Last week at the dance studio was parent observation and we got to bring treats to share for a Halloween party. Since Ella is on a competition team, they didn't dress up or have a "party", but we did get to watch them for a bit and they had a few minutes at the end of class to enjoy a quick bite to eat. This is her second year to compete and I can already tell a huge difference in their skill level. Not to mention, she is finally used to dancing four hours a week at the studio and isn't a whiney, exhausted mess when we stumble through the kitchen door. They have a technique class for an hour on Wednesdays and then do three hours of ballet, jazz and tap on Thursdays. They have just started working on their competition dances (she'll compete four times next spring) and we got to see a few ...
Be Yourself
My sister's husband is a teacher at my alma mater and a few weeks ago he asked me to talk to the entire middle school about my career and incorporating creativity in the workplace. I'll be honest and tell you - that is a scary age group. I talk with/to groups of adults all the time and never get nervous, but put me in a room with two hundred pre-teens and my knees are knocking. I was so flattered that he invited me. My college and career path was a little unorthodox and it's great for kids to know that there are options and that a degree doesn't dictate the kind of career you'll end up with. I know that moms struggle with guilt over whether to work or stay at home and I'm so fortunate to know that a career woman is exactly what God means for me to be on Monday, October 28, 2013. I know ...
5 on Friday | Week 42
Well, I'm pretty sure that I'll be the very last person linking up for 5 on Friday this week. After a crazy few weeks at work, I'm finally at home on a Friday night with nothing on the agenda but uploading some photos and writing a post or two. Josh took Ella across the street for the high-school football game, so Sophie and I are in our pajamas, enjoying Sofia the First and cold pizza. Doesn't that sound exciting? Here's what's been going on around here. 1. Family photos. I know I mentioned a few weeks ago that my talented sister snapped some photos of the grandkids for my mom. K posted the pictures earlier in the week and they are lovely. This might by my favorite family photo of all time! I think it's clear we're all a little crazy for Alabama football around here. I'm planning to use ...
Princess Party!
A few weekends ago, we went to a perfect princess party for our friend Ava Reese! Her mommy really outdid herself (again) and these girls had such a great time bouncing, showing off their prissy walks and enjoying afternoon tea. No need for words, how adorable are these pretty princesses?! {of course Ella is WAY too big for dressing up. this was the best I could do!} ...
It’s FINALLY Fall
Fall seems to take forever to arrive in Alabama, but it is slowly making itself known around here. When our friends were in town a few weeks ago, we took all of our girls to the local pumpkin patch on Saturday afternoon. It was hot, but that just meant we had the place to ourselves and boy did we enjoy it! First up was the corn maze. I'm pretty sure the "exit" that we used was just a path between rows of corn. These girls were leading us around in circles, so we made a mad dash for freedom when we spotted it. My girls both wanted to take a horse ride and their reactions couldn't be any different. Sophie was grinning ear to ear from the very beginning and waved to me as she rode off into the sunset. Ella, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck! She was very concerned about me ...
5 on Friday | Week 40
Longest. Week. Ever. Last weekend was such a blur -- we went from event to event for three solid days. Even though it was filled with tons of great family time, there wasn't much time for napping involved. And let's be honest, naps are part of why I love the weekends! Josh is headed to Kentucky for the Bama game today (can you say jealous wife?!) and I'm envisioning lots of movies, laundry, football and napping on the horizon. Okay, enough of that, let's get on with 5 on Friday! 1. Scandal. I did it. I bit the bullet on Friday night and watched episode one. Taz fell asleep at the football game and I had a few hours to myself with nothing to do. I signed up for Netflix (Hulu only offers the current season?!) and by the time Josh got home from the game, I was on episode three. I'm almost ...
Homecoming
Homecoming in our tiny little town is always such fun. People share photos from high-school on Facebook all week. The marquees on the schools boast of activities. Our yard is full of cars every day because there is something going on at the high-school. The kids in our family always want to ride in the parade and I never get to see it. I don't get to take many Fridays off from work that aren't vacation or holiday related, but this year I decided to spend the day at home with my family. I somehow convinced Taz to bow out of the parade and watch downtown with me. After dropping Ella off at the parade line up, we walked the few blocks downtown from our house. In case you haven't figured it out yet, we live in a TINY town. This is downtown. We have exactly one traffic light, a mom and pop ...
a cricket and a hallelujah
We had such a great weekend. It was filled with so many fun things and we spent a lot of uninterrupted family time together. I took many pictures and had big plans to edit, upload and share some of them today. Then Monday happened. It got off to a pretty good start. I was up early, the temperature was in the mid-fifties and I was running in pants by sunrise. It was a quiet and beautiful morning and my pace was much improved given the weather. It's much easier to run when the air isn't so thick you can't breathe. I strolled into my office, drinking my morning shake, right on time and there was a very pretty, very colorful surprise on my desk. My life planner was delivered on Friday and my friend at work unboxed it and left it laying out for me. I quickly filled up October and read a few ...