Awards Night

Last week was Taylor's Dance Club Awards Night. It was a chance for the girls to dress up, eat dessert, get a trophy, and be the center of attention once again.

Taylor LOVED having Ms Andrea as her teacher this year. And so did all the girls. She is quite a celebrity around these parts.The moms decided all we need in our homes is a red carpet: It will keep them busy for hours!

I was given an entire CD of pictures just like these. Are they dancers or what?

Future Fashion Designer

Taylor definitely has her own sense of what is "fashionable." It is not uncommon to find her with clothes on that don't match, 3 headbands in her hair, and socks stretched up to her knees. It used to drive me nuts but recently I have decided to embrace her creativity and just go with it. I still provide some direction but she has the final say. So when she said she wanted to make a shirt out of her pajama pants, I decided WHY NOT! Can you imagine if Vera Wang's mother had tried to suppress her creativity at a young age, celebrity weddings would just not be the same.

So here it is, the Taylor Jorgenson Original. I was pretty amazed that she thought this all out and it actually worked. It just needed a hole for the head and a trim off the legs(sleeves)....ALL HER IDEA!

Dance Recital.

2 girls with curled hair dressed in costume

1 dead car battery

1 husband already gone

1 kind neighbor that drove us to the recital location

Only a few minutes late

2 1/2 hours back stage with 2 years olds

Ashlyn performed her dance

Taylor performed 2 dances

Both girls performed the finale

All resulting in:

2 girls exhausted with costumes stripped off faster than you can say "dance"

NO pictures of the girls dressed up

A grateful heart for the wallet draining professional pictures taken earlier that week.

Less than par "during the recital" videos and pictures.

And for the bright side:

2 very cute girls that did a great job

2 girls who loved being dressed up

2 girls who shine on stage

2 happy girls who loved receiving a trophy

All resulting in:

1 happy dance family

Let's start with rehearsal.

Today was our Annual Dance Recital. Yesterday was rehearsal for the grand finale number with ALL the recital participants which is pretty much straight madness but someHOW all comes together in the end.

Every year there is a recital tshirt and the "cool" thing to do is recreate it. So with scissors in hand I attempted to make the girls shirts a little "cooler." Everything dance related has to have bling so that was involved as well.

This picture is SO Ash, tongue out and all.

Taylor was very much into the Cheer theme.

Back stage.

3 cute dancing girls.

Dear Nap Fairy:

Where have you gone this week? I think you have abandoned your duties at the Jorgenson Home. Do you know what happens when you don't fulfill your necessary responsibilities? I will tell you....all "YOU KNOW WHAT" breaks out at about 4:00pm and lasts until bedtime at 7:00pm and don't forget that it is times 2. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE 7:00pm bedtime but the three hours of total madness prior to 7:00 are something I prefer to do without. I know you are busy assisting other moms with their napping children, but please PLEASE come back. Don't tell me it is time for Andy and Ashlyn to give up the nap and leave baby land behind because seriously I just can't deal with that. My plan, and my plans ALWAYS work out, is for them to nap until they enter 1st grade. Now I don't think that is too much to ask.

Sincerely,
Desperate mom of 2 year old twins that are living proof the terrible 2's are alive and well.

Coming up on the end of a season.

The fees have all been paid: Hurray!

Only 1 more competition to hear "Momma I'm a Big Girl Now!"

Only 1 more time to attempt to slick Taylor's bangs back into a ponytail.

Only 1 more time to see these cute girls dressed like this.

It has been such a fun dance season.

Until next year, peace out bling, makeup, and never on time competitions that last ALL day. We've enjoyed the ride!

Next week is Recital Week and then we are REALLY done!

Family Tradition

In 1924 my Great Grandmother traveled to Sequoia National Park for the 1st time. Later she took her daughter (my grandma) several times, who then took her daughter (my mom) many times who then took me more times than I can remember. 2 years ago Tyler and I took Taylor for the 1st time and this last weekend, Andy and Ashlyn were introduced to the BIG trees. It is safe to say the 5Th generation loved it just as much as the 1st. Notice the change in clothes from the 1st picture to this one. SAME DAY! I watched our temperature gauge fall and continue to fall as we climbed the mountain. The last weather report I saw said 70 degrees not 40!!! We were not exactly prepared for freezing temps.
The rocks were a little slippery and Tyler got ALL wet.
Do you notice anything weird in this picture??? Taylor clothes perhaps! I don't know what that girl would do if we lived somewhere cold. It was seriously freezing but she insisted on wearing shorts.
Cute sleeping babies...too bad they didn't stay like this. They need their own beds.

The kids are all pumped for our 3 mile hike to Tokopah Falls.

Before picture:

The girls were appropriately nicknamed Nature Princesses due to their love of the outdoors and their desire to look cute while enjoying the outdoors.

Lunch Spot

My sisters and I slid down this rock one year when it was covered in snow.

We made it to the top!

My handsome man was such a good hiker and walked most of the way, stopping at every rock, tree, and stick. He proved he is a true descendant of his grandfather and father. He loved every minute of the hike and the entire camping experience.

As we drove down the mountain to come home he cried "GO BACK" over and over.

After Picture: 2 asleep and one ready. They did so well and it only took us 4 hours!!!

Thanks Mom and Reid for inviting us to camp with you and taking such good care of us.

One of my favorite places!!!

Isn't that amazing?!

Nature Princess #2!

It was a great trip.

I have so many fun memories there

and I truly love that I can now create more memories with my own family.