Winter dance recital '16

 The girls participated in the winter dance recital with their studio this past weekend. It was a full month of added rehearsals as we geared up for the show. I think our car could drive itself to the studio at this point! 

Regan had taken a year off from dance last year and was excited to be back in the saddle as she joined the danceline class. After watching the other dances in the show, she has asked to also start back with tap/jazz/ballet next year (in addition to danceline). She's hooked! 

I was able to video tape during dress rehearsal and you can watch HERE if you'd like! 

Sidney and one of her BFF's are in this gigantic K-1 combo class (note, it's actually 3-4 classes performing the same dance on stage). She is too darn funny as she gets ready for class each week, making sure her leotard is the perfect one for the night and even adding some bright pink lipstick (every. week.). 

She loves dance as much as her big sister does. Click HERE for her performance at the rehearsal. 

There's quite a bit of talent at this studio and the girls each look up to those big girls. It's fun that they get to know the older girls who are "helper teachers" too; they sure feel special to see them around town and say 'hi!. 

More dance is definitely in their future! 

Technology

Seems like most days, this little scene is happening: 

All 3 kiddos, huddled in front of a device, talking with Grandma Jan and Papa. Sidney cried the hardest when they  deserted us for warmer weather again so we are thankful for technology to bring us together. We get texts and pictures, but the kids all prefer to see them and chat so they regularly beg to FaceTime. Can't wait for you to come back! We miss you! 

Lincoln says....

Our little boy is growing up so quickly. It seems that he has made leaps and bounds in gains in his language since turning 2. People who haven't seen him in a few weeks will comment "oh my gosh!, he doesn't stop talking!".
Nope, welcome to our new world with a toddler. 

He is constantly talking, telling me what he sees, insisting on a response, and narating his day. 

He has completely mastered his colors, and although we were working on them daily, I know he picked up a lot from watching YouTube (because I was not teaching him grey and he knows it). He likes to watch a little 5 minute video on YouTube with monster trucks, and it's entirely educational teaching all of the colors.
Brilliant I tell you!

His favorite color is orange, we have orange trucks, orange trains, orange cars, orange bowls, orange spoons, you name it. And he ONLY wants the orange ones!

He can count to 10, though sometimes skips over a number or two. My favorite is his way of saying 'six', because it's a high-pitched 'sic' and you'll miss it if you don't listen closely. We count a lot of items, but he still hasn't figured out one versus two. When he wants a cracker, he will say 'one'. We hand him one cracker and he cries "no one!".
That is one buddy!
We hand him another and he smiles "yea, one"

No buddy, that's two! 

"No, one". 

Whatever. 

Ryan finally came up with the notion that he wants one in each hand. 

Maybe so. But for now we know when he asks for one, give him two. 

Ryan's favorite part of Lincolns verbal skills is that he is no longer referred to as "mommy"! He has his very own name: "gawdy". Not daddy.

Nope. 

"Gawdy". 

He is cute and sweet and funny as ever and now that he's talking more, look out! Because he will repeat whatever it is he hears :) though maybe not exactly the way it should be said, like Thomas the Train's friend--Percy.....

I have no further comment.