Rin's Talent Show

It took R forever to decide what she wanted to do for her school's talent show and finally she decided to dance.  She's been taking ballet this school year and has enjoyed it.  She made up her own dance to the same music for her dance recital and she wore her recital costume as well.  Instead of having a school wide performance, they had grade level performances during the day.  The 2nd grade performance was on April 12th and it started at 10. 

In addition to her ballet performance, R also performed with Ms. Lucky's class.  They danced as a group to Wipe Out and it was super cute.  

Winter Woodsland Dance

I've been to a lot of dances over the years at WFMS but I went to my first elementary school dance on January 29th.  Williams Elementary School hosted a Winter Woodlands Dance for the students and their families.  It was great.  We used it as our family date night and we all got dressed up for the event.  A great time was had by all.

We ate dinner together at home before getting ready.  The boys wanted to wear their matching "red lobster" clothes and we found out that A's clothes are a bit too short.  His shirt was too short on his arms so we rolled his sleeves up.  W's clothes still fit him pretty well.  R wore her Christmas dress and E decided she wanted to wear her tutu.  I'm not sure where or how that idea came to her, but we agreed and she requested her hair be put in a ballerina bun.  I wore my new LSU dress and B work a nice button up shirt and sports coat.  We all looked pretty nice if I do say so myself.

The dance was pretty crowded but after getting inside, we danced a few songs as a family before A wanted to go off with his friends.  R danced with some friends, but always stayed pretty close to us and W/E stayed with us the entire time.  Once A found his friends, we didn't see much of him unless he was thirsty.  We all went to get some lemonade and cookies together and then decided to take a family photo with the photographer there.  The pictures will be developed and sent home with students later this month.  

The PTO that planned the dance did a great job and there was a hula hoop contest for students and parents.  I came in second next to the principal.  E was the cutest thing out there, dancing the cha cha slide.  I saw some high school volunteers watching her dance and taking pictures of her.  She pretty much stole the show.

When the dance was over, I took the kids home and B stayed to help break things down and clean-up.  He doesn't have a chance to volunteer very often so this was his chance to help out with the PTO and the school.   It was a great evening and just another reminder how God's plans surpass our own, because a year ago, we were considering renting the house in Alief again, but God knew better.  I'm so glad He knows what's best for me and I'm not left up to making all the decisions for my family without his guidance and grace.

Funny E Videos

Our little E is funny.  She seems to be silly and like to make the kids laugh, but as soon as she knows we are watching, she'll stop doing whatever she's doing.  I have to be sneaky when I try to video her.  Over the past few months, I've been able to catch her doing funny, silly, or gross things and I wanted to document those here.

She's 2.5 years old and the youngest of 4 but she's got her own little personality shining through!

Orlando-Our first family vacation

After an awesome week at camp, we drove 10 hours to Orlando, for 'vacation'.  Really, B had a conference for CBS and we tagged along to just have fun.  The conference was at the Gaylor Palms Resort in Orlando and we arrived at this massive hotel around 9:15 pm.  It was Eastern time, so it felt like 8:15 our time.  We must have been really tired because we all slept til 9 am Sunday morning.  We didn't have any food in the hotel room and room service was WAY to expensive, so we headed down the street to IHOP.  After eating breakfast we went to Publix to buy a few groceries for the week in the hotel room. Finally we made it back to the hotel and joined the Parle's at the pool.  Joe was already in a meeting, but Suzan was there with Faith and Lil' Joe.  We played at the pool for a few hours, then went back to the room to rest.  B had a session at 5, so I chilled with the kids in the room and fed them dinner.  Once B got out of his session, we changed into our swim suits and headed to the pool for a movie.  They showed Frozen on the big screen and the kids watched it from the pool.  It was another late night, but it's vacation!

Monday B left before any of the kids were awake, but after eating breakfast, the kids and I met Suzan and her kids at the pool.  This pool had a 3 story spray-ground and 4 water slides off the back.  It was hours and hours of entertainment.  We watched the fish feeding at 1:00 inside the atrium of the hotel.  We at lunch in the hotel room and had rest time.  Monday evening we went with the Parle's to Downtown Disney.  We ate at Wolfgang Puck Express and did a little shopping before hitting the dance party.  The DJ was awesome and we danced for 2 hours.  After the dance party, we headed back to the hotel and Rin spent the night with Faith and Joe stayed with us.  The kids had a great time and it was fun to let the kids have a sleep-over with friends.

