Little Ballerina

Kenzie is the one in the middle -- no skirt

Mackenzie started ballet last Thursday and I think she loves it. She looked so cute in her little tights, leotard, and ballet shoes with her hair back in a bun. Last week it was very difficult to really peek in and look at her because I had two boys with me. I was exhausted after class last week and I didn't even dance. Mackenzie is in class with three little cousins, Audrey, Jill, and Reece. That makes it fun for her but I think it complicates things a bit for the moms until we start carpooling. Audrey and Reece have big brothers, Jack and Garrett, and they are best buddies with Grant. I don't know if that takes any more explaining... 2- 5 year old boys and 1- 6 year old boy in a dance studio?!

But that's not all. In addition to that I have a 1 year old that doesn't walk yet but LOVES to explore and get into things. He doesn't want to be held anymore. He wants to crawl or walk along chairs, furniture, etc. We did take a little break to go walk around the Farmer's Market. Ballet class is only 45 minutes so it's not really worth the drive home and back. And if parking wasn't so crazy I would have considered it. This Thursday, however, was the last week of Farmer's Market for the summer, so thank goodness parking will be available again. This week worked out very nicely because Talmage was able to come right after his soccer game and take our boys home so I could stay and peek in on Kenzie a little more. It was so much easier to watch! Last week I had my camera but didn't take very many good pictures; hard to hold a camera steady while holding a squirmy little boy. Kenzie tries really hard and sits very still and quietly when waiting for her turn across the floor.

Teacher Leslie

Teacher Lauren

It's hard to believe I'm taking my own little girl to dance. Valley Oak School of Dance is the same dance studio I went to as a young girl and danced with for 12 years. Teacher Leslie was my teacher since I started. There was a bit of reminissing as I walked out of the studio with my little dancer. The class after Mackenzie's is the advanced ballet with the oldest girls dancing pointe. Those girls look so young! It doesn't seem that long ago that I was in their shoes, yet it feels like forever. I so enjoyed my years of dancing. My senior year I helped teach a few classes just like Kenzie's "Teacher Lauren." The memories... Those little girls are so cute and say and do the funniest things.

Kenzie and her cousin Jill

Earlier in the day before Kenzie's ballet class, I asked her to tell me her 3 favorite things to do. This is what she said.

1. Play
2. Ballet
3. Get Rocks

She actually added get married at the end, but I'll let her add that to her list when she's about 25. On a side note, she did tell a little boy her age that she's going to marry him. It left him speechless (and I'm sure very confused). She also tells me that she's going to be Minnie Mouse when she grows up. I would be okay with that. She'll probably be short enough. As far as getting rocks...I'm not sure where that comes from? She is a little girly but she likes to play in the dirt and collect rocks. Every time we're at the ranch she comes home with a few. That's my little ballerina.

A very small portion of her rock collection. Yes, just normal, find-in-the-driveway rocks.

**By the way...I almost didn't post any pictures when I saw how BLURRY they were. I can take pictures that aren't blurry but just not while holding a little boy. My dinky little camera doesn't help either.

Back to School

Back to school already. Grant loves school so he was excited to go back. I admit I was dreading it just a bit because of the transportation delima. Grant rode the bus home from school most days last year. I know it wasn't good of me to complain but I wished the bus could just drop him off in front of our house. It had to drive right in front of our house to circle the park to end up at the bus stop anyway. Most days I had to wake Tyler up from his naps...never fun to wake a peacefully sleeping baby.
Well this year, there is no bus transportation for kids within city limits. Makes sense...I know and I agree with it, however, I don't love it. I would rather take away buses than teachers. There are a LOT of kids that go to school and a LOT of cars that drive to drop them off and pick them up. I really shouldn't complain... It's wonderful that he has a great school to go to. So....first day of school. He was happy. He was excited. He met his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Harris. He has two friends from his class last year, Max and Ernesto. He is excited about his own desk. He thinks it's so fun to play on the big playground. It's a little weird having him gone all day. That hasn't been as exhausting for him as I anticipated. He's adjusted very well. I called my parents after Grant's first day of school and told them I just dropped off my First Grader for his first day of ALL day school. My dad replied that he had just sent his Twelfth Grader off to school...his last kid to send off for his last year of school. (Quickly I felt I wasn't going to get much sympathy for taking my first grader)I didn't hear much about his first day of school -- he doesn't divulge much information no matter how many questions I ask. I did hear that he chased some girls at recess. That was surprising! but it made me smile. Grant is such a shy and reserved boy that I didn't know he had that in him. Way to go Grant. Well...as always, this year will fly by and before we know it Summer will be here again. Talmage is convinced that Kenzie will start Kindergarten next Fall but I'm a little hesitant. I'm not ready for my kids to grow up so fast. Kenzie is so close to the deadline for starting school. Her birthday is November 8th and the cutoff is December 1st. My sister Brittany and I both have November birthdays. We started school early and seemed to turn out okay -- But my mom wishes she would have started us later. Why make kids grow up so fast? We'll see what happens.

Our Summer

Highlights of our summer. As always...it went by too fast but we had a lot of fun!!

• Swimming -- And the kids have no tan lines to prove it :: they just don't get color!
  
• Grass in the backyard -- Nice to have it GREEN
• County Fair -- Talmage's students did well and we all had a great time.
• Jelly Belly Factory -- Love free jelly bellys!
  
• Disneyland -- Kids had fun :: We had fun
  
• Tyler and Grant's birthdays -- What cute, good boys we have
  
• Jenn and kids visit -- So fun to play with cousins!
  
• Pinecrest -- Talmage's lone hike around the lake :: Yummy ice cream cones :: Party boat
  
• Santa Cruz -- Loved $.75 hot dogs, rides, drinks, cotton candy! And finally had a deep fried twinkie!
  
• Library reading program -- I love that my kids love to read
  
• Summer movie festival -- I love free movies!
  
• National Night Out at the park -- Conveniently located right across the street
• G&G Allen, Taylor & Shalie visit -- Columbia, Fun Works, Camping in the backyard, Farmer's Market, Chocolate Cake, Swimming... So much fun! We love having visitors