Remember projects 1, 2, and 3?

Finally some pictures of those dresses on the kids I made them for, Miriam, Emeline, and Harriet.

So cute, little Harriet!

Elena's First and Last Dance Recital

Elena had her first dance recital tonight from her Fairy Tale Ballet class. Each week they read a fairy tale, dressed up like the princess, and then learned ballet.

Elena had a love-hate relationship with the class.

She loved to go when she actually wasn't going but when it came time to go, she wasn't nearly as enthused as during the rest of the week.

And then she'd tell me, "That's too long of a time to dance." It was an hour class.

She is on the back row, second girl from the left in this video. As you can see, she didn't have a lot of it down. But she was very excited to be in the recital. No stage fright. Typical Elena, fairly serious about the whole thing.

Take a bow, Elena, because that will be your last dance recital too. It's simply too much work for Mama--I don't think I can handle being a dance-mom. With all the extra practices before the recital and trying to put on mascara on a four year old. Nope, not for me. I know!!! My kids can be artists and just stay in their rooms working quietly. I can certainly manage trips to an art supply store for them. It's brilliant! Heck we could have a whole studio to work in, and I wouldn't care if they got paint on the floor. So much easier than dance competitions (yes, Ana will be in Ballroom this next year) and dance recitals and performances. Art, YES!!! Why didn't I think of it before??!?!?

Posing

Ana's new dress.

Isabel making a silly face.

Isabel trying to copy Ana.

Sebastian looking sharp.

Okay I know those two photos were virtually identical, but he's just so cute, I couldn't help myself.

Before church today.

Sebastian and Ana looking cute.

Sebastian with his smolder look here. Very Flynn Rider.

Leo not so much Flynn Rider. But he did make blueberry pancakes for me. So I have no complaints.

Yes I did marry that man.
'

And he's a great dad!

Kids

First of all, Isabel insisted on sleeping with Elena the other night. This is not the most effective way for kids to fall asleep. However, it was pretty darn cute.

Secondly, they had to take every book in the creation with them. Isabel does this every night by the way. Sometimes she doesn't have room to sleep, but even half asleep at 2 in the morning, when she's fallen out of bed due to lack of room, she'll still cry if you try to take her books away.

Most importantly (to her) is her two "Modder Goose" books. She won't go to sleep and cries piteously till she gets them. I bought these two books this February and they quickly became her favorites.

And then there's this kiddo. He thinks he's smart that he can climb onto all of our countertops now. And turn the water on.

I don't find it quite as amusing. Fun times.

Friday

Yard work. Ana mowed the front, I mowed the back.

Turtles at that duck pond.

Close up.

Feeding the ducks at the BYU duck pond. Ana took the pictures while I was taking my midterm.

Baby ducks.

Sebastian sporting his new buzz cut.

Cute baby ducks.

The end.

For Andrea

Also, this is my favorite website for games for Elena. I like it because most of the games tell the rules rather than having to read them--which she can't do. Also because they have English accents. What's not to love?

CBeebies

Now you need to post the website you were telling me about because I have a three second memory.

Hiking to the Y

Yesterday we hiked to the top of the "Y". Or as Elena calls it, "The BYU A." I've tried to explain several times that it's the Y. But then she called it a B for a while. Yes, my daughter has no clue about the alphabet. Whatever.

You really should click on this to see it up close. Her face is priceless. Classic Elena.

In our 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Salt Lake book, the Y hike was listed as moderate. Yeah, I'm a wuss. I now know that moderate is the extent of my hiking abilities. I definitely do not have buns of steel.

We left quickly as this child is fearless and falls over constantly. That Y is pretty steep.

On the way down, Elena kept sliding and falling, and at one point she gave her legs a pep talk that went like this, "Come on legs, you need to hold me up!"

Ana kicked us all on the way up and then she ran the whole way down.

I love Leo.

Ana waiting for us. She finally gave up waiting. Elena was not the fastest hiker. Good times though.

Back to school

I am officially through my first two weeks of back to college. Yes, I am a Cougar. Sweet. I'm just taking Spanish and family history classes this spring and summer at the Y. And just one at a time right now. It's weird, I feel old but maybe that's just from my legs and backside hurting from riding Ana's bike to and from campus. If all goes well this summer, then I'll take Spanish again in the fall. We'll see. It seriously cuts into my sewing time. Ruff. But supposedly I do want to learn español, eventually, someday. And as for the family history classes, well, that's my competing obsessive hobby along with sewing, so as long as I can manage it, I'll keep it up. Family History is my designated major with Spanish as my minor. (I find that hysterically funny--is that just me? Or does anyone else see the humor in that?) I wonder how long they'll let me keep taking ONLY Spanish and family history classes. Hee. Hee.

Wedding Stuff a little late.

This was my favorite photo from the royal wedding day. No, I didn't watch it, although I saw plenty about it on the news at the dentist's office. Yes, I know, no picture of the couple there, but I love all the bright red uniforms and flags.

But I do have to say I loved her wedding gown. Beautiful.

A lot of people were commenting that it looks a lot like Grace Kelly's. I can see that. Maybe that's why I liked it so much. I love Grace Kelly's dress too.

But then I love all 1950's, early 1960's clothes. Yeah. I would have worn this dress in a heartbeat. With the hat of course.

I would have worn this dress too--gorgeous! I only put up this one up though, to point out that a lot more dresses have long sleeves now. A couple of years ago, long sleeves were impossible to find. I know, I looked.

I had my dress altered completely to change the short sleeves and sweetheart neckline to a 1950ish 3/4 length sleeve and boat neckline. Yes, my mother did think I was crazy.

A picture of the short train.

And with those last two photos, you can see on the skirt that the entire thing was covered in lace. Well, sort of. The seamstress that altered the top salvaged pieces of lace and then arranged them as best she could over the new bodice and hand sewed them on. It doesn't look all that great close up with bright lighting, but just walking by and in pictures, it looked fabulous!

But I LOVED my wedding dress. And I still think it was just as beautiful as Kate's. :)

Yes. I am pathetic.