Happy Birthday Morgan!

 My baby isn't a baby anymore! I can't believe she's gone from this: (This was 4 hours after I had her, so don't judge! HA!)

 to this:

so quickly! 

Morgan and her BFF, Ryann, had a double birthday party to celebrate turning 9. It was a simple party at the park, but they all had a BLAST!!! 

 Monkey cupcakes for our little monkeys!

Camping

And this is exactly why I love small towns. The kids decided to "camp" on the front lawn tonight. When I left, Morgan was already asleep and Shelby was reading to Preston using the flashlight! I love it!!!

So I realize that I'm pretty much the WORST mom on the planet for not posting about Preston's birthday... OH WELL!! HA!
He had a great birthday. He finally got his Nintendo 3DS and one of is Ninjago Lego sets.

We didn't do a big party this year, instead he got his presents and then we took him to see the new Three Stooges Movie.  HE LOVED IT!!!!

I can't believe how much he's grown this year. His reading is FINALLY taking off. He LOVES math. He's still totally into Legos, soccer and anything dangerous!  Boy are we lucky to have him!

Dixie Jam

The girls had Dixie Jam this weekend. They have practiced long and hard for this competition and boy am I glad it's over!!!!!
The weekend started out with Shelby's solo competition. Each competition has different rules and for this competition, she had to be in the Intermediate division as opposed to the Beginner division she was in at Releve. Let's just say I was more than a little concerned about this, especially when I started watching the girls she was competing against. She did a great job. There were a few bumbles, but that's ok. She had a blast and took 4th place. She was absolutely THRILLED that she didn't get last place considering how great some of the girls she competed against were! She's hoping to improve even more this next year and she wants 1st next year!!!

All the On Stage soloists in the Intermediate and Advanced divisions.

Saturday morning started bright and early. Even after such a late night for solo's, they had to be ready to perform in St. George by 9:15. Here is their Jazz routine. They won 1st place!!!!! I love Morgan in this one. She's in the front closest to me. She rocked this dance!!!

Next was their Hip Hop routine. Shelby is front and center and Morgan is in the front, closest to me again. This was definitely not their best routine, but they had a BLAST!!! Both girls LOVE hip hop because there isn't a ton of technique. It's all about having a good time. They took 3rd place.

Morgan and Taters (Tatum)

This was the 1st year that either girl as done Modern. Shelby is the only one doing it, and she LOVES it! She struggled with it at first, but has grown to really really enjoy it. She ADORES her teacher beyond words!!!! She is also the teacher that choreographed Shelby's solo. After teaching her the solo, Janene realized that Shelby was capable of a lot more than what was being done, so she added a couple solo parts for her. Shelby is the one that does a little leap in the very beginning and then at the end she does a little solo part on the left side of the screen. They were the only ones competing in this division, so they judged them a little differently. They give ratings of silver, gold or high gold. They got High Gold.

This is Shelby with her friend Cambria. They have a blast together! Such silly girls!

My little geisha.

Last was the lyrical routine. I had to edit a little bit of it out, to get it to upload. I just want to go on record as saying I KNOW MY GIRLS!!!! In the original, you can hear me commenting on Morgan's dirty knees saying she must have been crawling around backstage.. YEP!! Then while they're waiting for their music to start, I notice Shelby has her "Mom" look. I make a comment that I bet Morgan is complaining about the wait and Shelby is trying to shush her.... YEP!!! And then they start laughing at each other! They got 2nd place for this dance. Morgan is the one being lifted and Shelby does a heel stretch in the air. Shelby does a HUGE leap in this dance that was dang near perfect! She's like her Mamma and is not a jumper, so she has worked HARD on her leaps this year and it has paid off!

Needles to say, the whole family was POOPED by the end of the day. We did a little shopping and took the girls out to eat. Poor Morgan fell SOUND ASLEEP in Barnes and Noble. She even drooled all over the table. NICE! HA! 

The kids had a blast and I couldn't possibly be prouder of them!!!

Merry Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, and Fathers Day

Ok, so not really!!! Chris got his dream tool box yesterday. He's so excited!!! He's been drooling over this box since we got married! It even has chrome wheels hahaha

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!!! The kids had a GREAT Easter. They spent Spring Break in Escalante at Chris' mom's house. Then, came home Friday night to spend the weekend with me and Chris.  The Easter bunny was very good to them this year. 

