First Recital

Eliza had her first violin recital tonight.

She practiced and practiced for her performance. 

If you asked her what song she performed she would say,

"AEA stomp, AEA stomp, AAEEAEA, stomp." 

The performance was at a rest home. The residents loved the 

performers all dressed in costume. 

Dance Recital

 Eliza had her dance recital this weekend! 

She loved it and it was so much fun for us to see her perform!

 She loves tap and ballet. She goes back and forth between which one is her favorite.

Watching her tap is so fun- they move their little feet so quickly!

 Her  ballet number.

 With the Director and her dance teacher. Miss Meredith.

I love this teacher! She is the perfect combo of strict and loving.

William sat through the two hour performance and loved it! He was a really good brother.

I need to get a video uploaded for family to watch. That will be coming!

Big Sis/Little Bro

It's hard to know how this happened to William? Hmmm.

Eliza

I walked around the corner to find this...self portrait.

Ipad gymnastics.

This is how I relax too.

Scooter Girl

This weather is ideal for jackets and scooters!

This girl is a goof...

 Brought me breakfast in bed. Leftover quiche and homemade mac in cheese. The girl knows me:)

I caught her watching a show - holding the ipod with her feet. Naturally.

Preschool: update

 Preschool is going so well. Pumpkin day was at our house. I love teaching.

 Painting pumpkins.

 Our backyard tree is gorgeous! Eliza made a leaf crown at Aimee's preschool. 

She is a true 4 year old- hot and cold with the camera!

E + W

Just reading William some books. A serious workout.

Model T

Field Trip to Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum

Model T ride

First Day of Dance!

Sweet Eliza started ballet and tap lessons and is over the moon about them. 

She skips out of class with a smile on her face then goes on to tell me it was "exhausting."

St. George

 We love spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's house in St. George.

 Swim swim all day!

She is a fish!

Virginia Tanner

 Eliza did a 3 week dance class session while we were in Utah. 

She loved it and so did I.

Loving being with Grandma Care.

Eliza Birthday!

 Eliza turned 4! 

She woke up bright and early and came down to presents and her favorite breakfast: crepes.

 She wanted the same EXACT birthday party she had last year. Very specific details were given and she had the mermaid/water party she had dreamed of all year. I love how simple it is to make a 4 year old happy!

 We have been blessed to have many of our dear friends from Kirksville move to the same city, and boy has that been good for the kids. Eliza had her best friends at her party and it was wonderful. This was her first friend birthday and she was so excited!

Dear Whitl's Mom, Chelsi, made Eliza the Mermaid costume of her dreams (long and blue!). Eliza wore it for days. The next day when we flew to Utah, it was the first thing she packed in her backpack.

Eliza

Eliza likes to find unique positions for her little body while she watches television.

Dad Bike Day @ school

It was a hot and humid day but these two attended Dad Bike Day @ Eliza's school. Eliza was counting down the days... she had her scooter in the back of the trailer and was so excited to ride with Dad. She kept asking if William was coming, and when I told her "No," she said, "Good." She felt very special.

First Fieldtrip: the wonder of childhood

Eliza had her first field trip with her school class where they got to ride on a bus. It was the most exciting thing for her, they went to the park by our home. I walked over with William to see the children's concert and Eliza. After the concert, I told Eliza it was time to walk home. Crocodile tears gathered in her eyes because she was so sad to not be able to ride on the bus back to school. My decision was easily made, and she ran along to the bus.  When I picked her up, Mrs. K told me she said as they rode the bus back to school, "I sure am enjoying this bus ride." Oh, Eliza- I love this age!

Easter Egg Hunt

The day before Easter was so very rainy. We had planned a large Easter Egg hunt for many children. It was pouring but we went forward. The clouds parted and it stopped raining for about 10 minutes, the sun even shined for a minute. It was fantastic.

Race Day

 It was a cold and rainy race day, Ben and Eliza both did great. 

Ben did swimmingly for sitting at a desk and studying 100% of the time- I think he placed 3rd in his age division. It was such a rainy morning that I kept missing him during the race, but watching him finish is always fun. The cold and rainy Saturday morning took me back to being a spectator of the Cornell crew team. I loved watching him race. 

I hope he has time again one day to row.

 These race day pictures of Eliza are so classic. She was again this year the smallest competitor. We signed her up weeks before and she asked nearly every day how long until the race.

Started and ended strong with a smile on her face.

Eggs

Eliza has been so excited to dye eggs, for weeks! 

She was in heaven and very serious about her work.