My Jazzy Girl

Sugar Bear has continued her dancing this year, but at a different Dance School. This new school is so much easier for me to juggle with work. Sugar's school bus will take her directly there. She dances while I finish up at work. It is a great plan for us. Sugar has fallen in love with her dance teacher this year, as well. Miss Dani has taught her soooooooooooooooo much, but also provided so much fun. There is nothing but smiles in her classes. Sugar was in two classes this Spring. The first was TAP. She likes it, but tells me it is often too loud. My poor girl just has little tolerance for noise. I'm hoping she continues with TAP next fall, but we'll see. I'm just grateful to have had the opportunity to see her tappin' her little heart out. She was such a sweet little Minnie Mouse at the recital.

 

 

The second class she was in was JAZZ. This was her first time trying that style as well. She LOVED IT! I really feel like it brought something out in her. It pulled her out of her shell a bit, and I'm grateful for that. She was over the TOP excited to perform her Jazz routine at the recital. I took a bunch of photos of this dance. She is so pleased....and proud. I'm so happy for her. They danced to a mix of fun 50's music.

 

 

 

This is a fun shot of interaction between Sugar and her friend.

 

 

 

The "wise old owls". :)

 

 

Look at my girl move those hips.

 

 

 

This one kills me....tee hee

 

 

TA-DA! ending pose.

 

 

Thank you Miss Dani!

 

 

Sugar really loved the flowers from her "fans", too.

 

 

 

Dance on, Sugar Bear! Dance on!

Where on earth have I been?

Hey there folks........is anyone still checking in on me?  I know....I know....I disappeared without much warning.  I certainly did not mean to do it.  I just needed a small break....that turned into months and months.  Time flew.  WOW! 

I do keep busy over at Blipfoto.com though.  Check me out:  http://www.blipfoto.com/Livingandloving

I post over there every day.  It keeps me busy. 

I did want to share over here that Sugar Bear has just wrapped up her 2nd grade year.  WOW!  This school year was so fast.  She had a great year, and loved her teacher.  I'm so happy about that.

Here is a reminder of her on here first day of class:

Here is the photo I took just yesterday: Look at how grown up she is! sigh........I'm not ready to say that my daughter is a 3rd grader....I'm just not ready.

52 weeks of me 2012~ Week 51

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo not ashamed to say that I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo ready for this challenge to be over with.  I really cherish the photos that this project of the past two years has brought about, and I know that my child will be ever so grateful for them in the future, but my creativity, motivation, and enthusiasm for this project is over. 

This week's theme was:  MERRY

I set up my tripod and used my remote shutter to grab a few shots of my girl and I by our tree the other night.  I did some posed.....and them just let it snap a few while be goofed off.  I adore this one.  It is so US.  Sugar is being goofy, and I'm over the moon in love with her. 

 

The last theme for the year is: CELEBRATE

52 Weeks of me 2012~ Week 47

The theme/prompt for the week was:  Thankful

It isn't hard to know exactly what I am thankful for.....My Girl!  I am one VERY blessed mama.

Here we are on Thanksgiving, wearing our matching scarves I made this week. 

 

 

The theme for this week is: LOOK

My little Butterfly

This Halloween had some pretty un-fantastic weather, BUT....I couldn't complain because we are safely nestled here on the west coast, and my mind is on those who weathered Hurricane Sandy this week.  A lot of rain here.....really isn't anything compared to that, so I set my thoughts on enjoying our Hallween evening no matter what.

Funny story....LAST year my Sugar Bear wanted to be a butterfly, but noooooooooooooooooooooo.....I mentioned the possibility of being Rapunzel from the movie Tangeled, and BLAM.....I had two months of crazy planning and sewing to do.  I don't regret it one bit......but I wasn't ready to be THAT committed this Halloween, so I was more than thrilled when Sugar mentioned being a Butterfly again.  Whew......

She even requested that we keep it simple.  So we totally did, and she loved her costume just the same. 

 

 

I purchased the wings.  We loved that they weren't the stiff....hanging off your back sort of wings.  She didn't want to be bumping into everyone all the time.  I did embellish them a bit with some gems and sequins.  So pretty.

 

 

 

I made her antennae with wire and beads.  We both thought it was really pretty and cute. 

 

 

 

She was happy with how quick and easy it was to put on her costume.  :)

 

 

Trick or Treating was great.  She flew all around, and enjoyed her butterfly freedom. 

 

 

Costumes of Halloweens Past

Okay....so I couldn't help doing this as well.  Look at my little munchkin grow.  It took me a bit to find the pics from the first two years though.

 

2005

 

My little lady bug.  I got this costume off of Ebay for like $10 as a set with the costume she wore the next year.  I loved her chubby little cheeks.  Gosh I miss that plump little baby. 

 

2006

 

This pumpkin costume came with the ladybug one.  Loved it.  She adored it too.  She was so excited about Halloween that year.  I love this picture.

2007

 

I purchased this adorable pink kitty costume the previous year on clearance.  My girl really dug this costume.  She was the Cat's Meow, and won her first costume contest at a local harvest party. 

 

2008

Yeeeeeeeeeee Haw!  My little Cowgirl.  This was the first year I stepped into making Sugar's costume.  I embellished a simple denim jumper dress for her cowgirl look.  The boots were borrowed, the hat was purchased, and the horse was from a costume clearance the year before.  The freckles.....topped it all off.  Adorable.

2009

Sugar wanted to be a cheetah, and I figured....why not? So I whipped up this costume from my imagination.  She loved it.  It made her feel fierce and sassy.

