LIFT End of Year Program

LIFT is the name of the co-op we belong to.  This last year, and at least for the upcoming year, I am the director of the co-op.  It's a pretty fancy title, basically I am the point of contact for the group and the liaison between the church staff and the co-op  leadership team.  

This is one side of Hannah's Flat Stanley project.  And Debby and Grandma helped Flat Stanley see some of America.  

I have really enjoyed being involved in the co-op, in this manner.  This year has been one of the biggest years yet, as far as our numbers go.  

These pictures were all taken during a reception held before the end of year programs.  We had snacks set out, that way people could eat a little something and walk around to look at all the projects our kids did this past year.  

To the left of the bright pink poster board is Hannah's Alexander Graham Bell poster board.  

The "R" canvas is some of Riley's handiwork.  It's hanging in her room now.  

What you see (or don't see rather) are pizza box displays about a book.  Each pizza "slice" tells about a part of the story; setting, characters, conflict, resolution, rising action and falling action.  I wish I had taken a close up picture of one.  

This is Hannah's shoe box diorama of the book Ella Enchanted.  

Hannah's lion habitat.  

I didn't get any pictures of the other half of the end of year program, which included each grade level performing a skit and/or song.  This is primarily because of my role in announcing each and such. The only project I didn't get a picture of, that Hannah did, is the t-shirt she created for Ella Enchanted.  

This is the story

Of a mom who never cared about make-up and styling her own hair.  

Here are my girls, after getting their recital photo's.  

Yet somehow, here I am now, crafting my first ever bun in my daughters incredibly fine, and short, hair.  For her jazz pictures.  

Because life isn't crazy enough, I decided to make cookies, rather than just buy some pre made, for the Awana's awards that followed jazz pictures.  

By the way, these are vanilla butter hazelnut cookies.  And they are delicious.  Maybe the BEST cookie I've ever made.  Seriously.  

Oh yeah, and she had to wear make up.  

High school me would never believe it!

Southern Dance Xtreme

About a month ago, Hannah tried to for the competition dance team at her dance studio.  We've bene talking about it for about a year now.  It started at her recital last year, I told her to watch the different teams perform so that she could tell me what kind of dancing she would like to try.  She really enjoyed the competition team's performances.

At the beginning of the school year, I inquired about the dance team.  I wanted to know if Hannah had a shot, should I encourage her to try out or should I redirect her.  I also wanted more information on the team itself.  I learned that it was a very big time commitment and financial commitment.  I didn't have a problem with it, I just needed to make are that sure Hannah was ready for that kind of commitment.  So we spent months talking about it.  Not all the time, but I'd bring it up a couple times a month.  She was not quick to answer whether she was ready, which I thought was mature for her.  However, come the beginning of this year, she said she wanted to try out.  Before David left, both of us went to Hannah's teacher and talked with her about Hannah trying out.  She encouraged it; she said that Hannah enjoyed dance and was focused during class.  Based on that, she felt like Hannah would be a good addition to their dance team.

The day of the audition was two weeks after David left.  Hannah was nervous, and I just kept telling her how proud I was that she was trying out.  I reminded her that it took a lot of courage to try out for something.  She ran out of her auditions, when it was over, and was so proud of herself.  She said she felt so good about her try outs, and that her kicks were better than the other girls.  What more could I ask for than for her to simply be proud of herself!  This past week, the highly anticipated letter arrived:

She's very excited.  And I'm pretty excited too.  Her first competition won't happen until next year, which I'm happy with, since there's a good chance David won't miss them.