Mama loves Mambo

Or I should say, "Jack loves mambo."


We went to see the BYU Ballroom Dance Company perform an exhibition last night at our Stake Center. I thought Jack would like the music but I had no idea how much he would love the dancing. After each performance he would clap and say, "Again!?!"

By far his favorite dance was the mambo. The music really got to him and his hips were shaking, his feet tapping and he tried to copy the moves of the dancers. I have not laughed that hard in a long time. He was so excited by the dancing. He even did a repeat performance when I had him show Daddy what the dancers did, as Ryan was not able to go with us. (If you see him, ask him what the dancers did. I promise you will not be disappointed.)

I must note that we were sitting in the second row behind our friends and by the time the mambo started, Jack had climbed through the folding chair of his little friend Samantha and pretty much pushed her out of the way for a better view. He then stood in front of the front row, with his Barney doll, and proceeded to shake his tail feathers. Our friends were very good sports and kept him from running on to the dance floor no matter how eager he was to join the dancers. Thank you to Kelly and Chris and Wende and Kurt who helped corral my children.

During an introduction to one of the dances, it was very quiet and and Jack yelled, "More Dancing" and "More Singing." (Singing is his term for any music.) Glad this was a free performance. (Trust me, I would not have taken him to a paid performance but I thought this was a great way to expose him to dance in a somewhat informal performance)

One of my favorite dances was a dance set to an instrumental adaptation of If You Could Hie to Kolob. Not one of my favorite hymns so I thought I would not like it but the choreography was captivating and the music was beautiful. Jack loved the lifts in this performance and kept saying "Look, airplane in the sky." when the girls were lifted into the air. Click on the above link to see parts of this dance.

I only saw the BYU Ballroom Dancers perform once while I was at BYU and that was with "Engaged Dave who held my hand." (But that is a post for another day. Maybe my friend Kathleen remembers this story) So my experience watching them this time was much more fun. Anyone who brings pure joy to my little boy, is alright in my book.

Smell It

Magnolias in Highland Park were in bloom two weeks ago. We love to smell them!
Some day I will have a magnolia tree or two of my very own. Ryan promises.

Jack loves to ask us to smell things. He says, "Smwell it" to everything from his breakfast cereal to the dirt outside. I love it when he smells his dinner and says, "Mmmm, smells delicious."

Jack got a new backhoe and bulldozer for his birthday. They are true to life with stabilizers and moving boom an d buckets and blades. He loves them and uses them to move sand, dirt, cereal, blocks or whatever else he can think of to move around. He is much more willing to help clean up if I ask Jack to be a crane or an excavator and load the toys in their baskets.

Addy enjoying the warm weather with walking in the grass.

What You've All Been Waiting For

She loves the lamby chair. Can you tell?

Jack seems to be saying, "Trust me, Addy. She'll keep putting the bunny ears on until we take a picture. "

The entire time the bow was in Jack's hair he repeated, "Baby girl's turn." and tried to remove it from his hair. I guess my dream of curly hair with a bow in it was not meant for Jack:)



I've been waiting to put this Easter dress on Adeline since my baby shower when her Auntie Deborah gave it to her. The dress and the cute girl did not disappoint!


And Jack's outfit was adorable too.When I looked through the window at nursery, his tie was on the outside of his vest flying in the wind as he ran around the room. What a character. Thank you Grandma Shirlene for the shirt and vest.

My House Smells Like Vomit

I had great plans to get up this morning and post the cute Easter pictures. Alas, Jack woke up at 8 this morning standing at the gate throwing up and saying, "Mommy, I hurt." (He must be really sick if he is calling me Mommy.)

I've spent the morning doing laundry, cleaning the carpet, doing more laundry and trying not to vomit myself. My overactive gag reflex has been tested to its limit.

I hope to get to the Easter pictures soon and my apologies to anyone we saw yesterday. I had no idea Jack would spend the day after church and Easter sick. I guess it is finally his turn.

Hope he feels better soon.

Sneak Preview

Addy will be wearing this cute bow with her Easter Dress tomorrow.

A birthday revisited

We had a great time celebrating Addy's first birthday.

Here is her free birthday cake from a local grocery store.
It was really really pink and really really tasty.

Jack helped Adeline open her presents. She got some great books, clothes, a stuffed octopus and this cute basket full of cloth Easter eggs with all sorts of things inside. Everything was a hit.

Loving the cake!

Why I like it when Ryan works nights

There are very few perks during the weeks that Ryan works nights. He just finished his recent two weeks of nights and I really enjoyed my afternoons while he and the kids had family nap time.

Monday- I went to Wegmans by myself. And not just any Wegmans. I went to the Pittsford Wegmans and took my time and bought myself and a friend flowers. It was lovely.

Tuesday- It was a beautiful day so I called a friend and we went for a nice walk. During said walk, she mentioned she was getting her haircut the next afternoon and so I made an appointment too.

Wednesday- I had the best haircut I have had in Rochester since my dear friend, Lindsey moved. I have finally found someone I will return to for trims or cuts. I love my new cut and it makes me feel like summer is just around the corner. I also introduced my friend to the joys of Xpedex. I got 80 sheets of cardstock for $2.00. I love that place.

Thursday- I got a pedicure. My toes are now painted with the color "Friar, Friar pants on fire." You can picture it. No? It is a shiny, apple red.

Friday- I went to Parkleigh and bought Ryan some of these to celebrate his finishing nights. Also went with a friend on a quest to find the right shower curtain for her new bathroom. She did not bring one home but there are possibilities.


I may not have another week like this for awhile. I will enjoy looking at this list to remind me of afternoons spent doing enjoyable, childfree, relaxing things.