Tu-Tu's and Twirls 2012

We had a very busy weekend for Langley's dance recital this month!  Langley has enjoyed her dance class this year.  We are lucky to have someone from a studio in town, come to the base youth center to teach classes for a very reasonable price.  So convenient since we live right here!  She loves twirling and tapping and it also helps that one of her favorite neighborhood pals is in her class.   After extra practices, a rehearsal, and a photo day, with step by step costume and make up sheet (not cut out to be a dance mom!)...we were ready for the big event! ;)  I don't think a 3 year old could have been more prepared. :)  The girls were very cute and there was no stage fright for any!  I love how care free and confident this age group is.  Just adorable!

We decided to have our own little photo-shoot at home, since the pics they were selling were so overpriced.  Sound familiar? ;)  I loved all the poses she gave me! :)

Tap time!

Here are the pictures from the performance day!

Ready for the big show with Serena!

They sang a song called "when i grow up" during the tap performance.

Cute little ballerina's!

She loved having Grandma Susan in town for her show!!!

Mason 18 months old

Of course this post is going to start out with me saying, "I can't believe how fast Mason has grown!". :) I just love my little blondie!  And here he is 18 months old!  His personality is so fun with lots of smiles and giggles.  He loves to snuggle and jump into a piles of pillows and blankies.  He is a monkey always climbing furniture, standing on head, and doing somersaults.  He loves his sister Langley (most of the time:) and wants to do everything she does.  Which means he has had his share of tutus and princess wands!  ;)  He loves to dance with her to music.  And he can't get enough of being tossed and twirled around...the faster the better.  This summer he has loved being in the water.  He will lay back down in the bathtub with just the top of his face sticking out.  And at the pool he doesn't take a second to jump off the edge.  The second his feet hit the edge he is jumping back in.  No time for any ready, set, go's or 1, 2, 3's.  :)  He loves to throw(watch out) anything anywhere!   And one of his favorite words is "GO!".  He stands his back against the wall, says "GO", and takes off running the hall.  Over and over. :)  I love his BOY-ness combined with his sweet, cuddly, head tucked on my shoulder, "up momma" personality.  I can't wait for Greg to see how much he has changed.

Favorite Book-Goodnight Moon, often he likes to take his books to sleep.
Favorite Food-  Pizza and Grapes  (and if there is dessert in sight you better forget about trying to feed him anything else:)
Favorite Show-Elmo and Curious George...he loves "ooh, ooh" monkeys
Favorite Toy- cars and pipe blocks that he turns into a trumpet and marchs around the house with
Favorite Place- The Ocean, Zoo and his My Gym class, he loves swinging on the bar

Silliness

Same day from the furniture to the stove...anything he can find to climb!

Doing his pipes and trumpet!  (ignore messy house please. lol)

Coloring his favorite Elmo. And he is another Lefty!

 Splashing in our neighbors pool

 Doing his head stands.

 Sister love at the Grocery store.  I think his face is so read from Langley rubbing him? :)

 Walking the zoo.

Love You Mason Boyd!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great weekend in Aiken over Memorial Day weekend.  Good timing with tropical storm Beryl hitting Jacksonville while we were there!  They had a blast playing in Grandma's pretty garden.  Sprinklers, buckets, rocks, and dirt kept them busy!

 I love this picture of Mason looking up at Langley.   My favorite!

Mason loved this bucket!  And I loved him in it. :)

We went to a local lake and did some swimming.  I love getting my kids swimming in lakes.  I guess it must be me growing up in Lake Chautauqua.  There is something about fish nibbling you, rocks at your feet, and cold water that is good for your character!  Although this lake wasn't cold nor rocky.

Langley was so brave in the water!  It was so fun watching her master the 'mermaid dive'.  

She was excited to jump off the dock over and over and over!

Mason was loving the water too.  

Eating popsicles with Grandpa!  Naked?  :)

 Headed to Hitchcock Woods for some hiking and horse hunting!

Running followed by piggy back rides wore me out!

 

Grandpa's shoulders were getting lots of action!

From the woods to the gardens.  We took a stop at Hopeland Gardens to check out the turtles.

Lots of culture in small town Aiken! :)   I really love how small and easy it is to do everything in this city.  We were glad to catch the ballet while we were there.  Sadly, they couldn't perform at hopeland gardens because of the rain, so we had to watch in a gym.  Langley loved watching the big girls and got her excited for her upcoming recital.

We went to a nice Memorial Day Parade to honor the veterans and troops...especially our favorite one we were thinking a lot about that day!   

 Mason was warming up to this whole parade idea!  He started on Grandma's lap with his fingers in his mouth and ended up on the ground dancing and waving the flag.

"HI!"

This parade was a little boys dream with firetrucks, military vehicles, and antique cars.

 Langley's favorite pink truck and dog!

 This dog was getting tired so she was carrying it.  lol  :)

 Thank you to the many who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and to the families they leave behind.  Amazing Love!