Then and Now

Top picture: Tate and Lainey in 2010 (Lainey was clearly in her "Cheese" phase.)

Bottom picture: Tate and Lainey in 2017 (I'm just grateful that they stood next to each other for a picture.)

And here are Knox (left) and Walker (right) from 2010. I could NOT get them to stand next to each other for a picture. :) Maybe when baseball season starts... ;) 

Talent On Parade

Lainey competed in her first solo competition of the season this past weekend in Fort Worth. She won the Category Cup for her category (Musical Theater for 7-8 year olds) and 5th place overall for 7-8 year olds. 

backstage

onstage receiving the Category Cup for Musical Theater (red skirt)

This year, her point level was "Diamond" as opposed to last year's "Double Diamond." She was a little disappointed; and I think this picture shows it. :( She doesn't compare herself to others at all, which I LOVE, but she definitely has expectations for herself. I could tell she was trying to process the whole experience throughout the weekend as she kept bringing it up at random times. In my opinion, disappointment is good for building character. And this was definitely a good character-building experience! :)

This is a horrible picture...but she is fifth from the left, receiving her trophy for placing 5th overall for 7-8 year olds. :)

***

We love you for being YOU, Lainey. We are thankful for you every single day.

A Little Flashback...

This is the time of year when our city is abuzz with political activity. Many candidates are filing to run for office, and of course, it brings back memories from when Ben ran for City Council...both in 2009 and 2013. Someone sent this picture to Ben recently from his 2013 Campaign Kickoff Party.

Such a tiny, cute little Walker. I think this must have been just before he had a giant accident and I had to ask around for an extra pair of boys' pants. All while Ben was giving his speech. :) Ha!

JUMP Convention / Competition

At the beginning of February, Lainey attended Break the Floor's JUMP Convention / Competition in Dallas. Here are a few pictures of her on stage during her group dances.

***

From "America"... 

Haha! So mad.

***

From "Titanium"...

I love this one!

***

From "Boy Bye"...

 (Lainey is on the far right.)

Lainey's facial expressions are just hilarious...

Lainey's sweet teacher, Ms. Bishop, came to support her! It was so wonderful to see her!

And, for the first time, Lainey was a Mini VIP Runner-Up! How exciting! She's on the back row, far left, not looking at the camera. :) 

***

While Lainey danced, Walker and Daddy spent some time at the lease. 

Walker had his first Dr. Pepper. He really liked it. :) Ha!

He also did some good sleeping. At the lease, the boys eat and do whatever they want (that includes eating candy for breakfast and staying up waaaaayyyyy too late). Walker currently sleeps with four stuffed animals and two blankies. :) His posse keeps growing!

Last Week....

Whew! Last week was a mess. Lainey got sick with "the flu" that wasn't the flu. (As in, she tested negative for the flu TWO times!) Anyway, she missed 3 days of dance and 2-1/2 days of school but managed to make it to her third grade performance of "Zomo" on Thursday night. 

Lainey...dead center, bottom row, red shirt, playing the drums (that she literally learned that day). 

And then she was "Big Fish" in the play! She was so cute! She danced on stage and then had to "lose" all of her scales.

And...she lost her scales. :) 

This is Walker, at a birthday party on Saturday. Poor guy. He's known the birthday boy (Brayden) since he was about 18 months old but didn't really know the other kids there...plus he doesn't like bowling...so this was how Walker coped with the situation. :( I felt badly for him. But we stayed, he hung in, and we played games.

We saw Tony Romo! That's Tony! Playing video games with his kids!

And that evening, Walker and I drew dinosaurs....with Reagan. 

She's super not-helpful.

Ha! She was just looking for a place to sit that wasn't the hardwood floor. She prefers a soft, cushiony surface on which to rest her old bones. As soon as I put a pillow on the ground, she crawled right onto it. Walker and I had fun with her in the meantime. Even though she was trying to sit on our workspace. ;) 

A Letter to Stella

Lainey loves her own personal fairy, whose name is Stella. Lainey writes lots of notes to Stella, and sometimes, she writes back. I took a picture of this particular note because it just made me smile...I love that Lainey's "power" is friendship. I love her sweet, innocent, imaginative, playful, eight-year-old self. 

A Busy Week

We watched Ben speak at Plano's "State of the City" event on Tuesday evening. He and Lissa Smith introduced the mayor. After two consecutive four-year terms, Ben's position as a Plano City Council member will conclude in May. 

Lainey's picture was featured as part of the mayor's introduction. She and the mayor have a good friendship! :)

Mayor Harry LaRosiliere takes the stage.

On Thursday night, we went to see Lainey's artwork on display at the Frisco I.S.D. administration building. Her still life (the pumpkin and flowers) was featured along with other students' work from her school. 

We're proud of you, girl! After the art reception, we went to our friend Al Valente's kickoff party (he's running for Ben's spot on City Council). Lainey kept referring to it as a "cook-off." Ha!

And, Walker's Ducky Blankie sleep sack still fits. 

He looks so awkward. ;) We were so afraid it was going to rip...shockingly it still zips and functions.