3rd Soccer--April 26, 2009

Abbie's 3rd soccer game was on April 26th and was one of the most fun to watch because she played her friend Taylee's team. Once again Jeremy and I were amazed at how much Abbie had improved in a week's time, especially since we weren't practicing because the weather wasn't cooperating!!! Abbie scored her first goal in this game!!!!! Poor Grandma Nate missed the first goal since she volunteered to stay home with Rylee since it was so cold.

Coach Bill is talking strategy

Are you noticing that the week before the girls were playing in shorts and short-sleeves and today it's so cold that they are bundled up barely able to move?? (Abbie was actually complaining she had too many clothes on....better to layer honey!!!) Crazy April weather.

Breaking away for her first goal. I was too excited when she scored to get any follow-up pictures...

No matter what color they wear Abbie and Taylee will always be friends...and green and gold will always be better :)

Abbie's Dance Recital

We enrolled Abbie in dance class in January after Abbie decided she didn't like gymnastics anymore and have created a dancing monster since then. Abbie loves Monday nights and I enjoy watching her "practice" after we get home. Each Monday they work on their recital piece and each week seemed like there was a piece of information about the upcoming recital. I soon realized this recital was a big deal and something that Miss Denise didn't take lightly. The fittings for the costumes took place in February and the costumes arrived in March. WOW! It was like someone was mocking me. Anyone who knows me knows I would rather dress the girls in anything BUT pink. Abbie's dance recital costume looked like someone threw up PeptoBismal plus about 3 other shades of pink....are you kidding me???!!! I paid money for this pink monstrosity????

Abbie's dance recital was on April 24th and she couldn't have been cuter (even with the pink). The number her class performed was a hit with the audience. Who can resist a group of 3 and 4 year olds????

Showing me her moves after the dress rehearsal....

Their group sang AND danced, "I like what you like....."

Abbie had lots of fans who came to watch her dance and several brought bouquets of flowers.

Abbie with her friend Taylee

Auntie Jacie

Abbie with her Grandmas

Lindsey even came to watch

Jeremy and I were her biggest fans

It didn't matter who her biggest fans were, who brought the best bouquet, who told her the loudest what a great job she did...all she could talk about was Payton and how Payton had come to watch her dance recital. Payton is, according to Abbie, her boyfriend. He is a student at CMR and someone who I saw in the training room during BB season. Payton has little sisters and was nice to Abbie each time he visited the training room, not realizing such a crush was developing. Payton did attend the dance recital, to watch his sisters, but was gracious enough to take some pictures with his "little" girlfriend after the show.

Abbie couldn't have chosen a nicer kid to be her boyfriend!

2nd Soccer--April 19th

Family day on Sundays has basically turned into Soccer Day since the beginning of April. So, other than Easter, we have spent each Sunday from early April to mid May headed out to Siebel Soccer Fields to watch Abbie indulge in this new sport that I vowed she would NEVER participate in. As I watch soccer for my job, I despise every minute but it could be because I don't really understand it. I don't see any type of "play" happening so it seems boring to watch, not to mention it is usually freezing cold and the wind is blowing 400 mph when I sit out there. I did give in and sign Abbie up for soccer so she could begin to learn the basics of team sports...I still hope that her soccer career is short-lived though.

I didn't take any pictures the first game because I was so busy videotaping instead. The first game was priceless. Abbie stood and twisted her hair while she watched the ball being kicked by 2 girls from the other team. I am sure the score when it was all said and done was 15-0 but absolutely hilarious to watch. If, and when, Abbie's team decided to kick the ball they would kick it and then stand still to allow someone else to "take their turn" regardless of what team they were on. They were practicing everything they had been taught about being polite and sharing. Now they are being told to "Keep kicking", "Get in front of her", and my favorite from my husband "Abbie, just push them out of the way!" No wonder she was confused! By the second game she understood more of the concept of soccer and did SO MUCH BETTER! She still did a little hair twirling but definitely less standing.

Pretty good ball handing for 2nd game

You want me to do what????

Team Huddle--Jordan, Norah, Abbie, Emily, and Ruby

Rylee and Grandma Nate wouldn't miss taking in a soccer game either

Abbie's Friend Birthday

Jeremy decided months ago that we should rent a giant jumping "house" for Abbie and her friends for her birthday. He organized the rental, the set-up, the clean-up---it was great! It left little for me to worry about and it was a great way to keep the kids entertained! I bet it made some of the neighbors jealous too....

Don't think that just the kids enjoyed it--there were a few adults (even Grandma Nate) who got in and did their fair share of jumping and sliding.

The weather cooperated...sort of. At least it wasn't snowing like the week before (grrr..April in Montana) but the wind made it chilly. When the girls got cold they would come inside and practice, then perform, a song and dance that they wrote and choreographed. They were SO cute!!!

