Spring Portraits

I'm not normally one to do pictures in the Spring. I know everyone thinks the pastels are so nice and the flowers and blah blah blah...But I LOVE Fall pictures. Well I stepped out of my comfort zone. Since the girls all have Spring birthdays I figured why not. So we headed over to Springfield on May 3rd. We met April Mateer at Lincoln Memorial Gardens. There weren't any flowers and it was super windy, but I can't complain about the images she captured.

People give Mitch a sympathetic look quite often, and once or twice I've heard he needs to keep a shotgun by the door. I used to think it was funny...lately when I look at these beautiful girls I'm starting to think it might not be such a bad idea. I kid, I kid.

Dance 2015

Where does the time go??? I can't believe that this was our 4 year of Richland dance. Leah has performed in the spring recital 4 times, Kiersten 3 times and this was Hattie's debut. They were amazing! Leah's class did a ballet routine to "Keep on Dancing" from Barbie and the pink shoes. She has really grown as a dancer. It amazes me all the time how graceful she is...because I am certainly lacking in the "grace" department. Kiersten's class also danced a ballet routine to "Angel by your side." It was beautiful, and the smile on her face let me see just how happy she was to be on stage.


And then there was Hattie...she absolutely killed it up there dancing her heart out to "Yankee Doodle". I had several moms tell me that she stole the show with her little smile and her hip shaking. She was born to perform. Richland and Ms. Jan have been such a blessing to us. Ms. Jan has certainly taught my girls a love for dance while making it fun and helping them become well versed in tap and ballet. As Leah reaches an age where she has to move on to another instructor I realize just how lucky we have been!

Its also been wonderful socially for the girls and for mom. It's been a time that they got to be with more girls their age and I got to chat with the moms. We have cultivated so many friendships in the lobby of Schilling Auditorium and for that I am forever grateful. And since all three girls were in the same show, I bought the DVD. It was totally necessary, right?!?!

7 is SUPER!

Holy smokes, Batman...that's a lot of pictures?!?! Leah had a superhero themed 7th birthday party this past Friday night at the Decatur Arts Council. It was wonderful. I basically picked an art project for the kids to do, and they had everything ready. Of course I may have went a little overboard with the snacks. I made all the fruit kabobs and cupcake toppers myself with my printer, a circle punch and and some card stock. I was super happy with how it all turned out. We had Thor's hammers made of Cheese cubes and pretzels. We had Kryptonite Krispies (green rice krispie squares) and Iron Man, Batman and Superman themed fruit sticks.

Leah had so many friends in attendance...Landon McGeorge of course. Ryne Rodriguez, Audrey Brent, Lucy Craig and Ella Phares from her class at school. Bella Hilburn, Mason and Tatum Gray and of course her sisters. We started with making super hero masks. Then we had snacks. I even made Superhero bingo cards for a game with prizes. Then we did cake and presents and the two hours was over in a flash...get it?!?! Anyway, Leah had a great time and so did the rest of the kids. I highly recommend the Decatur Arts Council. I can guarantee we'll be back. Bring on 7, lovely Leah!