So Far So Good

Life is going along smoothly for us.  Just the usual everyday routine trying to survive.  I love my kids to death and wish that they did not have to grow up.  Cody had a birthday last week.  It almost makes me sad that he is one year older.  I think that it was a great birthday.  I was extremely busy trying to make all of the necessary preparations for our annual gym recital but was able to spend an afternoon with him to celebrate.  My parents opened their pool a little early this year so he was able to go swimming with his cousins.  I love my Cody.  He has such a tender, sweet personality and is always telling me how much he loves me. 

Hallie Jo has been very busy the past few months.  She competed as a Level 5 gymnast this season and did very well.  She was also in an amazing Peter Pan Ballet put on by her studio.  Jenny Barlow does an amazing job with choreography and providing an entertaining experience.  What fun!  We also held our annual gym recital this month.  Glad that it is finally over and I can take a quick break before summer starts.  Cody did participate in the recital this year.  He kept telling me that he was NOT going to do it but he ended up doing most of it.  He is talented in the sport but has no desire to join in.  Maybe that will change someday and maybe he will use the skills he learns to help him in other sports, we will see. 

 My favorite gymnast!

She was very happy for taking first All Around but whether it is first or last she is still pretty happy no matter what. 

The theme of our recital was "I Can Fly" so all of the leo's had angel wings on the back and then we had some real angel wing that we took some amazing pics with some of the gymnasts.  I will post a few of those pics a little later because they are amazing!

She was part of the Silver Mist Fairy Court in one routine.

She also had a small solo at the beginning of the ballet in a storytime medley.

Her cousin has started to take ballet at her studio and it was so fun for them to be in the same show and in the same storytime medley.  What cute Girls!

She had a Pirate Day at school and this was the outfit that she put together.  She LOVED pirate day and asks every day if she can dress up like a pirate.

We do have some life changing choices that need to be made this year but hopefully we can take them one step at a time.  I had my toe operated on in March and am doing well.  It is healing very slowly but it is healing and I am so pleased with the outcome.  Hallie Jo is having her tonsils removed tomorrow in hopes that we can prevent any Sleep Apnea issues.  She has already started to hold her breath when she sleeps.  There are a few other things that we need to figure out but all in good time.  I will try and keep you posted :) 

My Christmas Wish

I did not send out Christmas cards this year, in fact I did not even attempt any homemade projects and can honestly say that it made a world of difference for me.  This year seems to have flown by.  I can remember last Christmas so clearly because it was last Christmas when my dad was in so much pain not sure what was going on and then only a couple weeks after Christmas we learned of his cancer.  What a ride this year has been.  We did get the greatest gift this Christmas.  We learned that dad's cancer is now in remission.  He will still have six more months of chemo, but it was the best gift I think we could have all hoped for.  I want to wish all of my dear friends and family a very Merry Christmas and let you know that I am thinking about you.  I wish for you all a year full of health and happiness.  I hope that this Christmas will bring many joyful blessings. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Nutcracker

Hallie Jo was able to participate in the Nutcracker again this year and landed the roles of the "Party Princess" in the first act and was the tumbler in the Buffoon number in the second act.  She did an amazing job.  She seems to be a natural at the acting part of ballet.  It was really a struggle for her this year because she has been suffering from severe anxiety so she was a mess in the weeks leading up to the performance because she was so nervous and anxious.  I am so proud of her for overcoming her fears and doing such a good job.  You would have never known that she was so nervous watching her on stage.  She performs like a pro and her tumbling was amazing.  What a special little girl!  These are the only pics I have right now but I am hoping to have some more soon. 

The Party Princess

With Clara and all the Party Girls

Waiting for Stage Call

Enjoying a little down time.

All her Buffoon Fiends

The best Buffoon Tumbler I have ever seen.

Halloween

So I decided to try and make Cody's Halloween costume this year.  I love the fact that my children are still young enough that I can help them decide what they would like to be and I can encourage them to do a pair costume.  This year Hallie Jo went as Little Red Riding Hood and Cody was the Big Bad Wolf.  I found this great wolf hat and made the rest of his costume.  He loved it at first but it did not stay on him very long because he could not move as fast from one door to the other so piece by piece his costume came off.  At the end of the day they were extremely exhausted.  Cody is my little sugar boy.  He loves sugar and would eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner if I let him.  Hallie Jo on the other hand doesn't really care for it which is great except for the fact that she will give her candy to Cody. 

Itty Bitty

This year we are enrolling Cody in what they call Itty Bitty Ball at the rec center.  Each session focuses on a different ball sport for boys.  We are hoping that this will give him a chance to experience a wide variety of sports of see if he takes to one more than the others.  At the beginning of October he participated in Football.  This was his first experience participating in a disciplined activity (besides gymnastics) with teachers other than his mom.  He was really nervous and shy at first but by the end of the session he was participating fully in each of the activities.  They did a really good job of exposing the boys to the most basic aspects of football and by the end of the session the 3 and 4 year old boys were kind of playing flag football.

He learned how to kick the football.

He learned how to make a goal and how to play defense.

He learned how to throw the ball (he has actually got an amazing throw).

And at the end they got to meet Leo the Lion.  This was the only picture we were able to take with Leo and I think that it turned out GREAT! (Somebody walked right in front of me holding a balloon when I snapped the picture)