Coach Caitlin, Daddy's new assistant coach

This is Daddy's last week of Summer basketball!  Tonight he started his last tournament of the Summer.  His team won their 5 o'clock game and played a second game at 6pm.  Mommy, Grandpa, and Caitlin went to cheer on Daddy and his team.  While the team warmed up for the second game, Caitlin sat next to Daddy on the bench.  Caitlin then decided that she was going to be Daddy's assistant coach for the game.  Caitlin loved sitting on the bench with the boys.  She drew plays on Daddy's clipboard, high fived the boys as they came out of the game, and even yelled at the boys on the court, just like Daddy.  Caitlin intently listened during Daddy's halftime talk and joined them in their post game huddle!  Daddy's team won the second game tonight and we wonder if his new assistant had anything to do with the win!  Caitlin loved being right next to Daddy!  We named her Coach Caitlin and talked all the way home about coaching with Daddy!  Enjoy the photos of Daddy's new assistant coach and pay attention to her many coaching stances!

Daddy and Coach Caitlin talking about strategies for the game

Drawing plays for Daddy

Yelling at the boys on the court to run a play

Checking stats while Daddy coaches the boys

Watching the game and having the same face as her players

Listening to Daddy's halftime talk

Not sure if Coach Caitlin is tired or disappointed in the referee's call

Taking a break from the bench once she knew we were going to win the game

 

Checking out the post-game huddle

While Daddy talked in the huddle, Grandpa and Caitlin had fun playing on the court

Fun with Paint!

It's too hot to play outside, but that doesn't stop us from having fun inside!  After we got home from storytime, the girls wanted to paint!  Allison has been taking an art class so she was pretty excited to paint.  Caitlin and Allison didn't need much help painting with watercolors!  They had Nina Nina Dia and Nana sit with them as they painted sheets and sheets of colorful designs.  Nana couldn't wait to hang up the beautiful painting on her refrigerator!

Little artists at work (Mommy did tell the girls to use more than just the color black)

Nana and Nina Nina Dia were great paint helpers for Caitlin and Allison

Testing out all the colors

"Did you call my name Mommy?"

Happy little artist

Storytime!

Mommy and Nana decided to take Caitlin and Allison to storytime at the Wilmot Library this morning.  Nana and Mommy wondered whaqt it would be like and decided to give it a try.  Today's storytime theme was bugs!  The librarian read four books and after each book sang a song with the kids.  Caitlin and Allison liked the stories and the songs.  Nana and Mommy thought the librarian could have been a little more enthusiastic when reading the stories, but were overall satisfied with storytime.  Afterwards, the kids were allowed to decorated butterflies to take home.  The girls said they had fun today and want to go again sometime.  Nana and Mommy were happy to finally get to storytime, something they had been wanting to do for awhile.

Caitlin and Allison listening to the story

Singing a song with beanie babies!  Mommy tried taking photos with her phone to send!

The girls wanted Mommy to sing the song with them 

Decorating butterflies to take home

Cars 2

A hot Summer Sunday is a perfect day for the movies! Today we went to see Cars 2!  Caitlin couldn't wait to be with Allison at her first movie.  The girls had fun getting popcorn and getting settled in their seats.  The movie had a plot that was a little too sophisticated for the girls, but they still enjoyed seeing Lightning McQueen and Mater!  Caitlin only asked to go to the potty three times during the movie, which was pretty good for this being our first movie without diapers.  Caitlin and Allison can't wait until the Pooh movie comes out in July!

Ready to see Cars 2

Caitlin, Uncle Kenny, Allison, Aunt Stacie, and Chango ready for the movies

Posing since it's Allison's first movie

Best Friends ready to buy snacks

After the movie, the girls had fun playing in the arcade! 

Air hockey is fun!

Allison ready to send the puck back to Caitlin

Big Girl Helper

Caitlin loves to help do "chores" around the house.  She doesn't really care what the "chore" is as long as she gets to help.  She likes to help sweep, vacuum, throw clothes in the washer, help Daddy cut the grass, and today she added another "chore" to her list, dishes!  Nana started to wash the dishes and Caitlin quickly went and got her chair so she could climb up and be tall to help out.  Caitlin likes washing the dishes and then gives it them to Nana to rinse.  Having a big girl helper around the house is pretty nice!  Let's see how long Caitlin will continue to like "chores."

Scrubbing her cup while Nana rinses her bowl

"Here you go Nana!"

Daddy's Little Dancer

One benefit to Daddy come home late last night is that he didn't have to go into work as early today.  This meant that Daddy had the chance to take Caitlin to dance class.  Caitlin was so excited for her Daddy to go and watch her.  She showed him all around the studio.  During class, Caitlin even came out to make sure Daddy was still there and that he knew she was in class :).  Daddy is so proud of his little girl and loved watching her dance.  It is important he paid attention so he knows the steps when Caitlin has him practice with her at home!

Daddy putting on his little girl's tap shoes

Daddy and his little dancer

Daddy's view of Caitlin in class. Caitlin is the one farthest away from the door with a bow in her hair.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads in our lives and those who play the role!

