Saturday, June 21, 2008

Doobie, Doobie, Doobie Doo!


Tonight is Olivia's dance recital at Vets High School.  This morning we had to go to the dress rehearsal and I was able to take a lot of pictures in her dance costume and some of her friends as well.  She looks absolutely beautiful!  Of course I cried like a baby again...my little girl is growing up and doesn't need me much anymore. In fact, when we got to rehearsal, she took off, went back stage with the group and I didn't see her again until after she was done.  She was an absolute pleasure to watch!  It was hard managing the video camera and the digital camera at the same time, so most of the pictures I took are afterward with Hannah.  Anyway, once Olivia's group was done dancing I met her in the hallway.  The first thing she asked was, "mommy, can I do it again? I had so much fun!  I want to do it 100 times more!"  I can't believe it!  This is the same girl who told me she might throw up on the car ride over this morning because she was so nervous.  Who would have thought!  She is so grown up!  She even told me that I could just drop her off tonight and she could do it all by herself!  Before she wanted me to be in the front row so that she could see me, now I can sit in the back row or I can stay home if I choose.  So bizarre!  I am soooooooooo proud of her!  And what's even better is that she is so proud of herself!  Just look at my little dancer, or shall I say big dancer?

Look very closely at this next picture!  Do you notice anything new about Olivia, besides her hair in a bun and wearing make-up?  Hint...Look at her left earlobe!  Another huge step in her life that made me cry!  She got her ears pierced last night (7/20/08)..she is such a big girl now.  I am so proud of her.  She was so brave!  Doesn't she look beautiful?  She always has anyway, but now she says she feels even more beautiful.  I didn't even know that was possible!
The next 2 pictures are of the class on stage practicing.  The woman in the red hat is Olivia's teacher and the owner of Dance Unlimited, Inc.  Her name is Stacie Najac.  She really does a fantastic job with the girls and I even told her she works miracles.  Olivia told her that she wanted to do more dances and Miss Stacie told Livi she knew just how she felt!
 Here is a cute shot of Hannah, Olivia and Chloe!

The 2 bestest friends ever (as Olivia says)...Hannah Jane and Olivia Katherine!
My little dancing princess.


Baby #3

Eric, Olivia, Jack and I went for my Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound a couple of weeks ago.  It's a fairly new ultrasound they do between 11-13 weeks pregnant to view the fluid behind the brain stem to check for any abnormalities such as Spinal Bifida or Downs Syndrome.  With the blood work and the NT scan the false positive rate decreases dramatically.  Anyway, we decided to go ahead and opt for the test, not because we wanted to be sure that all was ok with the baby, but really because we love to see our little one in the womb.  No matter what the test would show, we would still have our baby...for that, we are 100% sure!  But, alas, the test came back completely normal.  We still have one more blood test on July 7th to be 100% sure, but so far everything looks A-Ok with our little peanut.  So that is a bonus to know that!  Here are some pictures of the Ultrasound pictures that were taken a couple of weeks ago.  Any guesses on if this one is a boy or a girl?  At first I was leaning towards boy because the profile looks a lot like Jack's ultrasound pictures, but now I am feeling girl!  Either way we are so excited!  I am going to be getting the best birthday/Christmas present ever this year!!!This one below is pretty neat.  It's a 3D, actually they called it a 4D ultrasound picture.  We never had them done with Livi or Jack because we knew Livi was a girl and Jack was a boy so we didn't want to see what the features looked like.  We won't have another one done like this if we can help it still as of right now we are leaning toward finding out the flavor of this bugger too.  But how cool is this???  And here the baby is only about 3 inches, now the baby is about 5-6 inches long.  How fast they grow!!!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

My little swimmers!

My friend Debbie invited Olivia, Jack and I over to her house a week ago to swim in her pool. The kids absolutely loved it and ask every morning if we can go back to Debbie's house.  Here are some fun pictures of Jack, Olivia and Debbie.  I am sure Debbie wouldn't be thrilled that I have included her on my blog in a bathing suit, but too bad!  My kids love her!   




Olivia has become such a great swimmer!  She even jumped off the diving board (or jumping board as she calls it).  I am soooooo proud of her.  The only downfall of her loving to swim and being under water is that she has had a couple of ear infections and now even has swimmers' ear.  But she thinks taking the yummy pink medicine and having ear drops is all worth it!  Go figure!  Here are some shots of her jumping off the diving, I mean 'jumping' board.

Olivia up on the diving board and then mid jump.
Here she is under water and oh, so proud of herself!






Saturday, June 14, 2008

Olivia's Candle Walk Ceremony at Greenwood Montessori

June 13th was Olivia's last day as a preschooler.  Instead of a typical graduation ceremony the Montessori School prepares the children for a Candle Walk ceremony where they pass the flame to the next child, etc.  It was very beautiful!  First, all the children filed in one by one, and then lined up in front of the audience and sang us a beautiful song.  Next, they formed a circle taking turns with the candle.  It was so breath-taking and I cried like a baby.  My little baby girl is growing up and it finally hit me yesterday.  I couldn't stop crying!  I guess I have a million more opportunities to gush at the accomplishments my daughter and my other children make in the future.  Boy, I am a sap!  Anyway, here are some pictures of Olivia and her friends at the ceremony and the picnic afterward.  (by the way, my flash worked for everyone's pictures, except when I was taking them of Olivia...figures!)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Jack's 3rd Birthday Party--Invasion of the Superhero's!



Jack's 3rd Birthday Party was so much fun!  Originally it was planned for May 31st, but due to the crazy weather conditions, we notified all the guests and changed it to Sunday, June 1st.  It was definitely the better choice.  The party was outside and the weather was perfect.  The kids were even able to enjoy some pool time before they turned blue and the adults were able to relax under tents or umbrella's.  It was a lovely day full of fun, family and friends!

The theme of this year's shindig was Superhero's.  Jack absolutely loves Spiderman, Superman, Batman, and The Incredible Hulk, so he wanted to have a sort of costume party.  We had costumes available for the kids to play dress up and some friends wore their own.  We even had a brave father of one of Jack's buddies dress up as The Green Lantern.  It was awesome to see.

Everyone had such a great time!  I love having friends and family over to hang out and enjoy a nice spring day.  Here are some fun candid photos from the 'Super' Party:

Maddie Moo as 'Super Girl"


Cole as 'Robin'; Connor below as 'Robin' too!

Jack (as 'Spidey') hugging his buddy, Jackson (as 'Superman')

Jack, now dressed as Batman, opening some of his gifts:
Cake time!  Auntie Cheryl, Olivia (dressed as Wonder Woman), Connor, Jack, Hannah and Cole...the gang that are always at every B'day party!

Hannah Jane enjoying her cupcake!  She is always smiling and having fun!

Uncle John, Sawyer, and Jack (as Spiderman)

Olivia, Ava, Jackson and Jack

Food time!  And here is Jackson and Jack eating Doritoes!

Zane and Ava dressed in their Spiderman gear!

Cole, as Batman, and Hannah up in the Playhouse!

A party just wouldn't be the same without fun goodie bags!










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