Georgia Performs

Georgia had two special performances in early December:

December 11, 2011
Her little dance class had their first recital. They performed The Chinese Dance from The Nutcracker. Ironically, that is the same thing I did for my first dance recital the only year I took ballet, when I was five! I still remember feeling jealous that the other classes got to wear beautiful tutus, and I was stuck wearing a short kimono and ugly green, Chinese hat. Georgia didn't have to wear a hat, and I think her little kimono was cute- but that's probably what my mom said too!
To say her class "performed"- is a huge overstatement! The whole thing was only a minute, seven seconds- literally, and by the end Larry and I were laughing so hard I could barely see to take pictures. And it was ADORABLE! Georgia's class is three and four year-olds, so she's one of the older kids, and one of the few watching her teacher give cues offstage. We were very proud of her- and she really enjoyed the after-show ice cream! :)
(She's the second one from the right- the tall blonde! ;)

December 14, 2011
The next week, Georgia's preschool did their Christmas program. It was very sweet. The 4-year olds were the members of the Nativity scene, including all the animals that were hanging around to see baby Jesus' birth. She chose to be a sheep- also ironic, considering my childhood growing up with many little lambs! The whole performance was well-done, and well-attended. I didn't get many good pics b/c I was holding a squirmy baby and trying to keep little brother from doing church-pew-gymnastics, while daddy shot video. The whole theme was a Birthday Party for Jesus, and I love how this school not only points the kids to Jesus during Christmas, but every day they have class!
And little brother appreciated the punch and cookies afterward!

Disney- Lincoln's 3rd Birthday

Alright, people- get ready! The blogging is going to be coming at you fast and furious! It's time for Catch Up!! I've got a bunch of posts that I've been getting ready- mostly events from December!! I don't want to just move on and forget them because, as you know, this is our family's photo album and record of events. If it doesn't make the blog- it's like it never happened! (not really- but kinda!) 

SO here's what's about to happen- I'm not post-dating these- b/c then they'll get lost. They'll show up under the current date- but I'll also put the date of the event in the blog. And they'll be released one per day, in the order they happened (back in December!), until we're all caught up- about a week's worth of new blogs coming at you! Are you excited? Confused? Oh well- if you want, just come back in a week and scroll back and catch up all at once! Or not... is there anyone even out there any more... besides my parents... love you guys! ;)

First up- Disney for Lincoln's birthday...

December 9, 2011

We headed over to Disney for the day to finish celebrating Lincoln's 3rd birthday. This year we've definitely taken advantage of living so close to Disney. The kids are getting way spoiled! But they love it! They would just ride the teacups over and over- but they also love the parades, shows, Dumbo and Magic Carpet rides, small world, and-yes- even the Peoplemover! 

This was also Rosemary's first visit to the Magic Kingdom (well, first time OUT of my belly!), so that made it special too- even though she mainly hung out in the stroller! She was a trooper- she took her naps, got to ride 'it's a small world' and on the Peoplemover, and posed for pictures, of course! 

Gasparilla and Beer Can Island

I know I just posted a blog yesterday, and it is very unlike me (lately) to blog more than once in a week month, but the kids are busy playing, the baby is taking an extra-long nap, and I should be drying my hair, but I love these pictures and I've been looking forward to posting them!

But first a word about my kids- imaginative! They are currently throwing a surprise birthday party for "John the Mountain", their newest (imaginary) friend. I like to think Lincoln introduced this guy, just because Georgia doesn't usually use real names with her "friends", aka "Banana Daughter"(who, yes, is still around too). So- John the Mountain must be really old because he has birthday parties just about every other day, a lot of them surprise parties. And on the other days it seems he's sick of some terrible illness, so I guess that balances out all the partying. Or maybe he's sick because of all the partying... hmmm, seems I need to figure out just who my kids are hanging out with!
Now let me get on with this post before the party and nap are both over- and before my hair is dried all crazy!

January 28, 2012
Last weekend was Gasparilla here in Tampa- an annual city-wide holiday event! Pirates invade the city on their pirate ship, and the Rough Riders, and many, many local boaters, battle the invading marauders. Then there's a huge parade (one of three parades, actually) that highlights the trowing of many, many beads, Mardi Gras-style. To say this is a big event here is a serious understatement. People around here have had pirate flags out and bead wreaths on the door for weeks- pirates visit the schools, take pictures with kids like celebrities, kiss babies, etc. It's a lot of jolly-ho fun!
We all boarded Daddy's Farm (Grandad's boat) early Saturday morning to boat around to the other side of Tampa and be part of the invasion. Well, we actually stayed on the outskirts of the invasion, as we really didn't want to be crowding dad's big boat in the main frenzy. The kids loved seeing all the boats, and the pirate ship taking off across the water with the loud "boom booms" (cannons)!
Then we let all the crazy folk head towards Bayshore for the rest of the invasion and parade, while we went the opposite way to anchor off Beer Can Island, a small spot of land at the edge of the bay. We ate lunch, relaxed and played on the beach. The island has a ton of shells, so while baby sister napped onboard, the four of us walked around the island gathering a collection. It was a fun day with Grammie, Grandad, and our good friends the Pates- aunt Karen & uncle Steve, Andy & Kristen- who brought their smaller boat too, and their kids Aidan & Karissa.
There's a lot of pictures- but you know how I get when I get my kids on a beach! ;) Yo Ho Ho!!

As a Coast Guard Commander, you'd think Andy would know that running circle around bigger, slower boats is not safe- and is definitely showing off! ;)

The invading has begun!

The Pates "beading up" for the invasion- they got right up in the frenzy with their quick, little boat!

The Pirate Ship, with all her flags a'flyin!

And now- for the beautiful beach!

Donuts with Daddy

Georgia had a Donuts with Daddies day at school, and both her and Daddy had a lot of fun! She loved showing him all the things they are learning, making a craft together, playing some games, doing a science experiment, sharing an original song about Daddies loving Donuts- and, of course, eating donuts!!

I added this picture Georgia drew of her and daddy after I originally posted- just too cute to not share! :)

Georgia's teachers, Ms Annette and Ms Shannon, do a great job of taking pictures of events with the kids and just of classroom life and sharing them with us- so thanks to them I have something to blog with!