Update...through photos

A lot has happened in the past few months, in addition to the other updates, here are a few photo updates:

Philip had his first ear infection.  Happened during the child care crisis

Amazing what some drugs and numbing ear drops do for an uncomfortable boy, within a few hours of taking his first dose he was about 83% better.  No wonder the doctor and pharmacist stressed the importance of him finishing all the medicine, and not stopping when he felt better. 

Phil bought Natalie a Play-Doh cake making station

She loves it and loves making cakes for everyone

I found this idea somewhere, not sure where.  I took big slices of watermelon and let 

Natalie cut it up with cookie cutters.  She went through at least 4 slices in this sitting. 

Natalie & Philip had a 4th of July parade at school - which basically meant that they walked down the hallway way too fast for me to get proper photos.  This is the only one that looked okay

Natalie had ballet photos taken at dance class - this side head pose comes out when she wears that tutu

A few days after her class photos they had their year-end recital 

(see the side head pose? She wouldn't take her photo any other way)

She loved being on the stage - this is after the show, she insisted on 

going back up on stage to dance again, this time solo

We took down the crib, no more babies here.  Philip is officially in a big boy bed and has been doing pretty good.  He is still not a great sleeper, but at least he is in his own room.

These are from our recent trip to St George, Natalie was very impressed because she caught her own lizard this time. Every night she let the new pet go, and every morning she would catch another one.  

They were all named Hoatio

Tea Party on the patio in George

Auntie let Natalie try another face mask - which she LOVES

Ballet

The last day of November, Natalie had her big holiday dance performance.  We got her dressed in her jingle bell costume and made our way to the festival she was performing at and waited for it to start.  She had a great time running around the open space while we waited and was very excited to get to wear lipstick and blush for the performance.  

pre performance

sort of dancing during the performance

It was so fun watching her get up on the stage.  She saw us sitting in the front row and immediately ran over to us and tried to sit with us instead of being on the stage.  The teacher got the girls lined up and the music started and Natalie was mesmerized by the audience so she just bounced up and down instead of doing the dance.  Then towards the end of the dance, she sprang into action and finished the dance with the other girls.  It was so funny, and because it was so funny, the video we have of it is too shaky because I was laughing so hard watching it. 

Can't wait for the spring performance!

Ballet Class

As I've mentioned, Natalie is taking a ballet class, but they only allow parents to watch the kids from time to time, because they tend to get stage fright when parents are there.  Well, back at the beginning of October we were able to attend the class and see all the dances she has learned.  It was SO cute!  I couldn't stand it and I think I had a smile on my face all day. 

At the ballet bar

Getting ready

Doing the Mickey Mouse Dance

Seriously, it was SO stinking cute!  Phil took videos of every dance and we watched them the other night on the TV - Natalie thinks she is famous now...so cute

Ballet Class

We enrolled Natalie in a Ballet/Tap class that started in September and goes until May.  I'm not sure who is more excited about it - her or me?

We went to the dance store and she got to pick out her own leotard - the purple one with the low back and sparkles - her shoes and tights.  She also has a cute tu tu to match the leotard.  It is rocking.  And the little tap shoes?  I die

Here is a cute phone photo that sort of captures the cuteness of Ballet Natalie

Oh, and she is performing at Festival of Trees this year.  I can't wait!