Going Crazy!

Two and a half days in the car is too long for anyone. The girls did surprisingly well. Sara had a breakdown that lasted about two minutes. That's it! Anna, on the other hand, started asking if we were there yet just as we passed Salt Lake City. It was a long drive for her. A couple of things that I learned duringthis drive;
Nebraska is ugly and it stinks!
Kids eat better when strapped to a car seat.
Fast food gets boring fast!
Regardless of how many games and activities you bring, the kids will be bored!

Here is my sweet Sara. She really was very sweet the whole trip. Since we have arrived, however, she has been a real spitfire!Anna, asking if we are there yet. Nope!
We stopped at a rest stop in Wyoming and the hill was covered with pot guts. They came right up to people, I guess looking for handouts. We didn't give them anything. Didn't need to start out in Kentucky with some sort of disease!

Memorial Day Weekend

We headed out of town the day before Memorial Day. Before we left we made one last stop to visit the grave of Jason, Ellie and Grace. I hate the fact that I am leaving their grave. It almost feels as if we are leaving them behind. I know that it is only their physical bodies, that their spirits are not there, but it still feels like I am leaving a piece of myself behind. Thank goodness all of the family is nearby and can take care of their grave for us.
We decided to take balloons to the grave. The princess ones are for the girls, of course, and we got Jason a firefly.

The grave was already full. I love that my sweet babies are loved!

Saying Goodbye, Part 2

Since we didn't have a house to sleep in that night, we spent the night at my parents. Kassi graciously gave up her bed to us, Thanks Kassi! Anyway, the next morning Anna decided to beautify everyone. First she did Rob's hair. Doesn't it look great!
Then she put wax on Grandpa's hair. I also found out that she put powder on his cheeks as well. I bet he looked great!
Anna took lots of pictures that day. We ended up with a lot of close ups of Kassi.
She is into posing people. Here she made Grandma do a ballerina pose with her.
Putting more powder on Grandpa.
Sara is obsessed with DVDs. She kept bringing them out and wanting to watch them.
We also had to say goodbye to Dobber. We can't afford to put a fence up at the new house. We did find him a good home where he will be able to play with another Jack Russell.
My cute little family!
Aunt Kassi and Sara.

Saying Goodbye, Part 1

Corry and Merf had a going away party for us. I was too busy talking to take a lot of pictures, but Merf saved the day and took some for me. I will post them as soon as I get them. Anyway, it was bittersweet to say the least. I love that we have made such great friends over the years but I am so sad to leave them.
Grandma Colledge came by before the party to say goodbye. I love her so much!One of the many friends I made from dance, Amberlynn, stopped by. I will cherish the many talks we had about surviving the loss of our sweet babies. Unfortunately, she has endured the loss of sweet babies as well.
Anna and Alli. What more can I say. They are cousins, but best friends first and foremost. It will be hard to not have them close by but they will be great pen pals!
Even brothers have got to say goodbye! Why does Corry look afraid?

Taco Amigo!

Before we moved we had one last get together with my family at our favorite place, Taco Amigo! It was a good time had by all.
I love this picture. When Jayde sucks her thumb she likes to have something soft in her hand. I guess Anna's hair is pretty soft.Sara being the crazy little one that she is!
Anna loves baby Max. She can't get enough of him. He is pretty cute!
I think we were there for about two hours eating, talking and taking lots of pictures.
Me and my cute sister Kassi.
Sibling love?
Anna and Jayde practicing their ballet moves.
Sara sharing her ice cream cone with Grandpa. I love that her tongue is out as well as she is forcing Grandpa to eat it.

Dansagain Party

For our last dance class, we get together and dance for a minute and then head off to some restaurant for dessert. Might as well put back on all of the calories we just burned ;). This year we went to Chili's and enjoyed chips and queso. Yum! I had to take a couple of pictures as well, since I'm not doing it year. But I will do it when I come back. According to Lacy, my dance instructor and friend, she will be teaching until she is 80!
Me and Lacy. She is wonderful! If you like to dance, take her class!


