Emma's Dance Recital

Emma, instead of taking a swim class this Spring, got to take a 6-week creative dance class. My friend Emilee arranged to teach a class at her home. Emma asked for weeks ahead if it was time for her dance class and was SO excited when it finally started. The last class, we went to see what she had learned. Emma had a good show of support; Grandma, Grandpa, Grammy, Sarah, Trina, Jenny, Isaac, Lily, Spencer, Adam, and I were all there to see her show off her skills. She did great...although she got a little distracted when I picked up a friend's little one to hold him during the performance. That threw her off her groove. Still, it was adorable to see all these cute girls dancing around the room in their tutus.

Hanging with the Cousins

We were super lucky to have our NYC cousins come down for two weeks of fun. Spencer and Maddie were in the same swimming class session at our local community center, and the twins took a swim class at the same time. Emma was too young to join in, but she had a blast watching and got in on all the out-of-the-pool fun.

We dyed Easter eggs together...




Maddie learned how to float without anyone holding on, and Spencer can go underwater with great confidence. Major milestones. We're so proud of you swimmers!



One of the days, we decided to take the kids to the Big Apple Circus. It was a great time! The circus was small enough that there wasn't a bad seat in the tent, but large enough to have variety in the acts. The kids loved it!

A trip to Baltimore

A few weeks back (I know...I'm catching up again), Adam's cousin Kristin came to town...or close enough. She was checking out a conference location in Baltimore. The kids and Adam took the afternoon and drove down to meet up with her. Alas, it was my violin teaching day, so I couldn't tag along, but I have loved looking at the pictures. The kids LOVED the the Daddy time and the outing. Emma's comment on the return trip was, "Daddy, when can we invite Kristin for a play date?' She's always been a favorite. Thanks, Kristin, for entertaining my crew.

DT Friends

When Adam was still at BYU and just after Spencer was born, I took a job as a Hall Advisor in Deseret Towers. It was the perfect job. For the most part, I could work with Spence at my side. When I had meetings, there were enough siblings and sibling-in-laws attending the Y to help babysit. Best of all, I worked with some AMAZING people. Two of them have ended up out here in VA, to our delight. After being snowed out in February, we had a fun Cafe Rio dinner reunion in March.

The husbands (love the look on Cory's face)


The HA alumni, each with baby #3 (mine is on the inside)


This crowd is definitely male dominant. Cory wins for best photo faces of the evening. He really showed these super heroes how it's done.



Emma was super happy to snuggle up to Brooke and Baby Natalie. She likes hanging with the boys, but a girl who dresses herself and wears mostly pink needs time with just the gals now and then.

Grammy's and Papa's Birthdays

February is the beginning of birthday season. Dad's bday is on the 10th, and Mom's is on the 15th. This year, we gave edible presents.

For Dad, Macaroni Salad.



And for Mom, the kids helped me create this fabulous fruit bouquet.


We got together to celebrate with a family dinner as well. Jenny, Nathan, Isaac, and Lily surprised us all with a weekend trip from NJ. Our little contingent of the family had already decided to stay the weekend with the Cummings so we could be around for all the games and fun all weekend long.

Spencer worked really hard during our snow days to pose his plastic cowboy and indian guys in an elaborate "I Spy" book for Papa. He was really pleased to deliver the present.


We love you, Grammy and Papa!!

To all the Moms...

This link is an absolute gem of motherly wisdom. An LDS mom of many (11 if I am recalling correctly) responds to questions. I feel like I am reading my own wonderful mother's council. I have this as a feed in my Google Reader, and it often provides a friendly hint, tip, or bit of encouragement that helps me in my quest to be a good, loving mother.

Thank you, Lori, for pointing me in the direction of this blog.

Emma's First Dance Class

Emma is in the middle of a 6 week creative dance course, taught by a friend of mine who majored in dance at BYU and wanted to have a little more structure as she teaches her 3 year old about dance. We were happy to take part in the class. It's so much fun to see the little girls show up in their dance outfits. Emma was thrilled from the moment I told her about the class and asked daily if it was her dancing day. Here is a little video of some skills she came home with on the first day.




"You put peanut butter on this foot; you put jam on this foot, and you stick it." Have you ever heard anything cuter than that?

Just make sure you watch past the singing...

If you read Nie, chances are you've already seen this video. If you missed it, well, it's too good not to share. Weird, wild stuff, I tell you.