First Ballet Recital

Our girls have been taking ballet for the first time this semester. Last Saturday, November 16 was their first performance. They were both so excited to perform and both did an excellent job remembering their steps.

After ballet each week Leila would come out of class and immediately show me her new moves. Her favorites are passe and plie. She was sick the entire week leading up to the performance so we were thankful she was feeling better by Saturday and was able to give a lovely performance. 

Leila's class was first on the program. In the video Leila is the one closest to the teacher, all the way to the left side. 

Talia took ballet very seriously. She practiced at home and wanted to remember all the names of the various steps she learned. I was so proud of the way she worked hard to perfect her posture and form. I think you can tell in the video that she is concentrating hard on doing everything just right. :)

Talia's class performed immediately after Leila's class. In the video Talia is 3rd from the right. (She starts out in the back row and moves to the front after a few bars.)

Here are a few pictures of the budding ballerinas:

Before the Performance

Leila watches Mrs. Hannah

Talia concentrates

 Daddy and Benj gave the girls roses

 The ballerinas on stage

 Ready to go home

 Leila loves her rose :)

Halloween from a Galaxy Far, Far Away

For the past week I have had this totally self-imposed rule hanging over my head. I'm pretty sure that Halloween pictures can't be posted after Thanksgiving, even though I completely made that up. I think it's a good thing I have these false deadlines, though, otherwise I might never post on my blog. (Poor grandparents!)

 

So, by the skin of my teeth I present: Halloween 2013. (Phew! I made it!)

 

Carving Pumpkins

 

The pumpkin gutting was attended by much more willing participants this year.

 This will turn into a delicious toasted snack later on. Yum!

 Benj carving his self-designed pumpkin with precision

 Benj & Talia both designed their own pumpkins this year. I was impressed with their creativity!

 Leila loves flowers so she and I worked together to create her design.

 

Church Fall Festival

 

As I mentioned in my last post, Star Wars' newest fans live at our house. Benj's latest interest never fails to infect his sisters so when Benj announced that he was going to be a Jedi (he ended up changing his mind, as you will see), Talia decided to be Padme, Leila wanted to be Princess Leia, and of course we had to make Channah an Ewok.

 

Ewok Channah (yes, Ewok...despite the monkey costume and the banana)

 Princess Lei(l)a

 Padme (very specifically NOT Queen Amidala)

 Darth Benj enjoying a banana

 The Whole Ensemble

Halloween Day

 

Sweet Siblings

 

"Somebody" does NOT like posing for pictures these days

We did go trick-or-treating Halloween night (sort of), but with the pouring down rain, four kids to dress in costumes, and various items to transport to our friends' house for dinner and trick-or-treating, I forgot the camera. :( Since it was pouring, cold, and windy we ended up going to a local church where the kids went from booth to booth in their gymnasium.

In which Benj turns 8...Star Wars style

Benj has always had very well-defined interests. We have gone stage-by-stage through various seasons eating, breathing, and sleeping his latest obsessions. For the past year or more his interest in Star Wars has grown into a full-blown mania. This boy is a Star Wars fanatic! Of course that means a Star Wars birthday party was a given this year. With the help of Pinterest I found some really fun ideas that I hope made this a memorable birthday for him.

 

These glittering light sabers had the invitations rolled up inside.

Napkin light sabers, "Yoda Soda," and grape sabers. The Yoda face was from a printable 3-D art project I happened upon. I cut and glued for about an hour and voila! Yoda! Neat. 

My personal favorite - Han Solo in Carbonite jello!

 So you can't really tell, but in the little bread pan is hummus. The chips are supposed to be teeth and the figure is Bobo Fett. Any guesses?

 I have always wanted to try the balloons hanging from the ceiling. I liked the effect. Kinda like planets, maybe? Or spaceships?

 Light saber training with Jedi Master Seth

Learning some moves

 My version of the Death Star.

 My littlest padawans :)

 She's a force of destruction on a normal day. Watch out when that girl's got a light saber!

 

(Later that night)

Darth Benj. He got this helmet and light saber for his birthday. I'm missing some shots due to a dead camera - hopefully my mom got some - but Seth dressed up as Darth Vader and came out at the end of the party. The kids got to use the Jedi moves they learned earlier to fight him. After everyone had fought him we let Benj "finish him off." Defeated, Seth took off the helmet, said, "Benj, I am your father," and gave him the helmet. :)

Happy Birthday, Benjamin! We are so proud of the young man you are becoming. Your creativity and endless ideas never cease to amaze me. Thinker, artist, brother, protector, spider-killer, Lego master, trivia genius, creative play mastermind, leader, follower, peacemaker, laundry manager, you are growing into such an amazing kid! I'm so thankful to be your mama.