Happy National Dance Day!

It is the first ever National Dance Day today. I have been celebrating by busting moves all day long... I've done the running man, the moon walk, jete's, pirouettes, and on and on! I love dance. I love to dance, I love watching dance, I love teaching dance, I love talking about dance. Dance is more than movement to me... it is joy. So, Happy National Dance Day! Bust a move!

Kentucky

Dave had an externship in Louisville, Kentucky for a whole month. The kids and I really missed him... so we drove down to visit him over Independence Day weekend. The drive to Kentucky was suppose to take 5 1/2 hours, but it took the kids and I almost 8... poor Susie threw-up all over, while we were in the middle of no-where, and all I had were baby wipes to clean it up, yuck. But... even though the drive was not what I would call fun, it was so worth it to see Dave and spend the great weekend we had with him in Kentucky.

Kentucky Derby
We went to the beautiful Churchill Downs and watched a couple horse races, which were quite exciting. I especially loved all the ladies in their huge, fancy hats.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Best part of our weekend was camping in Mammoth Cave National Park.

Lennon loving the flashlight:Susie loving her apple:

Here's poor Dave trying to blow up our huge air mattress. Our pump was not working so Dave just laid on the tent floor and blew, blew, blew......

..... and blew, blew, blew!
(Yes, he is under there somewhere still blowing!) To our great surprise, there was a firework display happening miles away that we could see from our tent!!! We all ooohhed and aaahhed while lying in our little tent in the forest... it was awesome! Susie enjoying the Kentucky wilderness:

While packing-up camp the next morning, we found this tick buried into Dave's skin. We checked everyone else thoroughly and found another one in Susie's back! Yuck!

We saw this turtle trying to cross the road... he was probably trying to get to the other side (wah, wah), but we thought we'd put him somewhere safe, after holding him for a while. :)

Mammoth Cave
We got to go on a tour of one of the caves in the National Park. It was "grand, gloomy, and a peculiar place" as put by our tour guide.

Excited Susie first entering the cave:

Susie and Lennon inside the cave... they're so cute!:

Susie exploring part of the cave (she looks like a hunchback with her jacket covering her backpack!):

It was a fun weekend... the best part was seeing Dave! So so glad he's back!!!

Susie's Preschool Graduation/Moving Forward

Susie LOVED preschool this year! She learned so much and made new friends. I was truly amazed with her increased knowledge... she can figure out simple addition and subtraction problems, she's writing letter's and small words... she has just amazed me!!! I'm so proud of my sweet girl!
Her preschool class had a "graduation/moving up" celebration at the end of the school year. The children sang songs, recited a poem, parents shared special thoughts about their children, etc.

Susie with her "diploma":

Susie's School Friends...Susie's Teachers...

Miss Sam: Miss Sandi (Susie's "favorite"): Susie was asked what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said "A Princess" of course! She's already our Princess :) ...

Video of Susie singing one of her preschool songs...

Running for Ashton

There is a sweet, angel of a girl in our ward named Ashton. She is about Susie's age, 3 1/2. Ashton has cancer. She has lost her hair from chemo, but is still all smiles. It breaks my heart that she and her sweet parents have such an enormous trial to face. I can't help but think of my own 3 year old, my Susie, when I think about Ashton... and I crumble. My prayers are with her and her family. I am honored to be part of a fundraiser event for Ashton. Check-out the details of how you can get involved (and vote for me!!!) at runningforashton.blogspot.com