A full heart....

I scream...you scream....

We all scream for ICE CREAM!!
Well...Elliot and I did at least...it was only fair....Audra got to go to dance class with her chauffeur (daddy) and we had to stay home because we're not 4 years old...neither of us.

But since we're nice like that, we shared with everyone...even added sprinkles.

Elliot wasn't quite sure just exactly what to do with this icy bit of deliciousness in her hand...

she watched closely to see what her big sister was going to do with such a treat...

then she got after it!

Dancing....

Tonight was dress rehearsal for Audra's big dance recital this weekend.
She was THRILLED to get to wear stage make up. The dancing she may not remember....but wearing mommy's makeup...forever will be seared in her mind!

This is Audra after she came off stage finishing her performance...do you think she had any stage fright....hum....NO!
She bounced up and down and said, "mommy, I want to do it again mommy, I want to dance again!"

Later she told me, "mommy, I felt SPECIAL when I was up there on that stage."

Oh dear, heaven help me.

On the way home from rehearsal she asked if she could at least keep the ribbons on her shoes. I told her she got to keep...ALL of it, the dress, the hair ribbon, the shoe ribbon and the matching gloves. I think she may have actually squeaked with glee so loud the entire neighborhood heard us as we drove by in our car.

This just cracked me up... all the momma's all lined up at the front with cameras and videos.

There were ALOT-ALOT of tutus there tonight!!!

So there will be 31 dances....Audra's dance is all of three minutes...do the math people....that's alot of watching other people's little tutued daughters (and a couple sons) tapping and spinning around on stage!

-Newt: Aren't you glad we had daughters!!!!

Caleb...

This little boy and this little girl met when they were 18 months old. They went on their first "blind date" when this little girl's mommy called this little boy's mommy and said, "I know we've never met but we must become friends because our kiddos are only four months apart, can we come over for supper some time?"

Caleb is now a legend at our house. When Audra was younger she would lovingly refer to him as "my Caleb." One time Jennie (Caleb's mommy) was babysitting Audra for me and on the way to their house I told Audra that Jennie was "just like a mommy" and that she had to obey her. From then on she referred to her as "momma Jenny."

The word "Caleb" at our house means good times. It means playing with our buddies, going to the library, playing tag, swimming in the back yard pool, picnic lunches. When I say we are going to see Caleb even Elliot gets excited. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be able to pick him out of a line up of five year old boys, but she knows that whenever she hears that word, good times are in store.

The funny thing is, now when we meet families that have little boys that are Caleb's age Audra doesn't want to have anything to do with them. She seeks out the other little girls and wants to play dress up and talk lip gloss. But Caleb will always be different, he was her first, bestest friend.

Caleb, (and his daddy Jeremy, momma Jennie, and little brother Noah) you have made a very special place in our hearts. No matter the miles or spaces, we will be in each other's lives.

Can't wait till we get to see each other again....till then we will visit often in blog land....

Clap for Ellie....

In true toddler fashion, one of Elliot's less than pleasant phases recently has been not wanting to eat ANYTHING at the table during meal time. In an effort to get us past this difficult dinner time phase we started wildly applauding every time she would amuse us with a bite of food. Elliot has taken this extra bit of praise....and RAN with it. We now applaud (on demand mind you) for all kinds of things Elliot does. For example, we went to get the mail from the mail box. Elliot insisted "I do it SELF!!!" She can barely reach, but when she pulled a letter out of the box she jumped up and down yelling, "Clap for Ellie, clap for Ellie!!!!" Audra and I, her dutiful audience, clapped and cheered as two of her favorite fan club members.

Child of mine....

"Give a little

love

to a child,

get a great

deal back."

~John Runkin

A little sunshine....

A little sunshine for your day....

Graduation...

Just in case you were wondering....I am ALL DONE!! I even have a cool black cap looking thing and a funny flat hat (my daughter's description) to prove it!

Newt thought he would be funny and asked if I had any homework due that I needed to work on....so not funny MAN!!!!

Hey Daddy.....

We love ya man!! (Even if you are now in your MID 30's)

Happy Birthday!

0.....

Zero...

Zip..

Nada..

that's how many hours I have left!!!!