weekend recap - minus recital...

as u all know, last week was SUPER busy 4 us - practices, tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals, 2 seperate performances...recital mania!

so of course, i have lots of pics & videos of the fun!

i'm gonna recap our weekend now - minus the recital stuff...it really needs it's own post ;0)

saturday morning, the girls were up bright & early - despite Gabrielle's late performance friday night...Corinn & i had gone on a "date" 2 watch Gabby perform (she was in both recitals - Corinn was only in the saturday performance)...Gabby did awesome & it was nice 2 b able 2 sit & enjoy the show with Corinn! we didn't get home until after 10pm, but they both were up & outside enjoying the morning sun 1st thing saturday (u can see Gabby's still got the bun in her hair from the night b4)


after daddy made breakfast 4 every1, we headed 2 the park...it was a gorgeous day! daddy & i enjoyed strolling around the track while the kiddos burnt some energy on their bikes


we made a slurpee stop, then headed home 2 get ready 4 the afternoon recital performance
see next post 4 details - but here's a peek at the roses the girls got at the end of the show...


after the recital, we ran home 2 quickly change the girls & then headed 2 WVa 2 a family reunion - the Brady reunion! my mom's family comes in every summer from TX, NC, farther away in WVa, etc...it's about the only time i get 2 see my aunts & cousins

Curtis & my uncle Scott...

all my mom's sisters roasting hot dogs 4 the kiddos...

they were too busy playing!

1 of my aunts brought her 1975 yearbook...both my parents were in it, my aunts & uncle Scott...even a page dedicated 2 my name sake - my mom's foster sister, Sharon - she died the year b4 at age 19

we had a great time making s'mores & hanging out with fam!

& there was a full moon out...

fitting 4 our crazy bunch!


the next morning, the girls took their roses outside 4 some sun ;0) they were still so proud of them - thanks Nana, aunt Kelly & daddy!


after the chaotic Saturday we'd just had...we took advantage of a lazy Sunday & did nothing but chill all day long!

1st came a very late breakfast...then fishing...

& "treasure" hunting...

btw - while hunting 4 treasure, Gabrielle discovered this...

any1 know what in the world it is?! it was alive & moving...gray, but almost translucent...shedding it's skin like locust...had wings & long legs...& some weird pincher thing in the front...it was just creepy!

that evening, we watched the Food Network Shrek cake challenge 2gether, then had some fun around the campfire...more s'mores 4 the kiddos, & a glass (or 2) of wine 4 mama! ;0)

Jaden even told us a ghost story...



it was the perfect ending 2 a perfect weekend!

how was ur's?

last award ceremony...

2day was Jaden's turn...my 1st born is officially done with 2nd grade!

well, their last day of school isn't until Thursday...but 2day is the last full day of school (Tues thru Thurs are early release days)...& Wednesday is field day (gosh, do u remember how much fun field day was?!)...so u might as well say the students & teachers have already checked out 4 the year! ~lol~


2day's assembly was 2 recognize 1st thru 5th grade students...Jaden received a Good Attendance award 4 missing 2 or less days this year...also, the teachers were asked to select 1 boy & 1 girl from each grade to receive the American Citizenship Award - & Jaden was the boy selected from the 2nd grade! as u can tell by his grin in the photo above, he was so excited 2 receive his certificate & pin!


way to go Jaden - we're soooo proud of u!!!

2 ceremonies down, 1 to go...

yesterday was Gabrielle's kindergarten graduation...i expected a little more of a ceremony, but it really was short & sweet...there's so much going on at the school this last week & 1/2 that they couldn't get the stage 4 the ceremony, so they had it in the pod (area where preK & K classes r)

they handed out the graduation certificates

then sang a quick song...since we were so cramped, i didn't get good pics/videos, but it was still a sweet moment...bittersweet actually! again, i'm watching her grow up way too fast! is she seriously gonna b a 1st grader next year?! :0(

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then 2day, we went 2 Corinn's preK ceremony...it was a great deal longer...not only did they sing several songs (here's my fav 1)...

hand out certificates...

