Dance, Dance!

The month of May always brings the girls spring dance recital. The girls did a great job dancing this year!

Lilli had two dances and did a great job.

Ava also had two dances and worked really hard to remember her smile while dancing. She did great!

Vivien's class got to be the very first dance number. The class did a fabulous job, including Vivi who got to help lead the class off stage.  Fun times! 

We all enjoyed getting to watch our girls perform. Lexi and Nicolette, Dad and Owen, Grandma and Grandpa, and mom and Lilli's friend Sammie were the spectators. 

Thanks for a fun night of dancing! Nicolette is ready to be on stage and finally this September her dream will come true.

Warning!

Warning: If you are a child that is about to loose teeth beware of this Poppy.  I know he looks all grandfatherish and innocent sitting at his computer, but watch out!  My dad has a reputation of loving to pull teeth.  Now that his children are all too old to have loose teeth, he is sharing his love of teeth pulling with his grandchildren.  Vivien got to experience for herself the "joys" of having Poppy pull your tooth.  I must confess I am a bit to blame.  I was the one who let out the word that there was a loose tooth in the house.

This is the reenactment of these two fighting about the tooth.  It was not a pretty scene! I should have been snapping photos during Vivi's freak out once the tooth was out.  She was extremely upset and could not believe how much it hurt and that her mouth was bleeding.

This photo comes after all the tantrums and freak outs that her tooth was out.  She finally agreed that she was excited about the tooth being out.  She had told me  that she was so mad at Poppy and it was not fun to have a tooth out!

The great news Vivien later realized was that it was Friday!  Friday means show and tell day at the kindergarten class.  How perfect to loose a tooth on show and tell day.

I love this photo when all was forgiven.  I know Vivi would of given Poppy a hearty thanks if she wasn't still holding a bit of a grudge about things.  She has loved having a tooth out. (now that the pain and bleeding part is over:)

It's always a little bit sad to me when those sweet tiny baby teeth start making their exit. It is a milestone to me in the, "I'm growing up now mom stage".  My baby Vivien worked hard for those little teeth to cut through her gums. Now those tiny teeth are ready to be discarded?   It looks like someone is on her way to growing up!

The Big Number 6 Has Arrived!

No, not baby number 6...Birthday number six, for Miss Vivi!
Happy Birthday Vivien!

We are keeping with the birthday breakfast with dad tradition. It's going fairly well:)
Vivi and Dad before they left for breakfast.

I have to love the view of the tonsils here. This photo is so Vivi. Always full of exuberance and excitement. This is a picture of Vivi and her favorite friend Tiffany. Vivi had the choice of a friend birthday party or a day of skiing with dad. She chose the skiing! She did a great job and had fun. Her next request was dinner at Road House Grill with family and her favorite friend.

This picture shows how much Tiff means to Viv, the pure happiness on her face...priceless:)

 These two have some serious fun times!

Ava, Tiff, Viv, and Lilli sat on this side of the booth

OK, so this is the real reason she wanted to eat at Texas Roadhouse! When it's your birthday and you eat dinner there, you get to sit on the fake bull and the servers all sing happy birthday! Pure FUN! (when your six and your name is Viv that is)

  All the sisters before present opening time.

The birthday girl was thrilled with the gift from Nicolette and Nicolette received Viv's hearty thanks:)

Finally, the doll bed she has been waiting for!

I took Vivi, Tiff, and Nicolette with me to pick out the birthday cake. They thought this one looked best! It was super cute with that fun snowman on it.

Blowing out candles is always a fun highlight of birthday days.

Grandma, and Grandpa came to join us for cake, ice cream and presents. It's just not an official party around here with out Grandma and Grandpa. They are always on the top of the list for invites. I am so thankful they are always so willing to come:)

Mom and Vivien
Happy Birthday my sweet girlie! You are growing up too fast. I am trying to soak you all in the best I can before you are leaving me for greener pastures. I love you dearly, always, Love, your Mom.

