May Is For...

Dance Recital...Brooklyn's ballroom team performed 3 dances...paso doble, tango, and swing...we've seen them several times, but by the end of the year. they are SO GOOD!!  "Calling All the Monsters" won their division at the biggest competition, in March.  We can't take flash photos during the performance, so all you see is AFTER the recital.

 Birthdays...Mia turned 11 on the 9th

 $11 plus some French themed gifts...

 Kindergarten Graduation...

 Eden was asked to decorate the stage for Bellamie's graduation...she selected the theme, crafted all the giant flowers, made the banner, and put it all together...

 The kinders singing "A tee tee tah, a tee tee tah, a tee tee tah tah...thumbs up!"  and so on through the verses,  had the audience laughing along!

 Bells receiving her diploma...

 The graduate!

 Piano Recital... Aunt Christa is McKena's piano teacher.  McKena performed 2 pieces...

 using the digital keyboard, and an appropriate accompaniment, this first-year student wowed the crowd!  Grandma and Grandpa were so proud!

Mother's Day Tour

We decided to go to each of our children's homes on Mother's Day...rather than all gather in one spot.  We have two more birthdays to celebrate in May, which means two more get-togethers.  We LOVE to get together, but Mother's day gets a little hectic, so we decided to celebrate in a different way!

 We started at Missy's...McKena insisted on a bouquet of red roses for me :) and decorated a little cake...

 Outside, Missy's kitchen window, we watched a mama robin tend to her nest...it's right there in the middle.

 At Jay's, the girls presented me with a bouquet of red roses :) and a headlamp for my early-morning walks

 Then, we went to the farm, where the children presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

 And little Durham entertained us with a Mexican hat dance...Brooklyn modeled her southern belle costume for her State report on Louisiana...I forgot to take photos at Dallin's...I was too busy eating a piece of blueberry pie he had ready for me!  It was a happy Mother's Day, for sure!

 Monday morning, I couldn't resist taking some close-ups of the flowers...the pink ones are from Reed!!

Race For the Cure, May 11, 2013

Missy and McKena, Eden and Brooklyn, Bellamie, and little Durham, and I "raced" in Boise's Susan G. Komen 5K  on Saturday.  It has become our tradition to celebrate the survivors in our family:  my sister, Karen, and her daughter (my namesake) Kristin.  It was a beautiful day, and with 12,000 others the race was more of a stroll, but very enjoyable!

                                           Pre-race love...

                                           Let the fun begin..

                                          Bellamie dances...Gangnam style...

                                           At the finish line...all smiles!

Happy Birthday Bells!

                                         Lalaloopsie...

                                         Fancy Nancy...Bellamie is a happy 6 year old...
                       I snapped this photo of the sky, as we were leaving the farm...

Happy Easter!

 Bellamie waited, oh about 2 minutes, for me to snap her photo in her Easter dress, then she changed clothes

               Brooklyn kept her finery on...

           McKena changed so fast, I didn't even see her dress...Mia compromised with a skirt and shirt, fancy Easter dress was for church in the morning.

               The egg hunt was on...Durham got his share...looks like fun!

 I tried to get everyone in the photo at once, above, missing Bailey and Cache...below, missing Durham...no sitting still for him!

Mexico with My Sister

 Puerto Vallarta, March 16-23, Spring Break ...the beach

 Karen's family...plus Aunt Kristin...for a wonderful week!

 Entertainment on the Malecon...each evening we enjoyed walking downtown...

 My nephew Daniel, and great niece, Reagan, share a birthday...March 17, St. Patrick's day with a Mexican flair!

 The little kids loved the dolphin adventure, while the older ones went zip-lining.

 Karen was serenaded at Pipi's Restaurant...everyone in the place sings along!

                                             Sisters at sunset...so much fun!

A Little Trip to Las Vegas

 Reed wanted a little getaway in February, so off we went to Las Vegas for a few days.  Travel is always an adventure, with unexpected pleasures and pains...our flight was quick...getting into the taxi line at the Las Vegas airport and waiting with 500 other people took quite some time.  We checked into the MGM Grand, put on our walking shoes, and headed out for the Wynn Buffet...the picture above is IN the restaurant...beautiful...and the food is divine!!  Below, we found that many hotels had decorated with a Chinese New Year theme...still at the Wynn.

 We had to visit The Venetian...the gondolas, the canal...inside and outside...

 Inside looks like outside!  Embarrassing moment...as I passed this lovely statue, I looked at the railing and saw many dollar bills just lying there...no, I did not pick one up, but rather too late realized this was a human being PLAYING a statue that might be found in Venice!!

 At Caesar's Palace, there is a Serendipity's restaurant...originally found in NYC, this restaurant has been featured in a movie or two, and their signature treat is frozen hot chocolate.  Had to have that!  Does it seem like we are eating our way through this city??  Just wait...there will be more.

 I had researched "free" events and venues online...one was the botanical gardens in the Bellagio Hotel...

 once again, the Chinese theme...lovely!

 Ah, now here's something French that we found fascinating...

 that is a chocolate fountain to behold!  Ceiling to floor...dark, milk and white...we didn't taste, we just admired!

 Everyone we talked to before the trip recommended the Fremont Street Experience...

 well, it was patriotic, awe-inspiring, unique...the whole show, set to music, is projected on a canopy over the street!  Not to be missed!

 Here's a Vegas hot spot...I do love Ross stores!  This one was special!

 We attended the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show...  Reed had expected a concert by a "cover" band...he wasn't sure what it would be.  Surprise!  It was fantastic!  Love Love Love!

 While we were at Fremont Street, we happened upon a little eatery that had been there since 1938...the waitresses wore uniforms with aprons and little caps...charming place...Du-par's (see the plate)...according to their advertising, Esquire magazine had selected their pancakes as the BEST in the U.S.  Not one to ever miss an opportunity to eat pancakes, I had to try them.   Oh Yes Indeed!!!  They are the best pancakes I've ever had!  Seriously!

 Last, but not least, we ventured to The Gold Coast to find one of the 10 best Chinese restaurants in the U.S....Dallin had come across this information and insisted we find it and try it.  Well...it, too, was fantastic...very authentic...not Americanized at all.  I even dusted off my chopstick skills and enjoyed the experience thoroughly!