& show a slide show with pictures of the kiddos throughout the year, but they also had cake & drinks afterward!


i don't know if u remember the drama that happened with Gabby's preK program last year (ugh!)...but i was so glad that Corinn got 2 sing & participate in her's! they again got HUGE goodie bags from Mrs. Hinkle & Mrs. Sawyer (i swear, these r the best ladies EVER!) that included that cute little "yearbook" like Gabby got last year

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i went around & passed out end-of-the-year teacher gifts while i was there too...i made a TON of cake truffles - a good many 2 send along 2 my giveaway winner, but also enuff 2 make up little packages 4 all the teachers...& all 2gether, there's 10 of them! & i love them all - it's so awesome 2 have great ppl working with ur kiddos all year long!

i hope 2 get a tutorial posted next week, showing u guys just how amazingly easy it is 2 make these! yeah, a little time consuming (especially when u're making 7 different flavors like i did), but oh so worth it! since i can't send each of u some, i hope 2 encourage u 2 try making some urself ;0)

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also, Jaden's 2nd grade ceremony is Monday morning...he'll b receiving that special citizenship award too! can't wait!

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stay tuned...

sneak peek part 2...

last night was Gabrielle's recital tech rehearsal...her acrobatics class is performing to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" :0)

as we were waiting 4 Gabby's class 2 take the stage & practice, we got 2 check out some of the other routines...i told the girls 2 pay attention & start thinking about what dance class they wanted 2 take next season (starts in the fall - & yes, i have 2 limit them 2 picking one class each - not enuff time or money 2 do more than that) - they could take jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet (again - both have already tried ballet), etc...Gabby immediately proclaimed, "nope, i'm taking acrobatics again!" - i'm thrilled she's enjoying her class so much!

sneak peek...

last night, Corinn's tap class had tech rehearsal 4 their recital performance this Saturday...they're performing to "Uptown Girl"...i snapped a couple pics & thought this 1 turned out so cute - look at that expression - she's just so confident up there!

& i LOVE it!
:0)

i can't wait 2 see the big show! lots more pics & videos coming soon - the dress rehearsal 4 both girls is 2moro - that's when us moms can get good pics & vids of the show...& then we can actually sit back & enjoy their performances at the recital ;0)

we'll miss you Mrs. Butler...

my father-in-law just phoned 2 tell me that his mother/Curtis' grandmother passed away 2day...she had just turned 87 on sunday - living a long & beautiful life


Lillian was the sweetest, strongest woman ever! she put her family above all else, & was a joy 2 b around...she always made me feel so loved & welcome...she lived her life 2 the fullest, & took great pleasure in watching her children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren grow, learn, love, laugh & live

u will b missed beyond words Mrs. Butler!

well said...

well said Sharon!

supporters of Jenny McCarthy/Anti-VAX campaign deal low blow to blogger

nice name too!
;0)

proper burial...

as soon as we pulled in2 our driveway & hopped outta the car last evening, Gabrielle noticed something laying in the gravel...she asked me 2 come look...

"what is it?"

"awwww", i said, "it's a baby bird"

it was so, so tiny too - it had a few fuzzy feathers & looked like it had just hatched not too long ago

i explained 2 her that most likely, it had been knocked outta the nest...we have a tall maple right beside our driveway - & even tho we couldn't see a nest or hear any baby birds, i'm guessing that's the tree if fell from


she immediately asked if she could bury it & where...of course i said yes - & i was happy 2 see that she wasn't too upset about it...she had a very grown, it's-all-part-of-life attitude about it

Jaden on the other hand, would have been totally distraught! i asked her 2 make sure he didn't see it...that i'd find a good spot, while she took her backpack inside the house & grabbed her shovel


she dug the hole...then carefully carrying the baby bird in her shovel, she put it inside the grave & covered it up...then 2gether with Corinn, they lined the site with rocks & sticks & added a marker

Gabby ran next door & pulled 2 roses off their huge bush & carefully laid them by the grave...it was so touching!


rest in peace little birdie

weekend recap...

a really weird thing happened this weekend - i 4got 2 take my camera with me...i mean, every where we went! not sure what was up - i usually just grab it, right along with my purse...but 4 some reason, it stayed at home all weekend

but never fear! u knew i'd still have pics, right?!

let's just say - thank goodness 4 cell phone cameras!
;0)

we took a trip 2 the park saturday...& i made my kiddos pose 4 the cell phone pic above - still turned out ok, huh?

other than that, we did nothing on saturday! we stayed home all day & the kiddos enjoyed LOTS of time outside with the neighboring rugrats

i got my camera out a couple of times at home tho - these were taken from upstairs in my girls' bedroom (i've got a great zoom)...i stood in their window, just watching the kiddos play 4 the longest time!

u see - i am the mama that makes all the other kids come 2 our yard...i don't like my kiddos being where i can't keep an eye on em, or a burden to any of the other parents...i don't want them 2 feel like they're responsible 4 watching my kiddos

but i finally allowed them 2 go next door on saturday...actually, in2 our old backyard! i bet it was weird 4 them 2 play over there again...especially in this old house...

