Look out, world...she is FOUR!!!

FAMILY...IS...FOREVER...

...sweet girls...
...pretty eyes...

...a piece of heaven...

...another little piece of heaven...

...they have their very own dressmaker...she's awesome...sews love into every thing she makes...

...some afternoon make believe...

...those wings looked so much bigger when she was one...

...stolen moment with daddy...

...peek-a-boo...I see you...

TIME TO PUT ON YOUR GAME FACE...

...ha! I think this picture says it all...

...a couple of the "smaller" fans...

...wheeeee! Thanks, Uncle Jock!

...this is how we prefer to do tailgates...

...showing her support for her Aunt and Uncle's alma mater, JMU...

...yup...No self-esteem issues here...we love ourselves SO MUCH!

...a cookie with Duke Dog...

...my tiny dancer...

...sitting nicely in class...

This is for my mom...
For all of you out there who know me, and if anyone is reading this that does not know me...I was not a "girly-girl" when I was little. Perhaps it was because I had a cooler older brother, so I wanted to do everything he was doing to be cool like him...or maybe it was my inner spirit showing some early rebellion against all things girly, but for whatever reason, I made a point NOT to do anything particularly "girly" including wearing dresses, taking dance, and being neat and tidy...that's right...I was the girl with dirt in her fingernails, scrapes on her knees and elbows, hair always a mess, somewhere up in a nearby tree in my mickey mouse shirt and jeans. I would cry at the sight of a dress, and would downright refuse to put it on...don't I sound lovely? Yet, through it all...my parents never let it bother them, and loved me unconditionally, as every parent should. Now, my mom took ballet for many years growing up...it was her thing, but she never pushed me to do it, and always cheered me on in my many pursuits...gymnastics, horseback riding, soccer (ha!), running, theatre, reading, knitting, sewing, and last and probably most importantly PARENTING!!! Being a parent is hard. All you really want is to see your children laughing and having a good time, and you'll do just about whatever it takes to make sure that happens...when I had my little girl almost exactly four years ago, I had no idea that she would turn out to be, as my mom would say, "exactly like you when you were little with completely opposite tastes"! That's right folks...I have the quintessential "girly-girl" for my daughter, and I couldn't be happier about it! She LOVES dresses...the bigger the twirl, the happier the girl...she loves dancing, singing...coloring...cooking...you name it, she loves it, and I adore her...even though she can, at times, drive me a little crazy!

Yesterday, she had her first dance class EVER...it is a combination of ballet, tab, and acrobatics. She has been asking to take dance since she could talk, so it really is wonderful to see her so happy doing something she really enjoys (so far)! I got to peek in a little bit during her first class, and let me tell ya...there's nothing cuter than seeing a bunch of little girls in their little pink leotards and tights with their hair in buns smiling and prancing about a dance floor. Mom...I'm so sorry that you never got to see your little girl do that...but I'm looking forward to when you can come and peek into her class and watch your sweet baboo following in your graceful footsteps. Love you, mom...thanks for being the kind of mom I strive to be! LOVE YOU!!!