{This Moment} From Miss Lauri

{This Moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A Simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Wishing you a lovely last day of March and wishing the Center Stage Dance Team a wonderful competition weekend! You've got this, girls! xo

Today's Creations

These sweet dragonflies were made by Grace and Emma this afternoon. All that's left to add is a bit of magnetic tape to the underside and then they'll be complete (and all over the fridge and the front of the dishwasher, no doubt)! Had we not run out of the small size googily eyes you see here there would surely be twice as many dragonflies as what you see here! xo

Take Flight!

You really cannot go wrong with a good paper airplane! And Kazoo magazine included instructions (and a template) in their latest issue for one of the best the girls have ever made! xo

Scenes From Dance Team Dress Rehearsal

The entire dance team gathered last night for a dress rehearsal. With the first comp of their season just one week away it was time to get on stage and work out any final kinks. It also gave us mini team moms a chance to practice helping the girls change from one costume and hairstyle to the other. 

Once the mini team was done with their dances they changed back into their warm-up suits and sat stage level watching all the other teams, solos, duos, and trios take the stage. I wish I had thought to take a picture of them all gathered right there. It was super sweet to see the first year dance team girls watching the girls who have been part of the team before. It was as if they were getting a glimpse of things to come! The support and encouragement that all of the dance team members have for each other is so very special! Being a part of the dance team, whether it's as s dancer, a mama, a papa or a sibling, really is like being part of a family. Not only has it been really neat to watch the girls bond deepen over the course of the year, but I think the same has been true for us moms (and dads) too!

Much as I expected, Grace and I didn't leave until after the last number had been danced. All of the dances look amazing!! I am so glad that we had a chance to see all of the Center Stage numbers before competition weekend. Looking forward to seeing them next weekend and to seeing how many awards the team brings home this year! xo

{This Moment} A Morning Photo Shoot

{This Moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same leave a link to your moment in the comments section for all to find and see. Wishing you a lovely last full weekend of March. xo

Pinewood Derby Planning

Hard at work this morning on their Pinewood Derby car designs! xo

Kinda Wordless Wednesday::Spring Is Here!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Yes, yes she is!

I just love that the minute she saw this shirt she asked to bring it home! "Mama, I just love this shirt! I'll wear it to dance class tomorrow and on Mother's Day, too!" After such a sweet reaction how could we possibly leave this shirt at Target?! xo

On The First Day Of Spring

The changing of the seasons has always been a much looked forward to time in our family, and today was no exception! The winter/Saint Patrick's Day decorations were put away, and out came the spring/Easter decorations. As is our tradition we read Mother Earth and her Children before lessons today (and The Story of the Root Children at bedtime tonight). There was a lovely spring verse said (with accompanying hand motions /dance) and then it was off to put the aforementioned verse in their main lesson books. Afterward, sap buckets were checked and emptid, bikes were ridden and snow walked through. It was far too beautiful of a day to not get outside! This evening, while Grace was at dance Emma and I decided to see what treasures may be  found at Target, and while it had been agreed upon that we would not be buying anything we did come away with two egg decorating kits (gnomes, snails and toadstools!  How could we not?!) and a shirt for Emma (check back tomorrow to see it's fabulousness)! 

Happy Spring, dear friends! We hope that your day was as lovely as ours! xo

The View From The Top

Pictures taken by Dave yesterday. xo

Saint Patrick's Day Decorations

A sweet felted shamrock made by Grace and a lovely new Saint Patrick for tour nature table made our Saint Patrick's Day a very festive one! xo

Bluebird Skies

With bluebird skies like this, and sixteen inches of Mother Nature made snow on the ground, there's nowhere else they'd rather be! xo

Wordless Wednesday::This Afternoon

Snow!

Clearly, Mother Nature decided we needed more snow before calling winter officially done! Due to white-out conditions it wasn't until around 4:00pm that our winter-loving girls were able to get outside and enjoy it. They came in two hours later ready to eat and also declared that they'll be "outside all day tomorrow!" Guess we better get an early start on lessons then! xo

Made By Grace

When it comes to handwork there isn't much that this kid isn't good at! The latest addition to her repertoire of  handwork talent: felted animals. She finally finished the unicorn kit we gave her for her birthday this past July. Her project came to a complete standstill when this tiny dowel -a necessary item to make the legs- had gone missing. That is until recently when Emma recieved the bunny kit for her birthday and we discovered that same size dowel was in that kit! Once that piece was discovered she got right to work on the unicorn's legs and horn. Before she was able to finish the unicorn (due to the aforementioned missing dowel) she had completeed the chickadee kit that her Grandma Joan and Grandpa Ron gave her for Christmas. She absolutely adores those Woolpets kits, and has decided she'd like the lamb kit to be the next one she completes. xo

{This Moment}

{This Moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordianry moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same leave a link to your moment in the comment section below for all to find and see. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xo 

On International Women's Day

Our day began with the girls writing final drafts of the letters they wrote yesterday. Emma worked on the one for Elizabeth Warren, and Grace penned the one for Hillary Clinton. 

They were so very focused and took such care in writing these letters. Their admiration for both of  these incredible women was very evident. 

 "Mama, I am so very glad that we did this! I am glad that we got to tell them how grateful we are for all they have done!" -Grace

 I am so very proud of our two mini-feminists. They did such a wonderful job on these letters, and I have no doubt that this will be something they tell their own children about!  We hope that both Secretary Clinton and Senator Warren enjoy these letters as much as we did (and we are doubly hopeful that they write back)! Oh, what a treat that would be! 

After the letters were mailed we decided that we should check off another item on our International Women's Day/Day Without a Woman list by shopping local, women owned businesses. We are always happy to shop local, and are always happy to stop into these places and visit with the ladies who own them so  it's safe to say that we were all about that action item when we read it! Decked out in red we made the rounds. First up, a visit to Lori over at Serendipity for a new fairy house and a puzzle Then it was off to Harvard Sweet Boutique to pick up some treats for dessert tonight. Between the two of them they had $5.00 of spending money left and decided that a trip to The Purple Violet and a visit with Miss Heidi would be the perfect way to spend it. They took turns choosing carnations, and we chatted with Heidi as she wrapped up our bouquet. As we walked back to the car Emma said: "This was so much fun! I love celebrating International Women's Day!" Of course, it wasn't quite over yet- they both finished their day at yet another fabulous women owned local business- Center Stage Dance Studio (our home away from home)!

 Happy International Women's Day, friends! Keep celebrating. Keep advocating. Keep rising! xo