A Trip to the fire station....

I have no shame. I admit it. I *may* have strongly encouraged / pitched / persuaded three of my favorite kidlettes that a Friday afternoon field trip to the Fire Station would be a blast!

Meet Chris. He's a friendly neighborhood firefighter who *happened* to be working this particular Friday afternoon.

He was great with the kids and we all left the fire house with fire safety on our minds.

Blake was fascinated with Mr. Chris' helmet

Hiya, Blake! Brandon and Carly wanted to climb all over the fire engine.

Brandon, Carly, Blake and Mr. Chris.

Thank you, Mr. Chris!

Stage mom wannabe

I have a confession to make. Deep down inside I know that I have the potential to be one of those crazed "my child is the best and I will make sure that she is a star" moms. My little sister is four years younger than me. One year she had a ballet party themed birthday party and some older girls came to teach the party guests a routine. My mom had to remove me and tell me to, "stop trying to orchestrate everything." (I know, a shocker!) I'll have to fight it if I... no when I... am a mama. I love to watch dance, and little ballerinas steal my heart!

Today Bailey and Brittany had their end of the year dance recitals. They both take classes at The Ballet Conservatory and are pretty talented, if I do say so myself! :O) Bailey had a matinee and Brittany's was in the evening... so I got a double dose of dance!

Miss sassy diva Bailey is the third one from the left...


Buds!

From sassy to classy...

On the end...

Brittany

Workin' it!

Ballerina Britt

My cousins, Lauren and Carly came to watch Bai and Britt. We now refer to Carly and Brandon as, "the twins..." they really are pretty inseparable.

Cute kid!

"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!"

~Constanze

Happy 7th Birthday, Carly!

Carly is my cousin Michele's sweet daughter. We live close to each other and I get to spend time with her and her little sister, Lauren, frequently. Carly has a unique spunky and creative personality. She'll keep you laughing with her quirky sense of humor and antics.

I caught her running around with her ski goggles on. And notice she has them placed diagonally. Who needs to wear them the "right" way?

And up the stairs she goes for a little guitar solo.

And now taking some time to pose for a picture. Peace!

And back to the strumming to the Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack. All of the tracks are in quadruple time!

Carly, I just love you, precious girl! Happy Birthday!

Movie Date

A Saturday Night Date Night with four under eight! Carly, Lauren, Brandon and Bailey and I headed to the theatre to see Monsters vs. Aliens. I have much respect for any parent who has kids aged 7, 6, 5 and 4! I only, "borrow," these sweetnesses. Full time? Now that would be a job!

Brandon and Carly are best friends and neighbors. In their seven year old minds they are going to, "Get married and live in Alaska and have five dogs." I love to watch them. Brandon is a gentleman and so courteous to Carly. Carly is in charge and is constantly threatening, "I'm going to kiss you!"

Case in point!

Poor Brandon, surrounded by all of these girls. But he loves it.

Check out the grip Carly has on Brandon! And Bailey and Lauren are best buds too. Well, when they want to be. When one isn't bossing the other one around. They will go to Kindergarten in the Fall together.

Sprite, Popcorn and Skittles too... And would you believe that nobody had to go to the bathroom? I was envisioning having to make a grand exit with all of them in tow to go to the restroom and then make another grand entrance.

Now when does that new Hannah Montana movie come out?

Tiny Dancers

My cousins, Carly and Lauren and Bailey, my special buddy that I babysit had their end of summer dance camp show today. I loved seeing the tutus, tiaras and pointed toes. It reminded me of when I was growing up and how much I loved to perform.

Tippy Toes (Bailey in the Black shoes)

Princess Bailey

Carly is on the end ~ trying not to smile!

Lauren's in front of the teacher... and loves to show off her dancing!

Lauren and Bailey ~ and Carly, again, trying not to smile!

Gotcha' Carly!

Swimming Swans

Lauren and Carly and I had fun at my condo pool. Despite their insistance that, "there IS a BABY in your tummy!" and my repeated explanation that, "there is NO baby in my tummy. And that I just have a different shaped belly then their (skinny) mama." Nothing like spending time in a bathing suit with a 4 and 6 year old to build up your self esteem.