Daddy's Dancers

Sunday was the Dance Recital and I had three dancers to watch. Stacey still dances and loves it just as much. I think she has danced for 15-20 years. This was Drea first true dance recital. She has been in other shows (Christmas and made a guest appearance two years ago), but this is her first that she has danced in. Charlotte made her stage debute, she was quite the cutie!

Here is a video of Drea's Dance

Here's the Finale of the Recital. The video is about four minutes long. In the beginning you can see Chad's wife, Jody, she is the second from the left in the group of four dancers in the front row. Stacey, Drea, and Charlotte make their appearance around the three minute mark. Stacey and Charlotte are behind Drea. Drea is the dancer on the right side that is in front of everyone else being a total ham.

Some other thoughts about the Recital:

• The recital seemed really quick this year, usually it feels like it last forever and it is never going to end. This year it was different. I think this was the case because........

A. The recital was at East Side High School and the auditorium is air conditioned, opposed to being at Fairmont Senior which isn't air conditioned.

B. There were less dancers, which made for a quicker recital

C. I'm beginning to actually enjoy these things

D. All of the above

Sorry, I guess I'm still in state testing mode.

• My Mom flew in from NJ to watch the girls dance. It shouldn't amaze me since it is the 21st century, but air plane travel is amazing. My mom spent more time in the airport in Pittsburgh, then it took her to fly back to Philadelphia. Not only that she was back in Philly before I was back to Fairmont. It blows my mind.

Hey Daddy Guess What....

• That is Drea's new thing...she says it about 157 times a day...at least she doesn't say chicken butt

• Speaking of guess what look at these pictures of Charlotte
  

• Now look at this one, notice the shiny earrings....Charlotte was a real trooper she only cried about 5 seconds for each ear and that was it.
  

Here is the first swim of the summer and Charlotte's first ever swim, she wasn't to happy about it...it was really cold!

• I love West Virginia, I specifically remember being in 6th grade chorus (I know those that have heard me sing are probably laughing, but at my school anybody that tried out made the chorus) and singing County Roads and it having a impact on me. I don't know if that means anything, but I thought it was cool that I really liked singing it then and I still like singing it now.

• Friday was my last day of school....whoo hoo....school's out for the summer, school's out for the summer....oh wait I have a summer job that starts on Wednesday, never mind
  
  
• I know that it has been awhile since we have blogged, but that saying, two is like ten is true. Usually, when we get the time to blog we would rather sleep. Seriously, things are going great and Charlotte is sleeping longer periods though the night. We are looking forward to an exciting summer and can't wait to share our adventures with everyone.

• By the way I decided not to join facebook at this time...I'm over it.
  
  
  
  

oh yeah...i turned 30

Since my last post, I turned 30!

My wonderful husband threw me a surprise 30th birthday party at Muriales with my family and a few friends! I believe it may have been one of the most thoughtful things he has ever done for me. He started planning the party after my birthday last year and enlisted the help of my parents and sister. And for planning this party for a whole year in advanced they did a good job keeping the secret. I didn't have any clue they were throwing me a party... until the day before. I was laying in bed and just started putting a couple things together and spoiled the surprise. The problem was I thought I was spoiling my mom's surprise which I thought was comical and then when I found out it was Andy (whom I was gloating to about figuring it out) who was throwing the party I felt like a big jerk. Just another example to myself of why I need to think more than I speak sometimes.

Anyway, turning thirty wasn't that bad at all. Not depressing or sad or even made me feel the slightest bit old.

My Aunt Karen sent me a card in which she wrote "Count your blessings, not your years." This really hit home with me. I have so much to be thankful for and have had more blessings in my life than I could count. This little bit of advice has seemed to stick with me the whole month and has made me remember how wonderful my life is. I have an incredible family, lots of great friends, two beautiful little girls, and the best husband in the world! God, the only thing I could ask for is that each milestone birthday be laiden with these same thoughts of the gifts of life and love I have surrounding me. When I'm forty I pray I can still count the blessings and not be disappointed by the years.

A picture of two of my little blessings:

My memory

Awhile back I talked or wrote about how I forget real easy. Here is more proof that I'm getting forgetful. On Thursday, Stacey went to Charleston for work, all I had to do was pick up the girls from day care and take Drea to dancing. I forgot to take Drea to dancing. This by itself does not seem that bad, however, when you consider everything that happened, it really is quite sad. So, while I was supposed to be getting Drea ready for dance, I was talking to my Mom, trying to book a flight for her to come in and watch the DANCE RECITAL (clue #1). Then, during the conversation with my Mom I called the DANCE STUDIO (clue #2) to confirm the time of the DANCE RECITAL (clue #3). Finally, I looked at the calender to check to see if the time of the dance recital was on there it wasn't, but Drea's weekly DANCE LESSON (clue #4) was listed. So you can see my memory isn't what it used to be. I guess on the bright side, I remembered to pick up the girls....one out of two isn't that bad.

Facebook

So I'm seriously considering joining facebook. I don't know what to do. I think my motivation is all wrong. I was talking to someone at work today about high school and somehow the conversation led to facebook. My coworker said I should join facebook and you could find out what everyone from high school is doing. Here is why my motivation is all wrong. I want to see what people are doing so I can judge them. Not only that, what if I wind up with like 3 friends, that would be devastating, then people would be judging me. Then I would be afraid I wouldn't blog and I would probably get really obsessive with it. So I don't know what do. Any suggestions?

Deep Thoughts by Jack Handley...I mean Andy

I don't know about most people or even most guys, but I do know that whenever, I do a project around the house I feel really good about it. It doesn't matter what it is, I just like getting things accomplished. I actually like cutting the grass, washing the car, doing the dishes, putting the clothes...well not the clothes, anyway, most household projects I love to do...it makes me feel good.

Not to long ago I was complaining about something about the house, I don't remember what it was, but it's not important. So I was complaining and a good friend of mind was like yeah, your life is so bad, you have a beautiful wife, daughter (Charlotte wasn't even thought of yet),house, two cars, two dogs, and lots of stuff...your life sucks. That really stuck with me and I think about it all the time. I'm truly blessed and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I just wish my Dad was around to see it, too.

On a lighter note enjoy this video of Drea putting on her pajama's. Thanks Yo Yo Gabba Gabba, I hope we aren't breaking a copyright laws.

I'll end it with a Drea quote......Stacey called me tonight as the girls were going somewhere....for whatever reason Drea said to her, "Mommy the football stadium is heaven and so is West Virginia." To me that says it all....It is almost Heaven, West Virginia!

SLEEP!

Charlotte has slept in her own bed for five hours at a time for the past three nights! God's timing is so perfect...all the time. I was getting concerned about going back to work in a week and how exhausted I would be. But now Andy and I are able to get some more rest more than a week before I start back to work.

We had been sleeping with Charlotte on the couch because she would only sleep for about an hour interval in her own bed and we just needed more sleep. She definitely would sleep a few hours longer snuggled up to Daddy on the couch.

Yeah! Sleep is wonderful!