Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Ice Show 2014 - Skating with the Stars

The day Emily has waited for all year...has come...and gone!  Ice Show week requires a lot of time of the whole family, but is so much fun and it goes so fast!

Practicing for the opening routine...

Dress rehearsal- Emily and her friend Katherine, ready to skate to the Olympic theme song!
Skate Club members ready to put on a great show!

It's show time!  Emily's ready for opening night-show one of four!

I loved the blue outfits for the opening routine!
Emily, all smiles, spying us in the audience!

After her first routine, Emily had to perform a quick change before her next one...the Russian dolls!  They were so cute!  One of my favorite routines so far!

The grand finale- the speed skater gave every single skater a high five!  He was so fun to watch during the Olympic routine!
We were happy to have Grandma and Grandpa there for one performance- they haven't missed a show yet!
Alex was a big help during the show too!  It really is a family commitment!  Not only does Emily work hard each week on her skating and preparing for the show, the whole family works hard to support her!
Alex loved working at the concession stand with me the first night {not so much my hug, ha!} that he worked a shift each show!  It made me so proud to hear all the compliments from other parents on what a great helper he was!
Selling flowers during the show - and wishing my star good luck!
Emily's biggest cheerleader!
the way we all feel by the end of the performances...
Great job on another year of skating, Emily!  We are so proud of you, and you have really worked hard!  Until next year...

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Down on the Farm

It was a great morning to enjoy a trip to the Shireman Homestead farm with Elizabeth's preschool class to visit animals, walk through a mine and learn about gems, and take a wagon ride to see little cabins and a tepee in the woods!


It was cool and breezy, but great Spring weather...no rain!

Ready to take a wagon ride to the woods!

We experienced what a mine was like and how it would feel to search for gems!

These two took us back to the farm...their names are April and May...and one has a pony waiting for her back at the barn named March!
prayer and snack time

I love this age when everything is so new and exciting and they really enjoy learning and experiencing everything!  

I feel so blessed to spend this time with the kids while they're still little and enjoy these moments with them too!  It was a fun day!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Happy Easter - 2014

It was such a beautiful Easter this year...so happy Spring finally decided to arrive!
The sunrise was amazing...Jesus has risen!

I worry every year on Easter how I will ever get up, have the family ready, and out the door in time for church...but every year...we make it!  And even with just a few extra moments to snap a couple pics of the kids in their Easter finery...and to clean spit up off the front of my dress!


But, there's always the fun and chaos of finding the hidden eggs and baskets filled with treats left by the Easter Bunny before the sun comes up!
There's never an egg too high or too low...
Abby found one in her highchair!

After all the eggs are collected, the kids can't wait to see what's inside!  Even after church, and days later...there are still some eggs to be found!  This year, I had to limit Alex and Emily to finding five eggs at a time, in order to give Elizabeth a chance too!

Emily and Elizabeth went to the front of the 'tomb' during service to see that Jesus was gone...and he had risen!
After church, the {big} kids hid the eggs for the preschoolers and then helped look for them in the courtyard.  It was so sweet to watch Emily help Elizabeth find eggs...even though Elizabeth was pretty quick to fill her sack on her own!

I love our church...inside and out!  We have grown here since Alex and Emily were babies and have had many church family members pray and watch over us through the years!  I also love the big doors and fencing along the entrance...and our Easter wouldn't be complete without our traditional family pictures on the steps!  {The kids love it...or not!}

{Abby's first Easter!  She is such a good baby...she sat quietly all through the service and 'danced' during the hymns!  She looked so cute in the same dress Emily wore as a baby!}

It was a beautiful day!  We've eaten too much candy and chocolate, enjoyed the sunshine, rested...and cherished another Easter together with family!

{And just as the afternoon was starting to wind down...when all the eggs seemed to have been found...there was still one to be found...the Jackpot egg!  And Alex decided to comb over the living room one more time...to his favor...}

We were able to get together at Grandma and Grandpa's house with cousins too enjoying great food and company!  It had been such a long time since we've been able to sit out on the deck and watch the kids run and play!  It used to be a Sunday tradition...but the kids had to go and grow up and get busy...so we enjoy it any chance we can!
cousins
{twins} - Aunt Janet and Elizabeth

Daddy and Abby
Playing tag - "You're it!"
Kendall and Abby
Shelbie, Janet, mommy and Elizabeth
It was a special day with family and we look forward to the next time!

And, of course...we colored eggs for the Easter Bunny, and for ourselves!  Always a fun...and messy tradition!  And this year we made Resurrection rolls!  They were so good...and fun to make!

Happy Easter!