Summer Fun

I am not ready for summer to come to an end.

Why does it have to go so fast? I suppose it's because we're running from one activity to the next and time flies! We finished our 6th Summer Dance Camp last week - in my opinion it was the funnest year of Summer Camps yet. We had a great group of kids and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the summer with them!

Here's some pics of one of our favorite family activities this summer. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on the new patio!

We've lived in our house for 3 years, so there are a lot of projects we still want to get to. In May I convinced Phil to move the garden shed to the backyard so I could put in a patio for our grill and table. We have had this chiminea - not sure how to spell that - for a long long time but it hasn't ever had a 'home'. We have loved it this summer in the evenings!

Here's a good pic of the patio. Its usually in the shade and a great place to hang out to grill or sit by the fire.

In June we went to the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina. We had never been - and were surprised at how kid-friendly the atmosphere was! There was crafts and face painting for kids, all free, and a childrens entertainment stage. The music was also great and the aisle of food vendors went on and on. Any kind of food you can imagine...and if you know me very well you know that was my favorite part of the weekend!!

And here's my Dad and Jalyn on the 4th of July!

I know there are a lot of other fun pictures on my camera...if only I could find my camera. It has disappeared and I have a bad feeling an 8 year old girl left it out in the yard. The day before it rained. We have turned the house upside down...so I'm crossing my fingers!

Garage Sale...my place...tomorrow

Be there! My house tomorrow from 3-6:30pm. Thats FRIDAY only! Jace did major cleaning in his room and there are lots of 'boy toys' like cars and trucks, dirtbike magazines, books about legos, star wars and tractors! Lots of kids clothes, a golf bag, lots of books for grown ups and kids, an antique dresser, small table, kitchen stuff, 2 kids tents that are made of thin PVC pipe and have characters on the plastic cover - Cat in the Hat and something else.....

I'm totally stoked about parking in my garage next week. Phil is laughing right now because he knows this is probably not going to happen. In the 13 yrs we've been married my car has never been parked in a garage. But hey, I can dream, right?

Oh My!

Oh my - I haven't blogged in a long time! 'oh my' - who says that anymore? I also have the tendency to say 'ee gads' and 'yikes'. Maybe I spent too much time with Shaggy and Scooby when my kids were younger.

We've been keeping busy with projects around the house, like building a patio, dyeing my sofa brown, painting the garage white and the shed green, and even painting for a few other people! We've also spent time at the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Pillsbury Crossing in Manhattan, Milford Lake and lots of softball games! Who has time to blog?

But I did want to mention that Princess Camp Week begins tomorrow! It is so much fun for the little ones - and there's still time to enroll! In Clay Center we're meeting the mornings of June 16-18 and in Concordia the following week, June 23-25. We dance, do crafts, read stories, play games and eat snacks all with a Princess Theme! Here's some photos from last year!

Hope to see you there!!

Backstage Photos

Here's some more backstage photos from a most Awesome evening in Concordia! Your Recital was beautiful and everyone did a super-fantastic job!! I don't have the official photos from Jamie yet, so here are some scenes from backstage - there are a lot of photos floating around on Facebook too - check us out, and become a fan, by searching The Dance Company of Clay Center and Concordia! I posted lots of pics, and a video from the Concordia Basketball Performance. (still working on all the others)

Also wanted to say THANK YOU for the Ipod Speakers!! It was very thoughtful, and I appreciate you pulling together to do something so special! I have never had an Ipod - so I'm still figuring it all out! Yes, I'm a a little behind! But I'm very excited, THANK YOU Very Much!!!

Concordia Spring Recital...this weekend!!

I can't believe it - but our End of Year Recital is this weekend in Concordia! It's bittersweet...I'm excited for the Recital and to see all the kids shine! And I'm ready for our Summer Break!! (who isn't??) But I can't believe our Dance Season is almost over! Wow - hasn't the year gone by fast!! (I say that every year!!!) We've had a great one - I'm so proud of all the kids! And we have a great show in store for you this weekend! Our Recital is Saturday evening at the Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia. 7pm - hope to see you there! Here's some Concordia Snapshots from last year!

