Cadence's Recital

This year Cadence has taken a tap/ballet combo class on Thursdays. We have had such a great time getting to know the other little girls in the class and watching Cadence learn a new skill and excel at it. So, now that we've practiced for an entire year, recital time finally came around. We have been practicing for weeks for this night!  Cadence was a little nervous about it all but she did such a great job!

This blue outfit was for tap. 

 and the pink one was ballet. She was so beautiful in both although we felt like the tap came easier to her because of her natural rhythm.   One of my favorite things about watching her in this type of setting was seeing what a leader she is. Because we practiced lots of days at home, she was very confident with her routines. It was interesting to watch other little girls watch her feet as she did the moves without ever questioning herself. It was such a great teachable moment to be able to tell her that when you work hard at something that there is never a need to question yourself in it. 

Practice really does make permanent :)

and afterward  - so relieved for it to be all over!

 The Palahnuks all came over from Raleigh to watch her dance. She was so excited that they were coming and talked about it for weeks ahead of time!  

We are so blessed to have these people as a part of her life.

 and these people too....part of our village that we couldn't survive without!

KayKay treated us all to sweetFrog afterwards!  Because it's hard to find a better way to celebrate months of practice and a job well done than with frozen yogurt covered in sour gummy worms :)

Camping at Dan Nicholas

Between the busy-ness of VBS and upcoming youth and childrens camp Chris and I decided a couple of days of quality, face time with the kids was in order. So, we loaded up the camper and headed out for Dan Nicholas Park. It's a great, fun place for the kids and only about 30 minutes away so it makes it perfect for a quick trip out of town. 

 Dinner the first night - HOT DOGS!!! The littles were in heaven! It was so fun because we let them "cook" their own hot dog. This literally meant that it was on a stick and in the vicinity of the fire for maybe 10 seconds before they would eat the hot dog right off the stick. The hot dogs literally didn't even get hot enough for us to need to tell them to be careful eating them, but they had a good time so we let it be what it was :)

Camping with little man is tricky. A 15 month old who doesn't walk but can get around crawling very quickly in the woods has the potential to be a disaster. But we kept him confined to a chair alot :) and tried it all different ways to keep himself occupied. 

 After dinner the first night the 2 year olds and I went on a walk along the water. We ended up seeing ducks, turtles and fish so we went back to get pretzels to feed all the animals. It was so much fun to get to spend some time with just the 2 of them and get to watch them experience animals that close for the first time. 

 This is what Caleb did while we fed the ducks :)

 Breakfast the next morning. The Andersens can throw down some food!  I was stunned at how much our kids eat. For breakfast this morning they literally ate 1 dozen eggs, 1 pound of bacon, and 5 potatoes. We're in trouble when they're bigger!

 After breakfast we rode our bikes from the camping area to the play stuff. Our kids are a perfect age for this park and it's entertainment.

The train from Daddy's view...

and from Mommy's view....

 The reptile area...Creed didn't love the "nakes"

and as we left the reptile area there was another "nake"laying right out in the mulch!! 

 Cadence thought it escaped :)

The Carousel 

Creed was afraid of the carousel (and the train) so this horse was much more his speed

 The girls looking at all the birds

and the water area!!!  I mean who doesn't like a good splash pad on a hot day?

Dinner night 2.....Hobo dinners with potatoes, carrots, onions and mushrooms....YUMMY!

 Daddy taught the boys how to do this and then we saw it ALOT! 

they thought they were big stuff peeing on trees :)

There's something about all the kids playing together that just makes me so happy!

and s'mores for dessert!! Because you really can't go camping and not make them...

 We had such a great time camping. I was so grateful for a few days away because for me, when I can look my kids in the face and play with them and not have 100 other things vying for my attention, 

I remember how much I like my kids :)  We really are so blessed!