Ballet

I LOVE that I have three girls. I can't wait until they grow up and we can shop together and go out for lunch...without tantrums or the need for naps. These three are going to be my best friends (once they are all grown up, of course). For now, I am Mom.

I love my 3 little ballerinas.

Here is my girls' ballet class for 2011. We started out with 12 little girls but by the end of the year it dwindles down.

Remy, Alex, Monet, Tori and Bella.

My little Spring Flowers.

This year they have mastered their splits, balancing, ballet terminology, and performing.

I am so proud. I love watching them get better year after year.

My Baby Ballerina

Children's Day

Here in Mexico we celebrate Children's Day. It is a day where all the kids are honored and get to have fun...at school.

They have races, prizes, water slides, lunch, and lots of fun.

Here is a picture of Alex's school class. They were getting ready for the Potato Sack Race.

Here they are in action. Alex is in the lead.

Don't know how she ended up with the 2nd Place ribbon. Oh well.

Everyone was nice enough to let her race even though she has been home schooled this year. I am so glad that she felt included.

Alex and Monet were partners in the Wheelbarrow Race. Alex was holding Monet's feet. Soon after the race started Alex was running faster than Monet could keep up so Alex took the lead and pulled Monet BEHIND her. Poor Monet!

Tori and her friend Katie were cheering on Alex.

Alex was SO excited to be partnered with Bobby. He is her first love. Here they are before the race....LONG before the race.

Everyone was at the starting line. Read. Set. GO!

Alex and Bobby had the lead. Then...some how...Bobby became airborne. They tripped and fell...coming in at 3rd. Bobby's head caught the fall. He was brave.

Here is Tori's first race. She was the first off the line.

Tori has superior strength. She flew through the Wheelbarrow Race. It was her partner that couldn't keep up. Next year.

Tori and Katie practiced for the 3 Legged Race for weeks. They truly earned FIRST place.

Here is Tori with all her ribbons. I was very impressed with my children's athletic abilities. Good job Girls!!

personality

Tori has always been a leader. She likes to be in charge and have a plan. She has always excelled in everything. I remember when she was 10 months old. She would practice stepping up the front steps over and over again until she got it. She would get mad if you would help her. She still has that same determination and drive.

Alex was my most cuddly baby. She could always get you to smile. She melted hearts and still does. She is very confident, yet very sensitive. When I pick her up from Kindergarten she will say, "Thank you Mommy, sweetie, cutie pie." When she was 3 years old I was pushing her around WalMart and a store clerk came up to us to see if we needed any help. Alex cut in and said, "Excuse me, I love your earrings." She knows how to make everyone's day!

Benton is my perfectionist. He will make sure everything is in its correct place. He helps me sort laundry and will tell me what pile every article belongs in. I dropped him off at Nursery one day and he was the first one there. He immediately went to the chairs and table and began to rearrange them until they were just right. He is very particular. He loves his schedule and doesn't like change. Every afternoon, once we take the girls back to school, he will say, "Come on Mom, it's time for naps and Tom and Jerry on your bed."

Adalyn is my tiny baby. She is only 5 months and will complain to me. She won't cry but she will complain. She lets me know when she isn't happy. She also loves to spit. Her face will scrunch up as though she is about to sneeze but she will then, purposely, spit at you. She also growls. I find it hilarious. I wonder if this is a sign of things to come. Oh, Dear!

honk if you love me

In Mexico there are obviously many differences.

The one I would like to elaborate on is the "door honk" as I call it.

Some people, especially those you don't know very well, will cautiously enter a yard, careful not to leave their vehicles and HONK to get you to open the door.

Or they will HONK until you open the door.

You then have to come to their car window to find out what they want, which isn't going to happen if I don't recognize your vehicle...or face!

We don't have drive-thru's but we have "door honks."

Those that do not own vehicles will yell, outside of your gate, until you figure out there is a commotion going on  and open the door.

Both these methods drive me NUTS!

I don't know about you but, I do not respond well to being HONKED or YELLED at.

I get enough of that with 4 kiddos.

If you want to talk to me, be hired by me, or collect money from me...

PLEASE...FOR THE LOVE...

come to my door and graciously KNOCK!

Chances are you will be greeted with a smile...instead of a scowl.

{starfish}

My kids LOVE the water.

The second the outside temperature reached 85 degrees, they jumped for the pool.

Trent now has a pool in his back yard so our kids need to learn how to swim.

2 of my 4 are waterproof. 

The Hatch cousins got lessons on how to dive...float like a starfish...and make the biggest splash.

Next time we are out in the states we will cover their basic strokes. 

I'm sorry, but the "doggie paddle" isn't considered swimming in my book!

I have sisters-in-law who can all swim well and one who is a  water-polo star.

We can out swim all of the Hatch men...easily!

Soon, our kids will be able to as well. HA.

It probably doesn't help that the water has to be in the 90's before any of these men will consider getting in.

It is officially swimming season!!!

Tangled

I took my girls to see Disney's latest movie.

Ever since we've been counting down the days to be able to own it.

I pre-ordered this movie.

It is easily my new favorite of all times!

Once the movie came out we made a special trip out to the states to get our mail.

(Not really but the kids think so.)

The movie gets watched at least once a day.

One day I found my frying pan on the couch.

Two seconds later Alex came running in, wearing this blonde wig.

She was all set to watch Tangled.

Now, this is the only way they will watch the movie.

They dance and act right along with Rapunzel.

sad...but true

Last week Garrett hired a man to work for him on his Mountain Orchard.

The man only worked for one week.

They next week he didn't show up for work.

He was missing...

so was his wife...

and baby.

A few days later 3 bodies were found on the side of the Mountain road.

It was this family.

They had been shot and dumped.

The baby had been dismembered. 

The Government Soldiers questioned Garrett's uncle as to how we knew this man.

He learned that he had a shady past and was trying to escape it.

The baby had been tortured by some bad men to try and get information from this man.

A family was destroyed because of 

greed

money

and drugs.

I am sad to say that we were connected to this story...even from afar.

My heart broke to hear this grizzly story.

You just cannot get mixed up with "those" people...AT ALL!