3rd One's a Charm

Third Recital in 5 Days...yep, gotta be a Charm, right? :-)

With my two DD's (darling daughters) it is sure to be! :-)

warming up those fingers...

Spring Recital program - the official "line up"

audience

Bella was 1st up with "Animal Band" by Bastein

beautiful!

Abby went with "Flamenco Dancer" by Bastein

lovely!

Their awesome teacher, Miss Sandi

The Grands

The Fam

Soooo proud of my girls for sticking to something that has been known to be given up on by many a kid...what an amazing gift it will be to have the life long skill of making music!

Ella Bella-rina's Time to Shine

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Ella Bella's Jazz II Recital

Ella has been asking me all weekend if she could have a "solo recital" - I was a lil' surprised to hear that my shy one would be willing to get up in front of a few hundred people and dance alone

However, after her impromptu bold toast at Aunt Kerri & Uncle Kreston's Rehearsal Dinner (post still yet to come), I think I believe that she would! 

Miss Amanda ~ we love u and your spunky ways!

Lauren (JSE classmate) and Ella had such fun being in the same dance class

Oma and her youngest grand-daughter

Ella truly loooved getting flowers ~ more than your average 8 yr old girl

(She wanted them in a vase in her room the minute we walked in the door!)

Mimi and her youngest grand-daughter :-)

Bella congratulated by Big Sis and Lil Bro

(Will was at a b'day party :-( )

and last but not least, Ella's 2 Biggest Fans give her Big Hugs!

Ella ~ we are SO PROUD of all your hard work and dedication this year. You have always been a twirly, ultra feminine little lady...which makes for such fun when Recital time rolls around!

Excited to see what God has in store for your future in all things Girly!

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.

~ Joseph Addison

His Eye is on the Dancer

The night Abby has been dreaming of for several years now finally arrived

The night of her Dance Recital

If you recall, Abby had been out of dance for a bit due to soccer...but Momma broke her 1 sport activity rule to allow her to get back in to one of her first loves

and I am SO glad I did!

The JOY that exudes from Abby when she dances is nothing short of divine

Let the Performance Begin!!

to my dismay, we were not allowed to take pictures OR video during the performances...

big fat UGH :-((

Abby's Lyrical 3 Class danced to Kate Conlon's *His Eye on On The Sparrow* ~ 

It is one of the MOST beautiful songs ever! I felt beyond blessed that she had a strong believing teacher who chose a song that would bring God such glory!

Thankful for our friend C who kindly allowed our lil' guy to be entertained by his app adventures during the 3 hours of audience time

otherwise we coulda had some of this going on in the middle of the show! :-<>

Proud G'mas & Bro's

His eye may be on the sparrow...but OUR eyes were on YOU Abby Lou!

Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.
~ Joseph Addison

*Abby ~ we are so thrilled that you are fulfilling what we believe to be part of God's beautiful plan for your life; may you continue to share your gift of dance for many, many years to come!*

One Last Sing & Tea

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

(Aunt Cindy, Mimi, Oma, Aunt Kim, cousin Emma)

Owen's Pre-K5 Spring Sing and Mothers Day Tea

Just another performance to him...but an emotional LAST pre-school performance for moi

little did this cutie patootie realize that his Momma was mourning the loss of a most precious time...truly the end of an era

there's just nothing like the energy and joy that comes from children this age

Like when Owen was asked to wave his hand when his name was called out and instead he jumped up and proudly held his head high :-))

and when he came flying out from the stage to wave to his family in the audience

Mother's Day Tea

this is the one time during the entire year that we are invited into the classroom; we are then served gifts and yummy treats

Big O could not wait for this part...

retrieving red punch

and delighting in sprinkled sugar cookies

kissy kissy xoxo

Time for Pre-School Diplomas

Owen Isaac Ruley is officially ready for Kindergarten!

His Amazing Class - full of Amazing Friends!

Miss Annie ~ oh he we heart u!!

Owen with his favorite friend of the female kind

we will miss hearing about you Miss E! :-)

Super O!

Owen ~ You are my *SONshine!

(Journal: The following Tuesday when I went to drop Owen off for the very last time, I unexpectedly got hit with a ginormous wave of emotion. I didn't just tear up, I sobbed like a baby. To drop off for the very last time...EVER...was just too much for my heart to take. I did the math, and this was around my 800th time to drop off one of my babies at pre-school. And I will never do it again? How could that be possible?? I'm not ready for my baby to be in someone else's care for as many hours as he is in mine...and that is exactly what happens when they start big school. Oh, where oh where does the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday that we started this school year? Is it me, or was this the fastest year ever?! Oh Father  ~ please help me to make every moment count; to build a legacy that's lasting; to be the Mom you designed me to be. Only with your help Lord...fill me up...and then pour out of me your Agape Love.)