the girls used 2 play in there quite a bit...Corinn would call it her "doll house"...boy how they've grown! the pic below was taken in april of last year...they're making "soup"...

since i could still keep an eye on em from upstairs in our house, i let em have a little freedom...plus, the pics i can take when they don't know i'm taking pics r the best!

i don't know what she said, but it must have been funny! ;0)

sunday after church, Curtis had 2 go 2 work...my parents took the kiddos 2 their house 4 a little while, so i could have lunch with some girlfriends...boy, i need 2 do that more often! it was nice 2 have some "me" time - no kiddos, adult conversation - nice!

when i got back 2 my parent's, dad was relaxing - laying on 1 of the 4-wheelers in the shade...then along comes Gabrielle with her popsicle, & she climbs up there with him - so cute
(sorry, more cell phone pics)

at one point, all 6 grand children were there (my 3, my sister's 2 & my brother's 1) - all riding at the same time...it was pretty neat!

Jaden could ride 4 hours & hours - he's brave on the 4-wheeler, but smart & responsible too

Corinn would rather ride the slow, power-wheel versions with Matthew

of course, we had 2 go down & help aunt Katie feed the calves!
(silly face cell phone pic ~teehee~)

& we played with Matthew's new puppy, Molly...Jaden loved laying in the grass & letting her lick his face ~lol~

these boys r so cute - true buddies!

b4 sunset at home, the kiddos had 2 of the neighboring kiddos over 4 popsicles (in our backyard)

then they all had a blast jumping off the wall...gosh, i wonder just how many more years of entertainment my kiddos will get out of this wall! it's been mentioned quite a few times on this blog - even when we lived next door 2 it!

once they noticed me snapping their pic - they would run over & have me show it 2 em on the digital camera...they thought it was too cool 2 see themselves hanging in mid-air!

that's the back of our house in the background (of the pic above)...& my little garden next 2 the house

here's the view if u're standing on our side patio

it's doing pretty well...although, only 2 of my 5 cucumber plants survived (gonna pic up some more soon)...but u can see on this end of the bed, even our herbs & onion seeds r popping out!

the squash seeds i planted popped up within days & r probably the strongest plants in the garden...my dad says they'll quickly take over tho - & i prob shouldn't have planted so many...i'll just weed a bunch out later, as they get bigger

& some bugs have been nibbling on my pepper plants...i've got a surprise 4 them tho - my dad's lime & 7 dust 4 bugs mix is coming soon! ;0)

i hope u had a great weekend too! it felt good 2 not really do much at all this time around!

i briefly mentioned that we finally got cable tv & internet service recently...the cable tv was an early father's day present 2 Curtis - he's bitched & moaned about rabbit ear service 4 over 4 years now - & with the crappiness of the DTV switch (we don't get as many channels with DTV as we did b4 the switch), i finally gave in...then we switched the ISP too, since the only reason we had a home phone line was 4 the DSL...no need in paying 4 something we don't use - & it's a lot cheaper having the tv & internet service lumped 2gether like this

the downside - just as i predicted, we're all watching more tv - ugh!!!

i know it'll eventually loose it's luster & the new toy won't b as fun after a few weeks...but even i have been sucked in2 the hypnotizing trance of 200+ channels! even when there's nothing on, we still find something 2 watch! ~lol~

we've got a super busy week ahead - the girls' dance recital is this fri/sat...so we're gonna b running back & forth 2 tech & dress rehearsals all week (stay tuned 4 pics & vids of their performances!)...that should definitely curb our tv addiction some

if that doesn't do the trick - i may have 2 schedule my own intervention soon! ;0)

the winner...

drum roll please...

the winner of my giveaway celebrating 10,000 visitors 2 my blog is...

#18...
WENDY!!!
it sure paid off coming back & commenting 3 separate days, huh girl? ;0)

Wendy, i will ship out your prize this week...i'm still working on ur goodies (2nite) - making sure that they're nice & fresh when they arrive at ur door! ;0)

& i'll make sure 2 post a pic of the shipment too - just so the rest of u can see what u're missing out on!

just kidding!!!
;0)

thank u every1 for playing along - this was fun, & a total ego boost! i swear, that's not at all what i was after...i totally love constructive criticism! but u guys r just too darn sweet!!! either that, or u thought the sweeter u were 2 me, the better ur chances were of winning! ~lol~ hey, i couldn't play favorites, or i'd b sending each & every 1 of u something!

i love u guys!!!

i promise 2 do this again in the not so distant future!

xoxoxox,
sharon