So in lieu of a boring, long update on exactly what we’ve doing here lately (other than sleeping and trying to keep a handle of my messy house) I give you (cue introductory music)……

Our Life (as of late) In Pictures.

Our homeschool room is finished and I’m putting a few more finishing touches on it before I post the pictures. We are super proud of it and my husband did an AWESOME renovating it.

Our first official week of homeschooling is behind us.

It was fun, challenging and not without  a few tears.(Katelyn’s, not mine.) Katelyn has stated a couple of times that she “wants to go back to her old school/ REAL school!!!”. I’ll admit that it does bother me when she says that but we’re pressing on. She is struggling with handwriting and not liking when I make her write things over again when she does sloppy work or work with a bad attitude. I knew we would bump heads somewhat. She enjoys every other subject except for handwriting. So, I’m trying a few different approaches.  I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t think of praying over our homeschooling time until well into the middle of the week. That probably would have been a good idea!! So, now I start out our homeschooling time with prayer. It really helps!

We’ve been enjoying the last dregs of nice weather before the cold of fall and then winter (yikes!) really set in!

We went fishing again a couple of weeks ago….

and caught TEN fish! Not bad for first timers, huh?

Katelyn started soccer last week. This is definitely a new experience for all of us. She is having to adjust to following the rules and understanding that it’s not all about her! There are several kids on her team who are faster and more adept and handling the ball and that is frustrating her a bit. Soccer isn’t what she thought it would be. (Her scoring goals all the time. Her getting the ball a lot….you get the idea.) She is dying to score a goal and prays every day that she will score one at her next game. We’re trying to teach her that making a goal isn’t everything. This is also teaching her patience and perseverance. All things she is NOT good at. It breaks my heart to see her get upset when she finally does get a chance to get the ball and it’s quickly taken from her. But, that’s how life is and that’s how the game of soccer is played. Good lessons for all of us!

Here’s my soccer player-

The girls started dance this past Saturday. It was a first for Madelyn! I wasn’t sure how she was going to do. Especially since she doesn’t like being in groups and usually takes a while to adjust to new situations. She did fabulous and loved it!

My dancers-

After dancing we went apple picking. It was a perfect day for it.Of course, I took so many pictures of dance class my battery started dying so I didn’t hardly get any of apple picking.

We’ve started attending church on Wednesday nights again. I’m teaching Mission Friends for three years to Kindergarten children at church. It’s like a Bible club but it’s focus is on teaching children about missionaries and how we can all tell others about Jesus. Katelyn is doing the children’s choir on Wednesday night which will run until the end of November. Then she’ll be in my class. After Mission Friends and children’s choir is over Mike picks up the girls and I head to choir practice myself!

So, we’ve been pretty active and busy. But it’s been a good kind of busy.

Happy Fall, friends. I can’t believe it’s here already!

Thanks for stopping by my little ‘ol blog again. I really appreciate you all taking the time and interest in reading what I have to write. Without you guys it would just be me and the computer!

I’m totally killing two birds with this Top Ten Tuesday. My daughter’s first dance recital was this past  Saturday. It was so cute and she did so great. It was very long. Three hours long! I’m being told that that is normal time frame. I had no idea!  My two year old cried through half of it which took away the fun a little bit. However, I did get some great pictures. So, in honor of that, my Top Ten today is my favorite 10 pictures from her dance recital and a small recap.

These were taken before we left for the recital.

Madelyn had to copy her big sister

This move is called “twinkling” which I think is so cute!

Sadly, our dance studio allows picture taking only during rehearsal. So these are from the rehearsal.

All of us moms were holding our breath during this move since the girl to the far left had to slowly walk backward into Katelyn’s arms and then both of them were to walk back into the third girls arms and so on down the line of dancers until they were in a little “train” line. We were all waiting for the domino affect to happen but it never did!

These were taken after the recital. Katelyn thought getting flowers was so special. Her nana and papa got her some pretty pink roses and we got her a mixed bouquet. She loved the pink roses but I could tell was somewhat underwhelmed by the mixed bouquet!  Since we’ve been really working with Katelyn to be tactful in what she says to others she says to me ” Mom, since I don’t want to hurt your feelings I’m going to tell you that I like your flowers.” Yep, still needs a little more work!

The dancing queen with mommy, daddy and sister.

Me with my dancer

As you can see, Top Ten Tuesday is pretty easy, fun and flexible. Join in at Oh Amanda!

Or, sometimes, we also call her Katelyn.She is now our resident dancer. Well, our resident dancer who is actually taking lessons for it. I guess Madelyn and I don’t count. Her first class was last Saturday morning and to say she LOVED it would be an understatement. She would have stayed all day and partaken in every class if she were able. We had to explain (over and over and over again) that we were coming back the following week and that was not to be her only lesson. She was with the cutest group of four year old girls. I loved her teacher, Miss Stacey, who is the epitome of a graceful and beautiful dance teacher. This age group does not focus on any one style. Right now the focus is on following directions, having fun with movement, learning balance, some dance basics and whether or not the kids really do have a love for dance. There were many proud parents there so we were all snapping pictures of our children through windows and doors. The dance teachers acted like we weren’t there. You can tell they’re used to it! You can see the reflection in the door in which we were taking pictures from but I think we still got some good shots.

My dancer waiting to go into class

Here they were walking(running?) like butterflies it looked like

Katelyn was taking her turn to butterfly run to her start at the end of the studio

The girls all had to stop and stand on their star. I love this shot with the reflection of the girls in it

Already standing like a ballerina

She turned around and gave Mike a little happy wave. Unfortunately the quality of the picture isn’t real clear.

Look at that form!

What a diva!

And, yes, in case any of you were wondering I am living my dancing dreams through my daughter. Thankyouverymuch.

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