The Adventures of Mom and Dad: Yosemite Edition

Damon and I had a business trip that landed us within striking distance of Yosemite, so we took an extra day to hang around and explore the beauty of God's California creation...

We found some huge icicles and Damon got a little psycho about it...

It was February, so most things were pretty frozen...

Watts saw this photo and told his grandmother, "It must be cold there, because Mom looks fat, and she's really not."  And that statement catapulted him to his current status as my favorite child...

The hotel that we stayed in was historic and grand, and everything that I love in a hotel. It had huge fires to read beside, but sadly I had very little time to enjoy them as we were not there for long...

Also, as Watts already noticed, it was COLD!!!

Damon insisted on taking photos of me that I did not love...

I don't mind taking them together...

This should give you some idea of the terrain we were hiking.  There were lots of spots more brutal than this and a ton of change in elevation, sometimes coupled with ice on the trail, so Yosemite is not what I would call "family friendly" at this time of year...

It was a pretty exhausting day, actually...

Let's go hiking, he said.  It'll be totally safe, he said...

The trail...

I refuse to be "financially" responsible for anything until the park service learns to spell it...

This was probably the most treacherous part of the trail, so of course we used it as a photo op...

The sign at the hotel made me feel oh so safe...

In spite of the cold and the sometimes iffy conditions on the trail, this hike together was totally my jam and one of my favorite things that Damon and I have ever done!  I highly recommend a trip to Yosemite! 
 

Dance Conventions

Aaaaah, dance conventions.  I believe they are equal parts athletic event, celebrity sighting, girls' weekend, and child abuse.  Definitely a lot going on at these events.  Here are our cuties resting between convention classes...

Cille taking a photo with one of her amazing instructors...

Stella doing the same...I am sure these people are "dance famous," but I have no idea who they are...

Cille performing her solo to "Don't Rain on My Parade!"

Stella performing her solo "Diva"...

Dance friends are the best friends! 

My personal fave, Liz Imperio.  She is dance famous and I know her! Double bonus!  

Group photo after awards...

All dressed up and ready for solos...

Cille's spotlight moment in the group dance...

The best junior girls ever...

I was never this flexible on my best day...

The sass! Hard to believe she is only 11 years old...

Cousins!  (Distant-haha!)

We had such an amazing second year on pro company! We learned, we grew, we wore out dance shoes, and we built the sweetest friendships.  Can't wait to see what next convention season brings!  
 

Elementary Cheer

Just when we thought elementary cheer season was behind us, it was time for team photos! 

My favorite cheerleader EVER...

 

Mother-Son Dance

Damon and the girls have attended the Father-Daughter Dance for years, so Watts and I felt that it was high time we got our own date night.  We got tickets to the Mother Son Dance benefitting Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital and got gussied up for our big night out on the town.  I think Watts wore slightly more makeup than I did...

The "dance" featured lots of activities for the boys to enjoy...

As well as lots of sugar for us both...

We were able to have a professional portrait taken together...

And we took a selfie on our way in...

Turns out Watts was way more interested in carnival games than he was in actually dancing with his mother.  Shocking, I know.  We never actually danced (which was fine with me because I am a real Baptist), but Watts had a great time and said afterwards that it was his favorite thing ever.  It was nice to spend some time one on one with my favorite boy in the world!  

 

Celebration in the Oaks and Happy New Year!

A family favorite holiday activity is Celebration in the Oaks!  This year we took a friend along and the kids had a blast...

Waiting for the ladybug rollercoaster...

Three little piggies...

Fun house...

We were back home for New Year's Eve to celebrate in style!