Sharing Our Memories: March 2012

And Back To Reality...

I am not going to lie...the boys and I needed a break from one another!

I mean the two little boys...not my hubby.

Nolan is Mr Independent, Stubborn, Do It My Way On My Time Table right now.

To say we butt heads daily is an understatement.

He is testing and trying me on so many different levels.

The boy all of the sudden has an opinion or something to say about everything!

I will have to say I did not see that one coming

He can go from being a super sweet gentlemen/happy boy one second to the most defiant, stubborn little rascal I've met the next.

So a girls only weekend was just what Mommy and HK needed!

But Monday morning was back to reality!

I brought The Silent Assassin back some shades because he is always asking for some when we ride in the van. He was extremely thrilled with them! He even needed to wear them during breakfast.

I did miss the little rotten stinkers, but the break was good!

It prepared my patience for this...

He most definitely learned this kind of stuff from his sister.

He has even learned how to be the initiator of the creation.

There is a trail of blankets and rugs from the family room all the way down the hallway.

At the end of the line in the family room, he and Liam carried every toy possible out to the "swimming pool" that they had made. Please also note that since he was "swimming" he needed to have his shirt off (which he wanted to remain off all day...and then again today). I have accused Nate and Dad of going around with their shirts off all weekend since that seems to be Nolan's new thing.

Of course, Liam is a good little follower in mess creation....just like Nolan is to HK.

A side note of a few things Nolan said while riding in the van today...

We are on our way to pick up HK from school this afternoon.

Mr Independent is wearing his new shades and says..

NEO: Mommy I wuv Uncle Nick.

Me: That's great buddy. It's good to love people.

NEO: I wuv Papa too and Grandma Cassie (Cathe) and Mommy, Daddy, Wium, and Ha-e Kate (and a long string of other names too).

Me: It's a good thing to love people buddy. That makes Mommy happy and Jesus wants us to love people too.

NEO: I wuuuuv peoples! I do Mommy I wuuuv all peoples!

Now wait about 20 minutes later on the way back home with HK in the backseat now.

HK is starting to whine or talk sassy about something and I tell her to watch it because she is starting to talk ugly.

NEO: I get anudder sister. I want anudder girl.

HK: loud gasp... "Nolan"...then turns and starts crying

NEO continues: I get a diffwent sister. I put her in a box.

Me: Nolan why would you do that to your sister?

NEO: because (duh should've seen that answer coming)

Me: because why?

NEO: ...she is being ugwee. I put her in a box and drive her to Papa and Grandma Cassie's house and weave her there. I get anudder sister. Daddy spank your bottom. I get diffwent girl.

(and he continues on with a slew of other things)

Oh good golly! HK is crying real tears at this point, and I am pretty sure Nolan is pleased with himself. So we talk it out. Nolan apologizes and asks HK to forgive him. She does and the tears are quickly gone.

We get home and we are all best friends again while playing outside!

Dance Dupree 2012

This past weekend was HK's first dance convention.

I will admit I was hesitant about signing up for it in the beginning.

However, now that it is all over... I can confidently say I am so glad to have had this experience with her this past weekend.

I was worried about it being over the top and too tiring for her.

They geared the Phaze 1 group very well for their age, ability, and endurance.

We went up to STL Friday evening and all had dinner together at a nearby restaurant.

We were a bit on the edge of our seats on the drive to the STL.

About halfway there the clouds starting turning very ugly....pretty much on both sides. I told Mom I was just driving straight ahead...it was the only hope of light. We drove under this mushroom looking cloud that was extremely low to the ground and twisting back around. Then we drove through a hail storm. I was so glad to get past those clouds!!!

Then Saturday morning the classes started. They ranged form 30 minutes to an hour in length. They had breaks and the younger girls were done by early afternoon with their classes.

Then all of these crazy girls wanted to play and swim.
So that's what they did.

HK with her tap teacher. He was amazing and good with the kids too.

Hip hop was a lot of fun and very entertaining to watch.

I took several books to read on my kindle and hard copy...

didn't read a single page!

Allison, Allie, and HK

Jazz funk was a fun class. The teacher was fantastic with the kids and taught them a fun dance to a song from the movie Rio.

Then ballet they didn't learn a dance but rather worked on different ballet steps/technique,etc

Several of us went to STL Bread Company for lunch.

These girls would hardly eat for all of the giggling and talking.

It was fun to see HK interact with girls...it seems as if we've only known boys her age for so long.

Mom discovered that the girl to the right of HK is the granddaughter of one of her bridesmaids!

That was a fun discovery!

Saturday was Allison's birthday. So we had a "party" for her that night.

The girls had a blast!

They created a "show" where they dressed the birthday girl up as a princess.

All of the moms and grandmas are chatting on the beds.

Then this baby got dropped into the icing on the cupcakes.

We all had a good laugh over that one!

Then they danced...

...and made us laugh some more before we had to break it up to get to bed!

Day two...getting ready to start the first class.

All of the girls with their hip hop teacher.

The jazz teacher

HK with her jazz funk teacher

Her ballet teacher

HK & Kirsten working on their jump for the showcase that afternoon.

Their final pose of the routine.

They were so fun to watch together!

The ballroom at the end teaming with girls and girls and girls...and a few boys!

This is HK's group getting ready to perform their tap number.

You can see HK's pink bows in her pigtails.

All of the dancers from Touch of Class Dance Studio in HBG

HK with Mrs. Melonie

HK & Lilli wanting me to capture them in mid-jump off the stage...I was a bit early.

The weekend was a lot of fun. HK learned some new dances. She also got to know the girls in her dance class better! I got to know the moms and girls as well. I truly enjoyed that part of the weekend! HK also got to spend a lot of time with Lilli, which she truly enjoyed!!! It was also pure entertainment watching the girls. Nana went with us which made the weekend even more special.

I will have to say I look forward to many more of these weekends with my daughter through the years!