Easter - Part 2 - Easter Day!

Easter this year was a bit more hectic than usual.  My mom's boyfriend had family in town to surprise him for his birthday and since it was right around Easter we decided to have a huge get together (aka feast) at my house. 

We started with our usual hunting of eggs and Easter Basket and then went to church and then on to feasting.  I'm not quite sure how we did it or fit everyone in but we did.  My sister-in-law had the good idea to have the kids eat first and then have the adults eat as then it wouldn't be as hectic and crowded.

My one brother Jared had to eat with the kids too as he was leaving that day for his new job in Texas (boo!).  So he had to catch a flight out.  But we had a good time and it was nice to meet some new people (Billy's sisters) and have a great meal with family that I normally don't see at Easter time.

Not sure why we color eggs as we fill and hide the plastic ones

The kids eating and some of the adults patiently waiting.

My mom with her sister and brother (Aunt Lori & Uncle Tom)

Found a video of Makenna from Easter Morning - click link below:

Easter 2013 morning

Easter - Part 1 - Otsenango Park

My brother Brant and his girlfriend invited Makenna to Ostinango Park on March 30th (2013) for an Easter Egg hunt that was being put on by some church (which meets in a movie theater!). 

They had a big turn out and they handled it pretty well.  They had a couple of different fields and the kids of certain age ranges could run out into the field at a certain time and pick up as many eggs as they could and some of them had tickets in them to win special prizes.  It was a good idea except I think my child got one maybe three eggs at the most.  Other kids (and their parents) were hogging all the eggs and just trying to find tickets to win prizes.

Luckily Brant and his girlfriend were very thoughtful in bringing Makenna a very large Easter Basket with lots of stuff in it.  She was still upset she didn't get many eggs and we explained that it was just a "luck-of-the-draw" type thing.  She probably wasn't the only one not to get an egg with something in it.  A good lesson about life not being fair all the time wrapped up in Easter...how appropriate (?):

I would've taken pictures of her trying to get eggs but she ran off into a sea of children and we had to actually all go looking for her as it was as we thought she was completely swept up and taken downstream.  Luckily she was found and brought back!

Piano Recital - Feb. 22, 2013

Makenna has really improved her piano playing.  She's getting more confident, but also more frustrated with it.  She expects to get the notes right the first time and gets very upset and frustrated when she doesn't.  I keep trying to tell her that in all things, not just piano, that it takes time and practice.  I keep trying to tell her that she didn't know how to walk, or feed herself, or brush her teeth right away but all those things took practice and patience. 

She's so happy when she gets the piece down.  The only thing is that she tries to memorize the piece, which for now, is easy to do but she really needs to look at the notes and follow where she's at.  I guess I just have to be patient with that.  I feel like I talk to her about piano like I'm some expert when truth be told, I never took piano lessons, I just now how to read the top line of music - to an extent.  So when she starts getting into harder things, then I won't be able to help her.  I try to listen in on her lessons so I have somewhat of an understanding.  OR I might just have to start taking lessons myself at some point!  Wouldn't that be a novel idea?

Here's some pictures and again I'll have to go digging around for the video on Chris's computer and attach it later at some point:

Her in her new pretty dress that she picked out on-line (and has MAYBE worn once since!)  It's so pretty and she loved it - which she would wear it more before it doesn't fit any longer!!!

 With her piano teacher Kate - who gave all the kids certificates and "Symphony" bars - how appropriate!

June 2013 Dance Recital

The formal dance recital was in June on the 14th.  She had a costume similar to last years (color wise) and was again in two dances - one tap, one ballet.  I posted a video of the tap routine at the end - which was her practice a couple of days before the show - they don't let you video tape during the actual show so this is a rough cut of it.

The first couple of pictures are her "normal fashion poses" that she now tends to do - she makes me smile!

 

Here's the link to the video:

http://youtu.be/lAzJl5Jvj70

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February 2013 Valentine's Dance

The usual Valentine's Dance that occurs in February - happened this year on February 17th.  I would love to also show you a video of her dancing but my husband taped over it - oops!~

So pictures of cuteness will have to do:

Ice Skating Show

Even though it was her first year (about 10 weeks more or less) of ice skating, Makenna decided to go ahead and be in the show that the ice skating club has.  It was on March 24th (2013) and she really seemed to enjoy it.

It seemed as she enjoyed watching other skaters than being part of it herself.  I could see her sitting in the hockey booth (you know, where the hockey players sit...I have no idea what to call it), and jumping up and down and cheering for them not to mention doing various dances in the booth.  I wish I caught it on video - it was so cute and funny.

But here are some pictures and if I can dig up some video that Chris took - I'll try and remember and come back and post it: - I found the video - look below for the links

She didn't want a "fish" head so we just put some colorful tape on her helmet to "blend" in

Videos - click on link (first one is a bit long)

Makenna Ice Skating - Part I

Makenna Ice Skating Show - Part II

Let's Ice Skate!

Chris suggested the idea that we take up ice skating as a family.  I quickly agreed as long as I got to watch. I thought we would need at least one person in the house without a broken bone.  Plus with my weak ankle I was the perfect fit to sit on the bench.

I also liked the idea of Chris and Makenna having their special thing.  They each get lessons for the first half-hour and then they can do free-skate together.  Sometimes they're together, sometimes Makenna is taking off, sometimes Makenna is trying to find a reason to come off the ice.

I was impressed at how well they both did and how quickly they both learned how to skate forwards and backwards.  Here are some various pictures from different days of practice: