Blogging again!

Hannah and I spent this evening looking at our old familly blog page and I decided that I needed to start blogging again.

I remember thinking when Facebook really caught on that I would stop blogging. It was so much easier to just post a quick picture and a cute caption. But now, looking back, I see how much Facebook misses out on. So I am back to blogging.

I will start with what's going on with Reagan. Reagan is such a sweet little thing! She has had some struggles since early in her life. She was diagnosed with torticollis at 4 months. It is basically a condition in which her muscles are SUPER tight on one side of her neck, causing her to favor that side so extremely that she sleeps in the same position and constantly lays in the same position so her head gets flat on that side. She has been in physical therapy since then (almost 3 months) and she is doing much better! You would never even now that she had it now. Thanks to God for being so faithful and carrying us through this time with her. We had a scare when Reagan had to have a CT scan to make sure her skull wasn't fusing prematurely, but, praise God, it wasn't. She is eating table food, has her two bottom teeth, and is sitting up on her own now. Such an amazing little blessing!

Hannah is taking Driver's Ed this June. The classroom part is three weeks long. Then she has 3-4 weeks of driving time. So excited for her to get her license! Can't believe she is already 16!

Allegiance finished her Kindergarten year. She goes to school where I teach. It has been a great year for her. She went into Kinder not even knowing all her letters and sounds and now she can read! It is just amazing!

We went to a church Family Night last night. So much fun! Hannah and Rich both won first place in some games and we all got to do a lot of dancing and eating.

Dancing Queens

The girls were in a program at church last weekend. Both girls had to go to extra practices and worked very hard on their dances. Hannah was a little more focused than Allegiance, but they both did a great job!

Waiting to go on stage. The program's theme was "Lifted Up" and the songs were all about how we lift up God and He lifts us up. What a great message!

Notice those fancy moves. She must get it from Daddy!

Check out how everyone in the background in just swaying. This was Allegiance's first ballet solo. She chose to do it all on her own! Very spontaneous! Then she goes right back in with the group.

And here is one of Hannah's dances. She had lots of Sunday afternoon practices to get prepared. We are so proud of her!

Making Pizza

We made mini pizzas tonight. YUMMY! Plus Rich did all the cooking, even better! Here is Allegiance getting very excited about the "cotton candy peppers" and not understanding the saying "Get out of here!" Could she be any cuter???

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms that read my blog! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day with your children and had time to reflect on how blessed you are to have the children you have. I know that is what I have been doing. My sweet Hannah bought me flowers secretly with her own money. They are so beautiful, just like her. And my girls took me out to Mother's Day brunch at the Gaylord Texan (courtesy of their awesome Daddy!). WOW! It was beautifully decorated, the food was delicious, and the company was great! What a blessing it is to be a mom!

Daddy/Daughter Dance 2009

Allegiance and Rich got to go to the Daddy/Daughter Dance this past weekend. Hannah and Rich started the tradition last Valentine's, but Hannah was too old this year. The cut-off age is 12. But the starting age is 4, so Allegiance got to go for her first time this year. Since it was a "Daddy'Daughter" dance, I didn't get to go to take pictures at the dance. :-(

But I got a few before they left and after they got home! What a cute couple!!!

Oh, Allegiance!

Allegiance has been amazing us with her four year old self lately...

Today she went for her four year old check-up. She had to get FOUR separate shots. She did great! She didn't even cry!!! She looked a little mad after the first shot and looked at me and said "That hurt." Then we said "ouch" together through the other three and she was just fine. She got her bandaids, hopped off the table and went to pick out her prizes from the treasure box. She really makes me count my blessings everyday. I got to spend time "bonus" time with her yesterday (because Rich had some teeth pulled) and today (becuase of her dr.'s appt.) I can truly say that I LOVE spending time with her. She is such a joyful child!

We straightened her hair in these pics. I have always wanted to try it, just to see what she would look like. Turns out she is a cutie either way!

Allegiance got her first official haircut this past weekend! We took her to a place called "Sweet and Sassy." It is the perfect place for little girls! They trimmed up her hair and gave her an up-do complete with sparkles for the Daddy/Daughter dance.

A Rock Star is Born!

Hannah got the game "Guitar Hero" for Christmas. She loves it and is very good, but she wouldn't let me get a video of her playing. :-) So we let Allegiance give it a try!!!

Allegiance is Turning Four

What a big day for a big girl!!! Today we celebrated Allegiance's 4th Birthday with a Dora Adventure Party. We played some games, ate some lunch (hotdogs cooked out by Daddy!) and cake, and opened presents!

My favorite part was the adventure! When I brought out the cake, Hannah came dressed as Swiper and told the kids that it was too late, she had stolen the candles and ruined Legi's birthday party. Then I gave each of the girls a backpack like the one on Dora and they had to get out their maps. We went to Puzzle Bridge (a large kindergarten puzzle with letters missing), Lollipop Forest (our office with suckers scattered everywhere for them to find), and Sneaky Swamp (where Hannah and Cole were sleeping and the girl's had to sneak by). Then we found the Treasure Toybox where the candles (and other treasures) were hidden. The girls had a blast, and it wasn't too hard to plan or clean up (unlike last year's shin dig)!!! Overall, it was a great way to bring in Allegiance's 4th birthday!

Hannah as "Swiper" the fox from the Dora TV show

Allegiance putting her letters in the puzzle.

Allegiance reading her map and leading the way across puzzle bridge.


Allegiance was dancing along as we sang Happy Birthday to her!!!