Update: Lia's Dance Class

Well, I'm pretty sure Lia had fun in dance class. After being SO excited before her first dance class the excitement began to wane when she realized that she was not actually going to learn how to twirl. Class after class went by with no twirling instructions and her love for dance class grew less and less until she informed me that she had learned all she needed to learn about dance and didn't need any more dance class. Needless to say we finished out the class but will probably opt for gymnastics next time instead. She really did have fun but I think it did not meet her expectations. Regardless, we loved her teacher, Miss Sarah, and she looked really really stinking cute in that leotard, tights and bun every Monday.

Lia had a little performance one Saturday morning at the Encinitas Community Center during their arts festival. The little dancers were so cute even if they did forget half the dance (they got much better for their final dance recital). They got up there all by themselves and danced to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

PDL Jog-a-thon

Max was pretty excited this year to participate in Park Dale Lane's annual Jog-a-thon. My mom and Mattie were visiting, too, so they got to watch him and run a lap or two with him. He did a great job even with all of the water breaks he took. Cute boy loves to run!

Mattie Visit!

Mattie Rose and my mom came to visit for a few days and of course we loved having her. Lots of trips to the park and walking on the beach and even a Saturday morning trip for donuts.

(Someone got tired on the walk and fell asleep on daddy's shoulder).

Mattie also finally got her ears pierced! She was so excited and picked out a cute pair. I thought she'd kind of freak out a little bit but she hardly batted an eyelash, such a brave girl! She's getting so grown up!

Valentine's Day

For some reason I've decided that every year for Valentine's Day I have to hand make something for the kids to give out at school and every year I am reminded about how much that idea is bad. This year it was these cute little pencils. The kids loved them but I really did not realize how long it would take me to make them all. Oh well, they were cute!

Max made this adorable box to collect his valentines at school. He was pretty proud of it.

Saturday Donuts

Our Saturday morning tradition of donuts at VGs is still going strong! We've had a few missed Saturdays lately because of traveling or other commitments but it is definitely something we all look forward to. Even Lia, who actually doesn't eat donuts but usually has a bag of cheerios instead, likes our family time on Saturdays. We usually follow up our donuts with a walk on the beach or at the lagoon. It really is the perfect way to start a day usually filled with lots of family fun. We really do love our Saturdays together!

I totally love this picture of the two of them.

Trick Riding

Max showing his skills on his scooter at the park.

Sunday Walk

Right above our neighborhood are some trails that we like to walk through, mostly on Sunday afternoons when we're trying to kill time before bed. I really should take more photos of the kids but these will have to do for now.

Random iPhone Photos

Just some photos of our day to day lives taken with the one thing that hardly leaves my hands.

We were so happy to see our old friends here in San Diego! We miss them so much.

Library time.

Sick boy fell asleep on the couch.

Happy girl hardly lets anything get her down!

The boys.

Playing games on Sundays.

Sunday walks.

More reading.

Kid loves his treats.

Cute church kids.

This girl considers herself to be a serious artist. She spends hours everyday drawing and coloring and discovering new ways to mix markers and crayons and pens and pencils. 

Writing to Tyler's cousin on his mission.

Looking cute at the doctor's office.

Gorgeous tree blooming in our front yard. The blossoms ended up smelling like rotten fish but they were still really really pretty while they lasted.