Audrey’s First Dance Recital

I’d been looking forward to this for a loooong time! I’ve danced in many recitals and competitions. I love the rush of performing on a stage. You go out with such confidence, you perform with a huge smile on your face, and then you exit with such a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s just so exciting!

Friday was the dress rehearsal. As soon as I saw her on stage, I teared up…without warning! I couldn’t help but wave- and when she saw me the look on her face was priceless!! I blew her a kiss and she waved back and blew me a kiss (more happy tears!) She looked like she was having a great time, totally psyched to be up there. Afterwards we went to Sweet Frog with cousin Skylar, then to Grandma’s for a quick visit.



On Saturday we got there nice and early. She ate breakfast, then we did her hair and makeup (a bit of blush and a touch of lipstick!) She looked like a porcelain doll, absolutely lovely. I signed her in, they took her backstage, and we got seats right up in the front. When she came on stage, she spotted us right away and was beyond excited! She kept recognizing all the different people that she hadn’t seen before the show- Grandma and Grandpa, Chris, Ms. Dove and Teddy and Aubrianna- she kept waving at us and saying things like, “There’s my Grandma! There’s Ms. Dove!” She was sooo distracted but she did get over it eventually. Everyone laughed, it was too adorable! I laughed and cried through the entire performance, lol. I’d have to say it was just as great a feeling as performing. My sweet girl was incredible!


My Mom took a lot of great shots. I'm glad, because I was really able to enjoy the moments she was on stage :)




End of show finale. She got excited all over again!




After the show she was bombarded with bouquets and we took a ton of pictures. Chris mentioned this to me later- she is so gracious and radiates with such pure joy…you can just see the light in her eyes and it comes from her heart. She’s very animated and you can tell she is so sincere. She truly appreciated all the people who came to cheer her on. Even as we were walking in, she would tell random girls that they looked beautiful in their costumes. She just warms my heart so much!



What a wonderful day! She's moving up to the next level class next year (Pre Dance.) She'll get to do tap, which she's super excited about! Way to go, Audrey! You are such a super star!!

School’s Out for Summer! (And for the next year!) 25-26 weeks

It’s officially summer and I’m officially a SAHM. Wow. I never thought I’d say that!

One of the first things Chris said to me when I told him we were pregnant: “You are SO not working!” LOL. I initially wanted to just take 12 weeks maternity leave, which would put me back in school right after Winter Break. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to just take a year off. I’m due October 4th, which means I’ll probably deliver at the end of September. The first few weeks of school are so important- that’s when the rules and expectations and routines are developed…but more importantly, it’s the time I get to bond with my babies! I know that at the end of this pregnancy I’m going to be so huge and exhausted…all of the energy and enthusiasm that goes into the first few weeks of school…I’m just not going to have it. And that’s not fair to my kiddos.

So I’m taking a leave of absence for one year. It guarantees me a teaching job in the county for 2014-15, but not necessarily at the same school. However, after a few heart-to-heart chats with my principal (who is SO supportive and wonderful!), I know there is always a place for me at Gatorland :)

The hardest part of my decision was what to do about Audrey. This year she was in the am preschool class. Next year she would have been in the pm class. She was so welcomed and loved at school (and yes, got a ton of special treatment, lol)- the thought of her NOT being there next year was pretty heartbreaking. She’s made wonderful friends and just loved everything about school. I even considered keeping her there, but I just know that making the 45 minute drive 4x a week with a newborn and toddler would be pushing it. If it were for a full day, it would be different…but for 3 hours? Not so much.

I looked at a ton of preschools, private and public from here to Fredericksburg. I feel like she needs preschool for the social aspect- she needs to be out and making friends (she’s SUCH a social butterfly!!) All the academic stuff I’m not so worried about. I can do things with her at home (although I know I wouldn’t be as consistent OR as innovative as a preschool teacher!) I just feel like I’m keeping her from having valuable social experiences. However, she feels much differently, lol. She LOVES the idea of staying home with me, Abby, and the baby. A few of the schools we looked at were all day, every day. I just know I’d miss her too much! Why am I staying at home just to ship her off to preschool all day? It’s her last year of NOT having to be in school 5 days a week. So, she will stay at home next year. If she’s bored then we’ll revisit the situation mid-year. I did promise her (and the folks at school!) that we’d be back to visit often- Spirit Nights, Fall Festival, etc. I am so confident that she’ll be a Kindergator before we know it!

The end of the year was crazy and hectic and sad. My end of year eval was great, I got all report cards, forms, and records done. Scott helped me load all of my boxes and bins and he brought them all the way here AND lugged everything down to the basement. I was so thankful for his help. I ended up with a sinus and ear infection, probably due to all the dust I was exposed to over the past week! I felt like it was just non-stop for days and days. Now I can finally rest a bit and get to work on this house!

So far I've gotten a lot done in my first week of vaca. I love the nesting phase! It's been so great staying at home and getting things done at my own pace and spending so much time with the girls.


25 weeks


26 weeks (and into the double digits!)

I’m 26 weeks (98 days to go!) My dr says I’m starting to measure big. I weigh 149 and my wedding band is already too tight. I'm up to 26 units of insulin at night and 22 in the am. I'm curious what they'll say at my growth scan in a couple of weeks. I need to start being more careful about eating and I DEFINITELY need to start exercising (I really have no excuses now that I'm home all day!)

So, life is pretty great right now- I'm enjoying the easiness of it all while I can!

Last Week of School & Final Dance Class

What an incredible year she had! It was amazing for me as well- I had the best class, I LOVED being back in 2nd grade, and getting to bring Audrey with me to school was such a blessing!



On Wednesday I got coverage for my class and I spent the whole morning in Audrey's class! We had snack, circle time, craft/activity stations, outside playtime, then lunch.



Thursday was her very last day of school:


She checked this mailbox every day! Once a few teachers found out, they started leaving surprises in there for her. She wrote several thank you notes and drew pictures for the "mailman." :)


To celebrate her last morning with my class, I brought donuts and juice for breakfast. We took a class picture with her. She will always remember those sweet kiddos!


I gift wrapped her entire lunch. She thought it was hilarious....new tradition!

We're off for the 2013-14 school year :( But when we get back, Miss Audrey Cate will be a Kindergator!!

Our last dance class before recital was also that week:


She pretends to be asleep. HA!