Tuesday we did the whole pool and lunch thing again.  After rest we walked around the atrium looking for the hidden panthers waiting for the alligator feeding.  The gator feeding was so cool to watch, but pretty crowded.  We shared pizza with the Parle's and got froyo then watched Paddington Bear at the pool. I was starting to feel a little sad because I knew vacation was ending:(

Wednesday morning was spent packing and getting ready to leave.  The kids and I took a load down to the van, and then finished the panther prowl.  B got out of his session and finished loading up the van and we left around 11 am.  Our goal was to make it back to Hattiesburg, by way of Spanish Fort to see Bubba.  He had bowling league but he was able to order food for us so when we arrived, we sat down to eat.  I had friend pickles and they were VERY good.  It was really good to see him and the kids loved hanging on Uncle Bubba.  We got to Hattiesburg late, but we were used to keeping late nights for the past 2 weeks. 

June Date/ Wedding

Our Small Group has put date night on hold for the summer but we got a date night in June because Michael and Michelle were getting married.  Neither of them are from here, but they decided to get married in Chapel Hill.  If the wedding had been in New York, we would not have gone.  I knew Michelle first working at WFRMS as a special ed teacher.  We played powder puff football together and hung out occasionally outside of school.  She got another job working with an autistic class in chapel hill, but even though she didn't work at WFRMS anymore, we still saw each other every few months.  I met Michael second when we were on the same team together in 2009-2010.  It was an awesome team with Ulliman and we had so much fun!  Our classrooms were right beside each other and the friendship began.  Although I met Michelle first, I'm much closer to Michael because we work right beside each other and have been for 4 years. I love them both and they make a great couple.  They had been engaged for about 1.5 years (a long time), but in that time, moved into an apartment together, then bought a house.  Not exactly the path we took, but it works for them I guess.  They have so much love and sweetness in them and they will have beautiful children one day.

So the Gillam's babysat the older 3 for us.  We took Noelle because she's still small and quiet and would have to nurse throughout the night.  She was in her stroller most of the night.  Since this was a wedding, we had to get dressed up more than a normal date night.  I straightened my hair and actually put make up on.  I can't remember the last time I work make up, probably before W was born and that was 2 years ago.  Isn't that terrible.  I started slacking big time on our monthly date nights.  I wouldn't change out of my school clothes sometimes.  I need to do better about that this school year!  Anyways, we got dressed up and dropped the kids off at 4.  Here's what they did:

 Keith and Jen are wonderful friends and we will return the favor sometime soon I hope. 
Here we are off on our date :)

The wedding was at Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill at 5.  We got there, found parking and made our way.  It was a small group and we knew a few people from WF there.  The ceremony was very nice and the wording was beautiful.  Michelle looked gorgeous of course and Michael cried when he saw her coming down the isle.  The ceremony was short and then we had drinks while they took pictures and the room was transformed for the reception.  Dinner was served along with dancing and a lot of fun.  B and I hadn't been to a wedding in a while, but we had a great time. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kline

Michelle dancing with parents

Michael dancing with his mom

Civitan Camp 2012

I was so excited to be back at camp after missing last year.  W was only 10 weeks old so it would have been hard to be at camp and really 'be at camp' with an infant.  We visited, but at times, that was even harder than just missing the entire week.  After driving 15 hours with the kids by myself, it was all worth it, to be back at camp.  I was in charge of the games at the pool for youth week.  I primarily worked with J. Forrester, and T. Ward.  Our life-guards rotated and Heather/Neal came to the pool in the morning, while April/Yancy worked the pool after rest time.  The kids came down to visit twice and R & A had a blast.  R was great about going with some older staff brat girls, and A wanted to just hang with B.  We looked forward to the kids coming and spending the week with us at camp, but right now, they are too young.  Plus, the week(s) that we are at camp, it's great grandparent time with R A & W. 

Some highlights from camp...

1. Staying at Native Village.  The counselors we had this year at NV were awesome.  I tried very hard to get to know them and encourage them throughout the week.  One of the guys that impressed me the most was Colt's counselor Logan.  He did an amazing job with Colt and I was so glad to witness that each day.  John Lloyd was NV's group leader and he did a great job as well.  I mean, honestly, all the guys did a fantastic job and it paid off because for the first time, Native Village won the Abbie Award.  I also had a good time getting to know Rob better this year.  B usually works boating with Rob, but I haven't really spent a lot of time talking with him.  Rob has a huge heart for Civitan Camp and his contributions are amazing!

