Ballerina Girl

To preface this post:  Last August we decided that Addie was maybe, just maybe ready for dance classes.  She was ready, we took her to a studio here in town and she cried and screamed and hated every, single second of it.  The teacher suggest we maybe wait... I left in tears....it was not a great day!

Somehow I again got the urge for Addie to dance (though sometimes I think she'd rather play soccer and ride horses and forget the whole girly dance thing)  BUT I signed her up and we went out and bought shoes and tights and leotards!  She WAS ready!  She wore her shoes everywhere the last few days...  

Today the day came... she got herself dressed, admired herself and was ready to go!  Fingers crossed this time would be better.  The "studio" had a mirror and Addie was off!  She stared at herself , twirled, smiled and had the world at her fingertips!  We had to watch through a tiny window, but I'd say for a good 10% of the time Addie did exactly what she was supposed to do.  The rest of the time..... WELL, she was not screaming!  As a matter of fact, she was SMILING :)  So, all in all a successful first day!

Sibling LOVE

She: pulls his hair, pushes him, breaks his Legos, messes up his room and looks at him with such admiration.  She wants to be just like him, do whatever he does, and he can get her to do just about anything!

He: Yells at her, gets frustrated, cries, and loves her more than words can say.  He's become so aware that Addie is sick, he worries about her when she's not feeling right, he is her biggest cheerleader and biggest supporter!

THEY: LOVE each other as only a brother and a sister can.  It's amazing to watch!  Can't wait to see their love continue to grow.  They make me SO proud!

Preschool Graduate

Addie,

This year you graduated from Preschool!  Over the past 2 years you have grown in so many ways.  You have changed from a scared and timid toddler to a confident little girl.  It's so hard to believe that you will be starting kindergarten in the Fall!  Where did my baby girl go??  I am not sure I am ready for you to embark this new journey, but I KNOW that you are!  You are amazingly smart and strong as can be!  You can do anything you put your mind to and I know the years ahead will take you to amazing places... I am excited to see what mountains you will climb, because you have never let anything stand in your way!  Just remember to always "Reach for the moon....even if you miss you're still among the stars!"  I love you and am so proud of you.

Mom

Your first day of your 2nd year of preschool!

LOVING the easel in my classroom

Cutest school picture :)

Graduation Day!!!!!

Going on a bear hunt.....

Chicken Dance!!!

Your favorite teacher, Ms. Steen!

Today is your day... your off to great places!!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame.....

This was Drew's 2nd season of spring baseball and what a difference a year makes!!  Last year he played t-ball and never really got into it.  He spent much of the game "catching" mosquitos in the field. This year it was a whole new game!  First, it wasn't t-ball....they used a machine!  Second, he had some good friends on his team!  Third, he had an actual position (2nd Base) most of the time! And, above all else, it all finally clicked!!!  

Now you can find him spending most of his day catching his own fly balls in the living room, practicing his swing,  catching grounders with his dad or Sluggo (or anyone willing to brave the 100+ degree heat with him), watching the Dbacks and watching videos of past Dbacks plays when they aren't on. He's a self-proclaimed "baseball fanatic"!!  I love it!!  He is anxiously awaiting the next time he can take the field and play ball!

Trying out the role of catcher.... he wasn't really a fan!  Too much dirt was kicked up into his face :)

Tams Realty Dbacks Team!

Washington DC

Last year, instead of a bunch of toys,  Drew asked for a trip to Washington DC for Christmas.  In April, during our Spring Break,  we headed to the east coast for some fun and exciting sightseeing.  Drew had a list of everywhere he wanted to go, read up on his Kids Book of Washington D.C. and was ready to go!  His two "must sees" were the Lincoln Memorial and the Spy Center!  

It was a great trip, exhausting but GREAT!  It was cold and rainy and we walked A LOT!  So many great pictures (almost 1000) and so many great memories.  It was Matt's first time to DC too, and he  loved it!

We arrived on Addie's Birthday!  And had a wonderful birthday lunch where she enjoyed some tiramisu! Yep, she's my girl!! 

 

Then is was off to see it all!  

Becoming Spies.....

The White House....

International Spy Museum ( this place had a HUGE line, cost a lot of money to get in and was pretty boring in my opinion, but it was on the list, so we stuck it out!)

Corn dogs and ice cream sandwiches from the food truck.... the kids were in heaven!

Addie could have spent all day riding the Metro!  She loved the "train"!

 And so did Drew!

The Air and Space Museum!

Lots of pictures, lots of memories, and lots of fun had by all!!!