Sweet Sweet Summer

I love summer evenings.  The kids playing, the yummy light.  This picture makes me want to be a kid again.  Others in the neighborhood have called this group a "matched set."  Four little blond kids, each paired up with a a friend nearly (or exactly!) the same age.  Although we won't live here forever, it makes me never want to move.

 This picture is on here for no reason except that I want her hair.

Some kids eat.  Some kids read Zoobooks.

 This was hysterical.  They were both fighting over the swing.  But Cooper looks like he's enjoying taunting Jake.

 Apparently she is ready for Sports Illustrated.  I have NO IDEA why she did this. 

The girls used the chalk to make "make-up."

"I very strong boy."

Fish

Growing Up

Big boy bed.  Big boy undies.

Dancing Girl

So, we arrived back from Spain (Ah-mazing) and went straight into ballet mode.  As you may remember from last year, the recital is no joke.  Last year the line was a mile long just to drop off your dancer and I swear the recital was over three hours, which is nuts considering we are talking about three and four year olds, some of whom make up their own dance, pick their nose, or face the back of the stage through the entire performance.

Luckily this year the studio smartened up and divided the studio into two performances.  So the entire event was much more manageable -- and enjoyable.  Last year I was terrified to drop my baby off -- this year I had no problem dropping off my confident four year old at the dress rehearsal.
   

 

The above were taken on Saturday -- the day of the dress rehearsal.

By Sunday -- the day of the recital -- my confident girl crumbled a bit -- and the nerves set in:

She cried when I dropped her off and asked me to please stay with her.  I held her as long as I could until they adamantly demanded that no more mommies could be backstage.  And then I told her I had a special trick for her.  I whispered in her ear that if you pretend that everyone in the audience is in their underwear, you will no longer be nervous!  Such an overused silly trick -- but what do you know, she thought it was the best idea ever!  She was so excited about this little trick.  When I tried to mention it again she frantically covered my mouth and said "No mommy!  This is just OUR secret!!"

And then this happened:

She had a blast on stage.

They danced to "It's In His Kiss."  A little risque for this age if you ask me... but it went right along with the Sleeping Beauty theme.

 She found all of us in the audience and even stopped to wave.  She told me later that she was laughing because she was picturing all of us in our underwear.  I told her I hoped my underwear was at least pretty.

 

We celebrated with all three "moms" with frozen custard at the Dairy Godmother.

And yes, we'll probably do this all again next year.

Popsicles on the Porch

This is becoming a nightly occurrence.  And oh how I love these kids.