And so it begins...

Well, I am off to Washington for 3 weeks. This weekend is my 10-year High School reunion, the next is a wedding and the first weekend in Aug. is a wedding. I am so excited to get going, but there is so much preparation in order to be gone that long. So, I will not be around for a while, but there will be a slew of pictures and stories when I get back. Merry Summer!

Cross over much?

I saw this clip of Daughtry doing "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga and loved it! It just goes to show that a great song is a great song, whomever chooses to sing it.

Sarah's Tap Dance--turn off my blog music first

Please remember these are from dress rehearsal.

Cat's Ballet Dance

Please remember these are from Dress Rehearsal

Cat's Tap Dance Video

Please remember these are from Dress Rehearsal.

My Canning Exploits

Pickled Beets

Pickles

Tomatoes

The Trifecta of Canning Goodness

I bought a water bath canner and learned how to use it in June. I watched a friend do beets and thought I can do this. I made beets first and they actually turned out, so I broadened my horizons with dill pickles and tomatoes. All of the cucumbers, dill and tomatoes came from my very own garden. I am very proud of myself!

Father's Day

Snacks for Daddy

Jerky for Dad

The cutest little poem. The girls made little Father's Day presents at Art Camp. They were so excited to save them and give them to Brady.

The skittles bow tie that Sarah made.

The Skittles bow tie that Cat made at the Primary Activity. Very cute!

The BIG Recital! The Videos aren't working, I am going to try them later

Sarah in her "Tigger Bop" Tap costume

Catherine with her roses after dancing in her recital.

The Most Beautiful Ballerina Ever!

My Shining Tap Star

The girls had the busiest week, as I have mentioned before, getting ready for their recital. Tuesday night we washed their hair, put tons of gel in and foam curlers. Wednesday, we had pictures and a full run-through at the studio. Thursday night, I was going to put their hair in curlers again, but Cat's had all fallen out and I had to re-curl her hair anyway, so I decided just to use a curling iron instead. Friday we got them ready and took them to dress rehearsal, which as always was an absolute nightmare. I will have to post a video of each of the girls. Both are looking around at all the madness going on around them. One little girl wouldn't dance and kept running off stage, another stood next to one of my girl's and kept touching her or staring at her. Some of the girls got lost and stood in the wrong spot which is a huge distraction if you are 3 or 5 years old; one must always stand in one's assigned position or all hell breaks loose. We weren't aloud to video during the actual recital, so these are what I have.

The girls did such a good job and I wish that I could put the real dance recital dances up here, because both girl's were by far the best and looked so adorable...not biased or anything. I loved having Kelly and Chris and my sister, Suzi, here with me to celebrate and support my children. Then have talked about nothing else since, and what they will do next year. So, Thanks to everyone and of course to Brady, who puts up with my constant chatter about our kids, and smiles and loves us all whether we are dancing or covered in dirt from the back yard.

Just Another Day

Today was a very exciting day for the girls! They were up bright and early at 6a to get ready to get their pictures taken. I was not exactly excited to be up, but ended up needing every spare minute. The girls pictures went well and I hope that they turn out. They both looked so beautiful! Not for lack of trying. Putting make-up on a 3 and 5 year old is not easy, let alone full stage make-up! I put liquid eyeliner on Cat and some of it got in her eye. Apparently it stings and she started to cry....runny make-up. So, she had a little time out to finish, while I worked on Sarah, who was convinced that I was trying to poke her eye out with the mascara wand and she too started bawling....more runny make-up. So after starting over on both of them, they ended up looking slightly moist and splotchy, but it was done and they were happy and alive with both eyeballs. The studio was crazy today with all of the girls and Moms all jittery and excited. I happened to walk through on my way to watch Sarah dance and had to ask the photographer about their combined picture. Said photog was extremely androgynous and I had no idea whom I was speaking to. I asked Miss Angie, the girl's teacher, and she started to laugh and said she had no idea either, but wanted to know. We proceeded to giggle like little school girls trying to figure it out based on outward appearance, but in the end I just asked her name, which was Laura, much to Angie and my surprise. We were very wrong. What a day. We also went to the Fisher's to go swimming and now I am so tired I am going to bed early. Tomorrow is another busy day and this weekend is fast approaching.

The Beginning of the End

So this is the final week of my girl's dance classes. The recital is on Saturday and I am so excited! Tomorrow they have pictures and have to be in full make-up, hair and costume. Then on Friday it is dress rehearsal and again they have to be in full everything. Brady also has rehearsal that night with the girls for their Daddy-Daughter Dance that he is participating in, much to his dismay and my smug satisfaction. Then Saturday, Cat is in the 2p dance recital and Sarah is in the 7p recital. It kind of sucks that they weren't able to be in the same one and it is definitely more expensive to have to buy twice as many tickets for all of us, but worth it for the girl's to be able to see each other's recitals. I have been sewing costumes today for some of the Mom's who needed some alterations done and for my girls' costumes and then also making presents for Miss Angie, their teacher. I made her a necklace and some scrapbook pages of the girl's for her book that she got last year. I will take pics and post. Kelly and Chris, and my sister Suzi are coming in for the show and Carolyn can make Sarah's show so we will have a full house. It was nice because the girls started Art Camp today so I had almost two full hours to get everything done. It was very quiet. I haven't had two full hours where I just crafted for a while now. I always have housework or need a nap. I look forward to having time this month. Wish us luck this weekend!