Donut Pinata!!!

What every kid LOVES... CANDY! So when I told my twins I planned on doing a piñata at their "party",  they squealed. And DON-UT you know I found a doughnut piñata?

Birthday Twins' BIG Gifts!!

So aside from the trip to Universal Studios, WHICH was supposed to be Lilah and Jax's birthday gift (but that's always hard to stick to), they each received a BIG gift and then some little gifts. We always try to make everything financially "Even Steven".

Thing 1 and Thing 2 - What's Inside The Box!?

WE ARE BACK from our glorious trip.  It was AMAZING and just the perfect amount of time.  I think another day longer and we would have just hung out by the pool, at our resort. (3)-12 hour days of walking parks is enough to make your big toes bruise. LITERALLY, haha. We finished EVERYTHING that interested us!!! So we can officially say, we left our mark at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. NOW, I will spend the next week blogging ALL OF THE DETAILS about the trip reveal and the actual trip.  The question that has everyone curious is, what was inside those Thing 1 and Thing 2 boxes that were used as decorations for the twins' trip reveal?

A New Look!

Yay! A new look!  I bet you were so surprised to tune in for a daily post and find our old blog gone. Did you think that you accidentally typed in the wrong blog address or clicked on the wrong link? I hope this new look is enjoyed.  I had a hard time saying goodbye to those precious photos captured almost 6 years ago, but it was time. A new look was LONG OVERDUE.  

LipSense Is....

LipSense is: KissProof, SweatProof, BudgeProof, SmudgeProof, WaterProof, AND Snowball Eating Proof! Nothing beats LipSense. NOTHING!

After posting the above video, to both my Instagram and Facebook accounts, my company SeneGence asked if they could share it on their facebook page.  AH, DUH! I mean, that request was ALOMST as amazing as it would be if I won the Billboard video submission contest in New York City's Time Square. The repost from SeneGence created over 12,300 views and over 235 likes. That's pretty dang exciting if you ask me!!!! Perfect advertisement for LovelyLips, for anyone who doesn't have a LipSense Distributor.

Whoop, Whoop! #LipBossGoals

Annie!

It's the moment we have been waiting for.  Ever since Lilah was in Snow White and we found out that the Attic would be casting for Annie... WE'VE been singing and dancing to the musical's songs. No lie!  This is a movie that I have loved and watch 5,000 time probably since it was released.

Lilah was ready to audition and the audition dates were finally announced.  There was a Sunday audition, the day we chose, that consisted of 25 actresses/actors and then there was a Monday audition. I am unsure of how many showed up on Monday.  

Auditions consisted of a solo song, a dance learned within 10 minutes and performed in groups of 5, and several cold call readings.  Lilah was anticipatory and confident in the cold reads and dancing, but she was a little anxiety stricken when it came to the solo song, even though the song was chosen by each person singing it. Personally, I think all of it takes immense courage. Being this is like a dream come true for me, I considered auditioning for the roll of Miss Hannighan, but I didn't have the courage myself.   

Here is a small excerpt of the dance that Lilah had to learn with her group of five people.  

Here is Liley's solo.  She chose to sing "Tomorrow".  The well known song that Annie sings in the movie. While others were auditioning, Lilah practiced her song outside of the theater.   She got a little choked up because she knows that singing is not her STRONG point.  I just encouraged her that this is NOT an audition for American Idol and to just "do [her] best and forget the rest!" I also reminded her to think of our dearest friend and beloved director Ms. Georgia, who recently passed away. I think she did great.  

And then... the cold reads began!

Auditions took a good 3 hours and then... the waiting game happened.  This theater makes you wait several days, while they deliberate on who does and doesn't fit the casting roles, before finding out who did and didn't make it.  

While we waited, I pulled up all of the Annie photos, from a previous Halloween, when Lilah dressed up as Annie.  

And then the phone rang and Miss Trina asked to speak to Lilah! These call backs are between the director and the child and I was SICK with nerves UNTIL, she smiled BIG and gave me a thumbs up... she MADE IT.  Lilah received a call back. Lilah once dressed up like Annie and pretended to be her and NOW, she will be performing, in front of a live audience, on stage, as one of the main orphans named TESSIE!

And now our evening drives to Fincastle, three days, a week begin.  

During the first practice, we learned who got which role and the cast did an entire read through.  

Lilah received her very own Annie script.

And now... for the first time ever, I am living vicariously through my daughter.  I can't deny... I am a tad jealous, haha, but in a GOOD way. #ProudMom

"Expressions In Dance" ~ DDC Recital 2018

Recital time finally arrived.  Lilah has been working since September to learn both of her routines for Hip Hop and Jazz Dance.  I am not sure if you recall, but we decided to switch dance studios in the Fall of 2017.  Divine Dance Center is Lilah's current dance home. 

The theme of the dance recital was called "Expressions In Dance".  There were so many dances that the recital was broken up into two performances, in the same day!  Both of Lilah's dances were in the 6:00 pm show and was located in the Shaftman Hall, at the Jefferson Center.  

I am so proud of Lilah.  She seems very confident and natural on the stage, in addition to being able to perform with joy.  Her facial expressions and body language scream happiness.  

The first dance that Lilah performed in was a very well known song by Madonna called "Get Into The Grove".  It was a jazz performance.  I loved the adorable, polka dotted costumes.  Her little shoulders peaking through created that little bit of sass and pizazz, but I do appreciate the modesty STILL behind the costume.  

The second dance that Lilah performed in was a song called "This Instant", by Sophia Fresh. This was a Hip Hop styled dance.  The costumes were so adorable.  I loved the black sequined, high top sneakers, the teal sequined "gloves", and the leggings.  I wasn't as much a fan of the hat, because it hid the girls' cuteness, but it did totally fit the dance style.

