Ballet

I just snapped these photos of Lubby in the front yard! She has her first ballet dance recital tomorrow night and today was the dress rehearsal. A year ago Lubby let us know she wanted to be a ballerina. So we enrolled her in a Classical Ballet class. She then let us know that that wasn't necessary because she already knew how to dance ballet but, OK she'd go to class anyway. She was thrilled with the all pink, all girly dance studio, but then class started. She was a bit disillusioned when dance class consisted of 75% stretching, 25% dancing. It was all of a sudden "hard". She patiently made it through the year of stretching with the end "prize" of getting to wear a beautiful tutu!  Yes, all worth it!

Yes, There Really Was a Baptism

I'm a bit late in writing, but I don't want to pass over the wonderful day it was a few weeks ago when my Lubby was baptised.  It was such a sweet day.  There have been other days that rank up there in the "sweet" category, and this definitely qualifies. 

Unfortunately, we were running late that afternoon.  We had a bunch of yard projects we were working on and cut it pretty close to baptism time!  We rushed to the church, had Lubby and CK change into their whites then slid into the chapel.  There were 5 other kids being baptised that day, which is pretty unusual for our Stake.  The meeting was nice and when it was our turn we were so thrilled to see how many loved ones were there.  Nearly half of the audience was there for Lubby.  

Big T is a hoot when it comes to things like this.  He gets so excited!  When Lubby was down in the water Big T was right there on the floor by the glass just a squeelin'!   When it was done he shouted, "Good job, Lubby!"  (He actually does call her Lubby, which is how she got her nickname!)  Not the most reverent boy, but you just have to love him!

Before her confirmation, my good Bishop had a few members of our family say a few words.  My cute dad got up and bore his sweet testimony with us.  It was very powerful and one that many of us will always remember.

Here's pictures from the dinner after.  Sadly, being in such a rush I didn't get a picture of CK and Lubby in their whites.  I know, I know... terrible!  One of these Sundays after church, when I can actually remember, I'm going to have them "re-enact" the day (well, put their whites on again) so I can get pictures. :)

Uncle Bill and boys!

Yes, pretty cool mom, not one picture of Lubby.  :( 

Prom (Again)

Last Saturday was Rojita's school's Accolade (aka Sr. Prom).  She had such a great time and had a fun group to go with.  Here's some of the picts. 

Ready to go!  She was most nervous about the pinning on of the flower bit.  But with a little coaching she did it!

Since I had to be her chauffeur (they both haven't had their licences for 6 months yet), I got to also be the paparazzi mamma! Yes, I followed her into his house to get some great shots.

So, being the smart kids that they are, they had a gal who lives in a couple of the girls' ward who is also a photographer meet them at a beautiful spot and had her take their "dance pictures".  First of all this saved them lots of moola and they got better pictures.  Since I was the paparazzi mamma I was able to get some pictures with my own camera while there.

This is whole gang.  Such good kids!

Promise Seen in Drug for Fragile X Syndrome - NYTimes.com

Interested about Fragile X Syndrome and advancements on a cure? It's hard to even hope, but here's hoping!


Promise Seen in Drug for Fragile X Syndrome - NYTimes.com

Dance Fever

One bonus (if you ask Rojita) for living in one school's boundaries and going to another school is knowing more kids and possibly going to more dances.  (Not so great for the pocketbook though!)  Last Saturday Rojita went to BL's dance with a fun boy from our stake.  LOVED his suit! (What a Redhead!)

She had a great time! 

A few days ago Rojita had asked a different boy to OHS's dance which is coming up in a few weeks.  She asked him with a couple of stuffed frogs with a note that said, "I've looked through all the frogs in the lake and you're the prince that I'd like to take!"  So...this boy arranged with me on Friday to help him answer Rojita.  The only time we could arrange it was 45 minutes before her BL dance.  So 45 min. before the BL date came to pick her up, the OHS boy had me and CK tie Rojita up to a chair in our basement and put a crown on her head.  Yes, she thought we had completely lost it and had suddenly turned into psycho parents who were tying her up to the chair so she couldn't go to the dance.  Anyway, OHS boy brought pirate costumes for our three littles to wear. (We couldn't talk Big T into putting it on, so good ol' mom was a pirate too!)  We then went downstairs to surround the prisoner.  Our "prisoner" was so confused!  After a minute, "Prince Charming", AKA OHS boy, came bounding down the stairs, fought off the pirates then rescued his princess.  He then had a scroll made up with the sweetest poem stating he'd be her prince for the dance!  Also, a jar full of gummy frogs with a tag that said, "So many frogs, but just one Prince!"  It was the cutest stinkin' thing!

