su dara riding ranch

Myka went horseback riding with Haily and her dad for one of her birthday presents. So- the girlies dressed up like cowgirls and danced around the house to bluegrass, Charlie Daniels Band and Dixie Chicks until 4pm when we picked Aaron up and headed out to Puyallup and Su Dara's Riding Ranch...









Haily and Aaron rode this horse, Nessa. Myka rode a red haired horse named Shane and their guide's horse was Storm.



(Myka asked me how she could get a horse and so I told her she would have to marry a cowboy- I was kidding of course- she could buy one when she makes her own money, right?)






Miss Su had lots of animals at her ranch, including some friendly cats who loved being fawned over by the girls. This black one is Pippins-



-and this one is Maze who wouldn't leave me alone while I hung out waiting for the trailriders to return! Aaron said the trail was through a forest wonderland full of tall trees, ferns, wild blackberries and a clearing point that gave a breathtaking view of Mt Rainier. It was a lovely Monday afternoon at Su Dara Ranch.

nakedy wiggle

There it is- the 'Nakedy Wiggle'. And that's all I will say.

just a reminder...

...A reminder to myself- that I do indeed have a figure that will return some time after baby comes out. I remember feeling this same huge way with Mykababy and Hailybaby tucked perfectly inside my belly at eight months- I feel like I cannot possibly get any bigger! I don't want to go to my appointment on Friday and cringe at the numbers on the scale- I don't want to shuffle through my 'big' clothes another time trying to find something to fit into and I am tired of feeling chubby and expansive in Aaron's arms instead of long limbed and womanly! (I don't think he can even get his arms around me at this point) It's great that baby is safe inside and getting all set for the big day- I am just a bit done being this heavy- that is all...

at the blue wall

Sweet sisters who love the baby already. I am at 35 weeks. Baby Girl Gary is due on Sep. 22nd!









Guess who cut her own bangs AGAIN!!!!



(I surprised myself and learned how to sew these basic summer frocks for the girls...






Haily jumped into the ear pierce chair at Claire's- I had nothing to do with it- we went for Myka's b-day and Haily loves to do what her big sister does, so, there you go.






(Aaron loves to 'palm' the baby like a basketball.)

hailydancer, mykadancer and pointe class

Here is 2008 recital footage that I meant to post for grandparents, like, ages ago. So now that it has been more than a year since the informal recital... here you go! (The pointe class piece at the end is just for fun. Check out the 11 yr old redhead showing everyone up... go redheads...)

salt water state park

(I've always loved Aaron's hands- so muscular and tan)



We ventured out of Tacoma the other weekend and found Salt Water State Park in Des Moines, Washington. Our girls love the sun, water and sand- like most kids I'm sure- so they played and played and played and played and played and played till they coulnd't play one minute more!

new baby names

your opinion, please...

elle

ella

roxy

josey

cali

ally

morgan

marley

asa

ava

avery

kayla

kara

creative movement

I can't believe I left this picture off the last post! Here is Myka and Haily with their Dad in Miss Laura's creative movement piece. It takes a certain kind of guy to accompany his daughters to dance class because mom didn't feel well for four months. And he even performed at the Pantages Recital with them. Yes- it was his first time in dance pants- but he looked spectacular in them- especially from the back-hee hee! Aaron wins the prize for this one!

y dance classes

In May our YMCA Dance Program put on a huge show that sold out Tacoma's Pantages Theater both nights it ran. It was a big deal for all my dance classes. They worked hard on their pieces and really put their best dancing selves on display that weekend. Here are the photos taken by Yuen Lui of each of my classes:


Intermediate Jazz 7-11


Beginning Jazz 7-11


Beginning Jazz Teens


Intermediate Modern Teens


Beginning Ballet II 3-5


Y Dance Staff