BIG KID

I can't believe my little punkin is a big kid now! She was soooo ready for Kindergarten last week. She loves it and she loves her teacher. No more kids at home during the day for me!

Sophie's First Ballet

This weekend was Sophie's first ballet. She has been taking ballet for 18 months and she was able to show off some of what she has learned in the performance of "Into the Sea". Her character for her ballet pieces was a "purple fire fish". She also was "sun coral" for her modern dance number but she didn't want her picture taken in the costume because it is a yellow and red unitard with a big spikey thing that covers her head. She thought it was embarrassing. I thought it was cool. Anyway, my sister took some pictures of her in her costume. She also had a beautiful headpiece but it had black fuzzy things on it for fish eyes and I guess she was too cool to wear it in the pics.

Early Easter

Facebook has taken all the fun out of blogging. As you can see I have not posted since Christmas and now it is almost Easter. Lots of things have happened in our family but I just have no desire to catch the blog up to date so I will post these recent pics of the kids and try to do a better job with our family's journaling. I hope to have lots of Easter pics at the end of the month. Easter is my very favorite holiday closely followed by Halloween which will probably be here before ya know it!

CHRISTMAS 2010

Andrew loves to take video of the train going round and round.
Sophie getting a gift from Santa.

The oldest cousins Sophie and Gracie.
Santa's arrival.
In addition to her large tree Mom had three smaller trees this year. My favorite was the pink one with beautiful silver ornaments.
The lovely Nativity.
Lillianne was checking each gift off her mental list to make sure she got everything she asked for. I don't where she gets that from (riiiight!).
Cousins Aiden and Lillie.

Andrew loved all his gifts.
Waiting to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas.

We had a wonderful Christmas at my parents' house again this year. Great food, games, prizes, and lots of presents. I am so glad I don't have to deck the halls and cook a feast like she does. I am content to bring the praline yams and enjoy the enormous Christmas feast! Merry Christmas to all!

FALL VIOLIN RECITAL

The girls had their violin recital this evening and they did very well. It was Lillianne's first time performing in front of an audience and we were concerned that she wouldn't participate because she is very shy but she did great and she really enjoyed it. Sophie's solo was so good. She has really progressed as a violinist and we are so proud of her.

FUN ON THE FARM

The Farm-mobile.
Gracie, Granny, Estelle, and Sophie
Farmgirls
Crazy-eyed cows and below a new baby calf.

Last weekend we went to Allen Parish to visit my 91 year old grandmother who is still sharp as a tack. My sister and her girls also went and after we finished our visit we went to my parents' farm nearby. They own it with my sister and her husband. It is so beautiful out there. The weather was nice and crisp and it was a gorgeous day. My kids loved the cows and baby calves and Andrew and Lillianne really loved riding around in Estelle's fancy Cadillac. They are not used to all the wide open space. I would love to go back really soon and I can already smell the crawfish a boilin' come February or March...hint, hint!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

HALLOWEEN 2010

Since Halloween is on a Sunday this year we had our partying a day early and the kids got a ton of chocolate and candy which I promptly confiscated. Sophie was a Greek Goddess, Andrew was a firefighter, and Lillie was Belle. I had no idea our TV screen was that filthy.

CALIFORNIA TRIP

Love this shot of the bridge.

Mom and Dad in front of the bay.
One of the many cupcake shops we passed in San Francisco.
My parents recently remodeled the house on the vineyard in traditional Craftsman style. My very favorite kind of architecture.
The gorgeous grapes ready for harvest.
I am a long time hater of squirrels and my mother loves them and feeds them on her front deck. Too. Creepy.
Asti Vista ready for the harvest and beautiful Lake Sonoma below.

Last month I went to my parents' vineyard in California with my two sisters. We enjoyed a 4 day weekend of shopping and sightseeing. Their vineyard is called Asti Vista and is about 30 minutes outside Napa Valley. It is unbelievably gorgeous there and so relaxing. We also spent a day of shopping and eating in San Francisco. The lovely pics are courtesy of my sister, Kari. I don't even bother to bring my camera when she's around. Can't wait to go back and bring the family!