Dance Festival & Recital

Our Little Red Riding Hoods did a great job. Sydney loved being on stage with her friends Anna and Morgan.

Little sister, Maura, was mesmerized by Sydney's performance.

Another shot of the ballet performance. Miss Katie hand painted bobbie pins red to hold their hoods in place!

The actual dance recital was in June at St. Francis High School. The whole family sat in the audience and watched the Saturday show, but during Maura's show I was downstairs with her class when she was not on stage. It was nice to enjoy the shows two different ways. Maura had a wonderful class and I liked all of the other dance moms as well as their darling daughters.

I loved the pink tutus, the girls were all so beautiful in their outfits!

Maura was introduced to the world of Zhu-Zhu pets by her friend Claire.

Choir Concert, Art Splash & More

To fulfill his music requirement for sixth grade, Hayden joined the chorus. They performed a Christmas and a spring concert. This one was in the auditorium of the middle school and they did a great job.

Well, I had to threaten him with his life, but I finally took a photo of him dressed up for the concert. Maura refers to this shot as "Handsome Hayden." She even had me print a copy on our printer so that she could tape it to her closet door.

Both Hayden and Sydney had some of their artwork chosen to be showcased at the district wide art show called, "Art Splash." Michael and Sydney were in North Carolina that weekend, but Hayden, Maura and I went and enjoyed the exhibits and the harp music. It was held at a local bank. Sydney's entry was scratch art and she had drawn a butterfly.

Hayden blew me away with his entry. It was a detailed oil pastel of a poinsettia and it was titled, "Mexican Christmas Gift." I met his art teacher, and she was thrilled with his piece. It was centered right at the entrance of the exhibit and even printed in the program. She joked with us that Hayden was now a published artist! My junior high art class was disastrous for me, but Hayden has amazing raw talent that is already being noticed.

Sydney was asked to make a musical instrument. She was determined to make it out of recycle items or objects around our house and she succeeded. Michael and Sydney designed this drum set and she was awarded "most creative instrument."

Mother's Day 2010

I received a surprise on Mother's Day this year. Our ward reorganized the Relief Society Presidency. A new president was called and I was asked to serve as her first counselor. It was a shock to me and a little overwhelming. We had only been in the ward for about 10 months and I really did not know that many women in the ward, but I accepted the call, and our entire presidency was set apart on Mother's Day. By the time I got home it had already been a long day, but I wanted at least one photo with my kids. Michael made a great meal and the girls had made projects in school, but Hayden has outgrown that stage, being a cool middle schooler and all.

Dance Photos

I have assumed many titles and roles as a mother, and I have to say that I enjoy being a "dance mom" even though it is very exhausting at times. Both of the girls take dance and they had three different classes this year. Sydney took jazz and ballet, Maura was in Broadway Babies, which was a combo of ballet and tap. It involved many pairs of dance shoes, costumes and tights. When photo week came around in May, it was flat out exhausting and I learned to carry a bag with all sorts of hair accessories, hairspray, bobbie pins, extra tights, lipstick, etc.

This is Sydney in her costume for her jazz class. They danced to the 1980's classic, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." She really liked the colors of it.

It is always hard to get the girls' hair up and keep it up while they dance. Luckily, this was just for photos.

This is Sydney in her ballet costume. Her class danced to "Little Red Riding Hood" and they carried baskets on stage and everything. I loved this costume and watching her perform this routine.