautiful daughter dance but in knowing what it took for her to get to be this good in just two short years.   You sit in awe of how graceful she is,  and the fact that a smile never leaves her face lets you know that in that moment she is truly happy.

If you're three, you just think that your big sister is the best thing ever.  You don't yet know that she is teaching you hard work and sacrifice and ballet all at the same time.   You know where she is when she's not home and sometimes you even say, "She's at dance - again!"  But nothing, NOTHING beats standing beside her for one night doing something that you both have come to love.