Cinderella

I took the boys to see Cinderella last week in the theaters, and oh how we loved it.  The baby ate and slept, the big boys laughed (they loved the transformation scene) and ate a large popcorn, and I just might have cried 3 times.  (Why did the scene where Cinderella's dress change make me cry???  Crazy hormones!)

The casting was perfect.  Isn't Lily James just about perfect? I love her in Downton as well. Bellatrix Lestrange as the fairy godmother was such a brilliant choice, and Cate Blanchett's wardrobe was unbelievably gorgeous. The only thing I was hoping for was "The Prince is giving a ball!" number during one of the village scenes.  I know it's wasn't a musical, but still...

It's a funny thing when you start thinking of the main characters of a movie as your children.  I know I'm not old enough to be their mother, but I kept thinking about how I want my boys to find someone as sweet and beautiful as Cinderella, and to treat her kindly, and how I hope some mother out there is raising that kind of girl for my boys!  

We were the last ones out of the theater.  Charlie likes to go to the very front and look at the screen way up close during the credits.  It was so special and sweet watching him watch the screen. It's still very surreal to me that I'm a mom to 3 beautiful boys.  The sweet music was playing in the back, and I guess Charlie, with his special sixth sense, could tell that I was feeling all these things, so he comes up and takes my hand, and starts leading me in a little sway dance.  The sweetness.  My heart!

A few great tops for spring

Left to Right, 1 2 3 4 5 6

Clothes for me right now are just kinda.....eh.  I still have about 15 pounds to lose to get back to my post-Crew weight, and I'm nursing, which makes dressing a challenge.

Tops are something I never buy.  Dresses, yes.  Skirts, yes. Patterned pants, yes.  Tops...no. These are a few tops that I am crushing on for spring, and ones that would be good for nursing and for hiding the lingering baby weight.  

And somehow, all the tops ended up being grey/black/white except one.  I like what I like.  I have the white button up (and wore it here) and reallyyyyy like it.

Have you come across any great tops for spring?!  Please share if you have :)

Tennis

Sunday night, Charlie woke me up in the middle of the night and whispered, "Mom, don't forget my tennis lesson tomorrow." :)

The boys had their first tennis lesson this past Monday, and it so much fun...(yes, for me and for them.)  Technically, only Charlie was supposed to be in the lesson (5 and older), but my dad scooched Walker in there as well, and I have to say, Walker held his own!

I had the best time watching them learn and hearing the comments they made to the other kids in the lesson and to the coach.  

One of the other boys in the lesson was standing behind Walker in line, and rubbed the top of his head, in a "you're so cute" kinda way...which he is, and Walker looked at him and said, "Don't touch my hat! This is my Tarheel hat!"

If the boys missed a shot, they had to go to "jail", and during a jail break to start the game over, Walker ran to the other side of the net and yelled, "This is the funnest game EVERRRRR!!!!!"

After making a shot, Walker ran to the back of the line and told the boy in front of him, "I'm back here because I HIT it!"

The coach was so great, and had a great balance of being encouraging and tough on them.  I love that.  All the boys in the class had so much energy (in a good way!), and were so excited to do everything they were asked to do.

I'm currently typing this while eating my weight in Phish Food ice cream, so maybe I should get out there with them and run around next time. :)

Freshman Orientation

Top, Pants

I went out last week with my friend, Courtney, to celebrate her 30th birthday.  We had a special night eating at a cute, new restaurant, talking for hours and hours, and of course, taking outfit pictures.

Courtney and I have been friends since orientation of our freshmen year at East Carolina University.  She was a theatre major, I was a dance major, and somehow we ended up being in the same orientation tour group.

She was wearing a Young Women's Girl's Camp tshirt, and after introducing ourselves, we became instant friends.  Our meeting was definitely not a coincidence, because not only do we still have so much fun together, she is the person that introduced me to Noel.  Courtney, the fabulous!

Also, as a side note....these pants.  Major two thumbs up.

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy

Star Wars Birthday Party

My sweetheart Charlie turned 5 years old last Saturday, and he gets better and better every day.  He is my confidant, and somehow always knows what to do and what to say to help me out.

Saturday morning we celebrated him with a Star Wars birthday breakfast.  

^Charlie is STILL wearing this R2D2 book bag Mimi and Grandpa got him. 

^Light Saber cupcakes by Chelle Austen's Baked Goods

^Darth Vader (aka Grandpa) made an appearance, and the boys ATTACKED with their light sabers.  Before the party, my dad called and asked how many boys were going to be there.  After I told him, I thought, oh no...what is he going to bring??!  That morning, Dad brought every boy at the party a nerf gun.  So, all the boys were armed with a light saber and a nerf gun.  They loved it.  How often do little boys get the opportunity to just beat on each other (with full permission)?!  It was so entertaining and Charlie had the best time.  Grandpa knows how to have fun!

^Short break for a posed picture

^and back at it

I love breakfast birthdays....especially when they involve Chick-Fil-A chicken minis.  It was rainy and gross on Saturday, but we cleared out our garage, put up a tent on the outside, and let the boys have at it. 

