On Pointe

Yesterday was a big day for Lexi - her first official pointe shoe fitting. She is so excited that she begins pointe class next week. For Lexi, she thought this day would never come - it has been a long year of being in a pointe class but, not being allowed to be on pointe because, she was too young. {Pictured above with her very good friend and "dance twin" - Ashlyn. These girls have danced together since 2 years old.}

Of course, it wouldn't be a ballet outing without younger sisters in tow ... Ava Mae and Ashlyn's sister, Anna, who is Ava Mae's "dance twin", enjoyed hanging out with the ballet school director.

It only took 8 or 9 pairs before the perfect pair were found ... of course, they had to be the most expensive. At least they are great quality and will hopefully, last the year.

And while the older sisters were getting fitted .... the younger sisters tried to convince Miss Lisa that they should be allowed to wear these types of outfits to ballet class. They didn't win that argument.

Can't believe this day is already here ... why do kids have to grow up so fast? It seems like just yesterday Lexi was skipping in to the 2 year old ballet class, hair in a tiny bun and pink tutu on. Hard to believe in another two years we will be in this very spot with Ava Mae.

Happy girls with new pointe shoes!

Hymn Sing {2013}

Hard to believe but, this is it ... we are wrapping up our 2012 - 2013 school year. I know being completely wrapped up in our adoption over the last few months contributed to the last five months seeming like a blur. Between keeping up with our school work, extra-curricular activities, and all the paperwork and appointments that our adoption brought with it - I am kind of surprised I still have any brain cells left.
 

We are enjoying all the fun that the end-of-year activities bring with them ... last Wednesday night was the kids' Hymn Sing. Devin, Lexi, and Ava Mae all received their Hymn Memory Awards this year. So proud of them!

For Devin it was a special night because, as a 5th grader he was graduating from Children's Choir. I have to admit it was a little bittersweet. Devin's Hymn Memory Award was a special Hymnal with his name engraved on the cover.

Devin pictured with the AMEN Choir Director, Ms. Pamela. She is the most amazing choir director ever!!

RA/GA Derby {2013}

Last weekend was the annual RA/GA Derby race. Ava Mae was so happy to finally get to participate - last year would have been her first year but, we were in Disney. {It was a hard decision - derby race or Disney. NOT!}

The kids chose these themes for their cars - Ava Mae - candy; Lexi - flower power; and Devin - Latvia. {Just love Devin's sweet heart for orphan care.}

While our race time's were not the greatest - Ava Mae did walk away with 2nd place overall in the GA Design category. Our first derby trophy ever - Woo Hoo! Ava Mae's best friend, Maddie Bell, took Honorable Mention in the Design category - with her "Dog Ate My Car" design - what is hilarious or not so hilarious to Maddie Bell - her dog really did chew up her car.

Catching Up : {Ballet, Baseball, and more}

The last two weeks have been a blur ... dance recitals, baseball playoffs and All-Stars, the end of our school year and standardized testing. And, in the midst of all of that ... my computer caught a virus and completely crashed losing all of my files and pictures. {Thankfully, we were able to pay someone to recover and restore my main computer and I have an iPad and laptop which I was able to use. I now vow to actually begin using the backup drive my husband bought for my computer over a year ago.}

Lexi and Ava Mae's ballet recital was beautiful ... both girls did a great job! It was a long two days but, it is always so nice to see them dance on stage and to see the improvement they have made over the last year.

Devin's baseball team {that my husband coaches} finished their season in 3rd place after a week long double elimination tournament. In amazing end ... we actually entered the playoffs in 6th place. All the kids played their hearts out and we lost to the 2nd best team in the league by just one run.

Devin attended the league championship game where he was awarded a trophy for being named the best hitter in the league with a .787 batting average and an .800 on base percentage. {I am told these numbers are really good.} 

And, last but, definitely not the least ... we finished our school year and all of our standardized testing last week!! Devin and Lexi celebrated by going to Six Flags with my husband. A fun way to the end the school year.

So what lies ahead... lots of swimming, a month of ballet intensive for Lexi, a month of travel baseball for Devin, VBS at our church, a camp here at our home, ballet camp for Ava Mae, a trip to our friend's lakehouse, lots of playdates, and a week long trip to the beach when everyone else heads back to school in August. So thankful, summer is here!!!!

Jail Break : Spring Choir Performance {2012}

Tonight was the kids' Spring choir performance. The theme this year was jail break. Always fun to watch these performances. We are blessed to have a wonderful children's choir director at our church!

Devin had a speaking part ... 

And, the girls both performed in the choir.

Highlight of the evening was hearing the original song written by Devin and the other kids in the AMEN exploration group - "Song Writing".

 

One more event I can now mark off of our "End of the Year" activities as we wind down this wonderful school year!! 

Spring Choir Concert

All three kids had their spring choir performances last night. Devin and Ava Mae both had speaking parts.
Love the format they use for the preschool and kindergarten choirs - a picnic in the activities center while the kids perform.
Devin and Lexi performed in the sanctuary with their choirs. Devin played the disciple John in the drama portion.

Derby Race Time

Tonight Devin and Lexi will race their derby calls they have built and painted over the last few weeks.

Lexi went with a ballet theme this year ....

Devin a Spiderman theme ...

Wish I was there to see them race ... as luck would have it, for the third year in a row, I was scheduled to be out of town during the race (something I do maybe twice a year, at the most ... I mean seriously what are the odds).

I am thankful for iPhones and the frequent updates and photos I will get from my husband during the race.

Congratulations Devin!

Last night was Devin's RA (Royal Ambassadors) Award Ceremony ... we enjoyed a great dinner and then each boy was announced and the pins, patches and medals they were receiving.

We are so proud of Devin for earning his Gold Medal for Bible Verse Memory. In the last two years Devin has memorized 75 Bible Verses. Devin also earned 2 bars, 3 stars, his advancement pin and his athletic patch. Way to go Devin!!

A big thank you goes out to Devin's RA Leaders - 3 great guys who Devin really enjoys seeing each week.

End of The Year Activities

For some reason I always seem to forget how busy the last week of April through the middle of May gets each year. In the last week we have had two choir concerts and a pizza night with Devin's baseball team. In the coming weeks, more of the same - ballet recitals, baseball games, awards nights and parties. Wow, our calendar has filled up fast, yet before we know it the kids will be in summer camps and the lazy days of summer will be upon us.

Devin and Lexi performed in their Spring Choir Concert on Sunday evening:

Last night we hosted the baseball team my husband coaches at a pizza place - these boys are so much fun:

Preschool Spring Choir Performance

Last night was Ava Mae's end of the year choir performance. This is the first year Ava Mae has had a speaking role and she was so excited. I loved the theme they used for the preschool choir group - Preschool Picnic. All the parents are asked to pack a picnic dinner and sit on the floor of the activity center. All the fun of a picnic without having to deal with bugs or weather. :)

The last song Ava Mae's group performed was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", complete with balloon globes.

End of the Year

All of our End of Year excitement has begun. This past week all three kids had their last choir performances and Friday was our last day of classes at JFBC. As we wind down our year, with just a few lessons left in each of our books, I am beginning to plan for summer. More on our summer plan in another post.

Here are a few pictures from our week ...

Above: Lexi performing with her choir.
Above: Ava Mae performing with her choir.
Above: Close-up of Devin on stage for Camp Wallaballa.
Above: Lexi with her two wonderful teachers from this past year - Mrs. Brooks and Mrs. Woyce.

So much fun ... and much more excitement to come in the weeks ahead, including, Devin's RA Awards Night, Devin's last baseball game and awards and, the girls' Dance Recital.