Finally I have time to post something. We have been very busy around here for the past three weeks. A week after school let out Tuzer's "Summer Intensive" dance program began. For Camden that just meant three more weeks of once a week ballet/tap class. For Sierra who is in the Yellow group at the dance school took three weeks of 9 hours or more of weekly classes. She loved every second of it.
She took ballet each day, a ballet rehearsal for the end of workshop performance, and also a different "other style" class each day. She went to the studio Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Camden had class on Wednesday so we were spending a lot of time down in Richardson. Not so close to home when you live way up here in the north country. Sierra really liked her African and Character dance classes but as always her favorites were Modern and Jazz with Ms. Alfonsina. What a wonderful teacher she is.
At the end of the summer session we got to see everyone perform in a few short western ballet numbers. It was much fun and Sierra was very good. I forgot to take pictures though, so instead you are getting pictures of my braiding skills. I know that at least Nana wanted to see them.
Over the weekend we took the Daddy to see Cars, which we enjoyed very much. Other than that we were mostly lazy, which was a nice change. We did, at one point, go to the Bass Pro shop to spend a gift card we had won. The girls are now proud owners of Barbie fishing poles. Pretty cute.
We got new bubble bath too.
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Singing and Dancing
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Super Kids
Today, when we got home from school, there was a special gift waiting for the girls on our front porch.
Nana sent them a cookies bouquet to tell them how proud she is of them for finishing the school year and being the greatest kids ever. I asked the girls to make a thank you note for their Nana and the sign on the right and below is what I got.
I haven't yet gotten around to posting about why Nana felt the need to send cookies to show how proud she is, so I'll post about it now.
I've mentioned here before that when we were in Tulsa Sierra was selected to be in the Gifted and Talented program at school. When we moved to Frisco they told us that her standing as a GT student in Tulsa did not get her into GT here but that it would nominate her for testing. We weren't worried, we know how creative and artistic she is. I filled out a large stack of paperwork in order to start her down the path to GT placement several months ago, but then we didn't hear anything about it.
Earlier this month at her Kindergarten Open House the GT person at her school came up to me and asked to speak to me in private. She explained to me that she had started to give the level 1 test to Bug but that she thought it might be better to wait and give her part 2 of the test in the fall because in Tulsa they do not teach Kindergartners to read and in Frisco they do, so Sierra would probably be behind. She wanted to give her the best chance to pass the test because once tested a child can't be tested again for two years. This worried me because I didn't feel Sierra was behind at all and it would prevent her from being placed in GT at the beginning of the year which could mean several mid year changes next year. Sierra has had more than her share of changes in her short life already.
Yesterday I got a phone call from the woman who I talked to at open house. She said that after scoring Sierra's level 1 test she decided that our Bug was indeed ready for the second level. After scoring the second level she realized that Sierra was so very smart that she really needed to start next year in a GT "cluster" so she rushed the paper work and took her suggestion to put Sierra in GT before the GT council on Monday. They all agreed and she was accepted into the program. She said that a letter would be coming home telling me about it but that she wanted to call and tell me herself and to tell me what a very lucky mother I am. She went on to tell me what a delight Sierra is and that she was "one of those children" that you don't meet very often, "a True joy to be with". She said that Sierra was sweet, well spoken, and amazingly bright. She had no doubt that Sierra would excel at anything that she tried and that none of the differences between her previous school and her current school would hold her back at all.
I can't tell you how wonderful it was for me to hear from someone else what I have known all along, Sierra is a very special kid. All I could say to the woman was, "wait until next year, I have two." My Camden will be in Kindergarten next year and she is going to blow them out of the water.
Y-Me
This is a post I made to my other blog this morning. I thought anyone who checks here might like to see it and take the opportunity to give to a really good cause.
I've been looking around this morning trying to find a picture of my grandmother, Mildred. With my things still somewhat packed I could not find a picture of her to post here, but I have to say, she looks very much like my oldest daughter, Sierra.
I never met Mildred, she died 4 years before I was born. She fought hard against breast cancer but it was a battle she couldn't win. She left a mark on every life she touched in her too short life all the same.
Next month my mother will be walking in the Y-Me walk in her honor. Y-Me is a national organization that matches people who have questions with people who have answers. They have a hotline that people who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer can call and speak to a survivor. They will answer the questions of men who just want to know how to help support their wives as they sstart chemo. They will hold your hand as you speak to your doctor about a mastectomy. They will help a man who thought breast cancer couldn't happen to men get the answers to all of their questions.
My mother has a pretty low goal of just $150 to raise for her walk. I think she can do even better, that's where I need your help. Please go by her Y-Me blog and take a look. Tell your friends and family about it. If you have a spare dollar or two, give. If you don't, just remember the cause and where you can go in the future when you do have a little extra money. It's important to me, to my mother, and to Mildred who never got to meet her granddaughters.
Happy Clover Day to You
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover That I overlooked before. One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain, Third is the roses that grow in the lane. No need explaining, the one remaining Is somebody I adore. I'm looking over a four-leaf clover That I overlooked before.
Camden wants to wish everyone a Happy Clover Day.
