Coasters & Slides

We spent the kids first day off of school at the alpine slides and coaster. It was a fun day. Madi didn't want in this picture but her favorite part was the coaster. Dylan and Kate loved bungee jumping on the trampoline.

First Day of School

This was Kate's first day of all-day school (First Grade) and Dylan's first day of 4th grade. Aren't they so adorable! I love you both so much. ~Mom

Sisters

Kate adores Aly and it is pretty clear that Aly feels the same about her big sis.

Dance Attack

Well here we go! Now that Kate is on the Stars dance team she has to, I mean gets to, attend Dance Attack in Park City. Three days of dancing her little heart out. (She loved every minute of it!)

Soccer Camp

Kate and Spencer had fun at another year of soccer camp. She and Spencer were in the same Kindergarten class.

Kate's hard lesson

Despite many warnings from Ben and I and a few growls from Jessie the dreaded day we'd feared came on Saturday. Kate got bit. She had been climbing on Jessie and pulling on her ears when it happened. Jessie warned Kate to stop by growling twice but it she'd finally had enough. It was so sad to see Kate's beautiful face like that. A quick drive to the doctor and six stitches later we were back home. The plastic surgeon said it will likely heal well and with the help of Mederma, it will not be too visible. It was tough to see how we couldn't save Kate from the consequences of her choice even with all of our warnings. This parenthood thing is challenging. Hopefully this is a lesson she'll not have to re-learn.

Art with Heart Dance Concert

Kate was featured in a photo in the local newspaper this morning. Last night she danced in her first dance team performance. She is on the "Mini Starburst" team and absolutely loves it. She is quite a performer. A friend commented that she was one of the only girls her age her really could stay on beat. It was so fun to watch her. Dylan asked her today, "Did you get embarrassed at all being up on the stage?" Kate looked at him like that was a ridiculous question and replied, " Noooo...absolutely not!" It was so funny coming from a 5 (soon to be 6) year old. Kate was even more smitten with the whole evening's excitement when she realized, "Isn't this the stage that they dance the Nutcracker on?" Clara is one the I can blame for starting all this. She fell in love when she saw Clara dance in the Nutcracker. As luck would have it, her Christmas performance number is a ballet piece that is choregraphed to the Sugar Plum Fairies number from the Nutcracker. And then to make things even more amazing to her sweet 5 year old heart her Jazz teacher played the music for their next number and it is from the musical "Pinkalicious"--Kate absolutely favorite children's story! What more could she ask for!

Kate's Halfy Birthday

Because of Kate's late December birthday, she opted to wait to have her birthday party until her half-birthday so she could have friends come to swim at Nana and Papa's pool. She chose to have a "Princess Pinkalicious Pool Party" a theme that comes from her favorite children's book, "Pinkalicious" (she eats too many cupcakes, turns pink and then to return normal she is prescribed by her doctor to eat a green stuff, hence the green stuff on the table).

It was a beautiful day for swimming and the girls had fun making magic wands, bracelets, reading the story and of course they loved the princess pinata. Kate is such a complete joy to have in our family. We adore her more than words can say. She was so gracious to all her friends and so appreciative to her parents for the fun party. HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY KATE!