A lot to catch up on...

I'm excited to get to our summer vaction pictures.  Here's one preview.  Yay for San Diego!!!!

But before our summer started, Jane and Alice had a few fun activities.  First Jane had her little Kindergarten concert.  She loves to sing, dance, and perform.  The videos capture her excitement for feeling the music and lyrics.

I love how when little kids sing verses in songs it can get a little sketchy, but they come back in strong for the chorus again!

My sweet little blondie.

The rest of us at the concert.

Just makes me smile

Jane's teacher's husband creates an igloo each year out of milk jugs for the classroom.  So fun.  Jane and two of her classmates.  The one on the left joined them about a month before the end of school from Ghana and her handwriting was perfect.  Such pretty girls.

Ta-da.  "I know I look adorable!"  The hat was made by my friend Laura.  So talented.

Another activity was the ballet recital.  For Jane and her class, since all the girls knew each other from church, we all gathered at Krissy's house.  Another good friend from church, Rebekah, came over and braided the girls' hair.  And then Mattie's mom, Heather, did the buns and makeup, and Eden's mom, Nikki, did their nails.  They loved it.  My mom was nice enough to buy us all pizza and we hurried off to the performance.  Thanks to all of you for offering all your talents and time for our wonderful girls.

I put Alice's hair up and finally got her into her costume.  Which I should elaborate on.  So ever since Alice saw her costume she did not like it.  I tried not to mention it hoping she would forget her intial reaction.  She also didn't like her dance.  She's got a mind of her own.  She hardly participated in class most weeks, so I had no idea how the recital would go.  The dress rehearsal left me less hopeful.  She refused to put on her costume, even after all of my bribes and offerings of chocolate and milkshakes.  Nothing.  She did go up on stage in her leotard and did a little of the choreography the first run through.  The second run through though she sat down and even turned her back to the audience.  I talked to her teacher after the rehearsal  about getting Alice into her costume and she said she didn't know what to do either.  Then in an email later on that evening she said that after speaking with her cohorts, if Alice didn't wear her costume she couldn't perform.  Once again I hoped for the best.  I had a glimpse of hope when I bribed Alice into her costume at home offering her starburst.  She put it on and even did a curtsy for me.  I still had no idea how the recital would go.

As you can she put it on and did exactly what she was supposed to.  The whole time in the dressing room she said, "But I don't like my costume."  I said, "You don't have to like it, but thank you for wearing it.  And you get to lead out your class onto the stage."

Mattie, Sami, Eden, and Jane.  All perfect.

She took her job seriously and did an excellent job.  I had tears in my eyes as she danced.  I was so proud of her.  I knew she didn't want to do it, but she did her best.  After the performace she immediately took of her costume and changed back into her clothes before Jane came out on stage.  Also in her evening prayers she said (without prompting), "And thank you that ballet is over."

I love my sweet Alice.

And Jane...

She is just always a performer and at her best.  And she did another awesome job the night of the recital.  Miss Kimberly (her teacher) said she's going to direct something someday.

All those beautiful girls!

I love that pose!!!!!

Well, ballet and school ended and the family showed up in town the next day.  Kevin's parents and his sister and her two kids came in for the weekend.  Since our house lacks space for many visitors, Kevin built a frame for a queen size bed in the window seat for a room for his parents.  It worked out perfectly.

So, Kami, Lincoln, and Marina were only here for the weekend.  Bob and Valene came with them, but then left for a week and then came back for another week.  We picked them up at the airport and headed to Downtown Disney.

Jane and the statue lady

Must never pass up a photo op with Aurora

Waiting for our turn on the train.  Little Kate was very excited.

Jane, Marina, and Alice

Kate wouldn't let me hold her on my lap.  She wanted to sit on the bench like a big girl.

We took the ferry back to the other side of Downtown Disney after having walked it already.

The crew (first 3 rows on Jane's side)

Lincoln and Kate

Must always break out the Karoake machine

Some fun dancing

Kevin playing "hide and roar" with the kids.  As you can see they loved it.

Our best attempt at taking a group picture.  Thank you, Lincoln and Marina, for visiting us.  We loved having you here, if only for a day.  Come visit again soon.

Once again, clothes are optional in our house!  One last story before I end this post.  So I found some old Polly Pockets at Once Upon a Child like 2 years ago.  There were a couple of cute houses and one girl.  Well, since then I have been looking for more.  Plus we lost the girl, so playing with the houses aren't quite as fun.  Anyway, since they no longer make the tiny Polly Pockets, I had to go on e-bay.  It was my first experience.  So I found an awesome deal for a bunch of houses and people.  I put my bid in and it was out bid.  I finally made it to $26 and won.  I actually won!!!  I was so excited until I realized I had to pay $14 in shipping costs.  Anyway, I still got it and the kids love it.  I think it is pretty awesome too.  Plus I won the bid!!!  Anyway, here's Alice playing instead of getting dressed like I asked her to.

I hope to post more pictures soon of what else we did while Kevin and my families were in town.  And our fun, spontaneous trip to San Diego.