All Things Merry Christmas To All.

I'm hoping over the holidays to play a little catch up on our Family Blog!! But until then, we wish you a safe, warm, happy holiday and we're looking forward to an exciting and adventurous 2011!

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All Things Thankful

Love our traditions like Riggsby Blueberry pie for Thanksgiving. Can't let pumpkin pie be the runaway favorite. And family. We love having Baka and Djedo here to join us on this holiday and remind us of all the things that make us thankful this year.

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All Things Middle School Band.

The sheer size of the sixth grade band is impressive. I adore that music (band, chorus, strings) are a requirement in sixth grade. Music really does feed the soul.

See? A soul being fed. Rock on, dude, rock on. Also, if you sit near our family, be warned...we are loud when it comes to cheering.

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All Things Growing.

Such a fun moment to see Bella with our very favorite Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kirch. Yes, the saintly teacher who taught all three of our kids. And it was so fun to see Bella reading in front of everyone.

An aproppriate moment to focus on how very quickly kids grow -- the theme of their little show was just that, growing and changing. As a mom, I'll will concur that growing up happens way too fast.

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All Things SuperGrandfather.

The most magical times in our house are when grandparents visit. Here are Baka and Djedo who stopped by at a very important time of year. Per contractual agreement with my father, I'm not allowed to release his actual age. Trust me, I get it. ;D

Happy Birthday to our darling Djedo. The best father, father-in-law and grandfather in the world. No, we're not biased at all. Not one bit. Okay, maaaaaaybe just a little.

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All Things Father's Day Pizza Party.

Ah, the time for Father's Day Pizza party at preschool had arrived. While it's similar to the Mother's Day Tea Party, it's not. You see all these dads/grandfathers/uncles/godfathers show up on a weekday afternoon to eat pizza and watch a show put on by the very excited students.

Do you guys see Bella? Her excitement is well palatable, isn't it? Especially when she was all done singing and got to run up to her Daddy carrying that special gift.

This year, Ken got a rock. Okay, it's a functioning paperweight/rock. I'm sure it's representative of his role in Bella's life. He is her rock. I know my Father is mine, still to this day. My anchor. And Ken's the wind which propels me forward. Together these two men make me soar in a careful and positive direction.

Hoping that all the dads I know had a wonderful Father's Day and that it was filled with love and heartfelt moments.

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All Things First Slumber Party

Remember your first slumber party? Well, Kata's been dying for one and we finally managed to schedule it in. Elyse joined Kata and, of course, Bella for a night of festivities which included manicures, doll tea parties, movies and lots of snacks.

I still can recall mine. Lots of whispering of secrets and giggles into the night. Do you remember yours?

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All Things Camp Half Blood.

Alex has been busy this year reading through all of the Percy Jackson books. Have you read them yet? They're truly wonderful and magical explorations of Greek Mythology in a modern day world. If you haven't seen the movie, yet, it's being released on DVD on June 29th. Here comes the endorsement: if you liked Harry Potter, be sure to check out Percy. For some of you, that's all I have to say.

This year, Alex wanted a Percy themed party. So what else could I do but give in. I mean, imagine me shopping for swords and helmets. I know, not as far-fetched as you might think. Thanks to my awesome twitter moms, I found these cool fun foam swords and well, the helmets?? Don't they rock?? They were at Michael's. I know. The movie posters were from KatieB who snagged a few at the Midnight Show in her town. The entire thing came together so easily. And the boys LOVED it. They played Capture the Flag, Percy-style. You'll see for yourself in just a second.

The girls loved it, too because their friend got to join in the play.

I'm so proud of my girls for wielding a sword with such confidence. Watch out, demi-gods, there may be a few more of you out there.

We still had a cake. Well, okay, a Harry Potter cake, because the bakery wasn't hip enough to stock Percy Jackson items.

And the ferocious dog stood guard over all the magical goings-on.

They really got into playing with the swords. Ken was on standby, trying to fix the broken ones. Okay, duct tape them. But we pretended he was quite the blacksmith.

What I love about my husband is he's never too grown up to try things. Another reason why our relationship works. He put this on and turned to me saying, "Go on and blog this..." Never challenge me, baby.

So now it's your turn. Do something unexpectedly playful today. Awww, come on, you know you want to. I'm waiting. Go. Do it. Now.

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All Things Shusssssing.

The last week of February when the grandparents were all here, Alex and Djedo went skiing. I have to admit that as a kid, I hated the sport. Let's face it, anything cold, wet and damp is just not my friend. But watching Alex enjoy the sport with my Dad is certainly satisfying.

Here's to shussing!

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All Things What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Our New Year's Eve Baby turned SEVEN. We can't believe it either. Seven years of having our intelligent, book loving, ballerina around.

She loved her nano from all three of her grandparents.

And the Coraline doll, lunchbox and shirt from the rest of us.


After the lunch of her choice, Port Of Subs, we stopped by Build-A-Bear Workshop because Bella was determined to get Kata a bear for her birthday. I mean, she was determined. She even saved her allowance money. I know, she's four and a half but look at the pride on her face.


Kata also wanted to go see "The Princess and the Frog" so after the movie what is better than appropriately themed cupcakes??

I wish her many magical, princess filled moments and I know you do, too. There is nothing quite like getting a chance to celebrate your seventh birthday, at last.

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All Things Snowflakes, Indoors.

Nevada Dance Academy puts on only one recital a year and that's in the summer. But, Ms. Diane likes parents to see the progress their children have made by mid-year so a Holiday Show is held in one of the dance studios during their regularly scheduled class time.

And yes, Bella's class dressed like little snowflakes. They're the youngest and the cutest in their attempts to follow the student teachers and Ms. Diane. They're also, by far, the proudest.

Yes, I'm laughing all over again as I look at these.

You got to love when the only boy in the class takes it all in stride (literally), rolled up tongue in full view. Take that all you fluffy, pinkalicious girls.

Kata's class is next and they're quite the pros by now. Most of them, by the ripe old age of seven or eight, have about four years of dance under their belts. Kata is second from the right.

I almost didn't recognize her as she came out in her toy soldier outfit. So poised and tall, all of a sudden. She's second from the left below, right next to the student teacher.

Ms. Diane has a fabulous Birthday Tradition. Here's Kata seated in the middle while everyone skips around her and sings "Happy Birthday". Note how nicely posed her legs are...nothing like being one of Ms. Diane's girls. You learn to sit properly. Let's see if that holds during her teenage years.

And then everyone dog-piles on top of the Birthday Girl. Because it's not all about being formal, every minute of the day.

Can't deny the goofy, happy grin.

Wishing you all a dog-pile hug moment today. Nothing quite like it.

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