Change!

Change is hard, but change is also good!

It helps us grow, but it can also be hard.

As I talk to the kids about often,

everything in life has some good and bad in it.  Nothing is perfect.

 One of the not so great parts, is that Chrissy has been getting Quinn and Denali and Isaiah on the bus at least once or twice a week for the last 8 year.  Yes, 8 years.  It has always been such a calm to have her come over.  I would always have a question about a certain stretch, or something going on with her chair.  A what do you think of this or that?  How should I be doing this?  More then anything she is such a good person.  Someone I tell my kids is such a good role model and someone I consider a true friend that I can confide with anything.  

So we are so grateful that Chrissy will still be in our lives, and I will still ask her a million questions,  and I'm sure Quinn will still work harder for her then anyone else, but we will not have the constant of her being present in our home any mornings, and that will be a hard change.

 Granted this picture is Quinn not wanting to wake up for school, but it is also how we feel about Chrissy not being a solid part of our week.  We are so grateful for God bringing Chrissy into our lives!  We are so much stronger because of what we have learned from her and continue to learn.

 Finally a picture with no tears.

 The official last day!

 Isaiah is now a 7th grader.

Quinn is now a 6th grader.

Denali is now a 6th grader.

I hope Moore Middle School is ready for us.

We are ready!  Well, we are ready for summer, relaxing, going to camps, going on vacation, more resting, playing, enjoying each other.

We have about a month left with our foster kiddo, so we will love him up, too.

So for all the things we learned this last year.  All the things that have made us stronger.  

We are grateful!

Welcome to summer!

We started the weekend off with a British breakfast with tea and scones and finger sandwiches and such with the Royal Wedding going on and all.

 Then we started getting ready for the Dancing Beyond Limits Recital.

It took us a lot longer to get ready then usual.  I can tell it is the end of the school year, and my kids are all kinds of crazy.  Denali and Quinn had some fun with the lipstick.

 Then the recital started, and the kids did great on their trio.  Oh I love them and that dance so much.

 We are so thankful to have gotten to share the dance recital with so many people that are so important to us.  It was wonderful.

There are lots of fun pictures I had to take out because our foster care kiddo was it in, and we will follow the rules and not post pictures of him.  It was a beautiful day.  I think back to the first dance recital with a hand full of dancers to now where there are over 30 dancers and a packed house of well over 200 people watching.  It is amazing how this program has grown.  So thankful for the teachers, the buddies, then helpers, the parents, (who are so supportive and who I learn so much from), and the amazing dancers who make Tuesday nights so wonderful for all of us.  

Now we have to finish the school year out and start some new adventures.  We are ready for new adventures and look forward to making even more memories!

Saturday was a big day!  

We had our trio number in competition at the Orpheum in Omaha.

 Here we are backstage with Miss Rachel.

 going over our number and loving each other up.

 Before hand, many dancers were checking us out, asking if we were dancing and asking what number we were so they could watch.

 They did amazing.  I was right off stage, as there is one part that they push Quinn away and I don't want her to fall off the stage, but Rachel was watching from the other wing and gave me the all clear sign.  The kids did amazing!  It was magical.  Then after they were done and were walking off stage, I was wiping tears out of my eyes, and as I turned around, there were so many kids standing there, clapping and hollering for us.  It was pure magic.  That does not happen for most numbers, but ours is unique.  Then so many kids came up to us all day sharing how great their number was and asking questions and giving so much love.  That alone made this so worth it.

 We had a few folks make the trip to cheer us on!  Isaiah asked later, did they come just to watch us?  Wow, that is really cool!  I'm so glad he knows how special it was.

 Then it was awards time.  We knew going in, that our routine was unique and they may or may not know how to judge it.

 Judges choice was up first, and we got the last award for inspiration family.  The announcer talked about how it is not very often that the judges have tears in their eyes and are so inspired by a dance, but they were.

 We were still educating even on stage, as girls and boys were asking questions during awards.

It's so good to have 3 ambassadors who are willing to educate in a kind simple way.

 After awards were done, we walked away with lots of pride for doing our best, as well as a 1st place in our division, a 3rd place over all, a judges award, and a Platinum ranking, which is the highest!  It was an amazing morning!

 Then we had to wait for a bit as Denali danced with her group in the afternoon.

 I think all three of us took a nap here or there.

 Well the girls did amazing too, winning a judges award, a platinum, and a 1st place.  Such a great day.

 Denali was exhausted after the day as well.

 and some fun pictures from the day.

 The Orpheum is such a beautiful building.

 Then we had to celebrate.

A day I will always be so very thankful for!