Lovin' Life

Friday, May 21, 2010

Hannah's First Piano Recital

So exciting ~ Hannah had her first piano recital last night!!! All of the students did an amazing job ~ so much talent in the room! They all played from memory and it was fabulous!

...playing Yankee Doodle and Just A Minute...

...with Mrs. Duensing...

...with Grammy Darls...

...celebrating with Boppa Tom and Grammy Darls...

...the four of us...

...with her friend, Hannah, who is staying with us this week...

We all enjoyed treats and punch afterwards!!!

Arts in the Afternoon

...a few pics from the kiddos' Spring Concert - Arts in the Afternoon...

Friday, May 14, 2010

Today was Field Day at Denver Lutheran High School - we love it because all of the metro area Lutheran schools get together for some fun and friendly competition! We pack a huge blanket and our picnic lunch, and hang out on the lawn for the day! The sun was out and it was a beautiful!!! Just an FYI ~ I'm looking out the window now and torrential rain has started pouring down ~ phew!

...a gaggle of 2nd graders ready for fun...

...crab race ready...

...she's cruising...

...throw it far...

...the dudes...

...run like the wind, Hannah...

...target throw = right on...

...jump, jump, jump...

...time to head home and relax :-)

Very Proud Participants!!!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Summer Plans

Yes, it's snowing here and so beautiful outside!!!

But in just 30 days we'll be heading out for a few days at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, Colorado (Snow Mountain Ranch) ~ and then Moab, Utah (Moag Springs Ranch) in July! No plane trips this year ~ just driving adventures!!! Honestly, we've all hit the end-of-school-year dip ~ it's getting harder and harder to get things done, and that means for us parents, too :-)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Cheesecake Cookie Cups

I made these little morsels of heaven for the Spring Ball ~ they were so yummy!!! Chocolate chip cookie dough + cheesecake = total heaven!!! ENJOY!

1 package Nestle refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, room temperature

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

Preheat oven to 325° F. Paper-line 24 muffin cups. Place one piece of cookie dough in each muffin cup. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookie has spread to edge of cup.

Beat cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and vanilla extract in medium bowl until smooth. Pour about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture over each cookie in cup.

Bake for additional an 15 to 18 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Top each (or just a few) with a little pie filling. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Peel off wrapper and enjoy!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Secret Garden Ball

As part of their PE grade, our 5th and 8th graders spend one class a week during this quarter learning ballroom dance ~ waltz, swing, foxtrot, cha cha, and tango! The Secret Garden Ball is held on Friday night with parents, grandparents and other important people invited to join in the fun! What an awesome time for families to be together!!! Each of the kids had a dance card with all 25 dances listed and who their partners would be - what a blast! A DJ provided the music ranging from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to Santana and Taylor Swift! I was able to dance the waltz and tango with Joshua, and Grammy Darls danced two waltzes with him! I even got in a father/daughter waltz with Dad!