Dancing

Here is the prettiest Ballet girl:

Jane started Ballet at the beginning of the month and LOVES it.
(Thanks Maddie for the tights and leotard)

Jane's friend "B" is also in the class and they have a fun time together.

Some of you may not know that I am the first girl after 4 boys and so I took all different types of dance when I was younger- my mom is amazing.

In Elementary I had ballet, tap, jazz, and modern.
In middle school I took ballroom and then in high school I played soccer, basketball, and volleyball so dance was put on hold.

Today I LOVE to dance with my kids to silly music in our home.
I do have friends who have a very beautiful talent for dance and I think I'll have to live my dancing through them for now.

Squeaks and "Fold Arms"

Kate did 2 new things yesterday.

1. She got these adorable squeaky shoes sent by my sister Joanna
and walked around in them.
My friend Alexis told me about this site: http://www.personalityplusboutique.com/

and they are also sold at the Quilted Bear.

Here's a cute short video of the shoes in action:

2. She showed us she knows how to fold her arms during family night.

WE LOVE OUR KATE!

Luau & funny things our kids say

Last night we went to our ward Luau and had a great time:

We all wore Hawaiian shirts
(and we were pretty much the only ones who did.)

Then today we went to the temple and on the way home we drove by the Hill Cumorah (which was on the left side of the car) but Bruce looked out his window on the right side, gasped, and said,
"The Hill Cumorah burned down!"
We told him to look out Jane's window and then he saw that it was still there.

Jane also made a funny comment on the ride home she said,
"When you don't know very many things your head is really light, and when you learn a lot of things your brain and your head get very heavy.
Now that I'm in Kindergarten my head is really heavy."
We told her we'd have to ask Grandpa Miller about that one.

Kate says funny things all the time, we just can't tell what she's saying.

This boy has a "gift"

My cute little guy has a very special way of wishing for things and having them come true.

Every so often he'll tell me that he is going to get a package that day, and he does!!

Today we got one from Aunt Jo and last week we got one from Grandma on the same day he said one was coming- crazy.

(Joanna- just so you know we also found 1 random ballet shoe,
but no Halloween candy- can't wait for those peaches!)

WE LOVE THURSDAYS!

Why? Because every Thursday we get fresh fruit. It started in June with strawberries, then came blueberries, raspberries, peaches...

Today we got yellow plums, purple plums, yellow peaches, white peaches, nectarines, and apples- they all taste delicious!
The apples really took my back to growing up and every morning in the fall I would just pick an apple or pear off the tree and put it in my lunch.
*Plus as a bonus today they had raw honey from a local hive and it is really delicious!!

NieNiedialogues

I know that many of you have already heard about this- it's really amazing what the "blogging world" can do-when I heard about it I was touched.

I've never met Stephanie or her family. My mom served with her mom on the library council. She ran a huge long race with some of our friends (they made a wonderful video.)
Funds have been set up to help the Nielson family- medical bills will be sky high.
For more info visit cjanerun.com
Another blog site is: http://nieniedialogues.com/
The New York Times did an article on her:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/fashion/07burn.html?em
Her siblings appeared on the today show:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26621202#26621202

Get well soon! Our prayers are with your family.

"The Bacteria" & more fun things

Yesterday Jane came home from school and told me,
"Mom, on the way to the 'bacteria' today I saw Ethan!"I thought that was a pretty funny name for the cafeteria.

Today is pizza day so she'll have school lunch for the first time.

Last Thursday Bruce, Kate, and I went to the zoo with some friends.
They are just finishing this big rain forest exhibit which looks awesome!

Baby Cakes telling the turtle stories.

Bruce and the rhinos

Last night Kate saw a bunny in our yard and kept trying to catch it:
(it was pretty cute)

Bruce started preschool at home today with 5 little friends.

Here's his "mug-shot:"
It will be a very fun year!

There's No Place Like Kindergarten...

A few days ago Jane reassured me by telling me, "Mom I know you are going to be sad and miss me, but mom I am going to learn great things. I am going to read more, do art, have P.E., math, do science experiments, and make friends. Mom there is just no place like Kindergarten." So this morning at 8:40 when she boarded the bus so begins our year of Kindergarten and our life with kids in school all day. I was brave for Jane at the bus, but cried when we got inside- happy tears.

Kate was sad when Jane got on the bus and she didn't.

Bruce also got to start one of his preschools today. On Mondays and Wednesdays he's going to a really fun preschool the city is doing and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays he'll do a home preschool co-op with some of my friends and I.
"Bruce-yell 'preschool!'"

SO EXCITED to start!
We'll still keep busy and we are REALLY enjoying the 80 degree weather we're still having- sunshine!

Wish us luck!