Dance Recital

Yesterday was one of the top 3 days of Hope's year:  birthday, Christmas, and dance recital.  It's amazing to see her, this beautiful girl who is often too afraid to simply walk through a room full of people, dance her heart out before an entire audience.

This is my favorite.

After Hope's performance at Mayfest

 I worked backstage in the dressing rooms so wasn't exactly thinking about pictures, but we had to get a picture in our matching shirts.

 Here is the ballet performance. . . I can't say enough how much I LOVE the music for this routine!!


Dance Recital - Honor from Jody Ridlehoover on Vimeo.

Steamed Carrots

 Here is the latest from the taste-comparison queen:

"I don't want to eat my carrots; they taste like tan makeup cream." 

Now how in the world would she know that?  One of these days I'm going to tell her to prove it!






So, for a recap of previous taste comparisons:
asparagus

honey mustard

Caesar dressing

Sun catcher

This dog's obsession with the sun is. . . pathetic.

                                                                          *Sigh*

Catching Up

Hmmm.....it's been almost 6 months since my last post. Not sure I can adequately catch up, but I'll try to hit some highlights (it'll still be long!).

Let's see, since July. The boys made black belt in karate in September, Levi turned 13 in October (making me the mother of 3 teenagers), we were able to spend Thanksgiving with my mom in Quanah, Hope danced in a Christmas recital at the mall, Luke ran in the Jingle Bell Run, and we made it through the holidays in spite of JRR and I combating the flu.

Well, I guess that about does it. Just kidding. Now for some pictures.

The black belts:
Look at those jumps!




The new black belts!

With their congrats sign made by friends.


Levi turns 13:
Grandpa helped Levi build his very own fort in the backyard. That's all he wanted for his birthday.


Hope's BFF made the topper for Levi's cake out of clay. Notice that it is Levi with his fort. She did an incredible job!


You've no idea how well this game suits him. Funny thing is, he knows it! He just rolled his eyes and laughed when he opened it. I just couldn't resist. . . all in good fun!

We spent the evening of Levi's birthday with friends, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows at a bonfire. Hope and her BFF decided to dress as hippies.

DeeDee and the kids:
This is my mom with the kids, but not at Thanksgiving. :) I forgot to take my camera that weekend! This was taken during one of her trips this fall. We have been thoroughly enjoying her retirement--we get to see her so much more!

Sweet, random moment:

One night Hope came to my office and asked if she could read to me from her little Bible (like I would say no!). She randomly chose Psalm 25, which just happens to be very special to me--it was the Psalm our pastor read at our wedding.

Hope dancing:

Hope's favorite thing in the world to do, shared with her favorite person in the world!

Jingle Bell Run:
Luke ran the Jingle Bell Run (5K for the Arthritis Foundation) with a good friend.


What do you think Hope's favorite part of the evening was???

After the race at the tree on Main St.

Christmas Toes:

It's very important to have toenails appropriate for the season!

And lest I be accused again of leaving Jazz out ; ) . . . .

This is a daily routine. Jazz waits for us to open the front door so that she can bask in the sunshine. Some days, however, she just can't wait for it to hit the floor mat, so she follows it (in the second picture, she is actually sticking her nose to the door because it was the only place the sun was hitting at the moment!).

Now, I guess that about does it!

The “Suffering” Princess

Well, one more yearly round of tests out of the way. Today H had 3 CT scans, one with contrast (translation, she had to have an IV), lab work, and a neurologist appointment. If you were reading last year about this time, you know that this day of the year, although one of our least favorite, is never without its humorous moments.

Where to begin. . . we had the normal start to the day with nervous talk, then brave talk (which disappears as soon as the needle shows up), and threatening looks at the nurse holding the needle. At one point she gave JR and me a look and said,“Thanks a lot for bringing me here” with her best sarcastic voice. As the nurses worked on the IV, H informed them, “This is what is called suffering.” Once the IV was in place and scans done without contrast, Becky, the nurse who put the IV in, came in to insert the dye for the next scan. H looked sideways at Becky, then looked away with a roll of her eyes and said, “Oh, it’s you again.” H has no problem telling anyone exactly what she thinks, including hospital staff; but they were great. They took it all in stride and even had H laughing at her own comments.

"Thanks a lot for bringing me here."

As long as there are mirrors around. . . .



Starbucks, as promised.



There were so many other laugh out loud moments, but I am so tired I can't think of them! I'm just so glad that, though this day is very difficult for her, H does better each year and learns to laugh through the "suffering".

The Newest Cousin

On Sunday, May 17, 2009, the newest addition to The Cousins was born. Here are some pictures from the day.

Uncle J getting "the boy", who is laughing hysterically at Little L in the front seat, ready to meet his new sister.


Lil Sis is greeted by Big Bro, who was at first more interested in waving to the helicopter atop the adjacent building.


After her first relaxing beauty treatment, she was sound asleep.

The "before" and "after" cousins pictures.



I usually hate being photographed, but when a niece or nephew is involved, I feel differently. The last picture is just one of my favorites from the day!

So now it's official; we have "the boy" and "the girl".

They passesd!

Here's a quick highlight clip.



Christian Soldiers - Black Belt Forms from Christian Soldiers on Vimeo.