Here is my dear friend, Aislinn. She has lived across the street from me for more than six years, now and we only became good friends about a year and a half ago. I'm so sad that I didn't get to know her sooner. She is one of the people that I am going to miss the most. She has been a huge support to me since Rob left. I helped her get addicted to the "Twilight" series and we have enjoyed more than a couple of late night Twilight marathons (sorry Scott! But thanks for sharing!). And anytime I have needed to vent she has been there to listen. Thanks Aislinn. You really are the best! Thank goodness for Skype! (Not the most flattering picture of me...Yikes!)

Why is moving so much more fun for kids than adults? Sara had a grand time with a couple of the boxes.

Haircuts!

I love Anna's long hair. You can do so much with it. However, I do not like all of the complaining and crying that happens everyday when I do it. So, a couple of months ago I told her that after ballet was over, we were going to cut her hair. The day after she was done with her performances, she asked if we could cut her hair. So, we called Aunt Kassi and she came down. Here is the before picture.
And the after. I think we ended up cutting off about five inches. I think it makes her look so much older.
Front view.
Sara watched Anna getting her hair cut and decided that she wanted one as well. She doesn't have a lot of hair to begin with, so Kassi humored her and gave her a quick trim. Okay, it wasn't that quick because Sara wouldn't hold still.
Notice the princess shoes on Sara's feet. She loves high heels. And I thought she was going to be my tom boy!
Thanks Kassi! We'll do it again when we come for a visit!

Coppelia Part 2

Anna performed again tonight in Coppelia. She did such a fabulous job. I love that she is slowly improving. Near the end when she was blowing the doll kisses a little girl ran into her and knocked her down. I was so impressed that she just got up and continued to run off stage. She is growing up so fast. I love her so much!
We got a surprise. Aunt Merfy, Missy, Fuzzy and Alli were all able to come and watch her dance. She was so excited.
Grandpa and Grandma Cloward came as well and brought her flowers.
I love my little princess!
Anna and her best friend Alli. I love that she is such great friends with her cousin. She always tells me that Alli is her friend and her cousin. Friend is always first!
They decided that the flowers needed water. Those two little girls are very mischievous!
My little ballerina. Love you Anna! Great job!

Preschool Graduation

Anna "graduated" from preschool today. There was a program planned but because of the snow, we got to go and say goodbye to her teacher. We sure love Ms. Cheryl!

In visiting with Ms. Cheryl I learned that Anna knows her letters, numbers and sounds. She is even starting to read. She said that she is more than ready to start Kindergarten. Not too bad since she still has another year before she is able to start!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Today was one of those days. It started at 3:00 this morning when both girls had bad dreams and woke up. It got worse when I woke up to snow. Seriously?! Snow at the end of May! Because the snow was so water heavy and started melting so quickly the ground became extremely saturated and started filling two of our window wells. Luckily I caught it before it started flooding our basement. It seems like all bad things are happening after Rob leaves. For another example, a sprinkler line busted this year. Crazy! Anyway, back to today. While I was trying to get the water pumped out, the girls, being helpful, let Dobber out and then destroyed the house. I then discovered that my wallet was missing. After looking everywhere I finally called the Scera and, to my delight, some honest soul had found it and turned it in. Thank goodness.
Everything ended okay, but it just seemed like it was one thing after another. I had called Rob and had an emotional breakdown. Later tonight I received the following e-mail:
Flowers for a bad day.
Love you.

Coppelia

Anna was able to perform in Utah Regional Ballet's production of Coppelia. If you ask her what she was she will tell you she was a Princess. I think she was just one of the village girls. Anyway, she did great and looked super cute.
Her cousin, Jayde, was the ballet with her.
Here she is posing with her flowers from mom and dad.
In front of the door that all of the dolls came out of onto the stage.
Aunt Kassi came to watch her perform.
So did Great Grandma Colledge.
With Grandpa and Grandma. Good job Anna. You did so great!