Our Little Dancing Queen!

An Evening of Enchantment

Miss Maggie had her first dance recital last week and I don't know who was more excited, mommy, daddy, memaws and aunts or Maggie!  There was the nervousness that she wouldn't go out on stage, or that she would get on stage but do her own thing but she proved us proud and did great.  Only once during the dress rehearsal did she say she didn't want to do it and that she didn't feel good - she had strep on Monday - but I knew she was just nervous.  Once they called the Cinderellas to line up and she went with her friends she was fine.

Ready to go to rehearsal



Patiently waiting to go into the auditorium and practicing some moves


Dress rehearsal went well - I of course cried - daddy, Big Papaw and Caden got to see her dance and to do the finale with the big girls.   We left rehearsal, grabbed some lunch, ran some errands and I got her to fall asleep on the way home for a good nap and then there was the excitement of the actual recital that evening.  She was a little slow to get ready but we got out the door, got to the recital, dressed, applied our makeup - she LOVES her red lipstick - went to sit with her friends and wait their turn and never looked back at mommy. 

Sitting with her class before the recital

So off I went to sit in the chair as a parent, it was weird, when they are born you think about the milestones they will hit and how you will feel but never about the moment of the day when it truly hits you that they are growing up and growing way to fast.  I didn't realize that the proud moments of being a parent would have such a major impact on me with every step they grow and learn, sure you know you will be proud but the feeling you actually get is so much more than I ever expected but amazing.  These little lives are just forming everyday right before your eyes.

As we sat there during the beautiful recital, Memaw Donna, Aunt Erica, Aunt Haley, Memaw Jo and Papaw Frank, we all smiled, some of us cried and cried quite a bit, and most of all I felt so proud and just amazed by my little Maggie who is growing up.

All of the girls did great, they are the youngest ones of all of the girls dancing, and I know there were lots of mommies who felt the same way I did that night.   Maggie participating in dance class would not have been possible without the help of many - Memaw Donna and Memaw Jo - thank you for the numerous evenings spent at dance or with the babies!  To the staff at MJM Studios - you are AWESOME and put together an awesome show.  Ms. Laura and Ms. Jessica, you have the patience of a saint to deal with a room full of 3 year olds and actually be able to get them focused on a routine!


Nervous before rehearsal




Finale practice - this is Miss Jessica one of her teachers




Finale!





Here come the little Cinderellas!



Watching Miss Jessica for her queues



Miss Laura directing the girls




And we finish!

 

Maggie's Fan Club of the Evening



Lots of flowers for her wonderful performance

All of the Cinderellas after the ball

So my little Cinderella, we are proud of you, you are turning into a beautiful little girl who always lives life large! 

You dance as if no one is watching and I hope you never stop!

WE LOVE YOU MAGGIE AND ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Happy 30th Birthday Ricki!

My baby sister turns 30 today! 

Yes mom that means, no more kids in their 20's (but that doesn't make you old mom)!  .

Your 20's were good but the 30's will be GREAT! 



This just maybe my favorite picture EVER of you!

Ricki we hope you have a great birthday!  It has been a wonderful 30 years of being your sister and here is to the next 30 being even better!  I can only imagine what our children will do over the next 30 years to drive us nuts and what kind of trouble they will cause together!
We share so many memories and so many similarities, the good and the bad of both.  You have been there when we needed you most and have always listened, you have lent a shoulder to cry on and a laugh when I needed it most.  You are a wonderful person wearing many hats, mother, wife, sister, aunt and sister in law!  You aren't afraid to help out and love to have fun.  We are all very lucky to have you in our lives. 

I couldn't pass up the chance to post some pictures from your life! 

May your smile always be big, your laugh be loud and your years be many more!

Happy Birthday Ricki!
love ya bunches
Trini



Young Erica during dance



Twirling days





Hanging with the fam!  Love our cousins



Caden, Maggi and Erica



Erica and Cale



Caden and Erica Smiling BIG!



Erica and Maddox celebrating his 1st birthday!



