Tap Ballet 2010-2011

After doing and attending last year's dance recital, Madigan told me she wanted to do tap class. Her school overs a tap ballet combo class. It's an hour long and she seems to really like it. She watches the teacher's moves very closely and seems deep in thought sometimes. Other times she gets the "sillies" with her new friends. Every Tuesday before class, I ask her why we take tap ballet class? And the answer is to have fun! So, I remind her to have fun and smile while she's in there. This past week was parent observation week so the parents get to sit in the studio and watch and take pictures. I'll post a video soon as well.

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we headed to the local farm where we usually buy pumpkins. They were sold out! But, that was fine since there was tons of other stuff to do;

a hay ride:squash squeezing:
chicken viewing:
Pig watching:


sibling love:

overall cuteness:


daddy time:


I just love the pictures of Leo in cartthart overalls. He's so photogenic and into everything we do. He really knew there were pigs in that pen! And he was going to see them!

More Park Time

Big Boy

Paige came over for a lay date last week. Leo thinks he belongs with the big girls. They are so nice and inclusive. After this picture I think he pulled down the "decorations box" full of stickers and cutouts and pom poms, etc.
Madigan is VERY into drawing right now. She can make most of the things she wants to, so it must be very exciting for her. We got her a Learn to Draw book for her birthday and she really likes it. I'm trying to find some Ed Emberley learn to draw books-they look super fun.

Park Times

We have been doing a lot of trips to the park this Fall since the weather has been amazing. Here's a few photos from a few weeks ago.

Thank You Pictures

(If you're reading this and have not gotten a thank you note from Madigan, it is on it's way!) For Madigan's birthday present thank yous we sat down to draw pictures of the gifts she was given. And like usual glitter was a huge hit and kept her going for quite a while. I scanned in her first round of cards and they are below.


Gift: Calico Critters Bunny family with mom and 2 babies, stroller and a rattle.
Picture: rattle in the top left corner, stroller with the 4 wheels and of course a bunny family!

Gift: Strawberry shortcake splash and petal pool.
Picture: Strawberry Shortcake in her pool.
Gift: Grow A Frog (real tadpole grows into a frog!)
Picture: Tadpole on the left, frog on the right.
Gift: Groovy girls stuffed mermaid doll
Picture: mermaid on far left with Madigan and Farrah, dog in bottom right corner and a "ball shooter" for the dog on the top right.
Gift: Hello Kitty camera from Hayden & Soren
Picture: Hayden, Soren, Madigan & Leo bouncing on balls.

Cookie Decorating Party!

Madigan celebrated her 4th birthday with a cookie decorating party. I made "Best Ever Butter Cookies" and "Best Ever Butter Frosting" (read: sugar cookie cutouts and frosting). The kids weren't really into cutting out cookies once they started decorating them. Madigan took it upon herself to decorate her cookies with at least one inch of frosting. (Her parents were busy rolling dough and watching Leo, so she was the unsupervised child at the party!) The party was super fun and very easy. I just made the dough and icing the night before. The day of we put the icing into pastry bags and bowls and set out all of the decorations.

Madigan waiting for her guests to arrive:

Decorating:Presents:

I made all of the kids their own aprons to take home. The boys had camp food and a camper RV on theirs. The girls had vintage tea kettles. (Madigan picked both fabrics out with me and I was so happy when she chose the vintage tea kettles!!)