Dancing Queen

These pictures are in honor of my sisters Amy and Jenny who used to make us watch them dance when we were growing up.  They had a signature move of kicking off the couch during their dancing routines that almost makes me cry from laughing so hard when I watch my little girls doing the same thing.....more power in air?  Apparently the girls gave Jenny and Amy a performance of their own with Leah their cousin while they were out in Utah visiting.  Thus Kate now has the nick name of Dancing Queen from some of her own signature moves dealing with legs in the air.  Glad to see the dancing gift was passed down to my girls!

Kate's New Baby Doll

Kate now has a live Doll to play with.  She calls her Baby Alice.  She can dress her in all sorts of baby clothes of HER choice.  Sometimes she even lets other family members hold her!

Kindergarten Graduation and Field Day

Sam and Garret Hall throwing water balloons at each other....they were TRYING to pop them on each other.

Last day of school.  Sam is making a huge bubble during their field day.  It was really a fun time!

This is Sam at his Kindergarten Graduation.  He doesn't like to be the center of attention.  Every time I would move to get a better picture angle of him singing or talking he would suddenly be behind a taller person no matter how small the person was!  It took me awhile and several Kindergarten productions to finally realize that he was intentionally moving so he wasn't seen.  He was so cute when he had to get up in front of everyone to say what his favorite part about Kindergarten was.  He said, "reading, writing, and playing!"  and then ran off stage.  I asked him later about what he said since I thought that his least favorite subjects were reading and writing...esp writing, he told me that these were the areas that he, "learned the most in."  He did progress in these areas the most even though he fought me doing it!  I am so proud of Sam and all of the progression that he has made in the last year.  He has really matured and is learning how to work hard and accomplish skills even when it is not as fun as running around and playing!  So much change in such a short time.  What a great and patient teacher he had this year.  She was able to pick up on things that Sam needed so that I could help him focus on them at home and school so that he could continue to progress.  She was a great influence on his ego and is a great teacher with young children.  A skill that is hard to come by!  We will miss her next year. 

Sam and Mrs Cronin.

ODE to the Grandfathers in our life!

Alice the day she was blessed and named.  It was a special day for us to have Grandpas, Lars, Dyan, Nora, and the Lester Family for the blessing.

Grandpas catching a snooze while Kate watches Dora. 


Gandpa Ramon & Dick (aka Par Putt) arrived together to check out their latest family addition.  Of course Grandpa Dick got Alice to smile!  That is exactly what he is so great at.  We had so much fun playing with our grandpas during their stay!  We went to gymnastics, out for pizza and live music at the park after, a Tball game and even to the BMX bike park for Sam's birthday (more pictures to follow).  The most important reason they came was to help bless Baby Alice and give her a name.  What a fun weekend we all had!  We love our grandpas!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Sam's last game of the season.  He loved playing and looked forward to every practice.  He was a pirate and played with the Lester boys (3 friends his age)which made for a very FUN time!  By the end of the season he could even hit from a pitch.  He was so excited.  He of course could run "18 or 19" around the bases(:

SAM TURNS SIX

Sam had a great  Birthday!  He had a family cake and presents to celebrate on his big day.  THEN a few days later his grandpas came into town.  He then had a BMX dirt bike party with his friends and he could show off his moves to his grandpas!

Uncle Lars and Grandpa Ramon at the BMX bike party.

Sam blowing out his birthday cupcake

Sam showing his riding skills

All of Sam's riding buddies!