Backstage in Clay Center

We made it thru another awesome Dance Recital in Clay Center! The best one yet, I would say!! I am so proud of all the kids - they really did their best and had fun doing it! I am not good about remembering to snap those Kodak moments backstage...but here are a few pictures!

This is a side-ways view of our Dance Company Logo cookies - it was part of my gift on Sunday - Thank You! They were delicious by the way!! And Thank You SOOOOO very much for the Pink Ipod!! I have never had one, but borrow Phil's once in awhile. (his isn't pink.) So I'm going to have fun adding music - and it will be much more convenient when taking music to the studio. What a GREAT idea! Thank you!!!!!

Here's Jalyn dressed up and ready to go on Saturday morning for rehearsal.

Nice crocks, Ballerina Girl.

We had lots of help backstage this year - Thanks to all of you! Our TV wouldn't work to watch the show from backstage, so they colored...played ring around the rosie - what fun!

It was a great Recital and I've had lots of compliments - the kids really shined!! Thank You!!

In other news..... Jace graduated from DARE on Tuesday:

Jalyn found lots of baby snakes in my rock garden...right by our bedroom window...:(

and Sammi Jo jumped into the bathtub with Jalyn last night. This is her 'disturbed' face:

We're gearing up for Round II -- Recital in Concordia this weekend! It's at the Brown Grand Theatre on Saturday evening, the 25th, at 7pm. I'll post some more pictures tomorrow - Hope to see you there!!

Basketball Game in Concordia

Here's the video from our Basketball Game in Concordia in January of 09. It's our Pre-k thru 5th grade students! They were awesome!!!

You're Invited!

You're invited to The Dance Company's 5th Annual Spring Recital! It's this Sunday, April 19th, at 2pm at the Martyn-Snodgrass Auditorium in Clay Center. I can't believe the season has gone so fast! My gosh, Summer is just around the corner! This year's recital is going to be a really fun one - great music and adorable kids! Even if you don't know any of the dancers - it will still be fun to watch. Lots of music from the 70's and 80's this year - like the Brady Bunch, Captain and Tenille, James Taylor, Footloose - fun stuff! Here's some of my favorite pictures from last year...

The Pre-Schoolers always steal the show!

Last year this ballet group was one of my favorites!

And the Daddy's always close the show with a bang! This year is the best one yet - I'm telling you...you have to see these guys! They are hilarious...not that I'm laughing AT them..I'm laughing WITH them!!! They will steal the show and you don't want to miss it! This brave Dad will be on stage again this year...

Hope you can make it!

Cute Pictures

Here's some Dance Pictures I have been meaning to post...this is the 5th graders in Concordia - aren't they cute! They danced at Night of 1000 Dances in February.

This was so cute...the Pre-Schoolers were waiting patiently to perform. They played Ring Around the Rosie and sang songs. So cute!

And heres a glimpse of what we did on Spring Break...Jalyn roller-skated all the way to Nanas! We also baked 2 cakes, raked lots of leaves and took a few bike rides.

Jace went to the lake twice with his dirtbike, but it didn't make it thru the 2nd trip - big wreck. He didn't get hurt but the bike is sad in the garage!! Hope you all had a good week off!

Valentine Messages from my 2nd Grader

I've said it before, I'll say it again: My Kids Crack Me UP! They are hilarious. And so individual - what one likes the other hates and vice versa. Jalyn has always loved to prepare her Valentines for school. She has always sat down as soon as we get home with the treasured box of Valentine Cards, with little heart stickers, and filled them all out. She usually remembers all the kids in her class without having a list...which always amazes me! So this year, she decided to create her own Valentines from scratch. This was great for me because it kept her busy for awhile, and I didn't have to spend any more money on Hannah Montana merchandise. So she cuts out hearts, decorates with borders and stickers, etc. And then decides she should add a special 'Valentine Message' to each one. Be My Valentine, BFF, Hugs, Be Mine - you get the idea. Here's a 'You'r tottaly Speicel' example:

There are 18 kids in her class, which is a lot of Valentine Messages to come up with. She started getting creative....Ohla Seinor:

COOKIES! :

But the following two take the 'Valentine Cake' :

That's right, 'boing' and 'dong'. What does that mean exactly? I'm sure it doesn't mean what we're thinking....get your minds out of the gutter! I'm glad Dong is going to Alexis, rather than say 'Bob' or 'Steve'.