The rules at the Jefferson Center are really strict.  I was only allowed to take NON FLASH photography.  I did the best I could to capture this special memory, but between MOVEMENT, POOR LIGHTING, and my husband's seat selection, I had my work cut out of me.  LOL!

Enjoy the photos I am posting in the body of this post, but then be sure to also check out the online photo album. This photo album includes ALL OF THE PHOTOS that I took on both rehearsal day and recital night. I always try to capture photos of other dancers that Lilah and I know/love or dances that I felt were extra amazing.  

"Expressions In Dance" DDC Recital 2018 Online Photo Album

Here are a few videos I was able to capture!  

The video below is a cute dance Liley made up BEFORE heading to rehearsal practice. She was getting out some jitters by dancing them away. I LOVE her ability to think for herself as she choreographs dances on her own time. Hehe.

She Did It!

Two Sundays ago, Lilah decided to try out for "Dance Company" at her current dance studio, Divine Dance Center.  The particular style of dance that she chose to audition for was Hip Hop.  There were about 10-12 girls that tried out for Hip Hop Dance Company that fit her age group.  Lilah was so excited and slightly nervous.  Auditioning never comes without nerves.  

I sat in the lobby along with the other mommies and I was able to watch her from the television screen.  She seemed to be comfortable and did her thang!

The audition was about 30 minutes (I think).  They stretched and then the girls were taught a dance routine.  Eventually, they had to perform the dance in front of the owner of the studio and a few other "judges", in groups of three. We left and then had to wait a long 10 days to find out the results.  

Lilah counted down the days and continually asked, "Can you check Facebook Mom?" She knew that Facebook was one of the first places I would find out if she was accepted or not.  May 29th arrived and on both my Facebook account with DDC and my inbox via email I received confirmation... "Congratulations!"

I am proud to announce that my girl made Dance Company!!! We currently now have two boys in travel ball and will be adding "travel dance" or dance competitions to our agenda. I know the Lord will provide a way.  I could NOT let Lilah pass up an opportunity to advance her skills, like her brothers.  I want to do all that I can to help grow my children for the future.  I believe being involved is so healthy.  Idle children waste life and are left with opportunities to go down the wrong path.  I am so proud of Lilah and I am beyond excited for her future.  It will be a huge commitment on both of our parts.  I pray she never forgets what a blessing these moments are.

Your Presence Is My Present!

A party is not a party without your closest friends and family.  Unfortunately, all of our family lives out of state or are so busy with travel sports, I didn't even put the pressure on them to come, by inviting them. Tyson has had the pleasure of being in the company with a nice array of friends because of his involvement in football, basketball, track, and church . Finding (18) friends to invite was not hard.  What was hard was narrowing it down to the amount of friends that could fit on the Enterprise Van Party Bus.  

I am thankful for the friends that Ty has chosen to surround himself around.  I believe he has chosen wisely.  All of his friends are polite, encouraging, involved in school, and kind. Of course, they are also goofy and wild too, but so is Ty.  Haha.  The majority of these boys have been in his life since he was 4 years old.  How cool!

The paintball facility is nestled in Riner, VA.  Secluded in the beautiful mountains, but on the property of the "referee's" home on Paintball Drive.  LOVE IT!

Before beginning their first paintball game, the "referee" had to go over safety and game rules.

Each boy received safety gear, a paintball gun, and a  bag of 500 paintballs.  

The funniest thing is that these poor boys were having such a time with the paintballs.  They were responsible for loading their own guns. As soon as one boy dropped their bag of balls... haha, it seemed like it was a trickling effect. (See below).

Loading their guns took concentration and most boys filled with excitement don't have that.  

I made sure to capture the shooting area.  I think it's just the perfect scenery.  

These boys were excited and ready!

Our food and gift area was a "No Shooting" area.  THANK GOODNESS.  LOL! Although the boys joked about using the bubble gum as paintballs once they ran out of real paintballs.  

Guess who was invited to Ty's party? Little bro.  He felt cool.

The weather was on and off from BEAUTIFUL to torrential downpour rain.  The boys claimed that the rain and thunder made the paintball game MORE fun. Of course and go figure.  The party host, MUA, on the other had was NOT digging it.  LOL!  But it never messed up my details.  NOT A ONE! After the first round of paint balling fun, the boys came back to the covering for snacks, drinks, and CANDY! We just called this battle fuel  

It blessed me immensely to see how well all of these boys got along.  

There was so much smiling and laughter too.  

Hey look, it's Eli, wait nope, Jackson, wait no... Jadon? Okay, never mind it's Gabe?  NO!!! It's the birthday boy!!! TY!

The fact that these boys were wearing masks kind of deterred me from hiring a professional photographer to capture this day AND eliminated me from feeling pressure to capture the actual paintball games. Although, I did video record several of their games.  I will post those on another day!

Reloading both their guns and their mouths, with necessities.  LOL!

In between games, they would recap the game and it created a ton of light hearted arguing and joking around.  

Alone... don't eat those... those are paintballs.  LOL!  Okay, not really.  

Discussing their next game plan?

The boys LOVED having Darren in on the action.  

Waiting patiently for the next game to start. His shirt reads, "Straight Out Of Tilted Towers".  

Game on!

When you get shot, you raise your hands in the air and exit.

Some were good at hiding and then sneaking out eventually to shoot.

I gave out a trophy to the player with the best welt!!! Tyler Pierce won the trophy.  OUCH!

Between the bus ride and the actual party, I believe this a party they will never forget.