Erica and John on their Wedding Day!

Part of such an amazing group of women...

I am very honored to be a part of an amazing group of women who serve the towns of Indiana with kindness and charity while supporting the arts.  We are known as Tri Kappa and I couldn't be more proud of the work these ladies do.

Last night I was installed as the President of the Lawrenceburg, Pi Chapter of Kappa, Kappa, Kappa and I feel privileged that these women believe in me to hold this position for the next two years.  I am so excited for what the opportunities this will bring for me to grow as a person.  I only hope I make them proud.

These ladies are just simply amazing.  They are part of my family, they put up with the chaos that is my life and they support each other with unconditional love.  They are there for you when you need them and they the first to be your biggest cheerleaders.  They work hard and are passionate!

I had the chance to spend a weekend with 600 Kappas this year and it just blew me away - there is simply nothing like our organization. 

So while my official term doesn't begin until July, my brain is whirling with thoughts and ideas! 

Of course I would not be able to do any of this without the support of Matthew.  He is the one who has the hardest job of being with the children when I am on Kappa duty but he does it without a negative word and like the champ dad he is! 

To my daughters, I hope that one day you will get the same wonderful experiences with this group, you are after all legacies.  To my mother in law who invited me to be a part of this group, I cannot thank you enough!  Mary Jo - I am so looking forward to serving our terms together!  To my Kappa sisters, thank you for the honor and privilege and the belief in me! 
Here is to the start of a amazing journey - oh what a ride it will be!

So as I head off to bed tonight I am turning words over in my head to come up with a motto for my term - strength - that is my starting thought and I may not have it yet but somewhere in that muddled brain this motto will come together!

WOW it is amazing what triggers a memory

Today we were sitting at the Reds game and as Matt and I were talking about him heading to Florence for the race I realized that just a short year ago our air conditioner went out, we headed to mom's for a day of swimming (floating for me as I was BIG), race for Matt and Caden, and ended with a trip to the hospital for the babies and I.

With everything going on that day and the heat taking it's toll as I laid on the couch that night I realized I had not felt the babies move in a LONG time.  So off to the hospital I went.  Brooke and the boys came to stay with Maggie, Mary Jo arrived to take me to the hospital and Matt and Caden headed out of the race track to meet me at the hospital.

All was well with the babies but Caden being the gatherer and worrier, asked where he was once Matt got him out of the car and as Matt replied that they were at the hospital to see me, he got excited as he thought I was having the babies.  God love that kid. 

We made it home in the early hour of the morning, I worried for nothing but better safe than sorry as those two had already made it further than the first two but it truly amazes what simple things can trigger a memory.

I love remembering, I worry about forgetting a bunch but it never fails me that memories hit me at the most random times!

Playing tourist!

My parents recently purchased a very nice camera and I have been dying to try it out and see what I could do.  Last Friday we had birthday dinner and as the adults were playing cards I had to grab the camera and check out what the kids were doing outside!

So here are some photos from what Matt called my duty as a tourist, I wore the strap around my neck as I was afraid of dropping the very nice and expensive camera!  In about 20 minutes I had taken 67 pictures!

I loved it!  I would love to have one but I am not sure that Matthew wants to live with a tourist all the time. But either way - thanks to my parents for letting me play and get some great shots of the kids doing what kids do best, Living Life to the Fullest!

  

Maggie wasn't interested in playing baseball, she is a little gardener!

What tourist time would be complete without a GROUP Photo! 

 

Good try mom! 



 



Sisterly Love



Cale figuring out he can crawl on concrete! and being just too cute

Yes that is snot running down his nose! This camera is GOOD



Uncle Whitey!  Happy Birthday to you too!

Grandma Horstman's flower bed!  Mom you are doing a great job keeping them beautiful

Happy Birthday Chris! 



Kelsie came to visit before her big trip!

 

This just looks like TROUBLE!



We had a great time at our birthday celebration but missed the Shovlin family. 

That just means we have to go back and do it again! Oh darn more photos!