Pics

I had to post this sweet picture my neice, Kirstin, took when we were in Colorado.

Concert Photos!!!!

Sophia (sort of weird lighting, and it looks like she has on a bit too much eye shadow)
Danced to the country song "Angels Among Us" ( I can't remember who sings it) in the little kids show "Fantasy Petite"




Blythe is the green costume on the left (some miscommunication and they didn't take any solo photos of her)

Blythe and Oliver were in the "grown up" show that benefits Make a Wish Foundation. Blythe was in a production of Sleeping Beauty




Oliver (poser, jk)
His karate class did a production with music from Cirqu du Soleil "Ka". Oliver was the youngest one in there, but was allowed in since he's in the "senior ranks" karate class.



So here are finally some photos of the kids from Concert!! It would have been sooner, but I just got them. We were in CO when the photographer came the first time.

Izzy turns one!!!

My friend, Janine, made this adorable outfit for Isabel. She does an amazing job.


Isabel is an easy going, sweet baby. She has every member of the family wrapped around her chubby finger. She's also started dancing before she's even able to walk. (There's a lot of music and dancing that goes on around here and it's apparently wearing off.) I'm pretty sure she's getting her mom's curly hair. I'm definitely sure she's getting her mom's big booty. And, even though she was a bit of a surprise (ok, a BIG surprise) she's the perfect missing piece to our family.

Colorado Family Vacation

So, after the kids attended a whole 1 day of school, we took off for Colorado for a little over a week. We stayed in an awesome cabin on Grand Lake, which is near Winter Park. We had WAAAAY too much fun! We hiked, mountain biked, fished with the kids, the men fly fished, we did some white water rafting. We relaxed and went to the local meat market and farmers market to make dinners. The weather was absolutely perfect. We even had a cleaning lady that came some mornings to clean up after us, straighten the house, and do laundry. (That last part was my favorite)

My Dad and his girlfriend arranged for this great place. Most of my siblings and their additions were there and it was a blast!! We also brought my neice, Kirstin (on Jay's side), with us. It was the first time she met my family and I have to brag... that she fit like a glove. Everyone got along awesome!!

We also celebrated Sophia's 5th birthday. Kirstin, Alexa, and I decorated for about 2 hours the night before. There were streamers and balloons everywhere. Whatev, it was a big house to decorate. Go big or go home!!

We had an amazing time with cousins and the rest of the Schindels. Soon, I'll figure out how to post a slide show or a collage with some more photos. Hey, it took me a week to figure this &%^$ camera out.

First day of school

Well, I'm finally starting to figure out this camera. These are a few weeks old, but here's Sophia's first day of kindergarten, Oliver in 2nd, and Blythe in 4th.

A NEW CAMERA!!!!!

Yahoo!!! Yes, you will no longer hear me complaining of my old one. My Dad was trying to help me out by taking it to a camera shop (as I'm too busy trying to pack for a family trip to Colorado) and he was told it was capoots (how would that word be spelled?) So, the sweet papa he is went out to Costco on the way home and picked me up a new one for our trip. I am soooo excited!! I've obviously complained about my stupidity with the old one and this one is tiny and easy and I may be in love....

So, maybe I'll learn how to put the pics onto the computer next. Whatever, I'm too busy packing and cleaning the house so that I come home to a clean one right now. So, I'll save that for after our trip. We're going for a family vacation with my extended family, then we're staying in Denver for a couple of extra days while Jay looks for a new job. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers. We're thinking Las Vegas, Colorado, or back to Florida (or really anywhere in between, hardee har har)

The end of "HELL" week

So, as I've previously mentioned the 3 big kids are in two different programs this summer. The week of the shows I've officially named "Hell week." Where do I even begin??? First, I should say that between the three kids in two different shows, but 1 act each, we had 3-15 hr. days all week. (I'm trying to give everyone the short version of this story because it is excruciatingly long!!!) Pictures to tech rehearsals to dress rehearsals to 3 total performances. It's a lot of make up and buns/gelled boy's hair/curled little girl's hair. Whatever.

It comes down to this...it's the worst week of the year for me, but every one of those kids (not only mine)has been looking forward to this week for seemingly the whole year. They were the only reason for me to continue with this craziness. I've got to say, believe me or don't, that it's really not a "stage mom" kind of mentality at Fern Adair. These kids are really loving what they do and the focus is on them. (It's actually the reason we started taking the kids there, my sister used to compete against them in gymnastics and my mom really liked the difference in those types of things 20 yrs. ago, and it's still the same)

Anyway, my point is....after all of this, next year, Blythe has decided to take Jazz in addition to ballet, Sophia has also decided to take jazz in addition to her ballet/tap, and Oliver wants to take gymnastics in addition to karate. Surely, I'll lose my mind LOOOOONG before next summer.

Also, this whole "kids doing extracuricular activities" thing is a big learning process for me, so bear with my faults. My regular digital camara, which I've complained about before, completely failed on me. Then the video camera of papa's that I took to dress rehearsals (I volunteered for the big kid's dress rehearsal and opening night) and ran from understage dressing rooms upstairs, down hallways, up more stairs, etc...to tape them, then I had the dumb camera have a brain fart. That all being said, their performances were taped and we're getting DVD's of them. Then they were also photographed in their costumes and with the other kids in their classes which we're also going to be getting. However, we won't be getting either until Sept. or Oct. so I suppose I'll be posting photos then. :( slacker mom!!