Divas

In May, the girls tried out for new teams at Progressions. We found out in June that they had both advanced to new groups. Isabel advanced from Mini Evolution to Junior Excel and Lucy advanced from Junior Evolution to a new team Junior Extreme. The girls will each dance 6 hours a week throughout the summer and the coming school year. They are taking ballet, tumbling, technique, tap, jazz, and hip hop. This coming school year will no doubt bring more performances, recitals, competitions, conventions, costume changes, rehearsals, spray gel, and bobby pins. They love to dance and have improved so much over the last year! They might make a dance mom out of me yet (might)!

Christmas Performance

Jazz Game

CompetitionSpring Recital

Lucky Number 13

This weekend Dan and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary!! It is absolutely mind boggling how quickly the time has gone by. In fact, it won't be long before we've known each other longer than we haven't... In my philosophy class the other night, we were talking about what makes for an ideal marriage partnership. In essence, we discussed that ideally one partner is strong where the other is weak and that they complement each other in every way making for a complete partnership. I know that Dan and I are certainly not perfect; however, I also know that he is yin to my yang. He is most certainly strong in the areas I am weak and vice versa. We bring balance to each other. We have fun together, we genuinely think the other is hilarious (most of the time), we rely on one another, we trust each other, and we work hard together. What an absolute gift to be able to share your life with your best friend...

So while the Griffins and my mom and dad kept Lucy and Isabel busy, we went for a long overdue weekend away to Park City where we managed to:

stay in a lovely cottage,


eat really delicious expensive food,

go to non-animated/non-Disney movies,


scream our guts out on the Alpine Slide and Alpine Coaster,

and hit the golf course (I highly recommend teeing up in the fairway).


Here's to a blissful weekend, 13 action-packed years, and a wonderful life!

Girl Moustaches

I'm not really a fan of facial hair; however I like it on Dan.

I think I like it on my girls too.

Obsessive Compulsive

So I'm doing a little rearranging in the library to fit our new piano--and this little pottery barn pillow has fueled some all out hysteria on my part. After picking up a couple of these beauties, I want to replace all of the pillows on both sets of couches! My pillow obsession borders on insanity. I have spent more time than I care to admit looking online for compatible pillows and even went to the fabric store looking for fabric (like I can sew...). I think I might need help, professional help that is.

Dinner Conversation

Tonight at dinner we had steak, asparagus, mashed potatoes, and salad. We were having a discussion about the importance of eating healthy food when Lucy asked what part of the cow our steaks came from. This sparked an interesting conversation. Lucy was telling us that their ballet teacher is a vegetarian. Isabel started to look very concerned when we explained that Miss Brittney doesn't eat meat. Finally Isabel asked "You know how I want to be a vet? Does that mean that all veterinarians don't eat meat? 'Cause I really like meat." We explained the difference between a vegetarian and a veterinarian and had a good laugh. Good times...

Pianomania!

So, on Tuesday night, while I was rocking out with Sir Paul, this little beauty was delivered to our house. The girls have played "Heart and Soul" non-stop since then. I thoroughly offended Isabel when I shut the door during her interpretive piano solo. She returned the favor when I was playing (rather trying to play) some primary songs and she walked in holding an imaginary phone to her ear and said, "It's really rude to play the piano while I'm on the phone," and then shut the door. Last night I even gave Dan a piano lesson (I think I might want to stick to my day job). Nevertheless, we are in love with our 107 year old Schumann studio piano--it might make musicians out of us yet.

Star Struck

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending the Paul McCartney concert. Mom and Dad had seats on the 10th row and Annie and Randy were a few rows behind them, but Sarah was my date for the night. Sarah and I hadn't even planned to go, but thanks to a stroke of luck (thanks Pat Heinrich) 2 prime tickets became available. I 've met my fair share of important people, but I can honestly say I've never been star struck--until Tuesday. Obviously I didn't meet him, but just being in the same arena and singing along with a BEATLE was almost too much! It truly was the concert of a lifetime! I'm stealing this cool collage from Sarah's blog, because I don't know how to make one and I took all of the pictures!



We had a blast! I like how we were looking in different directions in each picture--Classic! I also like my rock star face during "Helter Skelter." (I might want to retire that facial expression P.D.Q.)

The Story Begins

After much contemplation, I've decided to start recording our family adventures on a blog. It is overwhelming to think of all of the adventures that have gone thus far unrecorded, and given that I'm a year behind in my journal and pretty much would rather poke my eyes out than scrapbook--VOILA! a blog was born. Our story begins with a busy family mid-summer 2010. Between work, school, and dance there is never a dull moment. These great pictures, complements of Brooke Jackson, provide a visual starting point as we are now.


Lucy--9 Years Old


Isabel--6 Years Old

The Wankier Family

And so begins the story of Dan, Kate, Lucy, and Isabel Ross--and I have a feeling, it's going to be a good one.