G's Birthday

G opened a lot of presents early this year. She got a Cinderella dress a couple weeks ago. She and T were playing princess and I felt bad that hers didn't fit, so since I had already bought it...

Yesterday just as we were getting ready to pack her bags for dance yesterday a package arrived- matching garment and duffel bags with her name on them so I let her open it and use them yesterday. Then getting ready for church she was disappointed that she had nothing new to wear for her birthday so I let her open 2 more gifts to choose what she wanted. By the time we really opened gifts she was surprised there was anything left to open!

The morning was off to a rough start. She wanted to wear her boot with her new outfit. But she couldn't find them, which was T's fault because she cleaned up the closet. Always the drama queen she was screaming that is was the worst birthday ever and spelling that she would look stooped (stupid is a bad word in our house). After Church and lunch she opened her remaining gifts. W took all the kids rollerskating while I studied for an exam : ( We had homemade pizza and chocolate peanut butter ice cream cupcakes for dessert. She admitted that it wasn't the worst birthday ever, picked one of her other new outfits for school tomorrow, found her boots to wear with it, and is now sleeping like an angel.

In Studio Judging

Yesterday was in studio judging for G's competition group. It is basically a dress rehearsal for competition in 2 weeks! It is the first time they have performed their dance in costume, with makeup, and in front of an audience. It isn't perfect yet but it is coming along. G is in the back on the left for most of the dance. Moves to the back right at the end and if you really pay attention you can catch her cartwheel at the end. Sorry for the poor lighting. We are not allowed to shoot pics or video at the actually competitions so this may be the best you get unless you come to Memphis for the spaghetti dinner in the spring.

Cultural Arts Award

G was honored with third place for Dance Choreography for the Cultural Arts competition through the school district. They presented awards today for the safety poster contest, and citizenship essay contests as well. She was the only one from her school that received any awards at the district level so it was kind of a big deal!



Here she is with her medal ...........................


And here is her entry.

In other news-

It has been a while since I posted, we all enjoyed Christmas in St. Louis despite the fact that we were all sick at some point or another. The kids were thrilled with their Wii. Even more impressive no one complained about the three gifts they got before they opened the Wii and all its parts.

Everyone is settling in back at school. A friend of mine is going to watch T for me a couple afternoons a week so I can crank out some school work. Even without student teaching I need the same number of credits so I have some work to do this term.

I am an aunt (again). My brother Ted and his girlfriend Amanda welcomed a new baby boy on Jan 3rd. I am headed up to STL to meet Tyler next weekend.