random Friday...

like i mentioned on Tuesday, this week was parent observation week at dance...Monday night was Tap & Wednesday night was Acrobatics...

if u remember, last year there were only 4 girls in Acro 1...then one of the girls broke her arm & couldn't finish out the season...that left 3 girls to preform in the recital! which was fine - the girls had a really cute number & totally enjoyed the season...but u can do so many more fun routines/numbers/stunts with more girls!

this year?
they're up to 13!!!

they started with 8...but just this week, 5 more joined!

this is, by far, my girls' very favorite dance class! i've told u how much they love flipping, doing stunts & standing on their heads at home!

well, all that practice has paid off...both girls do really well in class! Gabby is so good with her form & technique, that the instructor uses her when she needs to show the class the "proper" way to do something ;0)

the studio director actually contacted me yesterday...she said that Gabby's instructor had spoke with her & felt that Gabrielle was ready to move up to Acro 2...& since the Acro 1 class has grown so much recently, she could move up now (mid-season) if we were interested

unfortunately, Gab is super shy! she doesn't know any of the older girls in Acro 2 & is afraid that she won't know how to do everything they do...i explained to her that of course she wouldn't know how to do everything at 1st...but that the instructor knows that, & that it's totally normal to feel nervous! i told her that i'm confident she'd quickly catch on & would love it! but she didn't want to hear it...she's content being in Acro 1 & wants to finish out the season there...she told me that next year she'll move up

i really wish i could talk her into it...that she'd be more confident in herself & would give it a try...but i'm also happy that she enjoys what she's doing so much! & i don't want to push her into something she's not comfortable with...next year, we'll give Acro 2 a try ;0)

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Wednesday, i got a call from the school nurse...Gabby had been complaining of a sore throat & was now running a fever...i left work to go pick her up - but by the time i got to the school, her fever was gone

since the school nurse informed me that there had been 1 confirmed case of Strep Throat in Gab's class recently, i went ahead & took her to the doctor...her Strep test came back negative & the doc said her throat "doesn't look all that exciting" - no swollen glands, no congestion in her lungs...his diagnosis was a virus - keep it up with the Motrin & Chloraseptic

she was fine the rest of the day...carried on as normal, even went to Acro practice...but then got another fever right before bed...she woke up feeling just fine yesterday & probably could have gone to school, but i brought her with me to work instead...she hung out in an empty office, watching movies & napping all day & has felt great ever since (& even went to school today)

but of course, she couldn't be the only kiddo to get it...the school nurse called me again yesterday around 2pm to say Jaden was now running a fever...when we got home after picking him up from school, i gave him some Tylenol & he went straight to bed...he actually asked if he could take a nap, which told me he was most definitely not feeling well! (Jaden doesn't sleep...no naps, & rarely at night) he slept for about 2hrs, then woke up feeling peachy keen

all 3 kiddos ate a great dinner & played Wii for about an hour...everyone did homework & the evening went on as normal...his fever didn't pop back up until he woke up this morning...he stayed home with Curtis today & they just met me for lunch...he's been fever free since his last dose of Tylenol at 7am this morning - i'm praying that's the last of those sickies!

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a friend recently posted a blog about the Pictures of Hope for Haiti that her children were making & planning to send with a friend that's making a trip to Port-au-Prince soon with Mission of Hope

i immediately thought about my kiddos...one of the most frequent discussions we have surrounding the earthquakes in Haiti are about the children...my kiddos want to know more & more about what will happen with the kiddos of Haiti, how things are going there, what actions the rest of the world is taking to help out

so we got busy...

it's so hard to think about children losing not only their homes & possessions, but possibly their entire family! our hearts ache with the thought of a child going through something so terribly devastating!

my girls poured their little hearts into this project (we did this while Jaden was sick in bed yesterday)...our only goal with these cards/pictures was to bring a smile to a hurting child's face...

we prayed over the cards & asked that God to use them to comfort whoever receives them...

a little bit of hope...sharing God's love...

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just a little reminder...

don't forget to donate to my Relay For Life team...or let me know if u're interested in joining/walking with us in May

thx for ur support!

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we're supposed to get some snow starting tonight...Winter Weather Advisory until 11pm tomorrow...accumulations of 3-5 inches...& it's already on its way...

(green is rain, blue is snow)

seriously?!
rn't we done with winter yet?!

i'm telling u what...that groundhog better NOT see his shadow next week! & if he does...he better run & hide!

i've got 3 cake orders this weekend...all pretty elaborate & detailed...& i really don't want to deliver them in the snow...thankfully, i've got 4-wheel drive - but i'd still rather not have to use it!

i hope u all have a great weekend...i'll see u back here on Monday with some cake pics...try & stay warm until then!!!