Recital 2014

 We had a very special weekend as we enjoyed both girls in The Studio's dance recital. This year's theme was "When I Grow Up." Rebekah and her class were Bakers and danced to "Do you know The Muffin Man?" She and her class did a great job and you couldn't help but smile when you watched them dance!
Bekah did wonderfully Friday night and even weathered a small case of "Mommyitis", with the help of her teacher, Miss Jenna,  Saturday afternoon (I think because it was close to nap time) to dance beautifully!

This is her class stirring their muffins

This is her group bowing at the finale

Our little ballerina

With her teacher Miss Jenna

 Rachel's class were "Sugarplum Fairies." Not only did they dance, but they also sang along with their song. She and each of the girls in her class did a great job with both the song and the dance. Rachel actually sang the song so often that Rebekah knows every word of the song too.

Our Sugarplum Fairy at the beginning of her dance

Finishing with a curtsy

 Here are the girls with Ms. Jessica after the recital. Ms. Tara, Rachel's teacher, was backstage so I didn't get a chance to get a picture of them together. Thank you to Miss Jenna and Ms. Tara for all you taught Rebekah and Rachel this year. Thank you to Ms. Jessica and all the staff for the opportunity for Bekah to begin dance this year and for Rachel to continue dancing as she loves too. Thank you also for all your hard work on another great recital! They are already looking forward to dance next year!


                                

One of the things I requested from our favorite photographer (Brent) last week was a picture of each of the girls and one of them together in their dance costumes. He did an awesome job completing that request for me! We are thankful for each of our beautiful ballerinas and for our newest little ballerina coming soon too!

Rachel Brenna, May 2014

Rebekah Faith, May 2014

                                

Sweet sisters, May 2014

                                   

Recital Rehearsal

This week has been a lot of fun and so busy too. This year, we are getting not one, but two, little girls ready for the dance recital this weekend. We are so thankful both girls are in the same show this year. They will be dancing Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.
Yesterday, they had a run through type practice at the Lenfest Center, where the recital will be held. Today they had dress rehearsal. I was able to get some great pictures from both but I am saving the dress rehearsal pictures to go with the recital pictures so their costumes will be a surprise.
I wondered how Bekah would do going from the dance studio to the "big stage". She didn't miss a beat. She did a super job.

This is Bekah's group practicing their dance

 Here is Bekah and her class with her teacher Miss Jenna and Miss Brooke , who helps in her class.

 

 Rachel's group is taught by Ms. Tara and they do an awesome job. They are both singing and dancing this year.

Both girls have had a great year of dance at The Studio this year and are so very excited about recital this weekend! We are also looking forward to our family coming up this weekend to be a part of the girls' recital with us!

32 Weeks

Yesterday was the day for Bouncy's 32 week checkup. Brent had Pastor's Breakfast so the girls and I headed to the appointment. These are the girls' favorite toys at the doctor's office while they wait.

Overall, it was a good checkup. I gained a bit more and am measuring right at 32 weeks. We actually got to hear Bouncy's heartbeat twice. The midwife listened at the beginning of the visit and it was 150. Then Bekah realized she didn't get "to hear Bouncy say "whoosh, whoosh" (her description of hearing the heartbeat). The midwife was very kind to let us listen again. This time the heartrate was166. We could actually see her moving at that point. I think she might have been napping the first time.

We have one more regular checkup at 34 weeks and then an ultrasound at 36 weeks. We are really looking forward to that!
Thank you to all of you who continue to pray for little Bouncy and her family too! We appreciate it so very much!

The Mill and the Wheel

 A few days ago after work, we had the opportunity to make a quick evening trip to Mabry Mill for sunset. Brent has a beautiful picture of Glade Creek Grist Mill in West Virginia that people see and always think is Mabry Mill. 

Now he has an image that is actually Mabry Mill, too. 

 Once we got there the girls made up a song to go with the scenery. It goes:
"The Mill and the Wheel go round and round,
 round and round.
The mill and the wheel go round and round.
 All day long!"
(Sung to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus".) Try it once, it will be stuck in your head...They have still been singing it all this week too...