It was a great bunch....these boys didn't even care that the weather was wonky....they played and ran and ate tons of doughnuts and minis and cupcakes.  

Happy Birthday, dear Charlie!

some thoughts

^me and sweet baby Crew in front of the Raleigh Temple

Isn't it insane that in one moment, your mind can twist everything you love about your life and everything you love about yourself into completely shambles?  The fact that Satan is so real and that he can turn all those wonderful things into complete mush is ridiculous.

This happened to me recently after a few somethings occurred, and I was thrown because this rarely happens to me.  I feel like I'm a pretty grounded and confident person, and I usually have so many other thoughts (and things) going on, that I don't have time to think these kinds of thoughts.

So...after a 3 minute cry sesh....I thought, you know what?  This isn't going to happen.  I have way more important and productive things to be doing.   

Here's what you do if those thoughts ever creep into your mind...

*  In that moment, think about everything you have to be grateful for....for everything that is so good and so sweet in your life.  Do it right then and right there.  And yes...there is always something good.

*  Pray with all your might that that moment will turn itself around for good so that you can get on with it, and do some good for yourself, your family, and for other people.

and 

*  To quote Brigham Young, "If you have a bad thought about yourself, tell it to go to hell because that is exactly where it came from." ^And might I add (a bad thought about your situation).

Sometimes you have to experience that moment of BLAH to truly appreciate the amazing moments.  The next day brought sunshine, a walk with a really great friend, some of the best snuggles with my baby (there is literally nothing more important than a snuggle snooze with a baby), and a text message from someone that was so obviously inspired to send a very thoughtful message my way.

And to leave you with a quote so beautiful....

that time I changed my major...

Halfway during my sophomore year of college, I went through a phase where I was OVER ballet. I was tired of tight, hair-sprayed buns and pink tights, and so tired of my feet always being torn up with blisters from my pointe shoes.  I remember taking class in the ballet studio upstairs, and while waiting for my turn to go across the floor, would watch the modern dancers in the studio downstairs...so jealous of their biker shorts, bare feet, and freedom!

Instead of just switching my focus to modern, I took a completely different turn and became a fashion merchandising major.  This literally lasted for 2 weeks.  I went to my first fashion 101 class, and everyone was wearing cute outfits while the teacher talked about different kinds of thread.  I almost threw myself out the window.....  I needed to MOVE! ^the picture makes sense now, right?! :) (And I needed to wear sweatpants over a leotard on campus like you're supposed to...not cute outfits with matching accessories....blahhh!)

I gave it 2 weeks, and then decided that I was born to dance.  Thank goodness my dance advisor never completely changed my schedule (she knew I'd be back.)  I did focus my attention more on modern dance after that, and it was amazing.  Still as rough on my body as ballet was, but in a totally different way. 

I did have "desk classes", of course, but they were all classes I loved.  Dance history was one of my favorites, along with all my education classes.  

I am grateful, however, for my ballet background.  I never would have been the dancer or teacher I am without it.  Put your dancers in ballet first!!  It's the foundation for all other forms of dancing and your child will be better for it.  

Ballet is also my favorite form of dance to teach now (and to take).  I love the discipline behind it, and am so grateful that my parents always encouraged me and supported me in this art form.

I'm so glad I switched back to Dance Ed....ahhh!  So, so glad. It introduced me to tons of experiences and people that have made such a difference in my life...and still does!

Crew's blessing day

^Blessing outfit my brother and my big boys wore

^missing a few people from this picture, but so happy to be surrounded by family and friends

NC weather is always super wonky, but this week has been extra wild.  Wednesday was beautiful with a high of 75 and sunny....this past Sunday, (Crew's blessing day), was not one of those days.  It was so cold and rainy that church was almost cancelled because of freezing rain.

So glad it wasn't, because Crew's blessing day was such a wonderful one.  I can't believe I have these 3 beautiful boys....oh my goodness it's so fun.  

Crew is the perfect addition to our family.  Everyone needs a Crewbaby...he is delicious, and smiley, and sweet-natured, and the best sleeper of all time.  I love him so much, and wonder every day what I did so right in my life to be chosen as his mommy.

Happy Friday, friends!

Charlie's blessing day.  Walker's blessing day.

the first one

Madewell Transport Tote, Top: Gap, Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes: Cousin Couture, Necklace: Loft

I was going to wait until I was back to my normal, pre-baby weight to do any kind of outfit post, but realized that wouldn't be for about another year....so here's the first one after baby!

I worked out officially for the first time last weekend, and it was amazing.  I absolutely love being pregnant, (until I'm about 40 weeks pregnant....and then I'm just too gigantic to like anything), but it was really amazing taking Body Flow as just me.  And yes...I'm still feeling every single muscle in my body 4 days later.

Hope you have sunshine where you are...it's supposed to be sunny and in the 70s today in NC! (which is a nice change from the freezing weather we've been having lately.)

Linking up with Shanna and The Pleated Poppy