Taelyn's 1st Day Of Jr. K vs. Her Last Day of Jr. K

I was super lame last year and wasn't in the blogging spirit, so I didn't get to blog about Taelyn's first day of Jr. Kindergarten.  So here are some pictures of her first day. 

Being silly with Daddy

 Beautiful smile with Mommy

 Posing with Brother

Her sign Read: Taelyn's 1st Day pf Jr. K

I am 4 years old

I am 37 inches tall

I weigh 32.3 pounds

My best friend is Tylia

I want to be Elsa when I grow up

8/20/14

Mr. Meinders

Her Backpack is Bigger than Her!

 Good Bye Kisses for Daddy

Hugs For Brother

So I'm not even gonna lie, I cried pretty much the entire day. (And days after)  I'm pretty teary eyed right now just thinking back on that day and realizing how quickly the year flew by. 


Their second to last day of school, we took a field trip to a local park and the kids ran wild and played and really enjoyed their time together. 

Taelyn with her friend Allie

Playing at the park with friends

Taelyn's whole Jr. K Class

Having a nice picnic lunch

The last day of school was equally as hard for me.  I was so sad because I kept thinking, she is now going to start kindergarten.  Not only that, she is transitioning from 3 day/half day to 5 day/full day.  I know I am going to be a wreck when summer is over.  I am already dreading it!

Taelyn with Mrs. Fernandez and Mrs. Meinders

Taelyn and Zaryna

Taelyn with her "Favorite" Friend, Alayna

Her sign Read: Taelyn's last Day pf Jr. K

I am 5 years old

I am 42 inches tall

I weigh 35 pounds

My best friend is Tylia

I want to be a Community Helper when I grow up

5/22/15

Mr. Meinders

In the school year, my baby aged a year, grew FIVE inches, gained 3 pounds, has the same best friend, and went from wanting to Elsa, to wanting to be a community helper when she grows up.  I would say that this has been one good year!

T's Hair Life Crisis

One day, I put it in my head that after year and years, possibly 20 plus years of flat ironing my hair, I want to try and wear it in its natural state.  Before kids, I went to the hair salon every two weeks to get it washed and flat ironed.  After Taelyn, I would go once a month. After Trent, I would be lucky if I could get to the salon every other month.  I never owned shampoo or conditioner because I never washed my own hair.  If I'm being completely honest, I think I went quite a few months without washing my hair because I just couldn't get myself into the salon.  My hair is something that is REALLY important to me and it never is a huge issue because I always made sure it looked amazing.  I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that when I had cancer, I lost it all, so when it grew back, I wanted to make sure that it was always on point.  

I took this picture right after I had washed it and tried to let it dry naturally.  I was naive and thought that I could wash it and let it dry and it would be ok.  I was so, so wrong.  After I posted this picture to Instagram, I got all kinds of feedback on what I needed to use to revive my curls. 

 I made a trip to Sally's Beauty Supply and bought lots of different products that were suggested and this was the outcome.  This was the first day that I went out with my hair au natural.

 I was also told that I should try to braid it and keep the braids overnight and unbraid it in the morning, this was the outcome.  Not really my favorite look at all. 

 This was probably the BEST hair day I have had to date.  I never really understood the whole "good/bad hair day" talk because when I my hair is straight, it always looked the same.  In the month that I have been doing this hair experiment, I think this was the ONLY day that I didn't feel self conscious. 

 

I attempted to wear it all down only once.  It looked ok when it was wet, but when it dried, I had to pin back the front because it was just too big for my taste. 

 It takes WAY longer for me to fix my hair when I am rushing out the door.  When my hair is straight, I take my scarf off and comb it out, it takes less than ONE minute to fix when it is straight.  Now, it takes me anywhere from 10-15 minutes to get it to look like this.  It's nothing spectacular. 

 So, I am pretty much over it.  I dread fixing it everyday.  It takes way too much time and I just don't think it looks good.  I am too old to be feeling self conscious about my looks.  I am going back to what I am comfortable with.  This hair is not ME. 

This hair is me and I want it back. Looks like I will be making an appointment VERY soon!

Competition Team

Taelyn has taken her love for dance to another level.  In October, Taelyn auditioned for her dance studio's competition team.  She is the youngest person on her team and in the last six months, we have truly become a family.  There are five girls who make up the mini competition team.  We LIVE at the studio and the mothers (and fathers) have become really great friends.  Since our girls are so young, when they are at the studio, we are at the studio as well. 

When the girls asked us where we would be sitting and how they would find us, our answer was, we will be in the "Proud Section."

The Proud Section

 The older girls on the Elite Dance team made these bandanas for everyone with their names on it.  They looked like little fancy gangsters with their lipstick and lashes. 

My Baby 2 Pac

Our dance studio was invited by Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms to compete in her own competition.  It was an amazing honor and our little Minis took 1st Place over all in the competition!

 Way too much SASS!

I had these signs made of the girl's faces so we could hold them up at the competitions.  They are beyond awesome.  I LOVE THEM!!!!

 The girls exploring and posing at another competition in Riverside

 This shot was taken while they were dancing.  It totally looks like they were posing.  

Their facials are pretty perfect!

 Taelyn was working it!

 Even though she is upside down, her face is perfect!

 Such great form and synchronicity

We only have one more competition left and the recital.  It has been such and amazing year in dance.  I am really looking forward to next season.  They have taken 1st Place over all in every competition this season so far, not bad for the 1st year doing it.  We are so proud.  Our time and effort has really been worth it.  Taelyn loves it and man, it brings me so much joy to watch her dance!

We Are Still Alive

I'm back! I have taken a year and a half break from blogging. I've wanted to blog so many times, but I've held back because I wasn't sure just how much I should or shouldn't share. I had a huge ordeal with someone very close to me and it stemed from a blog post. I feel like enough time has passed and I am in a space where I am comfortable sharing my life again.

Life has been completely insane lately. We are in a really fun season of life. Todd and I are in our 7th year of marriage and our 11th year of our relationship total. Taelyn is 5 and Trent is 3. Boy is life interesting with these two.

Taelyn started Jr. Kindergarten and is completely thriving in school.

Todd and I vacationed in Maui without the kids in October. It was our very first time getting away without them. They were in great hands with Grampy and Grammy. I think this is something that is so necessary for all couples. We really had time to TALK and relax and actually enjoy each other and remember WHY we are married in this very busy, kid centered season of life.

 

Taelyn joined her dance studio's competition team and she is loving every second of it! We pretty much live at the dance studio. It takes up SO much time, (and money) but Taelyn LOVES it and so do I. It really brings me so much joy to watch this girl dance. She is truly amazing.

 

Both kids are swimming along with Drake.

I can't wait until Trent turns 4 so I have more options for activities. He really wants to play football. I don't know where he got that desire, but that doesn't start until 8. So until then, it will be karate, soccer, baseball and swimming.

So, this is our life in a nut shell, I'll try to blog on a regular basis. I have so much I want to talk about!