2010

This was the year my girl was alllllllllll about "The Wizard of Oz."  It was super fun to whip up this dress, snap up the ruby red slippers, and borrow a basket for Toto.  This costume was so easy and fun.

2011

This was the year I LOST.MY.MIND and spend an amazing amount of time making the perfect Rapunzel costume from the movie, Tangled. I made the dress and the wig. It took me two months, but it turned out better than either of us could have imagined. My girl felt really special.

 

2012

 

To be continued....

Oh How Time flies

I'm feeling pretty nostalgic these days. I decided that I wanted to take a moment to look back at Octobers past.

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

 

 

2007

 

 

 

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh and you can't miss this Video of her doing the 5 Little pumpkins: Tooo cute

 

 

2010

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

2012

 

 

 

Love that she is wearing the same shirt for the last 3 years. :) She is growing fast...but not tooooooooooooo fast. 

Pumpkin Patch Time

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." ~William Cullen Bryant

I really do love Fall.  The cold crisp mornings, and the beautiful sunny afternoons.  What a delight.
 

We had the honor of getting up to the pumpkin patch TWICE this year.  Once for a fun fall birthday party, and once with her class from school.  Both days were fabulously perfect. 

 

Both times were filled with friends and fun.






Gotta love the silly faces.






Picking the perfect pumpkin can be such a challenge for a seven year old.







But both times she was successful. The first day she found "Pum", and the second day she found "Kin". They are a perfect match.

 

 

 

One of the sweetest parts to see this year was the day that the second grade class was there, the morning was rather chilly. While standing in line, I noticed several of the girls had paired up for some snuggles. It was lovely to see that they are so very fond of each other.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure this guy provided any warmth, though.

 

 

 

 

 

We are so very blessed. Life is good!

 

 

Week 104

One Hundred and FOUR weeks of the "My Week" collages.  How on earth did that happen?  seriously, time does fly.  I've been doing some sort of 365 photo challenge now for 3 years.  It has changed my life.  I know that sounds totally corny, but it it true.  

I was sitting in a seminar about dealing with Stress in our personal and work lives today, and the presenter was talking about how important it is to focus on the GOOD, the AMAZING, the BEAUTIFUL of our days, and spend less time on the BAD stuff.  Naturally, humans spend 97% of their time thinking about, and dwelling on the things wrong in their lives.  I have fallen in this trap many times. 

The 365 photo challenge has helped me find the beauty in each and every single day.  I find myself looking at my life.....my world differently than I did before.  I search for the perfect moment each day.  This helps me focus on the AWESOME, and it helps me love my life. 

While I will not be continuing with the "my week" collages, I will be continuing to take photos each and every day.  I have been sharing my photos over at Blipfoto for a 84 days now.  You can see my photos HERE. 

I will likely be sharing my daily photos here as well, in some fashion, but I'm not sure yet what that will be.  My blog has taken a backseat for many many months.  I don't want to let this place go, but I am certainly not as active as I used to be.  Someday, I hope to get back to writing more about my life, my thoughts, and my feelings. 

So....here is the final week of collage:

 

 

 

September 24th. I have no idea what is causing these amazing morning sun colors, but I am loving it. This photo doesn't even do this justice. The sun was amazing this morning. So orange, and perfect. I was on the way to drop my girl at the bus, and only had a quick moment to pull over and grab this shot.

It started my day off FABULOUS. Great day at work....and Sugar had fun at school and Tap class. Life is good.

 

 

 

September 25th was a pretty normal day for us. The highlight was a yummy brunch with a friend. I need to do that more often.

After I picked up my Sugar from the bus, we trucked on over to the pet store to grab some "food" for our snake. (sigh) As we were leaving, Sugar snagged a sighting of the bridge, and asked, "Is that the bridge we go over to get to my school?" It is so rare that we see the bridge from this view. I took a few snaps, and was about to put the camera away when Sugar said, "Take another one! There is a bird in the picture now!" I love that she sees life as a "picture" just like her mama.

September 26th was a turning point for me at work. I'm feeling like there are so many wonderful things waiting to happen. I love that feeling. I found myself watching this flag blow in the breeze this evening at my daughter's after school program, and I couldn't help but smile and think, "I feel so free!"



September 27th I had a super great day at work, and Sugar Bear had fun at school. She even had a play date in the afternoon, so she was feeling really pleased. We got home early enough to enjoy some time outside with the bunnies, the dog, and the swing set. (Not all together, mind you.)

Then I set my girl to doing her homework outside at our picnic table. What a fun treat. However, I think the paparazzi was not welcome. What do you think?



September 28th was a lovely fall day. Cold and crisp in the morning, but fabulously warm and sunny in the afternoon. I love it. It was a great day at work, and we had time to enjoy the sun when we got home. 

September 29th was a great day for the Sugar Bear. She first had a morning play date with a friend she doesn't get to see very often. Then we headed on out to the local pottery place for a birthday party of a friend she rarely gets a chance to see. It was delightful to see them together.

Then we jetted off to yet another birthday party for a school/dance friend. This was an outdoor jungle themed party. All the kiddos got these great hats, and there were plenty of jungle stuffed animals to snuggle. I think my girl simply fell in love with this hippo one. What do you think?

 

September 30th.  Okay....so please don't be afraid. This little guy is teeny tiny, and he doesn't want to hurt you. I mean look at his innocent little face. ?

I got a lot of things done today. I'm slowly working my way through my house deep cleaning and de-cluttering. It's way past time. I worked in the bathroom today. I then rewarded myself with some outside time.

I found this little spider in a white bucket, and he provided me a wonderful opportunity to work on my bug macro skills. It appears that I still needed to bump up my aperture to get him entirely in focus. Next time.