Emerson's 1st Recital

Last weekend was Emerson's dance recital which fell on Father's Day weekend so it made for a crazy busy couple of days. Her dress rehersal was Thursday night and we were there for almost 4 hours. The real deal was Friday and Saturday night and Ryan's family came down for the Saturday night show. My mom and
Amber came to Friday's show.  We got to tape the dress rehersal and take pictures that night and she did AWESOME. She loved it. And so did her mama.

In the dressing room she and Courtney were cracking each other up.

This DVD player was a lifesaver.

"Dancin over here!"

"Dancin over there!"

"Dancin with my teddy bear!"

 

Miss Dreama was her dance class assistant teacher. Emerson LOVES Miss Dreama.

Miss Dreama on Saturday night.

Grandma Wood and Aunt Sarah.

I was nervous about having busy body Easton have to sit through the recital but she loved the music and danced her little heart out. One more year...

Grandma and Grandpa Wood.

A ballerina bear from Uncle Cole and Aunt Sarah.

With Uncle Cole and Aunt Sarah.

So proud of my little ballerina.

Fun with the boys

We had a get together at Jonathan and Amber's a couple of Saturdays ago and let the kids run around in the little pool out back. Easton and Griffin had a blast- their 10 month age difference isn't making such a difference anymore.

Will had just woken up from a little snooze.

How cute is this...

Dress Up

So...turns out that my mom was brilliant in saving all of my old dance recital costumes.  They were the buried treasure discovered recently by a 3 year old who loves to play dress up.  Emerson had a BALL getting them out and going through them all. Brought back some great memories. She was in a hurry ("Mom- this is itchy!") so the pictures of her aren't the best but you get the idea.

This is the only costume I don't remember at all.

The 4th of July recital.

In this one I cried because I didn't get to dance with the boy I had a crush on in class.

Another 4th of July number.

I remember the dress, not the song.

"I'm a Little Indian." 
Emerson, not so much.

Ah, the Conga.

This one had something to do with blueberries, I think.

Ah, my favorite.  This was the father/daughter dance- "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck."
It's Emerson's favorite now too and she wears it around the house most days.

The next morning at breakfast.

Ryan and I (and Corey Brown Photography)  were secretly working on this...
Carrie- age 3

Emerson- age 3

My mom had a great mother's day when I surprised her with these.

Tulip Time

For Mother's Day this year we decided to make the trip to Pella, Iowa where Ryan's sister's husband's family is from. (Got that???) It's where I met Ryan's parents for the first time and where Cole and Sarah got married but we hadn't gone for Tulip Time yet (it's pretty self-explanatory.) There are parades and beautiful tulips everywhere- basically a clean and classy Santi-Cali-Gon with flowers.

Emerson with Uncle Cole and Aunt Sarah. I guess to start the parade they have to clean the streets first.
In traditional Dutch garb.

Dad and Grandma and Grandpa Wood.

Watching the parade from the Van Vark apartment they rent out- a perfect spot to see the action.

Emerson got to ride in the Thomas the Train float with "Grandma Sue."  (Cole's mom.) 
She's still talking about it.

We rode in the back...

Sunday morning we just went around and took pictures of the girls in front of the beds of tulips.  Be-utiful.

Seriously.  I'm in trouble.