Dream to Dance

McKell had her dance reviews about 3 weeks ago and the theme was, "To Dream To Dance." They do a total of 3 shows. Seriously, the Saturday night show was fabulous. It is a showcase of all their competitive numbers. There were lots of great dancers. I dare say that McKell loves dance as much as I do. She has taken dance for just over 6 years and joined the competitive group 2 years ago. She loves the competitions and the dances that they learn. She has some amazing teachers. Dance is tons of fun and I love the confidence it has given McKell. I love to watch her perform and to watch her improve each time. She is a great little dancer. Her favorite dance this year was a specialty number, "Shake a Tailfeather." (pictured above)

"New Soul"

McKell and Meg backstage

The finale

So Much to Blog - So Little Time

I can't ever seem to keep up with this blogging thing. I take tons of cute pictures and have lots to post, but never seem to get around to it. You would think that since it is summer I would have much more time, but it is just as busy as ever around here even now that I don't have to go to work everyday. So much has happened, so here it is all at once or at least most of it.

Memorial Day 2009


We had a blast playing with cousins.










Playing basketball







Making smores

















Rocking out

Visiting the cemetery




Dad's Accident
Two days after Memorial Day my dad was in a serious motorcycle accident. Here are some details (I took this from my sister's blog, who I think took it from another sister. Isn't family great?) My dad was in an induced coma for a week after the accident to help expediate the healing of his ribs so he could start breathing on his own. They kept him in intensive care for 10 days and then moved him to the recovery floor for 3 or 4 days, where they kept him extremely and sometimes comically medicated. Can you say hallucinations? You wouldn't believe some of the stuff he was saying. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday, June 9th. Since then, my mom has become his full time nurse- helping him with everything from eating, getting up, bathroom, etc. His right hand is broken and has pins in it and his left side is practically debilitated right now with all the pain. He will be going to lots of therapy for his hand, is still a little beat up on his face- but got most of his stitches out, and his left side is painfully sore (with 7 broken ribs and a broken scapula.) He can get up and down really slowly and has been glad to be at home. He is still weak, but improving everyday. It's a miracle that he is still alive and still has full use of his brain and all his organs.

We made a quick trip down while he was still in the hospital right after school got out and I have been down since. It will be a pretty long recovery process. It is so different to see my dad this way. He is a person who never slows down and works all day and all night and right now he is moving pretty slow. It is great if he can make it out to the mailbox and back now. I have been so touched by all the phone calls, visitors, and seriously the stack of get well cards he has gotten. They live in a great little community.

Last Day of School


Last day of 3rd grade

I can't believe how fast the school year has gone. My kids have had a great year. Braxton survived (and loved) his first year of high school. He got all A's and one B this last semester. He got pretty involved and met lots of new people. He is doing great and looking forward to football, driving without his parents in the car, and turning 16 (I can't believe it either) in the next few months. McKell loved third grade, had a great teacher, made some fun new friends, learned to write in cursive, passed off all her multiplication and division facts and is ready to move on to fourth grade.