A Stitch in Time

Thank goodness Lindy has her basic sewing skills. Being a dancer also means being able to make some adjustments and whip out that needle and thread. That's not something I am very good at doing but I'm learning! Until then Lindy is helping me out and Erin was very grateful!

Twins

My grandma always told me how lucky I was to have sisters. She was an only child and wanted a sister more than anything. I have said this over and over again, but Lindy and Paige have been having tons of twin moments lately. I just catch glimpses of them and see little faces and it hits me all over again that there are two of them. Its been happening even more so than when they were a couple of years younger.

I think part of it is they are growing up so much. Even though they are definitely their own person they are still connected to each other in many ways. They spend so much time together..by choice. Even though they have their own BFF's, they will always be each other's number one person.

Dancers at Heart

Friday night was girl night around here! Lindy has been wanting to have Helen, her good friend from dance, sleep over for awhile. She and Paige have both been wanting to have Helen and another friend, Grace, over together. They are all on the competition dance team together and love seeing each other.

Everything is about dance! They didn't watch any movies, really didn't do anything except dance, all night. There were dance contests between them, dance shows, and dance talk. All night long! They obviously have a huge passion for dance and I love that. Dance has done so much for all my girls. It has given them such a big boost of self confidence and self esteem. They have a close group of girls that they dance with and they are so supportive of each other, it has been such an awesome thing.

Lindy wanted to make a shirt for Helen and decided to make a matching one for herself. She was so cute picking everything out, putting lots of thought into how she wanted it to look. They turned out so cute. They are all going to have the best memories from being together on this team. I'm so excited for them!

Retail Therapy

Once a month is girl weekend, when the boys are at Boy Scout camp for the weekend, and it is always girly. Erin and I had some errands to do while the girls were at dance and ended at Kohl's where she insisted on a fashion show. She selected various outfits and I had to model and she took my picture and vice versa. Her pictures are much cuter than mine! It was definitely one of those fun little moments I will always remember, wearing all sequins and being photographed by a giggling girl! She went with sassy...

to sweet...(all while undoing the purse display to load up her arms and look like she was traveling at the "airport", apparently she has seen many women with many large purses at the airport!)

Then Lindy and I had to go to Joann's  and she happened to find this little leprechaun girl headband! Can you tell they both like to shop? And Paige was not involved in either trip. She basically has two personal shoppers!

No, I did not buy the headband or the fur!

Lindy's Love

Lindy loves her puppies so much. She takes great care of them with feeding and walking but she also gives the best love! Her lap is always occupied with one of them. How sweet they are.

Twins

I wonder what its like to always have someone by your side growing up. Who has been with you since before you arrived here. Who goes through everything you do at the same time (braces etc).Who likes pretty much the same things you do except maybe your personal taste in clothes!

I have read lots on twins and they pretty much all say that next to their spouses, it is the closest and best relationship they ever have in their lives. That seems pretty amazing.

Lately Lindy and Paige are having more "twin" moments than ever. I can't really explain what they are until they happen. It's usually when they are both excited about something and talking at the same time, saying the same thing. They look the same and have the same expressions. It's just a twin thing!

I think its pretty cute to watch them talk and hang out especially when they can't see me!

4 Paws & a Girl

Lindy LOVES to dance. Since she was 4 years old she has always taken some kind of dance and as she has gotten older kept adding classes. Two years ago she started the competition team and really took off! It has been the most wonderful experience for her, giving her a huge self esteem boost which every girl needs.
This year her list was long..Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Classical Ballet, Acrobatics, Technique, and a Solo Class, whew! She is at the studio 2 nights a week and Saturday morning and if she could go more she would.
In an effort to teach the life lesson that things cost lots of money, Lindy was looking for ways to contribute to her dance classes. She took on the responsibility of paying for her Solo classes which are $20 a piece and she usually does 2 per month until spring when they will be weekly.
Paige has a paper route and Lindy wanted a "job". The first "job" I gave her was coupons. She is in charge of cutting coupons and organizing them. Whatever the total coupons I have saved with on a shopping trip she adds that to her list of earned income. She's doing so well saving money at the grocery store she is usually ahead of her payments by a month!
But she still wanted a job outside the home. We brainstormed what the possibilities would be for a 10 year old and came up with pet sitting. She loves pets so it seemed like a good fit.
Bill and Lindy spent an evening on the computer designing a flyer to pass out in the neighborhood and so "4 Paws & a Girl" was born!
Her best customer has been 2 dogs that she takes care of and she loves it! She wanted to make them a little Christmas treat and dogs love treats! We had so much fun filling treat bags and making cute tags for them. Her furry customers and their owner were thrilled that she thought of them.
She's definitely learning good customer service!

Lindy

My more than willing beach model this year was Lindy. She loved to get her picture taken, not that any of them really complain! But we had fun the evening we walked to the end of the island and did just her pictures. Amazing she will be 10 in 2 days!
I told the kids someone is going to have to get married down here and have their wedding on the beach. Lindy pipes up "I've got that!". Years and years away but I like that she's on the same page as me! What fun that will be!

Dancing Queen

 Lindy is the dancing queen of the family. She just wrapped up her second year on the competition dance team and she loves every minute! Being able to dance all the time and have a good group of dance friends has been an awesome experience for her.
Tap, jazz, and lyrical were all of her classes this year and they received High Gold awards at both the competitions they went to. Next year she is looking at doing a solo and a duet and adding a couple more classes. She is sad that dance will be over for 3 whole weeks! Being on competition they dance through the summer, she just doesn't want to have a 3 week break. She has definitely found her passion.
Her recital was so fun for her since she had performed these dances twice already. She could relax and have fun! Great job Lindy, you are truly a beautiful dancer. I can't wait to see all the things you do next year!

 THE LIFT - The girls worked for months on this. Since I usually drop Lindy off and leave there were times I came back and was told how she was dropped etc. Never hurt, always laughing about it, loving every minute. As hard as it can be to always be the smallest everywhere there have to be some perks somewhere and being lifted across the stage is one of them!

The finale is perfomed by both the Junior and Junior'ette comp. teams. Lindy loves being a part of a dance with her older dance friends. Comp teams with Miss Brittney below.

 Teams with Miss Sandy, Lindy and Miss Sandy below. Miss Sandy has been Lindy's dance teacher for 6 years.

 Lindy and Lexi her Big Sis.

Lindy and Miss Brittney

One Down, One to Go

 Lindy's first competition of the season wrapped up tonight after a crazy afternoon of three dances in 40 minutes. The Juniorettes did awesome winning 1st place in tap and lyrical. They also received High Gold in all their dances including Jazz.
I love the fact that I am not the only mom who gets teary eyed watching them dance! When the lyrical team does their lift and puts Lindy above their heads and carries her it just looks so awesome. They work so well as a team and have become great friends over the past 2 years.
Miss Brittney gave each of the girls a bracelet and a sweet note of encouragement before the day started. It was so sweet and a wonderful way to give some last minute confidence.
Having a Junior team who cheers them on really makes them all feel so special to be a part of the whole team. As a mom I love knowing that Lindy is always where she needs to be with the Juniors and her big sis looking out for her.
After a lunch/dinner break we ran back to take home awards. I lost track of how many trophies both teams took home, I know that Miss Sandy was very pleased.
Huge thanks to Miss Sandy and Miss Brittney for a wonderful year.

 Lindy and her "Big Sis" Lexi

 Lindy and Helen

Spaghetti Warehouse Break! 

 Packed stage for awards!