The performance wasn't complete with out some princess and fairy costumes.

Ah, Taylee--Thanks for coming!

Let's eat some cake!

Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me!

Norah, Taylee and Abbie

Here is the whole birthday group: Taylee, Abbie, Norah and Claire

There isn't much that gets Rylee excited. Here is how Rylee took the whole birthday party in.....

Rylee's First Cereal

Rylee is growing up so fast. April 3, 2009 Rylee tried cereal for the first time. She pushed most of it out rather than ate it but she sure was happy about the whole ordeal!

Easter 2009

Easter this year was lots of fun. Abbie is getting to the point where she is a bit competitive and wants to find more eggs than her cousins. When we searched for the eggs at our house though she wanted to find them and then rehide them several times. She wanted us to hide them and she would look for them and then she wanted to hide them and have Jeremy and I find them. It was fun for her for over an hour.

I love to dress the girls up (even in pink)! We were lucky enough to get another use out of the flower girl dress for Auntie Jacie's wedding.

This picture is one of my favorites...

Run, Run, Run...

Easter Egg Dying

Abbie and I love to dye Easter eggs. Last year I found a great brand where you put the eggs in plastic bags with a drop and color and rub the color on the egg. No mess!!! It was great but this year I couldn't find that same kind. We resorted to the old standby kind. It was still fun but the best we could do were two-tone.

Usually Jeremy doesn't jump in with egg-dying but this year he joined us at the end. Rylee seemed to like the bright colors.

Look Dad...

Abbie's finished product!

The Circus

Abbie loves the circus and every year asks when the circus is coming and wants to see the elephants. Once we get there she wants to ride everything she can (Abbie is a real animal lover-it's too bad she seems to have allergies to all of them).

How many people can you pack on one elephant?

Rylee's first circus...she looked at the lights on the ceiling for most of it.

It has become a tradition to take in the circus with the Woods family so once Claire arrived we didn't see much more of Abbie.

Abbie's Family Birthday

I can't even believe that Abbie is already 4. Where does time go? The usual plan for Abbie's birthday is to host a dinner at our house followed by cake and ice cream. With a group of 22 or so that is no easy task and this year it was next to impossible. Abbie's birthday was filled with events from singing at church to playing in her first soccer game so we decided it would be best to not try to fit a dinner in there somewhere but head to a restaurant the night before. Abbie's choice was Applebee's since she loves the corn dog with applesauce (she's easy to please)! The whole family met us there to celebrate and Abbie loves that attention, but when they came to sing her "Happy Birthday" she got very embarrassed and wouldn't even look at the singing waiters.

After Applebee's we did head to our house for some ice cream cake. Yummy! "Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Abbie. Happy Birthday to you!"

Abbie,

This year you have grown and blossomed so much! You started the year having conversations with us, but how they have grown and matured throughout the year is such a delight. Talking with you now is like talking to a little person with depth to the conversation. Your vocabulary has expanded tremendously and you ask questions about things and how they work to ease your curiousity. You've started to understand sarcasm (important if you are going to survive in the Virts' family) and you've begun using it yourself. Your manners have improved and you even interupt polietly by saying, "Um, excuse me just a moment." This year you have started to become a little girl who has her own definite opinions. No longer can I pick out your clothes for you, instead you pick them out and put together your own outfits (some more interesting than others). You've learned so much this year and I am so proud of you that you can write several words (Abbie, Rylee, Mom, Dad without any direction from us) and can recognize and write any of the other letters when promoted. You also recognize all numbers 1-10 with the occasional mix up between 2 and 5. Dad and I think you are a genius! As you transitioned between gymnastics and dance I have watched you continue to develop coordination and agility and now we've seen you develop even further as you have started soccer (and a little competative side as well). This year you were still into playing with your dolls (and covering their faces as they sleep), putting together puzzles, music and anything to do with it including dancing and singing (You and I can sing along together to several Brad Paisley songs), and art projects of all kinds! You started Sunday school this year as well and so we have added conversations about God and songs about God into conversations we have and you've even called Him once on your cell phone.

Most importantly you have adjusted so well with the addition of Rylee to the family. You love her so much and are such a tremendous help to us as you help change her diaper, pick out her clothes, feed her a bottle, and babysit for brief episodes. Rylee is so lucky to have you as a big sister.

Abbie, I love you so much and wish that I could put a hold on you growing up. I can't believe it's already been 4 years and I feel like if I blink you will be graduating for high school. I want you to stay my little Pookie for forever. I love you!

Mom

Mom helped me serve the cake...what a fantastic mom, grandma, and nanny! I am so lucky that she has volunteered to babysit the girls during the week (and wash my clothes, and cook our dinners, and clean our house)!!!! I love you mom!