Dancing Queens

Two dances in one month! Both girls attended a Father-Daughter dance through girl scouts in April. OMG, my heart was full watching these three get ready!! Maddie found a hairstyle on youtube, and I was actually successful with it!

The following weekend, Madeline's future middle school hosted a rising 7th grader dance. She went with one of her elementary school friends. Where is the time going!!!!

Easter 2015

We celebrated Easter with our annual egg coloring, both at home and at Grandma Connie's.

Josh, Jenn, and the cousins joined us for an early Easter dinner at Grandma's, too!

The Easter bunny stopped by, and knowing our "not a ton of candy" philosophy, left earrings, headbands, markers, books, and facial masks for Maddie and make-up, mermaid dolls, lego kits, and tattoos for Sophie.

We followed up Easter morning with a brunch and egg hunt with a good friend of Maddie's and an Easter dinner with Kent's side of the family. We had a very full Easter weekend!

Springbreak 2015

Springbreak started off with a cold front this year! The girls attended a birthday party at an adventure park. They had fun, but it was freezing!!

The three of us got pedicures in preparation for sandal weather.

Sophie had been requesting a purple room for awhile. She picked out a new quilt, wall paint, and furniture paint. Her room definitely says "Sophie" now.

At the end of the week, we headed down to Grandma's. We were able to spend a day with our New Jersey cousins, too!

Fun Fair

To wrap up March, we attended our school's annual spring fair! There was lots to do this year, and Madeline spent six hours there!

Washington Wizards, Verizon Center

Link to Madeline's last jump rope performance and INTERVIEW!

You can click the link above to see Madeline's last jump rope performance at the Verizon Center in DC.  It's the jumbotron video shared with us via the Verizon center. Her team performed at the half-time show for the Washington Wizards. Look for pink shoelaces. At the end, Maddie is interviewed on the Jumbotron. It was a full stadium. Such a great way to end her season!

March!!

Sophie absolutely loves her girl scout troop!! Her leader is amazing and plans so many fun and educational activities. This weekend, they visited an apothecary and museum in historic Alexandria.

Here is a picture of Sophie playing a game at her Friday night meeting.

Here she is at "Thinking Day." Her troop learned about Scotland!

We enjoyed our school's spirit night this month. The jump rope team performed a special sixth grade send-off routine. So, so bittersweet!!!

January-Februay 2015

Kent and I started the year off with a small home project. We decided to modify our kitchen bar and create additional counter and cabinet space for our small kitchen. We love the results!! We still have the bar, it is just on the dining room side now. Kent did all of the install. He even ran the electric for two new pendant lights.

In late January, we took the girls to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. We had fun playing in the indoor water park and staying in the hotel.

I am happy to report, we have had a lot of snow!! I love snow. I love snow days. I love the extra time with my girls and time to catch up on house and school stuff.

Our next door neighbor is an original owner in our neighborhood and in her eighties. She asked Maddie to make her a snowman for her front yard.

We have had a ton of fun sledding on our days off. I think we are up to 8 or 9 so far . . .

Maddie's jump rope season is coming to an end. She has had a lot of fun on our school's team. She just began taking dance lessons and is trying a beginning ballet class and an acro-dance class.

Sophie started piano lessons, and she loves them! The girls played a duet one evening since they both knew the same song.

Sophie's girl scout troop is keeping her very busy, especially now that it is cookie season. We sold cookies when it was 23 degrees out, and the girls didn't complain once! Life is very full!

Wrapping up 2014

The last couple of weeks have been full of relaxation. We have been sleeping in, lounging around, and spending lots of time together. The picture above is Christmas Eve, and the picture below is Christmas morning.

After opening presents, we headed over to Ralph and Shirley's for dinner.

Shirley took all the ladies to the Willard Hotel in DC for tea. We had a lovely time!

Here is a picture of Madeline during her band concert earlier in December.

We finally made it to the Festival of Lights, after Christmas this year!

Madeline at the BB&T Classic

Madeline and her jump rope team performing at the Verizon Center in December. I tagged her in the beginning, but once she starts moving, the tag is in the wrong spot. Just click the box to remove it from the video.

More Winter Concert

Another song from the winter chorus concert. This was a neat one with the advanced orchestra students participating along with the singers.

Chorus Concert

Here is a video of Maddie singing in our school chorus. The chorus is made up of fifth and sixth grade students. Around 2:20, you can hear Maddie sing a couple lines with a small group.

Band Concert

Finally getting the videos off the camera! Here is Maddie playing her tuba during the winter concert. She is in advanced band this year.