 Bekah was willing to let me get a few pictures. Rachel was too busy watching the ducks and picking the dandelions to be interested in pictures.
After sunset, we drove just down the road to Meadows of Dan. There was a local market we stopped by. I didn't realize it at first, but when we walked in I realized Brent and I had been there before. When I was expecting Rachel we went to the mountains of NC and Virginia for a couple of days. Before we even told anyone her name,  I bought her a cup that said "Rachel" from the same market (yes, we still have the cup too). Now we stopped by the same market again about five and a half years later while I am expecting little Bouncy. I thought that was pretty neat!
We also ate supper here at the outside picnic tables

 And finished supper off with a little ice cream!

 We had a great family evening together and Brent, finally, had the chance to get a beautiful shot of Mabry Mill.

Cadet Lunch

 Yesterday, our family had the opportunity to meet the VMI Cadets and from our FMBC College and Career Ministry and one of  the FMBC college ministry leaders, Joey Jones, for their end of the year lunch. They had chosen to eat at the Japanese restaurant for lunch. As you can see, our food was cooked by our table. Bekah was a little unsure what to think of that at first!  The church covered the cadet's meals for them and we enjoyed spending time with them before their summer break.

 Both girls loved the soup and the chopsticks were a huge hit. Surprisingly, both girls were pretty good at using the chopsticks. I did have to use the one bite rule a couple of times but they did both try the chicken, rice and carrots. Neither were big zucchini fans though!

We are thankful for the cadets that attend FMBC and the ways they serve in our church throughout the year. They serve in many ways including our Annual College and Cadet Sunday, children's sermons and mentoring and encouraging our youth. We are praying for them as they finish up their school year and for a blessed and safe summer too. 

30 Weeks

Here is an update on the littlest one. I am actually 31 weeks today. This was actually taken at 30 weeks on Mother's Day so I wanted to include it.
I am now having checkups for this little one every two weeks. I can't believe we are at that point already!
I did the dreaded glucose test at 28 weeks. Thankfully, I managed not to get sick and passed the test! So that was a praise for sure.
I saw the midwife on Friday for a checkup. Little Bouncy's heart rate was 147 and I am measuring at exactly 30 weeks. Yes, I do look like I swallowed a watermelon. I have gained 24 pounds so far.
Little Bouncy is fulfilling her nickname. She is very bouncy and active. Both her sisters have even been able to see and feel her move now.
We praise God for the blessing of this little one and look forward to meeting her in just over 2 months!

Mother's Day 2014

What a blessing to be able to celebrate being a Mom today! I can't believe our firstborn is 5, our Bekah is now two-half, as she calls it, and we are blessed to be welcoming another little lady in just over 2 months.
Here are our three precious little ladies:

 

 I am so thankful for the opportunity to be "Mommy" to these sweet girls and for our little ones already in heaven too. I am blessed by each of their fun-loving and unique personalities. I am thankful for a wonderful, loving husband who is walking with me on this adventure called parenting. I am thankful for my Mom, Mom-in law and my Grams, who have each blessed me so much. I am thankful for a number of Godly ladies in my life, who have taught me so much about being a mom.
 I am thankful for Jesus, and how much He loves me and teaches me, through the process of being a Mom. I learn more about who He is and how much He loves me through our children each day!

 To Rachel, Rebekah and Bouncy: I Love You and I am so glad to be your Mommy!

Faith Mountain Ladies Tea

Yesterday, the girls and I had the opportunity to participate in our first Ladies Tea together at church.

 The girls have been excited about this tea all week. The time finally arrived and they were so glad to see their friend Alexis and head to the dress up table together.

Thank you to Deborah and Judith for all their hard work planning this event and to all the others who helped get ready for it as well. It turned out beautifully and was a lot of fun.

 Here are the girls enjoying their first Grown up tea... well, lemonade. They did actually use china like everyone else. I did make sure they used my china just in case something got broken. Good news, the worse mishap was a spilled drink but all china stayed intact!

 I also enjoyed the chance to get a few pictures of good friends together and even some multi-generational photos too.
We had a great time together and it was a great start to my Mother's Day weekend!