So here's Rojita with "Prince Charming" AKA OHS boy, dressed and ready for the dance with BL boy.   

Good times!

The BL boy asked Rojita by putting toilet paper, paper plates and forks all over our yard with a note that said, "Now that your house is as trashed as your school, going with you to Prom would be cool!"

Sooooo.... Rojita and friends made a bunch of signs that said, "OHS #1", "Go Tigers", "OHS #1 Fan lives here!"  and so forth.  They then plastered his front yard with the signs and orange and black crepe paper a day before he was coming home from a school competition so the neighbors could all see.

(Rojita's friends helping to make signs.)

All this with a note that said, "Seeing how you LOVE my school, going with you would be cool!"

Good Times!

I had the sweetest experience last Saturday while I was shopping. It was such a simple thing but it was so sweet.  My next door neighbor just had her 94 year old mother pass away this past week so I was picking out a flower and a card to take over to her.  As I was staring at the flowers in the display I picked up an Easter lily thinking that would be nice to take her, it being Easter weekend and all.  An older man came up and also started looking at the flowers.  He saw my Easter lily and said, “Do you think one of those would stay alive very long on a grave?" The question was so sincere.  I said, "Probably not too long."  He then commented that maybe he shouldn't look for live flowers to place on his wife's grave anyway.  After a second the words came to me.  I looked at him and said, "Ya know, she'd sure enjoy them while they lasted." He said, "You think she'd know they were there?"  What a sweet question.  I told him I was sure she'd know.  He shrugged and said, "Well maybe she would like them as long as they lasted, and especially since it is Easter."  I told him I thought it was a good idea and smiled at him. He then picked one up and off he went.

It was so sweet because here was this cute old man, probably not having been without his sweetheart for very long and not really knowing what to do or what was appropriate to do, but wanting to do something for her.  It almost breaks my heart to have felt of his sadness that she was gone, yet what a sweet feeling to sense his dear love for her.

I hope she loves the Easter lily.

Early Spring Vacation

So...we were a bit naughty and took the kids out of school a week BEFORE spring break and took off for Disneyland! (It was the best week for CK to get off work.) But this time we were so very lucky to take others with us! We had Grandma and Grandpa AND two of my sisters and their families with us! We carpooled down, which may never happen again. Do you know how long it takes to drive to Disneyland? TWO MONTHS!! Yes, TWO MONTHS! So when we finally got there we had a great time! Here's Belle with Grandma and with her awesome princess ears hat.

Rojita and Loobey are standing in line at the newer Toy Story ride in California Adventure which was a blast! And then here's Rojita with cousins and Uncle Bill. This was moments before I discovered that I'm officially too old to ride Space Mountain. About half way through the ride I knew I was in trouble. As soon as the three hour ride ended I luckily made it to the nearest restroom, budded in line and relieved my stomach of its contents! An hour and a coke later, I was back at it, never to return again to Space Mountain.

LoVe TiGgeR! Loobey and Belle are sporting the latest in Bug Eye Wear. (Cool Bug's Life 3-D show!)

Soooo.....We took Big T to D-Land for the first time. We weren't sure how that was going to go, but he did pretty darn good! Usually anyone or thing in a costume freaks the poor boy completely out, but he was amazing with the characters. He has always LOVED Woody and was so excited to see him. We couldn't believe that he actually went right up to him and posed with him for a picture. We also were able to get a "special assistance pass" for him. This allowed our entire family to get on rides at the exit. This way we were able to get right on the rides without waiting in the lines. At first I felt a bit guilty about doing this, until I figured there was no other way he (or we) could ride these rides having to wait in the line. He just is unable to do that without melting down. Also, it takes us longer to get from ride to ride, and Big T didn't spend as much time in the park as others. I was really surprised at how just a short time at the park completely wiped him out. After a few hours the first day he went back to the hotel and slept half the day. So, very nice thing that DL does for those who need it.

Rojita and my cute nephew had a blast being dorky together. :)

This is one of my favorite pictures; my daughter and my mom.

Loobey was called on to the stage to be part of a musical performance! The lady pretended to draw her and "Wa-lah", it came out a picture of Cinderella! Then Loobey and Belle were able to keep the picture and have it signed by Cinderella.

After three days at DL, we went to an aquarium down in San Diego, then...

...were attacked by a Great White (Rojita got it good!), then.....
...ended at Lajolla Beach. It was beautiful! Almost the best part about being at the beach that day was the text Rojita received while we were there from a friend telling us it was snowing back at home! Wahoo!