after the dance

Rewind a little bit...Just some pics of Maddie's weekend...after her recitals. She did such a great job, she totally belongs on stage!! For the first time, she did the whole dance routine (I never saw her do the whole thing in class!) While it was alot of driving and running around, she loved it so much so it was worth it.

I love this picture!!!

She was so proud of her flowers!!

Kaycey, Maddie, and Cal


Mommy & Maddie...she really does look alot like me!

Daddy & Maddie...but I also think with the expression on her face, she looks a bit like Mike in this one!

Back to school time...

for me, yes for me. I have been DYING to get some new textbooks and be in school (I know that sounds slightly off!!)

I spoke with someone briefly about the Pharm program at Concordia U. and she was so wonderful and positive, it really is motivating me to start back up again. I know, I always pick the most inopportune times to go to school (I am positive that I was in school every time I was pregnant). Obviously I am in no rush, with a new baby on the way. But just glad to know it can be done.

Keep me motivated, people : )

Baby names...

that we aren't going to use. I know, that's no fun : ) These are names I love, but because either (a) Mike doesn't like it, or (b) it just doesn't sound right with Cal, Kaycey, Maddie, so we aren't using it. There are plenty of other names I like, but simply because they are on the 20 most popular names, I won't use 'em. I remember in grade school, I loved being the only Elizabeth in the school. And in our combined class (we were always combined with another grade, 1&2, 3&4, and so on...)There were 5 Lisa's out of 25 kids. Yep, I won't do that to my kids.

For a girl:

• I love Charlotte, Mike does not. Though he thinks Charlie is cute for a girl. Huh.
• I love Hadley, Mike says, "What kind of name is that?" I guess it sounds like Maddie a bit, too.
• we both like Gretchen, sounds too harsh with the other kids' names. And ends with "en" which kind of repeats Madilyn.
• We love the name Carleigh (and that's how I want to spell it). Mike said no to the spelling, and it sounds kind of repititious with Cal & Kaycey. That's how I would want to spell Ashleigh, too. Mike thinks I like to torture the kids with spelling their names like no one else does (Kaycey, Madilyn...) I think it makes it unique.
• Peyton. Madilyn, Peyton. I don't know.

For boy:

• I love Grayson!! Had been a name on the list when we had Maddie. Also it's my Great-Grandma's maiden name. But it sounds so close to Kaycey...
• Still, I really do like the name Brett, but well...I'll leave it at that
• I like Kendall. Mike thinks it's a little girly, and well back to that whole "K" sound thing. Too much of it.
• Ryland. Again, Mike's response, "what kind of name is that?"
• Finn. (Finnegan) Mike said, "no".

Mike says "no" alot.

I sure get technical, huh? : ) I have other favorites that are still possibilities, but we'll see about sharing those later : )

It's in his blood...

So Cal is convinced baseball (and football) is in his blood. I think at first he thought it was because he was named after Cal Ripken, but now he has a true reason. Recently he found out that my third cousin was a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons (Steve Bartkowski), so he is obsessed with this; it's rather funny. I personally have never met the guy, though my Mom and several other family members had the opportunity to see him play on multiple occasions and meet him (I was a toddler at the time, so I stayed with Grandma). Cal wants to write him and meet him. Then Cal found out Steve's Dad played for the Cubs, and my Great-Grandpa was on the farm team for the Texas Rangers. He was unable to play majors, because he went to war instead. But I guess this means it really is in Cal's blood. He made two outs for his team playing first base Thursday night in one inning. Here is one I caught on video. Perhaps he is destined for the big leagues like his ancestors : )

Dancing queen

Maddie yesterday afternoon before rehearsal, with her goofy grin...

Maddie and her friend, Lauren, after their rehearsal.

I seriously own enough makeup to fit in a small ziploc bag, and I don't really have a knack for doing hair. But she turned out pretty cute anyhow. Too bad she fell asleep on the way to the rehearsal (the location of recital is 40 minutes away) and her hair went flat by the time we got there. Sheesh, some girls there had their hair professionally done and more makeup on than I don't know what. Oh well.

Big recital night tomorrow and then again Saturday. Photos aren't allowed during the show, and group photos were taken the night of the rehearsal, and so I took a few, too.