Summer...Where Art Thee?!?!

Well, the end of the school year is finally here. We have lots of end-of-year activities coming up and it seems like my calendar is already full. I wish I could add one hour to everyday....sometimes :)

A few weeks ago, both of my ballerinas had their watch day in their ballet classes. I have already shared Madison's, but mentioned that I had forgotten my camera for Kenzie's. Well, they had their recital pictures this past week AND I remembered my camera. So here is a sneak peek of my Prima Ballerina...

Can't wait for the recital!!!

Yesterday was my bestie's baby shower and it was perfect! I have never been "in charge" of a baby shower before. And I didn't want to be this time necessarily, but of course, I wanted things a certain way for MY best friend! I'm so dumb, I know, but it's not like she's ever going to have twins again. It needed to be special. She chose a pirate theme since they were both boys, so we went with it. Found an idea on Pinterest (wink wink) on how to make the table look like a pirate ship. DONE! Me and a few other girls were all about it! And it turned out perfect!!!  All the girls that helped with the shower were just amazing! I have a few pics to share. I didn't get much picture time since I was the "present-writer-downer"...

Adding the finishing touches to the "Ship"

Some of the hostesses AND future baby shower recipients :)

Of course I had to get one of us!!

I had a lot of fun planning this with all of the other amazing women, but I am so glad it is over! It was exhausting! Lol!!

 This week finally marks the end of gymnastics for Madison and Braxton! They had a lot of fun this school year getting to do that, but this momma is VERY glad it is over for the summer. Lol!!

Well, I had another video with all the kids, but Blogger is being weird...Oh, well.

All I have left between me and summer is two recitals and school awards' ceremonies!
BRING. IT. ON!!!!

WWW.amazing.com!!!!!

Okay, so last fall I was introduced to something that has changed my life. That's right....life changing people! I have gotten so many compliments from my family AND friends, so naturally it has built up my self esteem just a little :) It has made my life so much better and most of the time easier with such little effort. I have been able to accomplish things I didn't know were possible for me and sometimes my kids are even able to help! I could go on and on, but I guess I should let you in on my life changing secret....if you have not already figured out what I am talking about, it's Pinterest!!!! 

Best. Website. Ever. Invented.

Thanks to this site, I have been able to cook (like for real for real), create fun traditions, do easy little crafts, organize things I didn't know you could organize...you name it, I could do it.

So, I wanted to take a minute to show you a few of the things I have been able to do.

When I started trying stuff, it was around the holidays, so there will be quite a few "festive" things.

Hilarious! I saw this and thought, how easy would this be to make! Ghost Poop...cracks me up! Lol!

We did something else, but I forgot to take a picture of it...I had not yet realized my life had been changed ;)

Our "Give Thanks" board....each of us wrote something we were thankful for everyday for the month of November. Great reminders for the stuff we take for granted...

Super easy craft for the kids. A block of wood, paint, popsicle sticks and scrap paper....how easy is that!! They all made one....

The famous turkey shirts. Got the idea and Mimi made it happen!!

A Christmas book for everyday leading up to Christmas day. Wrap them up and let the kids pick one out to read each night before bed. The kids loved it!

A daily advent made from toilet paper rolls and scrapbook paper. A craft, activity, surprise, whatever you want to put in for each day.

Easter time! Cute "Peep" centerpiece for the table...

Ha ha ha!! Loved the deviled eggs!!

M&M and Peep's cake :) You can really do a lot with Peep's!

Took the ridiculous amount of Peep's we had and made s'mores!!

Pinterest also has a LOT of awesome recipes. You can find a recipe for just about anything you want. And then you can find twenty different ways to make it. We have found several that we all really like, which is hard to do when you have so many to please...here are a couple...

Chicken and cheese in Crescent Rolls covered with cream of chicken soup and cheese - shut up! Sooooo good!! And easy!

Mini chicken pot pies made in a muffin pan.

Pizza casserole...that's right! Us Church of Christ'ers can make anything into a casserole! Lol!! This is probably the kids' favorite out of all of them!

We have made a lot more recipes, but I forgot to take pictures.

My point is, my life has been changed :) so I wanted to share it with you. 

If you have not entered the Pinterest world yet, let me know and I will send you an invite. This is something I think everyone should do!!!

All for now, but keep an eye for more Pinterest-inspired projects!

One Proud Momma!!

As the end of the school year gets closer and closer, I can see my calendar filling up.
Braxton had his "Circus" at school a couple of weeks ago. It is a program that the Pre-K classes do every year. Kenzie did it when she was 4, but I missed her's. So I was so excited that I was able to make it to Braxton's.
 In the circus, there are different children selected to do different "acts". There were so many cute ones!! They had the Lion Tamer, the Seals and even Magicians, but my Braxton was a Juggler. I was very nervous when he first told me this several months ago. He has a personality that doesn't handle a lot of attention well, I think he gets that from me :) In my mind, I imagined him walking out with his "stink face",  realizing everyone was staring at him, and him throwing balls at everyone in the audience. I would just DIE if that were to really happen.
So, the show starts. He was the very last act and the anticipation was unbearable. But as soon as it was his turn to come out, all I saw was a HUGE smile on his face and zero balls. The lady in charge of the Circus was very smart and they used scarfs instead. You can just see how proud he was of himself as he juggled these scarfs.

Braxton and his best friend, Liam

I have to say, I was pretty proud of him too!

So, now that that was done, next will be Madison's Watch Day in ballet where she will get her recital costume. They will try them on and do their dances to make sure the costumes fit. And the bonus is, we get to watch. The last Watch Day they had was sometime in November or around that time. She has worked so hard since then and I couldn't wait to see how much better she has become.

Her new costume!!!

This a video of her tap dance :)

I have the camera where you can see Madison and Ms. Lugene's helper at the same time. I have it that way in both videos and I have to say, Madison is pretty good. I might be a little bias, but she is pretty good :)

 Just add a tutu and you are ready for ballet!!

Look at that cute little fluffy butt!!

 This next video is her ballet dance....

I can't wait for the recital!! 

Kenzie's Watch Day was next, but I forgot my camera! Epic fail! So I will have to post that later with Mimi and Papa's pics.

So, with two ballet group pictures, two dress rehearsals and two recitals, May is going to be a busy busy month!