Dance pics 2011

Each year the girls get their pictures taken for dance.  I always get them a collage that has each of their costumes.  It's become really fun to see how much they change from year to year.  I try to get one of them together as well, especially now that they are both competing.  Here they are for this year.

The collages I get them are long-so I had to break them into sections.  Here is Pacie's first half.  She is doing a 50's dance "At the Hop" and her Hip Hop is called "Work it Girl".  It was even choreographed by Ashley!!  It's so fun that she gets to work with the girls.

The second half of Pacie's has another of her 50's outfit-because I think it is so cute!!  And her ballet costume as well as the same work it girl picture.  It's too cute not to have on there twice...

Parker's first half has her Lyrical/Jazz "Don't Stop Believing" Her Hip Hop called "Lollipop" and her 70's theme called "Dancing Queen".  Look at that high kick!  Crazy high!!

Second half has her ballet costume as well as her in her warm-ups.  Oh, and the crazy kick again, because I like it.  :)

My girls LOVE to dance.  They are both having such a fun year.  You can see that the motto of our studio is "Forever Strong".  The inspiration was taken from the movie with the same name, and the studio owner, (One of my best friends) has the girls sign a contract that they will abide by certain rules-keeping themselves clean and not doing anything that would harm themselves, their families or each other.  I love that they have a moral code to abide by!!  Keep dancin' girls!!  We love you. 

5FF-Vol 10

Whew-it's a late one!

LOOKING FORWARD TO:

1-- SPRING BREAK!!!  One full week with no school, dance, preschool or piano!  

2-- Having my kids home with me.  We are going to do one job and one fun thing per day. Each kid gets to make a list of a few things they really really really want to do.  We'll do a spring cleaning job and then pick a fun thing. Since we're not going anywhere...we need to do something out of the ordinary!

3--Seeing our grass come in!  Now that the snow is finally melting away, our dirt has a tinge of green where we planted in October.  Can't wait to see it all fill in and be able to plant the rest.

4-- Reading!  Just started another new book.  Can't put it down.

5-- Not setting my alarm.....maybe my favorite thing on the list.  

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

*new, exciting picture posts will be coming this week.  I know you invisible readers can hardly wait! 

Fall to Spring Pictures

 Every year our kids' school does two sets of photos.  One in the fall and one in the "spring".  (Technically-the second set doesn't qualify as spring pics because they were taken in February.) However, I love them-and the cute models that are in them.  It makes me sad to see how much they grow up...even in 6 month's time.                    
                                                                  Parker, 3rd Grade

Pacie, 2nd Grade

5FF-Vol 9

Tonight I am:

1- Hearing the sounds of Parker with her new hula hoop. She used her birthday money to buy it for herself at Kings.  And she rocks it. (Pics to come)
2- Smelling dinner- EASY- pasta with corn, ground beef, tomatoes and marinara.
3- Watching the NCAA tourney with Scott.  We have our picks and are sticking to them.  (We are currently tied at 22 right picks a piece.)
4- Thankful that my Grandma came over tonight to show me her scrapbook and is staying for dinner. She colored pictures with my kids and read them stories.  I am thankful they know their great grandma.
5- TIRED!  It's been a long week.  Here's one picture, that I couldn't resist putting up.  I have a whole Piper post, and a St. Patty's day post in the works.

5FF-Vol 8 Presley edition with bonus afro....

Presley is such a funny girl. She is a FIRECRACKER, to say the least. Here are some of her ongoing traits at 3 years 7 months old.
1. She changes clothes more often than anyone I know. And it's frustrating. Her room is constantly a mess because of the constant clothes changing. Dance clothes, dresses, leggings...all of it.
2. She is the pickiest child when it comes to her hair and clothes. She loves to have her hair in ponytails, or down, or curled-but she always knows how she wants it. She picks out her own outfits sometimes coordinating, most times not. She also has to have her blankets put on in a certain order-always different-and can't sleep if they come off.
3. She makes very dramatic faces while speaking. She is matter of fact and shakes her head, almost agreeing with herself as she talks. Her voice is also very high pitched. VERY.
4. She is the most shy of our children. She stands back in new situations and isn't quick to be the center of attention. Once she is comfortable though-she will jump right in and stand out. She takes a while to acclimate to new surroundings or experiences and to warm up to new people.
5. She is very sweet and loving. She loves her baby sister and she and Landon are the best of friends, always playing some made up game. She is "Emma" and he is "Jake". Why? No idea-but it's funny to hear them calling for each other.
And now, the bonus AFRO pics. One day she wanted me to put her hair into curlers after seeing me do it for Pacie. They were only in a few hours and I was very surprised how curly her hair turned out. She was fighting mad for the first hour or so after the curlers came out. It took MUCH convincing that she looked beautiful, but once we had her convinced she was finally happy. I had to coax her first, out of her closet and then tease her greatly to even get a smile. We love our little Darlin'.

The above outfit is a case in point of dressing herself.  It's a battle I usually choose not to fight anymore...it's been going on for quite a while now.  So I just sit back and not let it be a big deal....:)

Picture of the day

I love that my kids have "the stamp" on them.  They all definitely look like Scott& Jill Taft children and I love it. 

5FF-Vol 7 (On the Job)

I was thinking....about my job.  Well, job(s).  I do many.
Firstly my preschool.  I love teaching.  Always have.  In fact, I think I always knew that's what I wanted to do "when I grew up".  My other job is being a full time mom.  Greatest job in the world.  And I honestly feel that way.  My last job is being the secretary at Infinity Dance Studio, where my girls dance.  One of my best friends decided to open a dance studio 5 years ago.  I enrolled both Parker and Pacie to start dancing.  After the first month, Gretchen called me and asked if I'd be willing to trade the girls tuition for secretarial hours.  Absolutely!  Since then, she has grown to well over 200 students-keeping me super busy there.  I mostly work when the girls are dancing (Tues, Wed, Thurs) so it's quite a lot of time.  But I like it. I like being involved and being there when my girls are.

That being said, I think there are a few other things I would've liked to try out.  And they are random.
1- Hairdresser.  I've always thought it would be really fun to go to school to learn to do hair.  And now, four daughters later, maybe I should have.

2- Photographer.  I have talked about this one before.  I love pictures and taking pictures and posing pictures....I guess I am an amateur photographer.

3- Chef.  Cooking school has always seemed like so much fun.  My sister in law Sarah graduated with a degree in culinary arts.  I was always amazed by her knife set.  And the way she cuts red onions.  And this chicken, lime and orizo soup I need to get the recipe for. She is an amazing cook and made an amazing wedding cake once for her final in baking.  Pretty cool.

4- Baker.  Maybe I just need to invest in one of those giant mixing bowls and massive scales that they use on cake boss.  Something about measuring butter by the pound speaks to me.  I love to bake-and would love to learn to decorate cakes.

5- Probably the most random-Librarian.  I love being in bookstores and libraries.  All of those books!  I don't know how well I would do this job though-because I would probably spend more time looking at the books than shelving the books.

So-my five random facts Friday... I know it's never too late to try something new. 

 On the hairdressing front...here is a hairstyle we tried last week. Stay tuned for the results of these lovely blue curlers....(And it's a good story too!)