Sick Be Gone
Sierra was sick for nearly two weeks. We found out half way in that she had the flu. This picture was taken just as she was getting better. Can you believe how skinny she is? I don't know how much weight she lost, and she has already put some of it back on, but boy did she go a long time without a meal. My sweet baby, she's a very good sport about being sick, but it's no fun, not for anyone.
As far as the rest of us go, Camden never got sick. Josh and I both tested positive for the flu but thankfully a quick intervention with some Tamiflu and neither of us had to BE sick. That is a very very good thing.
Camden and Wain have been going to school everyday though Cam doesn't like it much, at least not at the beginning of the day. The trick is to make sure she looks totally "fashion" and then she doesn't mind it so much. Nana helps with that, the outfits seen here are both from Nana. They are Camden the fashionista approved.
The girls each missed one Saturday worth of dance classes and we found out this past Saturday when we went back that they had been missed. It's nice to have been here for such a short time but to still have people who look forward to seeing you. They are doing so very well in their dance classes. This weekend we paid a small fortune to get them signed up for the upcoming recital and to purchase costumes. Three costumes can really drain the bank account. You should all mark your calendars now... April 30, 2006 the girls will dance at McFarland Auditorium at
SMU. It should be a wonderful show.
After dance on Saturday we went to lunch with Grandad and Theresa. California Pizza Kitchen was really good. Camden loves pizza. They took us shopping for our housewarming gift and we came home with this...
It's the Bose iPod dock. It lets us listen to all the music on my iPod (all the music we own) without headphones. It sounds wonderful, has a cool remote, and charges my iPod while it's on the base. Pretty dang cool. I'm listening to it now and loving it. I can wake the girls up to the Go-Gos every day now. Thanks Grandad and Theresa.
It's just about time for me to go get Camden and then we are going to meet Buster at Razzoo's for some cajun food. Aaaiihhhyyeeee
Student of the Week
It wasn't so long ago that I was posting about Sierra being the student of the month for her class in Tulsa. At her new school they don't have a student of the month situation. Instead they have "student of the week" in which one child is selected to have special duties for the week such as line leader and teachers helper. The student of the week is also asked to bring a display of some sort that will teach the class about them.
This week is Sierra's week. We made a poster for her that looks like the overalls she loves to wear so much. On the day she presented it she wore her overalls as well.
Her sign has a small photo album including pictures of Sierra in her ballet clothes, Camden, parents, and even her favorite toddler Daylon. Sierra also drew pictures in booklets of her family, her friends, and her life in Tulsa before coming here. She did a great job on her poster and said that her friends at school liked it. I haven't heard much about how being student of the week has been, but yesterday she had a sub so maybe it hasn't been much of anything.
We've been battling some fever around our house this week. I think all of the stress of home changing and being without our routine is taking its toll on the girls. They have both had fevers with no other symptoms off and on for days. Poor sweeties. it's good being in our house finally though. We also were very lucky to have Nana visit for several days. The girlies loved that.
I don't know if everyone around has been having fog, but ours has been crazy.
Here's the lake outside our front door in the fog.
The Box
Yesterday Fed Ex delivered a box to Josh at work. It arrived next day, that's pretty good service. Wait until you see what was inside. (click on the pic to go see some tricks flickr can do.)
Click here to look inside the box. Nana sent us our mail from Tulsa. She also sent all kinds of treats for each of us. She sent clothes for the girlies, candy for each of us, apricots for me, and even toys and magazines. It was quite a treat to open. The girls loved it and Sierra is already wearing some of her new clothes.
Camden isn't, and this is why.
Camden is a sicky. She's been throwing up for days now. Poor little punkin. She doesn't really have any other symptoms, but the vomiting is plenty, trust me on this.
Here we are in Texas
Here's Camden in our temp apartment. Isn't she so "fashion"? Boy is it something else having a kid who wants to pick her own clothes every day and has such set ideas of what she wants to wear. She's so much fun.
This was Sierra's first day of school. She loves it and is making friends really fast. Actuallyl today I am going to have lunch with her and she gets to bring one friend with her. Last I heard it would be Sidney. I haven't met Sidney yet, so it should be fun. Want to hear something crazy? They eat lunch at 10:15 in the morning.
My Amazing Children
This has been quite a week for the Mommy. On Monday I got to see Sierra do ballet in her class. On Tuesday I got to see Camden dance in her class. Yesterday was the Kindergarten Winter Program, and today is the EC Winter Program. What Mommy could ask for a better week?
You've already seen pics from Sierra's ballet day, so how about some Cam pics?
Camden's class starts with some stretching. You haven't lived until you've seen a class of 4 year old ballerinas on the floor stretching.
Once the stretching is done they move on to bar work. I mentioned in the post about Sierra's class that the bar is pretty high for them. Well take a look at the four year olds.
Camden loves "Ms. Cyndia".
She is an amazing teacher. So graceful and lovely, patient yet firm with the children, and inspiring to them. We have been lucky to have her.
There is something special I haven't mentioned about Camden's class yet, see if you can figure it out.
Yep, you guessed it. Camden's class is ballet in the first half and tap in the second half. Camden enjoys the tap so much she even forgets to twist her mouth all up in funny positions. Ever heard 9 4 year olds in tap shoes on a wooden floor? I wouldn't suggest it if you are prone to headaches.