I'm also glad I saw these before she tucked them in her bookbag. And don't worry, boing's mother is my friend so I'll explain everything... Happy Valentines Day!

I really need to blog something

Holy Cow I really need to update my blog. I told myself I would do better. Just like I said I would diet..exercise..eat more fruits and veggies...all my resolutions are out the window. I am however walking tomorrow with my Sister who is also struggling with 'resolutions' and I also had a SALAD today at Danny's. With my sister. We were reminiscing about how we used to walk in the dead of winter wearing black ski masks. We would get nervous when a car drove by...'What if they call the police because some crazy people with ski masks are walking around downtown!'

So I haven't updated because I was trying to upload my video from when the dancers performed at the Basketball halftime. I thought...as soon as I get it transfered in I'll update. But I am cord challenged...I don't have the right one. Procrastinating is another one of my resolutions...I still haven't gone to Radio Shack to get the right cord. Once I do...I'll post our Basketball dances...which total 3 now. Another thing I was going to keep up on.

I have been very busy this month with Costume Ordering! I love sitting down in the fall with my stack of Costume Catalogs...searching for just the right dress for this song or that dance. I make notes, put it away, and then in another month I start all over. Make more notes. This year there are 28 classes to choose an outfit for. I know it sounds trivial..but I'm so picky and have to find just the right one! And if you don't order early...then everyone else gets their order in first and yours is backordered for eternity. So by the end of January I can't stand to open another Costume Catalog or view another list of tops or pants online. AND weekly, 100 kids are saying 'what are we gonna wear?' 'did you bring a picture?' Last year I posted some photos of costumes on order. Maybe I'll do that. Right after I find the right video cord...

Here's some Christmas pics of the kids...This one is all the 'Johnston' family kids on Christmas Eve. What a full house!

Sammi is really curious about that present...Santa brought her Puppy Cookies with Sprinkles, she just finished them off the other day. Now she won't eat normal puppy treats. They don't have sprinkles.

Santa brought Jace a dirtbike helmet. And Jalyn got a stuffed pig. Yes, it was on the top of her list. She also asked for a Duck Mask, a $500 bill, a wig, a beautiful dress, an alarm clock. She's such a card!

Have a Great Day!

Feeding the Deer

Over Christmas Break we went to Branson to visit Phil's Dad and his family. They actually live in Omaha, Arkansas which is right over the state line and about 15 minutes from Branson. We had a great time, as we don't get to see them very often. We also did some shopping and sightseeing! But one of the highlights of the trip was feeding Grandpas 'pet deer'.

They didn't realize when they moved into this neighborhood that it came complete with pet deer! Notice how this one has a collar on?? Apparently the neighbors fed and cared for two baby deer and as they grew they continued to visit. Now they visit all the neighbors, coming right into their yards to sniff and play! There are 4 babies and 2 fawns. Their house is surrounded by a wooded area, which provides the perfect environment for them.

They were still fairly jumpy, especially if the 'bystanders' took any steps closer. Lorin and the kids were feeding them graham crackers!

A highlight for the kids is getting to play with Cousin Emma. We don't see them often enough, and the girls are only 7 weeks apart so they have a great time.

We saw this car several times and Jace had to get his picture taken with it! We snapped this one, then went inside the 'Dixie Outfitters' store and read that it actually costs $10 to get your picture taken with the car. whoops! It was a fun store with lots of Dukes of Hazzard stuff - Jace has always liked that show...and that car.

And I love this picture of the kids at Joe's Crab Shack. They look like they actually like each other here, they aren't punching, pinching or screaming. We missed the waiters dancing at Joe's, but saw them from outside the window later. But the table behind us provided plenty of entertainment...the little blonde girl had a stuffed panda that she was throwing up in the air. It landed in her food once and then knocked her sisters drink over -- after the older girl dumped pop rocks in her pepsi and made it explode all over the wall. See how the Mom is nervously looking for the waiter with the check?? Made my kids look like angels!!