We had Gymnastics Exhibitions this month. The girls work really hard in class to learn all their routines and practice tons at home. Both Pooh Bear and Drama did so well and I am so proud of them.
Pooh Bear just can't be serious for two seconds together!She's a "star" gymnast! Pooh Bear was in Mini Hot shots this last year and was advanced to Hot Shots starting tomorrow. That means in one year she will advance the equivalent of Levels 2, 3 and 4! Way to go girl!Drama was in Level 2 this last year. She did great and has a lot of fun friends in her classes.She really is a "balanced" kid! I have uploaded all the pictures from the exhibition and the videos to my picassa web album if you want to see them in action.
Hila Levonia Blakeley Van Horn, age 91, died Friday May 15, 2009 in St. George, Utah. Born November 25, 1917 in Los Angeles, California to John McClinton Blakeley and Vera Irene Cole, and had 2 brothers, all are deceased. Spent teenage years in Yucaipa, California. Married Samuel Adair Van Horn May 28, 1936 in Yucaipa. Parents of three sons: Vance (Carolyn), deceased; Bruce (Ann) Bountiful, Utah and Wayne (Kathy) Payson, Arizona. Grandmother of 14, great-grandmother of 31(2 more this summer).They joined the LDS Church in 1960 and were sealed with 2 of their sons in 1962 in Los Angeles Temple. Retired to St. George in 1988 where Hila & Sam designed and built a home in Bloomington Hills. She loved all music and they drove thousands of miles in their travel trailer. Her first love was genealogy with 19,833 ancestors & family linked in her pedigree. Proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Random things I remember about Grandma:
Grandma and Great Grandma Van Horn was an amazing woman. She loved to play games - board games and card games. She loved to travel and told great stories. When Drama was born and we gave her the middle name "Irene," Grandma told me how much she loved the name. She said that she always wanted to be named Irene and on her birthday (or maybe it was Valentines day) she would go by Irene for the day! I could always tell how proud she was of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and I could tell how much they all loved her back.
Here is a picture I found from Christmas 2007:
And this one's from their anniversary party last year:
Grandma's health had gotten worse as the years passed. While we will miss her dearly, we are grateful for the relief she has been given from her physical pain on this earth. We love you Grandma Van Horn!
This is the famous Dance Festival held every year in the soccer field at the elementary school. Parents and siblings bring folding chairs and strollers and sit in the baking sun to try and catch a glimpse of their child somewhere out there on the field shaking their stuff.
This year Drama, in the second grade, danced to a song from High School Musical. Sorry, I don't know which one, but it was sports related, hence all the uniforms. I was lucky to sit in the relative vicinity and actually got to see her dance. It's so hard to take pictures with a digital camera in the sun. I mostly just held the camera up and hoped to get a good picture!
Pooh Bear, in Kindergarten, danced to the Hookie Lau. The kids were in chaos because the morning and the afternoon classes performed together at the festival but had never practiced together. Pooh Bear was in a pack of about 15 kids on the corner of the side I sat on, so I really couldn't see her. But she did great if all her practicing is any indication! (She turned around and faced the other way and all the kids around her clumped together, so this is the only shot I got of her on the field.)I took this picture after to get an action shot. She was hamming it up for the camera.
But sometimes it's the only way mom can get the laundry folded! She loves Baby Einstein. She even laughs at the parts she finds funny.She has to sit on the couch andhold "her" remote while she watches.
Pooh Bear tuned six years old this year. I know, I can't believe it either! Pretty soon we will say goodbye to kindergarten and hello to 1st grade. Hello 1st grade and all day school, it's nice to meet you.
I thought it would be fun to take the girls to my hair salon and get "glitter toes," where they put layers of glue and glitter on your toes and say it lasts "forever." The girls got the royal treatment and thought it was the coolest thing and I am glad that the glitter toes last longer than 30 minutes. (If you have ever painted a little girls toes or finger nails you know that the paint stays on for about that long.) We did this the day before her birthday so she could wear her cute new sandles to school and show off her toes on her birthday. Of course we had to go buy the sandles right after their toes were done because all we had were flip flops and you can't wear flip flops to school. So, it was a really good day, glitter toes and new sandles, what more could a girl ask for?
Just like Mom's pedicures...The Process...It's so relaxing, Mom...The final product...Then on her birthday, for her birthday dinner, she choose Applebee's. Always a good choice cause they sing to you and you get free ice cream! And then we opened presents at home. Grandma Tina was staying with us because I was using her slave labor to paint the girls brand new room downstairs (on the list of things to blog about, don't worry). It was a fun birthday.Happy Birthday Pooh Bear! We love you!
Drama has wanted her ears pierced for years. I told her that she had to be 8 before she could get them pierced. This was the rule when I was growing up, so it seemed logical. However, as 8 has drawn closer 12 seemed like a better number to me. But, there was no going back, 8 was out there and 8 it would have to be.
So, today, at 7 years 363 days old, Drama got her ears pierced.
She was so excited.
She knew it would hurt.
She was totally ready.
The lady that pierced them walked her through what would happen and how to take care of her ears later.
Drama said, "Oh, I know how. My mom told me that I have to put wine on them to keep them clean." Wine is alcohol people and would work if it was all you had on hand! ;)
Then Drama picked out her first pair of earrings, her birthstone, and it was over. She now has two new holes in her head that God did not put there.
Pooh Bear went with her to hold her hand and give her moral support. (From the other side of the store. Pooh Bear is not good with stress or trauma. She went to look at the necklaces and things for the duration of the piercing. She kept yelling across the store, "are you done yet?" She wasn't coming back until it was done!) And yes, they are caring purses, each one with $2 to be spent after at the Dollar Store.Before, (the puppy on her lap came for support)...During...After, left ear...And after, right ear...
My Grandma Larsen turned 80 this year! She is an amazing woman that has taught me so much and loved me more than I deserved. We had a big party for her at Uncle Keith's house (a favorite among the kids because he has goats and donkeys!)
Me, Billie, Grandma L, Mom... Drama and Pooh Bear practiced for two weeks to learn the primary song "Grandma" to sing to her. Grandma Larsen sang in Sweet Adaline's for years and loves music. The girls did a great job and I think Grandma really enjoyed it.
Here is Grandma listening to her "Voice Quilt." All Grandma's kids and grand kids called in and left a voice mail with a special message for grandma. My cousin Tom sang a great song about all the great food Grandma makes, and cousins from Arizona that couldn't be at the party called in and left a messages. It was a great idea and Grandma loved it. She said "she could listen to it anytime she needed a good cry!" Here is Pooh Bear playing with the cousins...And the Boss sizing up the donkey...And the girls hamming it up for the photos...Here are all the pictures from that weekend in my Picasa album.
May, what a crazy month you are! I apologize for the lack of posting (especially to my mother, sorry mom). I have a zillion things to post and pictures galore to share. I'll add a little bit at a time and eventually get caught up. Promise.
I'll start with my beautiful little Boss. It amazes me how much trouble one little girl can get into in a single day!
Sometimes a couple of inches is all you need to see the world ...
I read this blog post just now and thought of all the wonderful women I know. You ladies are inspirational, awesome, and I am better for knowing you! Keep up all the good work you do inside and outside of your home!
She's a "star" gymnast! Pooh Bear was in Mini Hot shots this last year and was advanced to Hot Shots starting tomorrow. That means in one year she will advance the equivalent of Levels 2, 3 and 4! Way to go girl!
Drama was in Level 2 this last year. She did great and has a lot of fun friends in her classes.
She really is a "balanced" kid!
I have uploaded all the pictures from the exhibition and the videos to my picassa web album if you want to see them in action.
