2024 Barefoot Theater

It's the official start of CESOD competition season!

Yesterday we had the famous Barefoot Theater where all the competition dances performed... and man, that's so fun to watch.  From those little babies out there alone or as duets - to those older girls that have been doing this forever... I love it.  Cora and her group did great too - she is in 5 dances this season, and I honestly really like all of them.  I'm anxious to see how they all improve too!

Unfortunately didn't get many pictures, as the moms can't be in the room with them anymore (they are just getting too old!!), so I only have a few.  

I love this girl, and how much she's grown up, and changed... and improved.  

This & That

I feel like we've been busy... but not many pictures have been taken.  I'm realizing that Kayson literally hates pictures, and now I get the "that's dumb Mom".  Having a teen boy is tough. 

We are still busy with basketball - I can't say that the team has gotten better!  They have not.  Kayson does a fine job, but of course, Ryan thinks he can be better... which is probably true.  Him, along with many others!!  It's been a tough thing realizing that some teens just don't care - if they don't have the passion, it's going to be hard to push them.  With that, I've always said - "I just want him to be a part of a team and have fun."  Maybe that's dumb, but that's the mom in me. 

Cora is still hard at dance...  they've wrapped up the competition dances, now already moving forward with recital dances!  It seems like the season is already flying by!!  We have Barefoot coming up, which is always fun.  Cora seems to be enjoying the helper class - she tells us some cute stories of those little babies.  

I'm back into the office 3 days a week.  I can't say that I like it - because I don't.  I really like being at home... but I'm surviving.  

Fun birthday lunch with Lacey and Colleen

SOOO MUCH SNOW!

Iowa got dumped on with snow starting Thursday, January 11... and lasted through Saturday, January 13... leaving us with about a foot of snow, with temps in the negatives.  WOW.  It really hit us hard!!

With all that snow and cold, we were home a lot.  The kids' schools were cancelled... leaving them with a 5 day weekend!  We did the best we could at home...  but still very bored!  Puzzles, games, so much cleaning, and reorganizing. 

Cora - 5th Grade Winter FAST scores

Winter FAST scores are out - Cora did great, and improved.  She's been struggling with math, so seeing her improve was amazing!!!

READING:

Fall - 517; Winter - 524

MATH:

Fall - 210; Winter - 216

NICE work sis.

2024 Parade of Show Choirs

Kayson's first official (informal) show choir performance was Thursday, January 11.  Going into this, both Ryan and I had no idea what to expect... and it definitely exceeded my expectations!  Wow it was amazing. 

So the Parade of Show Choirs 'shows off' 7th, 8th, 9th (Inferno), JV (Spirit) and Varsity (Millennium) show choirs.  It was so much fun.  Especially seeing those 7th graders - trying so hard, doing super well...  but with each age group, everything continued to get better, louder, etc.  So cool.

Now with this all being said, Kayson is already saying he's not going to go out next year.  That of course bums me out, but we will just go one season at a time.  He did well - he could definitely improve on his facials!!  But he was out there doing what he was supposed to do.  I'm super proud of him. 

I really need to force him to take more pictures...  so this is all I have. 

2023 Christmas (Taylor's)

After Christmas Day, we had some time off...  away from school and work for me.  It was much needed...  we cleaned, organized, played games, put a puzzle together, shopped, and slept in!  

Kayson also picked back up with basketball practice, which made him get off the PS5!  ha. 

Then on the 30th, we headed to Creston again for the Taylor celebration. We were able to have a fun lunch with Jimmy & Diana, so that was nice.  Kids played... and then we did gifts with Mike & JeanAnn.  It was a very nice day.

2023 Christmas Day (Home & Hardy's)

As always, we were home Christmas morning... celebrating together and watching the kids get spoiled rotten!! 

Favorite gifts were - 

Cora: Nintendo Switch, Skin care fridge, so much skin care and another pair of Lulu leggings!

Kayson: PS5, golf range finder, socks (he needed those!), sweatshirts

It was a nice morning. Then we headed up to Clarion for the afternoon.  Trish and Greg bought a lake home, so that was fun to spend the day with them there... and it's beautiful.  I hope to spend more time there in the summer!

Aylah was so much fun... her and Cora are just the best of friends right now.  Aylah calls Cora "RaRa" and it's the sweetest thing!!

2023 Christmas prep (Taylor's & Christmas Eve)

We had a great holiday break... so much going on, with also some free time.  

Our celebrations began a couple days before Christmas - with the Taylor's.  We were able to see Britt and Duke and a few KC cousins too...  it was a great day in Creston. 

Christmas Eve - we decided to change it up... and headed to the Hope West DSM church with Parker's.  And wow - that was an experience.  So many people, but a great service and very touching.  

Kayson's 15th birthday!

It's another birthday for the kid - I can't believe he's 15 years old.  Wasn't he just born!??!