Dance Recital

I apologize for neglecting my blog. I thought summer was supposed to be more relaxing, but it has already been quite more busy. Mainly because maintaining a yard and garden and such takes a lot more work! And although the children are spending less time messing up the inside, laundry and dishes are never ending!

So here is a quick update at what is going on with us:

Greg is busy as always. Just because the students are gone, doesn't mean he has less work. It means he has a little bit more time to catch up! He is teaching an online course for the summer too, so he does his grading after the kids go to bed. We did a booth at the Scandinavian Festival for Dart Photography and it has already been great advertising for us! Sometimes I don't know if we need more photo business, but we are hoping to save up to finish the basement so we will have an in home studio.

I have been of course taking care of 3 children which seems soooo much more than taking care of 2. And it is Denali that really keeps me on my toes. I also have been trying to get a Dart Photography blog up and running. Our website got a virus and we are using the blog until we get a new website built too. I also took some maternity pictures and will be taking some family pictures soon. I hope to take a photography class in the fall. And I have been weeding and mowing and trying to plant a garden. I also am taking care of the neighbors yard. They are selling it and don't live here anymore and we traded them a trampoline for some yard work. They don't have a sprinkling system either so I am watering both yards in the evening. That may sound lame, but it feels busy. I am also planning a kids summer camp. So for those of you that live here, stay tuned for more details!

Alexis had a busy month. She graduated from preschool and they had a little circus program for the last day. Her teacher was wonderful and she already misses her other classmates. She also had her dance recital. Their costumes were super cute. She might be Minnie mouse for Halloween. Hopefully the videos will work and you can see for yourself. Alexis actually did a lot better during practice than she did at the recital. But it was so fun watching her. I am a very proud Mom. She is anxiously awaiting swimming lessons next week.

Denali as I said has been keeping me on my toes. She is so loving and sweet and also so destructive. She tears books apart. Hits and pinches her sister. Colors on every surface except for the paper provided her. She is loving playing outside and is out there as much as possible. She loves smothering her brother with kisses. She also is excited for swimming lessons. She is a little fish and I can't wait to watch her.

Paxton had his 2 month check-up and is 13 pounds! So he is growing like crazy and has started cooing and laughing. He loves it when you talk to him and responds with a smile. I need to get the next tub of clothes out because he doesn't fit many of the 0-3 month ones anymore. He had a rough couple days after getting his shots, but is still just the sweetest and mellow baby.

As a family we are excited to do some camping this summer. We are going to do our first trip this Friday to a nearby campground. Tent camping with 3 little ones is sure to be something to blog about! We are also thinking about getting a dog. But we would like to have a fenced yard first, so it may be a couple years. We will have to see. We had a great Memorial Day with the Dart family and visiting my Aunt Ann.

Here are the dance videos. Alexis is the one on the right side in both.


I have Greg take pictures every Mother's Day and here is one from this year.
Here is Denali with Mary Kay facial lotion and Mascara smeared in her hair and on her face. Her eyes are a little red because she cried when she got in trouble . . . and then I took a picture.

Alexis in her cute costume. She was so excited because she got to keep the bear.