Family Visit

 In addition to enjoying the girls recital last weekend, we were able to enjoy a visit from some of our family as they came to see the girls dance as well. Nana and Papa and Mimi, Pop and Aunt Ashelyn were able to join us for this special time.

 Nana and Papa were able to make it up from NC for the Friday evening show. The girls did a great job and wanted to show Nana and Papa one of the new favorite ice cream spots for a treat after the show.

 

Saturday morning everyone met at our house to visit and for an early lunch. Thanks to Nana and Papa for the girls' special ballet ornaments. Thank you to Aunt Brittany and Uncle Jason for sending the special Dora ballet doll and book. The girls are enjoying both a lot! Thanks to all our family who wasn't able to make the trip this year for the calls and texts to encourage the girls too!

 

Mimi, Pop and Aunt Ashelyn had to travel late due to car trouble in NC. We were glad they finally made it safely.

 After a very fast lunch, we had to get Bekah to Act One of the recital. Everyone enjoyed the Saturday show too and of course, we took tons of pictures of all the family with the girls. Don't worry, I only included a few...

All the girls

 I enjoyed this picture of my sister and me. I often remind my girls how special it is to have a sister (soon to be sisters!) and that your sister is a blessing from God and one of your best friends always!

 

 In addition to the girls' recital and our family visiting, Brent also had an art show he attended on Saturday. Yep, we couldn't have put much more into one weekend! After the recital Saturday, we decided to go meet him at the festival in Staunton so all the family could have a chance to see his photography there. Our family also treated us to supper in Staunton and then we finished the day with some ice cream!

Can you tell who was VERY excited about her ice cream?

We enjoyed the family being able to come to church with us on Sunday too. Thank you to all our family for coming for a visit and to support the girls for their recital! We had a great time! Next time we see you, Lord willing, we will get to add Little Bouncy to the pictures!
We Love You!

Family Visit, May 2014

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.