The Ice cream Klepto

That would be Miss Nicolette. Our little ice cream kleptomaniac. It happened a couple of weeks ago. We were all very unsuspecting of our dear baby, who loves everyone, especially her big sister Vivien. Unfortunately, for some odd reason, on this night of ice cream she chose to rip Vivien's ice cream right out of her hand. No one really knows why, all we know is Nicolette had two ice creams...Vivi had none.

Here she is, eating two icecream's no problem at all:)

I hope she is feeling a bit of guilt...

Although, in this shot she looks more sneaky than guilty.

Vivien tried...but all of her attempts failed and she was still left coneless:(
Yes, as the mother I felt an obligation to intervene. I did my best, but to no avail I couldn't rip the ice cream from the two year old's hands! (and, i did try!)

Poor Vivien. I finally decided, because of Nicolette's bizarre behavior to sneak Vivi another ice cream without Nicolette knowing. I have not seen this behavior in the two year old since and I have high hopes of not seeing it again anytime soon!

Our Graduate

Her dad and I are thrilled that Vivien has now completed two years of preschool! We had a few doubts way back when in her first year;). She has come along way. It is very exciting to know she can now: follow directions from her teacher, get along with her peers and try hard to learn her letters. She is ready for kindergarten, because of her amazing, patient teacher. Congratulations my Vivi J...you did it:)

The program for graduation was all patriotic songs and dress. Very enjoyable:)

Vivien is feeling a little overwhelmed with emotion while receiving her diploma.

Getting ready to throw her hat.

The hats in the air...woo hoo! I think it's only now at preschool graduation that throwing hats is permitted.


The proud graduate.

Grandma and Vivien after the festivities.

Mrs. Brooks, (the most patient preschool teacher around) and Vivi.

Vivien and her best buddies. She had a blast with these little girls all year. They are all sweet, darling girls.
I know preschool graduation is a small milestone, but for Vivi it was a big one.
Vivien has the most energy of anyone I have ever known. Her spirit is stronger than just about anyone I've ever known. She is an amazing girl. She does give me a run, or a marathon about once a day. It can be exhausting. I know with her energies directed in the right direction, that by high school graduation nothing and no one will be able to stop her. I do sometimes wish for those days when, (it took a village to raise a child). I could really use some help from the village most days.
Thank you Vivien for keeping me on my toes. I know I am blessed to have you as a daughter.

Fort Knox Here She Comes!

Oh WAIT....were just trying to get her into the local kindergarten class!

Vivien is yet to be officially registered for kindergarten. I have been putting it off seeing as, I have no idea where the copy of my deed is. I also don't have a valid passport or a letter from an approved government agency.

I'm afraid the pendulum has swung in the wrong direction if we need to give away private information like this just to register a child at the local elementary school. Doug has talked to a few people and a lawyer or two from the district. I think we are pretty stuck though and we'd better be hunting up some major info. if we want this girlie in school next year!

Everybody Dance Now

Vivien, Ava and Lilli after the big spring dance recital.

Here is Vivi and her all time best friend. They got to watch all the dancing until it was their turn.
Grandma came to watch...thank you Grandma:)

Vivien was posing for the camera, this is one of a myriad of photos from my Vivi:)
Vivien is a fun dancer. She knows exactly what to do and every move to make.

This is Ava on the stage. Ava is such a graceful and beautiful dancer. She is a delight to watch.

Lilli is full of great dancing energy! She has not danced as long as the other girls her age, but she definitely can hold her own:)

Ava after the concert with her flowers.

Lilli after with her flowers.

Of course we had to celebrate the great dancing at B&R:)

Ava picked a chocolate sprinkle cone with lots of mint chip ice cream.

Vivi ate her treat pretty quick and was then feeling very tired!

I even caught her with her eyes shut for a minute:)

She did muster this cute smile in the end:)
Good job dancing girls! Another fun and great performance...I love these little dancing queens.