Baby Slobber

 On Thursday I took a personal day to spend the day with my Littles and be available for all the Halloween festivities at my older children's elementary school.  It was so much fun, and such a treat to take the day off work and fully focus my attention on being the Mama.

After we got the big kids off to school (in their costumes), I took the youngest three to little kid dance class, which is a free parent-and-child dance class that I used to do with my older children up until the year of Covid.  It was so much fun and Lee Lee and Hunter both had a ball.  Brady slept through the first half and when he woke up, I put him in his walker for the second half of class, and he was happy as a clam watching all the activity.

After class, Lee Lee gave him a big hug, and I snapped a picture.  A few seconds later, he turned his head and gave her cheek a big wet baby kiss.  It was absolutely precious.  Lee Lee promptly wiped off her face and said, "Ewww, Baby Slobber!"

1000 Words

 1000 Words

Dancing

 Last night, in an effort to calm the kiddos down as they were getting ready for bed, I asked Alexa to play "The Prayer" by Josh Groban because this is one of the songs Hubby and I had friends perform at our wedding.  I started dancing with Hunter, and the next thing I knew, Howard and Caroline were dancing (together) to the music as well.

I don't knjow that it calmed everyone down before bed, but it was a great way to end the day!

The Dance

Last night, Hunter REALLY wanted to go to bed.  I was still working with the kids doing the nightly chores -- dishes, feeding animals, clearing the table, etc, but Hunter was not liking his cuddle time with Daddy.

So, I took Hunter upstairs to get in pjs and nurse without the distractions of his siblings.  I charged Hubby with keeping the kids on track with chores -- Tracey and Caroline were loading the dishwashers, and Howard was clearing the table and feeding the animals.  I also asked Hubby if he could get the kids dessert.

About thirty minutes later, Caroline and Howard come upstairs to tell me they really want to show me their dance and could I bring my phone to record them.

Having no idea what to expect, I put Hunter in his crib and went downstairs with my phone.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my table was cleared, dishwasher loaded, and animals fed... and then I got to see their dance.

Talk about a fun night...

Dance Recital 2019

Our three big kiddos had their spring dance recital over the weekend and they did so well.  Both twins were really nervous when I left them backstage, and their dance was 8th out of 10 dances total, so they had to hang backstage a long time... but they did so well during the actual show.

Caroline looked really nervous on stage, but them the lights came on, and she saw me, and she just gave me the biggest smile, and then did the tap dance just like she'd practiced.

Grammie and Papa were in town for the recital, and Hubby was running a track meet (luckily, at the same high school), but he made it to the auditorium in time for the kid's dance!

We were so proud!

 

Preview

Our three oldest little ones have their Dance Recital today, and I am SO excited!

Here is a preview from their photo day earlier this week.

Break a leg, Kiddles!

Big Sis Little Sis

Every week at dance class, the last ten minutes or so are devoted to "free dance."  The teacher passes out pom-poms or ribbons and the kids get to dance around to fun music while some colorful lights flash.  It is also the time when little siblings get to participate after having to sit still and watch their older siblings for the entire dance class.

Lee Lee usually prances around with her pom-pom, twirling or stomping, or running.  The twins usually dance in a circle with their classmates, pulling on each other or falling down together.  Tracey either does her own style of free dance in her own world, or she participates in the group circle.

Last class, though, Tracey decided to dance with Lee Lee and it was the cutest thing.  I had no idea there was such a height difference between them... That's a lot of growing in four-ish years.

I love that Tracey and Lee have such a special Big Sis, Little Sis relationship.

 

Anything

Anything her siblings do, Addallee wants to do as well.

That includes the flamingo balancing practice in the lobby of dance class while her siblings are doing flamingo walks across the floor.

 

They're Ready

Our temperatures dropped and we got a lot of rain and several storms this week.  It was so nice to have cooler weather and hopefully a sign that a wet fall, and snowy winter are on the way.

As I got the kids ready for dance class on Tuesday, as soon as I got our the rain coats and long sleeves, they insisted that they needed winter hats.

Apparently all their heads have grown and their tastes have changed because Caroline insisted on having the Tiger, Tracey wanted the blue, and Howard could not be talked out of the pink.  Meanwhile, I could not take a picture fast enough to see the cute hat on Lee Lee's head.  She pulled that thing off so fast every time.  I guess she's not quite ready.

The cold weather can come... they're ready.

 

1000 Words

1000 Words

 

Summer Activities

Our kids have been having a blast with summer activies in the month of June.  With swimming lessons, soccer practices, and dance classes, we have kept really busy and everyone has a lot of fun.  Here are some pictures of our summer activities: 

 

Dance Pictures

Tracey had her dance recital the first weekend in May and, as is true for all high-end endeavors in the arts, her professional pictures from said recital arrived six weeks later.

Here are my favorite pictures:

 

And here are some funny favorite pictures:

 And some pictures from the actual recital to show how in sync she was to all her other fellow dancers: