Talent Show

Lindsay's 1st grade class had a talent show today. Her teacher sent a note home last week letting parents know and to have the kids get something ready if they wanted to. Linds had decided to show a picture that she'd colored, but over the weekend (lots of girl cousins.....playing High School Musical....yada yada yada, etc. etc.) she changed her mind and wanted to sing and dance. Linds chose a song that "Gabriella" (her favorite) sings and even asked her teacher if she could wear a dress to the talent show. She was very specific when it came to hairstyle too..."I want it to look just like Gabriella's, its all the way down, and has little curls all over." She was really shy about practicing in front of me, but I finally got her to do it a couple of times. Linds also told me that she didn't want me to come and watch, "it would make me more nervous Mom." "That's okay," I told her. BUT how can you not watch your little first grader at her very first talent show?! I stood outside the door where she couldn't see me, and listened to her. She did great! When she came home from school she felt a little sad because she didn't think she'd done very well and she'd forgotten a little bit of the song. Then I told her that I had been there and I KNEW she'd been fabulous! She wasn't mad....well, maybe kinda sorta. What's a Mom to do?

This is a video of her practicing the night before:

Ellie's 1st Birthday

Happy Birthday Ellie! I can't believe she's 1!!!! Her first year has just flown by so quickly...cliche, I know, but it is so true! We love our little Ellie to pieces! I really think she enjoyed her first birthday party and all the attention she got!

Despite the "deer in headlights" look, she really did love her stuffed animal. She really loves soft things, and kept hugging the elephant and laying her head on him. So cute! (I just looked at this photo after I posted, and noticed that Brad looks like he's asleep...he's really not, the party wasn't that boring! :)

This pic was taken the next morning, but it was so cute how much she was loving her elephant.

Ellie and Rian checking out the new toy. It was a hit!

Like I've said before, she loves soft things, and the new pajamas were no exception!

Also taken the next morning. Don't you just love the new jammies! (I'm a sucker for new jammies!)

Wanting to play with her new toy, but having to get her soft blankie out of bed with her!

Make a wish sweetie!

I loved all the "faces" we got while she figured out what exactly she was supposed to do with her cake.

"Uh, seriously Mom...you want me to put my hands in it?"

"I'm not so sure I want to get that dirty."

"Well, I guess it is soft...it couldn't hurt to try just a little."

The next photo/video is supposed to be of Ellie FINALLY getting into her cake, but since I'm techie-challenged, I didn't get the video on this post...but scroll down, it's there. Along with a cute video of Ellie walking with her new toy.

Syrup as the newest hair product...it's great for conditioning!

I turned my back for 2 seconds and this is what I found...Ellie wearing her breakfast! She had mooshed her hands in the pancakes and syrup and then proceeded to gently massage the new product into her hair. I must say, she did a great job of distributing it evenly too. Then she put the plate on her head as her new hat...I guess she didn't feel complete without a new spring hat...what a fashionable lady!

Moments like these...

Being a mom is the best! Especially when your craziest child comes up with something so sweet and out of the blue. Love it! I was sitting at the table eating my lunch and Tanner had already finished up and had put on his boots to go outside. He opened the back door, and right before stepping out, he turned back to me, with his pointer finger raised and said, "Stay in the backyard, and on the slide - don't get wet." (Our slide doesn't empty out all the water from rain and stuff, so it usually has a small puddle at the bottom). I smiled at him and told him I loved him. He smiled back at me and closed the door, but before stepping off the porch he turned around, looked through the glass and said, "I love you too Mommy." I love this boy!

Our Adventures in California

We finally made it to California....and it was definitely worth the wait. We had such a great time, I already want to go back! We visited the beach, Disneyland, Sea World, and most importantly...Josh's baptism. Josh was super cute...all smiles and so very happy! (Josh is my nephew...my brother Tyler's son). Here are a few photos (okay, so there's more than a few, but count your lucky stars I didn't put them all in) to fill you in on our family vacation....

A vacation wouldn't be a vacation without swimming! (at least I remember that being one of my favorite things to do on vacations from when I was little)

My dad pushed Ellie in her 1st swing ride......she loved it! My parents were in California as well to see Josh's baptism, so we got to hang out with them too!

Tanner and Spencer "CHEESING" it up for the camera. We went to an Easter Egg Hunt at the park with Tyler's family.

Josh and Meagan posing for a picture.

It was a chilly day at the beach, upper 60s, but the sun was warm and everyone had a good time. You can't really see, but the waves were HUGE!

Silly Tanner, running from the waves.


Despite the cold, Ellie really enjoyed the beach, especially when we took her down to the water. She loved the feeling of the waves rushing past her legs as they washed back to the ocean.

Watching Josh's baseball game. Doesn't he look adorable all suited up! Wish I'd gotten a picture of his face?!

Loving our first experience (as a family) of Disneyland! Ellie isn't in many Disneyland pictures, she was sitting in the back of the double stroller, sleeping or just being a good girl. She was a little sick, but such a trooper!

Waiting in line to ride Autopia. It was sooooo cold!

The kids really liked getting their picture taken with any Disney character they saw...especially Tanner.

Our nephew, Austin, (Brad's sister's oldest boy) performed at Disneyland with his high school ballroom dance team. He is amazing!

Notice that we're all smiling at the camera and Tanner is ignoring us. He refused to look while my mom took the picture. I thought it was a perfect picture and really expressed how he was acting at the time. He really did have fun, but it was getting late in the day.....

This was one of my favorite pictures.....if you look really close, Tanner is just grinning!

I've always loved the Shamu Show at Sea World!

Notice that Linds has her arm in and Meag doesn't. Linds is a little more brave than Meagan with stuff like that. Actually, I really don't blame Meagan at all.....it was a sting ray.....the Sea World staff did say that they'd had their stingers clipped, but you can never be too safe, right?!

They had the Sesame Street characters at Sea World and we couldn't pass up the chance to get a picture with them. Tanner LOVED Elmo, and kept going back (3 times at least) to give Elmo hugs!

Just hanging out with the cousins. Tyler and Suzanne just purchased a home in Fontana, and they invited us to stay with them. Their house is beautiful and I was serioulsy so sad to leave their home....do you think I could've packed up the kitchen and rented a UHaul to get it back?!

One funny thing I do have to mention...notice the dolphin Lindsay is holding...we told the kids they could get something while we were at Sea World and Lindsay had the hardest time deciding between the dolphin and Shamu. (Seriously! It took her almost 15 minutes at the gift shop to decide! And that was after a whole day of walking around Sea World thinking about it). So I asked her what made her choose the dolphin, and she (very non-chalantly) said, "Because it passed the most tests." What?! "It's taller, easier to cuddle with, and he's very soft." Oh! I was impressed.

The End.....or should I say To Be Continued?!