Dance out Loud 2012.

Kadence had her much anticipated first big dance recital.  The theme for the recital was "Dance out Loud."  Her class did one ballet dance to The Lion King's Can You Feel the Love Tonight.  It was such a cute dance for 3-4 year olds and I was amazed that they knew the dance so well and looked to each other for guidance but not to their teacher very much!  Kadence had a dress rehearsal on Saturday for the Sunday show.  She cried when I left her both times but once she was on stage in front of all of the people she did awesome!  We were very proud of her and her hard work all year!

 I was so nervous before the recital that I didn't even think to have pictures with everyone who came to watch her!  Arin did snap a few of Kadence and proud big brother.  Kenzie was at home napping and came with Grandma Sue and Papa Gary just before Kadence danced.  Their class was 3rd to last and I didn't think she would sit through the entire program.  Kadence's other guests:  Grandpa Ken, Grandma Debbie, Auntie Jill, Uncle Curt, Annabelle, AJ, Aunty Arin, Auntie Holly, and Jack.

**Kadence is the 3rd girl in from the left.

Thanks to Curt for video recording the dance (illegally) with his phone!  I am very anxious to see the DVD and her professional pictures!  Thanks to everyone for coming and making Kadence's first dance recital so special!

April Field Trip.

The kids usually go on a field trip with their preschool about once a month.  I am impressed that they have had the opportunity to visit some pretty fun places.  Parents are always welcome to join the class on field trip day.  It just so happened that Ryan had the day off as he had been on call the night before (and actually slept uninterrupted in his own bed all night).  The kids (Kadence especially) were so happy to have dad with for the field trip and the above picture from the bus ride shows their excitement.

The field trip was a visit to the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawk's baseball stadium.  The kids thought it was pretty fun but really wanted to run on the grass which they were told they could not do.

Landon's Kindergarten Readiness class.  It was a little bright.

Kadence and her 3-4 year old preschool class.

Thanks to my awesome husband for snapping a couple pictures for me with his phone!  I must mention that Ryan was ditched by Landon for the bus ride home and Landon sat with his friend Charlie Ann.  Too funny!

Ry the Builder.

 Ryan and Landon have been busy building away!  We picked up our swing set (that Papa Gary and Grandma Sue had got the kids for Christmas) from Menards and the kids were ecstatic.  They did not realize that it was in a kajillion pieces and the project would take a couple days.  Ryan worked away for a solid 2 and a half days and was able to get the swing set mostly put together before all of our company arrived for Kadence's recital.  I think Landon enjoyed helping Ryan put it together just as much as he enjoyed swinging on it the first time!

The kids are so excited to finally have their very own swing set to play with in their own yard!  We have waited a long time to have that commodity. Kenzie loves her baby swing and screams when it's time to go in!  I think my life just got a little bit easier...

Thanks Grandma and Papa for the great gift!

Wearing her "Brave Hat"

Little miss Kadence has been having a hard time separating from me and doing things she normally did without hesitation.  It all started a school when she began crying when I left her and not wanting to go in the first place.  She would wake up and ask if she had school and cry on and off all morning until she got to school where Miss Heather would have to take her from me bawling.  It was so odd since she had never done that at school and she has been going for 8 months now.  Once we figured out there was nothing major wrong, we started talking about facing her fear and being brave.  Unfortunately, it didn't really work.

The next week was swimming lessons and she started doing the same exact thing.  It was so frustrating to see her so upset and to try and get her to do the things she normally loved.  She had a well check up with the Pediatrician (will post blog soon) and I had a chance to visit with her about the new actions.  She seemed to think that it is just a phase and proceeded to tell Kadence that she needed to wear her "brave hat."  Something must have clicked in Kadence's head when she said that because it has worked!  Kadence has since then been good at school and was great at the dentist as well.  She is so funny about it.  She takes her pretend brave hat out of her pocket and puts it on her head before we leave.  Thank goodness for the brave hat.  I sure hope it is waterproof for swimming lessons tomorrow...

