A SeriousDance Recital

I know they say everything is bigger in Texas, well apparently when it comes to dance the same is true in Tracy.  Sophie and Avery have taken dance for few years at The Academy of Performing Arts here in town.  This, however, is the first year either of them felt brave enough to participate in the dance recital.  And I completely understand.

This recital is not your typical recital.  It is performed on the stage of the Grand Theater (Willie Nelson is playing on the same stage this month).  You have to purchase tickets (what??) to see them perform!  They have several shows depending on your age and dance level and perform each number twice, once on Saturday and once on Sunday.  Luckily my girls were both in the same show and we only did the Saturday performance, otherwise that could have been very pricey!!

But it was so exciting to see them get up on stage in front of so many people dancing their hearts out!  I won't force you to watch all the video of them we took (I'll save that for the next dinner party I throw :), but here are their cute dance pictures!

A Princess in "A Perfect Princess Tea"

" Alice" in a very edgy version of Alice in Wonderland

We do love APA.  They have fantastic teachers and classes and put so much work into the recital.  I'm especially proud that my two little shy girls were brave even though they were so nervous.  When it was all over Sophie told me that dancing on that stage was "a dream come true!" It was for me too!

My Littlest (and last) Turns 1!!

Holy Cow!  I can't believe my little baby is 1!  The way she decided to come into this world caused me so many tears and now it's been a year!  She was skin and bone when she was born and now she is this big cute chunk!

We were actually in Colorado on her actual birthday and it was the day we were flying home.  We celebrated by stopping at the Butterfly Pavillion on the way to the airport.  She LOVED it!  You go into this big tropical room with thousands of butterflies flying all over.

When we got home we took the family to Baskin Robbins so Riley could have her first clown cone!

We had a party for her the following Sunday.  My parents came from Utah and we had a few friends over.  Probably the simplest birthday party I've ever done, but we showered her with love and kisses and cake! The theme was "cute as a button" because she is!

My mom made her a little hat that she refused to wear! 

A little button bouquet

We gave her the cake.  She seemed intriqued.

She tried it.  It was gooood.

She decided just to go for it!  :)

Opening her gift from her betrothed... Blake

Little Miss Riley has about the biggest attitude of any 1 year old I've ever known.  She can be a handful, but she can also be the sweetest little thing on the planet. She has the cutest little giggle and keeps us all laughing.  I love her so much and am so glad we decided to do IVF "just one more time!"

Avery Turns 4!

It's hard to believe but Avery turned 4! You know me and birthdays...they are something to be celebrated on a grand scale. We started the morning with an under the sea mermaid party attended by 8 adorable little 4 year olds, Avery's friends from church and preschool. Every girl got an ocean colored tutu to wear and a seashell necklace. Then we had breakfast...it was a cereal and fruit bar since those are Avery's favorite foods. The girls decorated little mermaid pictures with LOTS of glitter and then sang happy birthday and opened presents. While we we waited for parents to pick up the girls played on the trampoline. It was such fun!

My attempt at "under the sea"

A mermaid cake and starfish cookies

A piñata that looked a little like Avery!

Bubble gum party favors

My three little mermaids

Since the party was on Avery's actually birthday...June 2nd the celebration contented and we went to the Oakland Zoo and then Fenton's for dessert.

It's a little weird that you crawl in it's mouth and out it's bum!

Avery is the sweetest little 4 year old.  She's happy almost all the time and loves to make other people happy!  She is such a blessing in our family!

First Year of Preschool Finished

It's really amazing how fast time goes.  It seems like just yesterday I was dropping Avery off to her very first day of preschool and now we are about to start her second year!

Her first day of preschool last year

For the final day of preschool, all the classes met at a water park.  Sophie didn't want to play in the water because she said she was too big for that (oh boy), but Avery and Riley had a lot of fun!

Looking forward to another fun year at Little Learners!