dancin' show

Sammy's first dance recital!

He has been telling me since his first class that he was NOT going to participate in the recital, and that he was NOT going to get on stage. I categorically ignored these comments throughout the past few months of dance classes and went into the recital with pretty low expectations of seeing him on stage!

Initially, Sam was still skeptical about going backstage to get ready for the show. So here he is sitting in costume, in the audience seriously contemplating the idea of performing!

Eventually, though he found the courage to part from me and head backstage to "stretch" and get ready... and the result was absolutely delightful! I could not have been more proud of sweet little Sammy on stage!

And here is the "grand finale" where all the show's participants come back out for a final bow. The little guys (Sam's class) come out right at the end... and I think it's worth the wait to watch!

weekend

Oh, this weekend could NOT have been more beautiful!

Due to great weather, we were mostly outside all day Saturday... and so were several of the boys' friends! Here is the only shot I could get of everyone (and there are even some missing!) from Saturday's all-day play date... after this they all dispersed in five different directions!

It was such a great day even a couple of superheros decided to stop by and check on everyone!

The highlight of the afternoon was probably building "the fort". It had taken many forms and locations throughout the day, but here is a picture of its final (for now!) design. Note the couch cushions for comfort and Sam's "cupcake set" for provisions. I mean, they thought of everything!

But my proudest moment was sometime in the afternoon, in between play dates and fort set-ups and bike rides and other adventures... Hamp decided he wanted to finish his book report!

He did such a great job and worked very hard on it (I swear, I didn't do anything but encourage and cut out some shapes!)

And after a beautiful, fun-and-friend-filled Saturday, I got to spend Mother's Day with my favorite boys! We went out for a lovely brunch and that afternoon I got exactly what I asked for:

Sam got on stage and danced in the recital! more on that soon...

invitation to tea

Friday, Sam and I were invited to have Mother's Day Tea with Hamp's first grade class!

The students shared their mom-themed poetry with all the guests, then enjoyed homemade cookies and apple juice (a bit more appealing than "tea" to seven year olds!). We were then able to hang out and read with our sweet kiddos...

Naturally, Hamp ended up fooling around with some of his best classroom buddies...

... then making his mother incredibly proud with his great tongue-to-nostril skills.

farm day

Our latest adventures involved the High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter showing off all their animals to the elementary school students. Sam and I tagged along with Hamp's class to check out the menagerie of livestock...

(penned, instead of wandering the highway this time!)

traffic

So, as I was driving down the main drag of town yesterday, I saw this:

In Meeker, it is a biannual occurrence that sheep and cattle ranchers alike drive their herd through town to seasonal pastures. I'll never forgot seeing this for the first time almost 10 years ago - and it's good to know that the idea of livestock taking over the highway to only mild response from drivers still thrills me to the point of pulling over, grabbing my camera and taking just a few fun pictures!

This cowboy actually took a picture of me, taking a picture of him! Perhaps he thinks my reaction to a thousand sheep on the highway was a funny as... well, a thousand sheep on the highway!

beach party

More fun at the Rec Center pool party!

life is good

All is right with the world...

Bin Laden is dead

Prince William is married

My brother & wife are home

and there is blue sky outside!!!!!!