Dental Check-ups

Kadence and Landon had their first trip to the dentist (a little late I know).  They did so well!  Neither one of them were scared and sat through X-rays and the cleaning like champs.  They saw a pediatric dentist so the office was geared entirely towards kids.  I think both of their favorite parts was watching cartoons on the TV above their head during their cleaning.  Kadence had a fabulous check-up with nothing abnormal and no cavities.  Unfortunately, Landon wasn't as lucky.  He has four cavities (all on the same side) and she is also concerned he may be missing some of his permanent teeth.  He was pretty upset about the cavities so I just reassured him that some people get cavities easier than others.  He goes back in a month for his fillings.  I am sure he will do just fine.

The kids have both been obsessed with brushing and flossing their teeth since the appointments.  I hope it doesn't wear off!  The next time I'll take Kenzie, too.  I am sure that will go well.  Haha.

God is good.

In the past couple weeks we had two very scary falls happen.  Just before Easter I received a phone call from Landon's teacher telling me he had fallen on the playground.  He was playing with the boys and instead of going down the slide, went right over the side at the very top.  The incident report said the height was about 8-10 feet.  He fell onto his side and back.  Landon jumped up right away and started yelling in fear.  He only complained of his ribs being sore and was hardly even crying.  His class went inside and he was just resting on the couch when we came to pick him up early.  As it turned out, he was just fine.  We didn't even have to take him in to the clinic.  I was so worried about my boy and so glad when we got there and saw he was just fine.  I think he had an angel watching over him that day.  God is good.

Over the weekend, Kenzie had her first big bad fall.  I feel so guilty because it was truly a preventable fall and it was my fault.  Ryan and I (mostly me) have been putting Kenzie on the island counter for about 6 months in order to get things done in the kitchen.  It is hard to get things done with a baby crying at your feet and she refuses to sit in her highchair for longer than 5 minutes, even to eat.  I turned away for just a second, something fell off the counter and over she went, landing on her head.  She cried and cried and I was beyond scared.  I watched her for about 20 minutes until Ryan got home from a run and then we decided we better take her in to be checked.  She fell so hard and seemed to have a hurt arm.  Luckily, she was just fine, too.  It had been over an hour and a half since the fall by the time we saw the ER provider and she had gotten progressively more normal the longer out from the time of the fall.  She reassured us that we could just observe her for the next 24 hours and so we did.  I have never felt so guilty in my life.  I learned a good lesson and was reminded -God is good.

That night, I was able to find this great little chair that attaches to the island.  Kenzie thinks it is the greatest thing ever and actually begs to sit in it.  So, I am able to get my cooking and such done and most importantly, she is safe.  Lesson learned.

Preschool Conferences

The kids had a little conference to make sure they were on track.  Landon's preschool is truly a "kindergarten readiness" class and they have been working on meeting all of the pre-kindergarten requirements.  Landon's teacher Mrs. Peterson said that Landon has made the most improvement this year going from knowing very little to learning all of his letters, colors, numbers, and beginning to write these things better.  She said he is a very outgoing and well-rounded student and he loves to learn.  He tries all of the activities and doesn't get discouraged if he does not know how to do something right away.  She claims he is the "model" student and said although teachers are not supposed to have favorites, they do, and he is hers.  He is truly just a sweet little boy with a big heart.  So proud of him.

I am hoping you are able to read these stories when you click on the picture to enlarge it.  They have started doing some reading comprehension activities and I love to see where his little mind is at.  His teacher will read a story and then he draws a picture and tells her his story and she writes it.  These have been my favorite projects so far.  Definitely some keepers.  This first story is about his friend Charlie Ann and him.  My favorite part: "Charlie Ann watched me win."

The above picture was drawn after Mrs. Peterson had read, "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs."  A very cute story sharing the love.  My favorite part:  Landon protecting his little sisters.  

Kadence's conference went very well.  This is just her first of two years of preschool and since her class is younger they have focused more on social activities.  They do a lot of singing, dancing, art, and free play.  Miss Heather said Kadence is doing very well.  She has a quiet personality but gets along well with everyone.  All the girls in her class are very good friends and they don't play much with the boys.  Miss Heather pointed out that Kadence has a big heart and is the first to try and make someone feel better if she sees they are sad.  What a sweet and spunky little girl!  Love her.  

I often forget that Kadence is almost a year and a half behind Landon.  She has advanced so quickly in so many ways.  Looking at their drawings was a great reminder to me that she is only 4 and not as old as big brother.  This was a picture Kadence drew when asked to draw a picture of her family.  I love how she included so many people.