My Beautiful Ballerina

My girls always get compliments on their long arms and legs.  Especially from their dance teachers.  Obviously, they didn't get those genes from me.  I tell everyone that they got those limbs from their dad.  Here's a picture of Brian around the twins age - in a ballet tu tu.

Nice.

Ouch!

Chloe ended up at Urgent Care with a pretty badly bruised hand.  She didn't break any bones - but her hand was swollen and hurting for a few days.  She was in my class doing turns across the floor and somehow got off-center and ended up smacking the back of her hand on the mirror.  It was really weird to watch.  She dropped to the ground immediately and was just in a lot of pain.  Poor girl!  We iced it and then ended up taking her to Urgent Care.  We are so thankful it wasn't broken!

Sydney also had an accident at the dance studio and I'm pretty sure she broke her middle toe.  She hit the top of her foot on the barre.  She wasn't kicking up - but her leg was coming down from a jump or something and smacked the top of the barre.  Another weird accident to add to our list.  We have dealt with a few broken toes (and a broken foot) and know that there isn't really anything they can do for toes except tell her to stay off of it.  She walked around in a boot for a couple of weeks and it's starting to feel better.

And our last injury of the month goes to Brian!  He had another in-grown toenail.  Ouch!  We went straight to the podiatrist because we can't risk him getting an infection.  Dr. Hale decided to cut the side of the nail out and cauterize it so it won't grow back.  Thank goodness - no more in-grown nails!  It takes a lot for Brian to complain about pain - but those shots in the toe are not fun!  I felt so bad for him and actually asked him if I could leave the room while they were giving him the shots.  But he said no.  It was not a good day.  I hate seeing him in pain.  It sucks. 

Academic Night

Chloe got straight A's this year!  Hooray for 5th grade!!  We are so proud of her and how hard she works at everything she does!  This year she got to attend Augusta Ranch's Academic Night.  It was a wonderful night and we were so happy that both sets of grandparents and Aunt Katie could all attend.  I was a little late because I was teaching and almost didn't make it!  I arrived just on time to see Chloe walk across the stage to get her pin with the 5th graders.

Just when we thought the ceremony was over, the principal asked for Chloe Neus to come up to the stage.  We were all a little shocked because we had no idea she had been chosen for a special award.  This is what the principal read about Chloe:

"Even though she is only 11 years old, Chloe Neus exhibits the Pillars of Character in all ways.  She is always cheerful and has a pleasant attitude.  Her enthusiasm and eagerness to help others is inspiring.  She is very mindful of the fact that others also like to help.  Her thoughtfulness is a wonderful model in and out of the classroom.  She does her best to make sure that all who would like a turn get one.  Chloe is an Academic Night student and an avid dancer; she takes dance classes five nights a week.  Augusta Ranch is very proud to have Chloe represent us as a student of great character!"

We love Chloe and couldn't be prouder!!

Chloe and her principal, Ms. Kreitzer

Mr. Ryan, Chloe's 5th grade teacher

Dolls, Dolls, Dolls

Lauryn is obsessed with her American Girl Dolls.  So are her dance friends.  This first picture is what I saw when I walked into the dance room.  5 dolls sitting pretty - ready to watch their little mommies dance.  (Kinda creepy - but also kinda cute!)  What a hoot!

Lauryn's Blue Dog

Lauryn's "Masterpiece" was selected to be showcased at Gilbert Public School's Art Show.  Hooray!  I was so surprised when I received the letter in the mail!  Yay for Lauryn!  When I asked her what she drew she told me it was a Blue Dog.  If you can see the pictures above - that dog isn't blue.  I was so confused.  Apparently her blue dog was inspired from a book called Blue Dog.  She drew hers pink with a tiara and tu tu.  That's my girl!

Easter 2012

Easter came and went this year with no pictures.  How does that happen?  Anyway, we celebrated Easter this year with the traditional Easter Baskets, candy and little gifts.  Actually, all of my kids were given gift cards in their baskets, not little gifts.  I know - lazy mom.  Thankfully my kids still love me and enjoyed using their gift cards on things they really wanted.  We gathered with the Neus family on the Saturday before Easter at a park out in Queen Creek.  The kids had a great time playing with their cousins.  On Sunday we slept in, went to church, and then went over to my Aunt Mary and Uncle Ron's house to visit with that side of the family.  The kids did get to have an egg hunt.  (I think they might be getting too old for that!)  

Dance Pictures

Master Class w/ Derrick Schrader

Our studio hosted a Master Class with Derrick Schrader.  We met him at the Tremaine Convention last summer where all of the girls loved taking his class!  So he agreed to head down to Gilbert, Arizona for a great weekend!  The twins were able to learn some choreography from him for competition later this year.  They absolutely loved it!  Chloe took both the junior and senior master classes and did so great!  And Lauryn was able to take the junior master class.  She was awesome!!  I am so proud of all of my girls.  They worked so hard (12 hours working full-out the majority of the time for Sommer and Sydney) and the little girls both stood out in their class!   We are so lucky to have these type of opportunities for our girls!

Sydney, Sommer Derrick, Chloe and Lauryn

The Junior Group with Derrick (Lauryn in blue and Chloe in yellow)

Bendy girls - Lauryn and Chloe

Ouch!

It's hard to see - but Sommer is in blue and Maya is in pink - going across the floor

Derrick and the Senior Group - Sydney on the left of Derrick, Sommer on the right, Chloe in yellow

Yep.....

Orchestra Tour 2012

Hunter went with the Desert Ridge High School Symphonic Strings Orchestra to perform in some orchestra thing this past month.  Isn't it nice that I don't even know what it really was?  Great mom.  I do know that they received a Superior with Distinction rating on their performance.  They also got to eat dinner at Midevil Times and go to Disneyland.  Hunter had a blast and I'm glad that he gets to be a part of such a great group!  Here are a few pictures he sent me throughout the weekend.

Of course, he sent me no pictures of him in his tuxedo.  Come to think of it - how do I even know they performed at all?  Maybe it was just a rouse to get mom and dad to pay for a trip to California!

Baseball Game

Brian was invited by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America to throw out the first pitch at a major league spring training game. We headed out to Peoria on a rainy Sunday morning expecting the game to be rained out. But when we got to the stadium, the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day! We had shirts and jackets made for our family that were royal blue (colon cancer's color) and they had the colon cancer ribbon-star embroidered on them. The kids looked great and we were so happy to have Brian's parents and my parents come to support him!

They had Brian walk out to the home plate while they told the crowd about Brian and his fight against cancer. They then had him run the basses, with the Mariners and Rockies lining the base line. They all gave him high 5's and offered him words of encouragement. It was so incredible. Such a great moment for him! Then the National Anthem was sung and Brian took the mound for the first pitch. It was so great!

We took the kids to our seats and watched a few innings of the game. At the fourth inning Lauryn looked at her dad and asked him if we could please leave. It was a little boring for her! Brian said sure - and we all piled into the cars. As soon as we hit the freeway for home, the rain started falling down in sheets! It was so amazing how quickly the sky turned from blue and beautiful - to gray. We felt so blessed to be able to have this opportunity. We know that the sunshine and blue sky were meant for us. This was definitely a once in a lifetime event. Brian needed to be cheered on and recognized for all he is enduring and fighting for! We are so proud of him!!