"Dance class today, mom?" For the last couple months Avery and Presley have frequently asked me that question. My good friend Kaedi Fahlberg (Garvin) lives in Durham right now with her family, and she told me about a dance teacher who teaches 2 year olds for 1/2 hour a week. Sydney, Kaedi's daughter has been dancing too. We have gone every week for two months and both girls are definitely going to be sad the next time I have to answer their question, because we went to dance class today for the last time (at least for a while anyway).
This was the scene the first few times: the coaxing of Presley by mom and teacher while everyone looked on. Eventually, she did decide things were too exciting to miss, and changed her attitude.
Avery (in purple) on the other hand, was enthusiastic from the first moment. She proved to be one of the best listeners and one of the most coordinated in the class!
Some of the activities included twirling and throwing stuffed animals into the air, leaping with magic wands and doing glorified actions to Itsy Bitsy Spider, Pop Goes the Weasel and Ring Around the Rosies. They even stirred and squished applesauce with their fingers and toes. In this picture they are painting the sky with their toes - they would take turns choosing a color and a subject matter and then lean back and go for it. Pink princesses, rainbow clouds, purple flowers...

This part was my favorite! They would all line up and wait their turn to "tiptoe" down the masking tape line, leap over the horizontal line, twirl in the square and do a leg lift on the cross at the end. It was so entertaining to watch each little person, especially when they did their leg lifting!
Avery twirling (and Presley waiting her turn with the others).
The best shot of a leg lift I could ever get...
Toward the end of the two months, they learned a little dance (or some actions) to the song "I'm Taking Home a Baby Bumble Bee." Avery and Sydney are holding the bumble bee and Presley has her buzzing wings out in this picture.

I'm so glad I put forth the effort to let them have this experience. Yes, they are only two and by no means did they really learn to dance, but the tutus, the music, the "great jobs!" and the looking forward to a 1/2 hour each week was priceless!

Berries and bugs

Strawberry picking! We didn't know what to expect...they were enormous and red and they did squish easily in little hands. There were rows and rows of big beautiful green plants. We took home three full buckets but didn't seem to make a dent in the harvest. In the end though, I think the lady bug stole the show!

Hope your Easter was hippity hoppity happy!

March moments

This easel was a Christmas thing and we've probably only done this:only a handful of times since then. Because clean-up takes longer than the production of the works of art of course.
It really is worth it though.


Dad, Caleb and most importantly our good friend next door built some amazing storage shelves in the garage.

Grandma Jeanne came to visit! This is the scene only minutes after arriving home from the airport with her. They LOVE her attention, her stories, her hugs, her smiles, etc. etc. etc.

Vanilla ice cream cones on the front porch.

Nothing better than that.

We watched five caterpillars turn into butterflies - kind of. We actually missed seeing the butterflies emerge from the cocoons. I know, I know, what's the point then, right? We did give them some juicy oranges and watched them eat and then reluctantly let them fly to freedom after a few days.



Avery and Presley graduated to two-piece pajamas that have been very much needed ever since the diaper days have passed us by. (It's not fun to unzip and peel off the one-piece kind in the middle of the night and watch Avery shiver on the toilet.)

Before and After

Instead of a before and after picture of Presley's arm, I decided to display these. Her hair has gotten longer and her morning looks are priceless. But after a few minutes, she dolls up really well! It's kind of amazing - just like the pink cast. After only 5 weeks, her arm is as good as new.

New and much improved...

It's PINK
and WATERPROOF!

Presley's "BIG owie"

Yes, she broke her arm - both bones in her forearm. And after 6 hours in the emergency room, she looked like this. At one point during all the waiting, we were laying face to face on the pillow on the bed in our makeshift emergency room, her little nose touching mine. I couldn't help but think how nice it was to have some one-on-one time with her, even if it was in those circumstances.
We had to cut the sleeve off of her pajamas that first night and have since had to hunt for short-sleeved shirts to wear...
Avery refers to it as "Pressey's big owie." Presley loves all the increase of love and attention - and is doing fine!