Christian lost his tooth and got a visit from the Tooth Fairy!

Matthew and Drew

Logan and Colt

Luke and Matthew sitting with Spencer

Our group picture before the fish fry!

Native Village after winning the Abbie Award!

aka Naked Village

 

Hoy and Robert at the pool

Sweet Dylon

2.  The slip-n-slide and the pool.  I had to run/facilitate games at the pool, which I love.  But in addition, we had a really big water slide.  It was a inflatable slide that had a baby pool at the bottom.  The kids loved it and I have to admit, I enjoyed it a time or two myself.  I went down with Heather a few times, and again with Clayton:)

Christian playing basketball

Ian loving on his counselor Hunter

Christopher reading poolside

sweet little Korbin

Jonathan and I had a blast swimming together

Handsome Bryce

Heather and Jordan

Jonathan DeLoch taking a moment for a picture

The Lauren's from the Lodge

Jonathan Glaze loving the baby pool

Bryce with Maggie...I think she liked him:)

Flove!

The life-guard crew

Clayton and I on the slide!

Newcomer Rope with me relaxing

3. Seeing Clayton and Lynda Grace.  I love these 2 kids...well I guess I shouldn't say kids.  Clayton is 22 and is about ready to move up to adult week.  Of course he's a charmer and all the girls love to dance with him.  But whenever he came to the pool, he was right by my side.  Either at the slide, in the pool, or in a chair.  He's so sweet!  Lynda Grace had a weird first few days, not wanting to swim.  But by Tuesday, she was back to normal and came swimming with me.  We even danced on Wednesday when it rained and we had to get out of the pool:(  Lynda was sitting on the ground and I reached my hand out to help her up.  She got up (unexpectedly) and danced with me to Baby Baby Baby by J.Beiber.  After being an area parent 2 years ago, Lynda Grace has quickly become a favorite.

4. Playing Mafia.  Every night, the counselors and staff at Native Village would play mafia.  I introduced the game to them Monday night since the counselors had no free-time.  We played 2 games and then it was approaching midnight so I went to bed.  We played every other night after counselor free-time was over.  I usually was the narrator, but others stepped up to the plate so I could play too.  The very first game I played, I was killed off in the first round...so sad!!!  Again, the guys at NV were a lot of fun.

5. Passing out candy with Mr. Dan.  All my camp memories at the pool include Mr. Dan.  When I first was on staff, he was still the head life-guard and was in charge.  Things are different now, but I still love being around him.  Mr. Dan passed out candy each night to staff and I made a candy run with him one night.  It was a lot of fun visiting the other areas that I don't get to, and seeing all the other decorations.

6.  Building relationships.  I love camp for the obvious reasons of the campers, but I also love the relationships with counselors and staff that I build.  Heather, Neely, and Terri are always great to be around and I look forward to staying in the science cabin with them next year:)  Jamie is great and always keeps me smiling.  He said he would make red life-guard shirts for us next year with our names on it.  How cool is that?  I look forward every year to my catch up time with Neal Boone and all his endeavors.  I started really good conversations with Ms. Kay about marriage, kids, and teaching.  There was a Jesuit boy named Seth that I had great time with and he said he would for sure come back next year.  Not very many of the Jesuit boys repeat, but I would love to see him come back!  I got to know a few staff better that I hadn't really every talked to at all:  Max, Daniel, Yancy, Rob (weird they are all boys).  I hope to continue building these camp friendships and strengthening the ones already established.

I had a great week and wish I could've worked adult week as well.  B and I both agree that we are in a transition state right now, and will both be back for 2 weeks soon.  Our kids will come with us one week and stay with grandparents the other week.  We did go visit adult week before driving back to NC.  I got to see Kevin Dudek and he looked great!  He loved W and it was so sweet to see Kevin interact with such a small child.

Riding horses while visiting adult week

A was nervous at first but loved it!

B, W, and Antoine

Getting spoiled by Sarah

Thor "the King"

A making himself at home at Native Village

My favortie-Kevin

So sweet!

Kevin loved Wesley

Still rocking the headband while driving back to NC