Talent on Parade

So 5 weeks after Madalyn's back surgery she was back competing with the Dimensions at Talent on Parade held at the Hays Performing Arts Center. She did a fanstastic job, competed in 5 dances and had so much fun being back with her friends. She also wanted to be back on that stage. Madalyn is one of the most beautiful and resilient people that I know, but the pictures speak for themselves.

Mother Goose play for Beck

The Negely 1st graders performed a Mother Goose themed play for parents. Mr. Mika's class performed Rock a Bye Baby. Beck did a great job and it's always fun to get to watch him in his natural habitat. He is so funny. Jeff also snapped some pics of his work on the wall by the class. I love the hand - it was inspired by their MLK project.

Jeff turns 41!

Jeff turned 41 last week and we celebrated by attending the Lady GaGa concert. I'll have to get those pictures from him to post. The concert was amazing, and then on Friday we had burgers and beer with the family and friends. The best thing was that Mom bought Jeff new cookware! Heck yeah!

Spring Baseball 2011

Beck is playing in the coach pitch league this year with the same coach he's had the last 3 years. The Reds are doing really well - halfway through the season we've only had 2 losses. Beck is still pretty hit or miss (literally) because he'll jack it into the outfield or he'll swing out. So frustrating! Bristol started t-ball this year in the non-competitive group. Our coach is great and we're enjoying watching Bristol play. He is so stinkin' cute out there and it so much fun to just sit out there and laugh when the kids run to third base, or just sit down in the outfield because its boring. :)

Arlene & LC's 40th Anniversary Party

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Just a few of the pics to highlight a great afternoon with family and friends. I wasn't sure that our house could hold that many people, but I didn't want to leave anyone out. It was a fantastic party and it was so wonderful to see all of our amazing family and friends again. The pictures we scanned and put into the slide show were fantastic. It's mesmerizing to sit and watch all of the moments that have been captured in the last 40 years.
My parents are the two most amazing people I know and have given Cody and I a lot to live up to.

Dance & Flag Football

One of the best things about having both sons and daughters is that your weekends are filled with a little of 'girly girl' and some of the '110% boy' activities. That was this last weekend for us. We started it with Beck's flag football game and then went over to Madalyn's debut of her character routine as Sharpay Evans to Fabulous. Beck is double sporting it right now with flag football and a couple of weeks of overlap for Fall Ball coach pitch. We really wanting to get him some practice with coach pitch before the Spring and Jeff got volunteered to coach the team. They are incredibly unorganized and about to make me crazy, but we're trying to remember that it's about the boys and not the scatterbrains that don't do what they say they're going to do.
Madalyn really pushed this year for her first solo. She's been dancing for 7 years and this is her third year on team. I'm so proud of her and her desire to get up there and own the stage. She's such an amazing girl and it's fun to be there cheering her on. She debuted it at Firefest without it being finished and was fantastic. I'm sure when it's totally done in the Spring for competition (and on a stage instead of in the grass) it will be even more fun.

Forget Trying to Catch Up

I've had on my 'to do' list for months now to catch-up my blog to Facebook. From here on out I will be better about because this is an awesome journal for our family's life. All of those things that you'll forget you did in the future because there was just too much to remember or too many things have happened between then and now. Here are a few pictures to hit the high points of the Summer of 2010.

Bingo with Andy Roddick!

I had the best night ever - we got to play bingo with Andy Roddick. Yes, he lost in the Australian Quarterfinals earlier in the week - and then he was playing Bingo on Saturday night with some of the guys from the Bobby Bones morning show. He is way hot and was technically in a different room than we were, but it was still cool to see him! And to think, I doubted Jessie in her Bingo idea - I officially apologize and Bingo is my new favorite game!!

More Basketball

We are halfway through the basketball season already and are still having a great time. The kids are doing great and they are all showing progress even in the last month. Bristol's game are still hilarious- they forget to dribble and look like running backs half of the time. They are cute and funny and very fun to watch. Beck's games are getting more competitive since the boys are getting older, they still don't keep score but you know that from listening to the parents. We still don't have any pictures from Madalyn's games because I can't do that and coach and Jeff is busy chasing the boys and yelling when he gets the chance to watch. All of her games this season have been two point games. We won the first one, lost the second and won the third - all by two points. We're about to play the same teams again, so we'll see how it goes!
Thebest part about the league, besides the kids geting exercise and having fun, is seeing all of the parents and getting to meet new parents in the area. I really enjoy getting the know the kids too - they are still so sweet and good. They aren't really damaged yet by all of the craziness that jades you as an adult. No broken hearts, everyone is your best friend and no bills to pay. :) Ah, to be a kid again!