Dance Recital 2014

Madelyn certainly enjoyed another year of dance at The Dance Shoppe. She took the ballet/tap combo class again, which I think is a great foundation. They are very focused on learning the skills needed to properly position your feet, arms, hands, etc. They even learned the right terms for the positions. I really like this because it teaches the kids that there's more to dance than just the recitals.

Although... we do love the recitals! ;)

WOO HOO! It's recital time!

Madelyn's Fan Club

We celebrated afterwards with pizza at our new favorite pizza spot: Fired Pie

Papa and his "Girlfriend" 

After dinner we decided to catch a movie. We saw Maleficent. 

Indiana

Madelyn loved visiting Indiana so much over Thanksgiving that Auntie Kim invited her back to spend a whole week there this summer! And to top it off, Grammy got to come along, too!

New Suitcase

Here are some highlights from their trip:

Suzanne' & Joe's Wedding

Every wedding should include a trampoline!

First Lightning Bug

Indianapolis Zoo 

Wonderlab

Swimming

Kidscommons

Zaharachos Ice Cream Parlor

We were undoubtedly excited to see Madelyn when she got home from her long trip away from home. And she apparently missed us too because the first thing out of her mouth was, "Can I go back again next summer!?"

Topsy Twirly

Madelyn begged and begged and BEGGED to do gymnastics this summer, and she is loving it! Her goal was to get her cartwheel perfected, and she has been working real hard get it just right!

But she has realized that gymnastics is more than just cartwheels! She loves the rope, and twirling on the bars. I even told her about the the days when I was in gymnastics and how the uneven bars were my favorite!

Piano Recital - Summer 2014

Madelyn participated in her second piano recital, and she was amazing! It's fun to see how much she's learned since her last recital in November. Her biggest accomplishment, aside from sight reading, is playing chords. And you know me, I have zero talent when it comes to music, but I do know that the songs she plays now sound great! She's in Level 1 of the Piano Adventures series.

Here's a little clip of the three songs she played, followed by some pictures from the afternoon.

"Little River"

"The Haunted Mouse"

"Classic Dance"

"N-E-R-V-O-U-S"

Summer Sleepover

We always enjoy having Isabelle over, but there's something extra special about having a sleepover in the summer! I always feels like there's so much more to do, and so much more time to do it. :)

Madelyn recently got a new Lego set, so the girls spent some time putting it all together. I loved just sitting and watching them work together, laughing. Boy did they laugh. I sure do wish I could bottle those giggles forever!

Since Isabelle's family was moving into their new house this weekend, we were delighted when her parents said she could stay for TWO nights instead of just one! YIPPEE!

The girls had so much fun, but spent most of their time in the pool!

Yesterday we decided it would be fun to go get pedicures at our favorite nail place. The girls had fun choosing colors and telling the nail artists exactly how they wanted their nails painted. ;)