Preston's Pile

 Shelby's Pile

 A video for them all to share

 Morgan's pile

 This year, each of the kids had "Big Money" eggs. Prestons were Spiderman

 Hello Kitty for Shelby

 Hanging out, sorting eggs on the front yard (ignore the dead grass, it's still winter here!)

 Morgans big $ eggs were snoopy. (She LOOOOOOOVES Snoopy)

 After the egg hunt, we got dressed for church. These aren't the best photos, but oh well!!!!)

 (Charon- Morgan's dress has lime green lines within the plaid so that the pink and lime green color scheme works.. Don't worry I didn't forget my Southern roots by not color coordinating HAHA)

We had a wonderful Easter! Hope you all did too!

Releve

The girls had their first dance competition of the season this weekend.  Shelby has been working with one of the instructors for about a month now, learning a new solo routine.  Bless her heart, she was so scared that she was trembling and started to cry right before she performed, but she sucked it up and did it! I personally think she rocked it. 

 

 She got a blue diamond placement.

The other Onstage Soloist in the Mini and Jr. Divisions.

After the Solo competition, we did a little shopping and went to dinner. Then they got to do their all time favorite thing... stay in a hotel! HA! I don't know what it is about hotels, but my kids think they are the coolest thing in the whole world.  It was too late to swim by the time we got back to the hotel,  but they were up and in their swim suits by 6:30 the next morning, just waiting for the pool to open :-)

 Morgan saw this tree and yelled "Holy Crap Mommy look at the size of that pineapple" Yeah.... we don't have many palm trees in Cedar hahaha

After swimming and putting out a few fires, we made it to the competition.

I think they did fantastic. They got white diamond placements for both of their routines. In the first one, Morgan is in the front (Jazz is her thing; Shelby... not so much) Shelby is in the back and to the side. In the 2nd dance, Morgan is the one being lifted in the air, Shelby is the one doing the heel stretch. If you find them in the beginning, then you can follow them lol.

A friend wanted to see their hair for competitions, so here are a couple close up pics.

They had a blast this weekend. Morgan is still tired and grumpy, but she'll get over it. Shelby is already up practicing for her next solo competition.

Science Fair

 We had our school science fair this week and PRESTON WON the 1st grade division. He was so excited. I'd give anything to have been able to capture the look on his little face when he realized that he'd won. It was priceless. His project was called "Don't Be a Dummy" It was on whether or not you're safer in a heavier or lighter vehicle in a car crash. (Heavier won, won by the way) He goes to the district contest this Friday.

Morgan's project was called "Bouncy Eggs". She wanted to see if it was possible to make a bouncy ball out of an egg. It was actually pretty cool to see what happens when you leave an egg in vinegar. The vinegar eats the shell away and you're left with a rubbery ball. It was fun!!

Shelby's project was about curve balls. She wanted to see if the way that you hold a ball actually makes a difference when you throw it. (It does by the way LOL)

 All of the kids did a great job and learned a lot from their projects. I'll let everyone know what happens with Preston at the District level this week.

Blue Angels.

We took the kids down to the 1st Annual Thunder over Utah this weekend. We were a little worried about the weather, but even though it was FREEZING it didn't rain so it was a good thing! I'd never been to an air show, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Preston got a new model plane and my word, you'd think he'd never gotten a toy before. He LOVED IT!!! 

Morgan always becomes my little shadow when we go to stuff like this. I can't lie, I LOVE IT! 

 The kids got to do a tour of a C-17. They thought it was the coolest thing EVER

 Chris and his clone.

 The show was pretty awesome. I'm surprised Preston's little tongue didn't freeze from sitting there with his jaw dropped for so long. The thought that the US NAVY "Blue Angels" were pretty amazing.

 Poor Morgan was POOPED!!! I know I'm biased, but I think she's one of the most precious girls around.

We nearly froze to death, but we had a good time!!!!!!!!! I do have to say though, my favorite part of the whole day was watching Preston pretend to be an airplane in the parking lot after the show. HA!