Elizabeth's First Ballet Performance

Lizzy has been taking ballet classes for a few months now. She is enjoying it very much and it is a pleasure to watch her learn and grow in this new activity. This was a very small recital where the girls in the younger ballet classes got an opportunity to show family and friends the skills they have been learning in class. It was an opportunity for the girls to get used to performing in front of large groups of people. Elizabeth did a great job and we are very proud of her =)

Lizzy is the third in from the back. How cute they are!

The girls danced to the Nutcracker music. It was so sweet.

Lizzy poses next to the Nutcracker with her rose from Daddy and her Lavender bundle from Mrs. Sheela. Lizzy was so excited to receive her flowers from Daddy and Sheela =) Sheela is a very kind woman who we know from First 5. She is one of the directors of the program and she is very dedicated to loving and supporting the children. She took time out especially to come watch Elizabeth and Kaylyn (who also attends First 5) do their dance. That was very sweet. Thank you Mrs. Sheela.

A family picture =)

Tandu =)

Nana and Papa were able to come and watch too. They loved the performance and were so proud of their sweet granddaughter!

Lizzy and Caylin =)

Mommy and her little ballerina girl =)

I love my girl!

What a great smile!

Papa Jim Comes to Visit

Papa Jim came to visit us for a few days in late December. We had a fun time pampering him and taking him to the Grace Community Church Christmas concert. Thank you so much to all who have prayed or are praying for him! He is still on the mend but doing much better.

Lizzy snuggles with her Papa =)

Here is Emmy after returning from a walk out in the cold weather. I got the girls all bundled up so they would be nice and warm =)

Time for some sister play!

These girls sure do love each other!

Silly girls =)

Emmy was happy to rest and play and papa's big chest =)

So warm and cozy =)

December Dinner with the Bayers

Here are some pictures from our December dinner at David and Debbie's house. We had a wonderful time as usual =)

Emmy in her 1st Christmas outfit looks so cute on the beautiful Christmas quilt hand-crafted by Debbie. She truly has an amazing artistic talent.

Lizzy took most of the pictures that evening . . . starting with Mom and Emmy =)

Cutie Pie!

David and Debbie gave Lizzy and early Christmas gift. A basket full of shells that they had collected over the years with a book about shells and book about sea birds. It was a very thoughtful gift and one that Lizzy can add to and enjoy throughout the years.

Thank you so much!

Lizzy got straight to work matching the shells in the basket to the shells in the book. It is amazing how many different kinds of shells there are!

Daddy and Emmy . . . how cute!

More shots from Lizzy . . . Debbie and Emmy =)

Dad and David . . . almost =)

There we go =)

Hey there . . . how you doing? See you later =)

A Beautiful December Beach Day

I am still catching up with our pictures from the month of December. These were taken at our friends beautiful beach house. Joey, Caylin and Olivia invited the First 5 crew over for a beach play-date. It was so kind of them to share their beautiful home with all of us. We had a lovely time!

Thank you Joey, Caylin and Olivia!

This is the view from their patio . . . amazing!

Auntie Melody and cousin Abigail were visiting and had a wonderful time coming along with us =)

Jalen enjoying the warm California rays.

Lizzy, Lucy and Abigail enjoy the warm hot-tub

Happy girls!

What a treat!

Time for lunch =)

Enjoying the beach =)

Lizzy found a fully intact sand dollar on the beach (not shown in this picture). She was very excited!

So much fun to run in the water!

A whole new world for little Abigail!

Little Emmy enjoys the scenery from Mom's hip.

Thank you Lord for such a beautiful day!!

Happy Birthday Ian!

One of Lizzy's neighborhood friends, Ian, had his 4th birthday party at the local bowling ally. Many of Lizzy's other neighborhood friends attended and everyone had a lot of fun! Thank you for inviting us Ian to celebrate this very special day that you were born!

Lizzy and Caylin go to First 5 and ballet school together. What a cute picture of the two of them!

Lizzy getting into the party spirit =)

Lucy and Kai investigating the bowling ball dispenser.

Thank goodness for the ramp and bumpers, which made it possible for the little ones to get their balls all the way down the lane! Lizzy was very into the game and stayed focused throughout the party (with the exception of taking a break during eating and gift opening)

Her first bowl ever!

Caylin and Jalen getting into the swing of things.

Time for gifts =)

This is the only picture I could manage to get of Emily. She was strapped onto mom most of the time =)

Time for cake!

Waiting patiently for the slices to come around =)

At last the cake arrives and not a moment too soon =)

Sweet little Hannah looks like she's almost ready for a nap

Lizzy enjoying every bite of the cake. She has quite a sweet tooth like her dad.

When we got home, Lizzy asked me if she could go lay down and rest. Within minutes I walked into her room and found her fast asleep . . . what a sweet heart =)