Daddy is in San Diego with his basketball team so we celebrated Father's Day on Wednesday night before he left!  We have thought of him all day and wish he were here!  We are excited for him because his team won the University of San Diego Team Camp tournament today!  Way to go Daddy!  Daddy is very busy during the month of June with basketball, but he takes every extra moment he has to be an AWESOME Daddy to Caitlin!  Mommy loves the bond that Caitlin and Daddy have.  Below are photos from Wednesday night and afterwards are photos from today!

Caitlin was more interested in helping Daddy open his present than his cards

Caitlin and Daddy

Wrapping paper is always fun to play with

After church today, we went to Uncle Kenny and Aunt Stacie's house for a yummy breakfast and play time!  Caitlin and Allison had fun playing together inside and outside!  We all enjoyed visiting, relaxing, watching golf, and receiving basketball updates from Daddy!

Poppy, Grandpa Gary, Allison, and Uncle Kenny (Caitlin wasn't in the mood for pictures)

Caitlin helping Uncle Kenny read his cards

A quick pose for Mommy before changing into play clothes

Allison loves wearing shoes! She is in her Daddy's shoes today!

Storytime with Mommy/Aunt Patti

It's fun to ride on the legs of Grandpa Gary and Uncle Kenny

Happy girls having fun!

Clapping after the ride

Time to switch and ride again!

Princess Caitlin in her high heels

After we left Uncle Kenny's house, Caitlin slept from 3:30-7:30.  We ate Father's Day dinner at our house with Nana, Poppy, Nina Nina Dia, Uncle Paul, and Grandpa.  Daddy didn't come home until late because he won the championship game today!  What a great day celebrating our Dads!

Life Comes Full Circle: Caitlin's 1st dance class

On Friday, Mommy drove Caitlin to the dance studio to register her for class.  Caitlin was pretty tired as we had just been to Mommy's doctor appointment and she didn't seem to interested at the dance studio.  No one was dancing when we visited.  Caitlin walked through the dance studio and in the room her class would be held in, but she still wasn't interested.  The girl working at the studio to suggested to Mommy that she bring Caitlin by on Monday to see the classes in action and then Caitlin might be interested.  Mommy drove away a little bummed, but hoped Caitlin was just too tired to care about dancing. 

Fast forward to Sunday....Caitlin told Daddy at dinner that Mommy was taking her dance class and that she couldn't wait.  Mommy knew Caitlin wasn't registered yet, but thought she should prepare for Caitlin wanting to take classes the moment we stepped foot in the studio.

This morning after breakfast, Mommy and Caitlin got ready for dance class.  Mommy decided to dress Caitlin in her tutu just in case she wanted to take the class after seeing other little girls her age dancing. Caitlin all morning told Mommy she was so excited for dance class and couldn't wait because it was going to be fun!  Mommy hoped that Caitlin would be able to start the class today knowing that Caitlin was excited.  We arrived to the studio about ten minutes before the class started.   Mommy asked the lady at the front desk if it was possible for Caitlin to start class today.  The lady said, "Yes" and made Mommy and Caitlin very happy.  Mommy then said, "We need to buy shoes. Is it possible to do that before class?" The lady told us it would be no problem.  Caitlin sat perfectly on the chair and let the lady try on tap shoes until we found the right size.  Then, it was time for class.  Mommy couldn't believe our visit was turning into dance class!  Woohoo!  Mommy's dreams came true today as Caitlin walked into her first dance class.  Mommy didn't dare leave home without the camera and flip camera so she spent the hour of class taking non stop photos and videos.

Today life came full circle as Mommy took her little girl to dance class just as Nana had taken Mommy to dance class 30 years ago.  Mommy started at a dance studio called Fritchey's.  The studio then became Danswest.  The studio Mommy took Caitlin to is called Danswest.  The owners are different, but they have trophies all over the studio and some were from when Mommy danced for them.  As we walked out of the studio today, two of Mommy's dance teachers were teaching dance to the adults!  What a wonderful dance day! Enjoy the photos and videos of our little dancer!

Showing off her new tap shoes to Mommy before class

Trying out her new tap shoes before class

Sitting patiently for class to start

Caitlin and her 3 new dancing buddies all standing on their piece of tape waiting for the teacher to tell them what to do

It's so fun for the girls to see themselves dancing in the big mirror

Putting their heels forward

Practicing with the teacher for putting her toe behind her

Standing on the blue line and ready to dance across the floor

Practicing sashays across the floor

After 1/2 hour of tap it was time for ballet fun!

Circle time!

Everyone point toes in the center of the circle

The teacher had everyone sit in a circle and whoever had the wand had the chance to dance around the circle.  Caitlin loved dancing around the circle.

Smiling at Mommy in the doorway

More wand dancing

Almost done dancing around the circle

Being a helper and putting the wand away

Good classmates helping to calm down a friend who was upset during class

Practicing walking like ballerinas on tippy toes

At the end of class, Ms. Megan gave each girl a lollipop for being so good in class

Caitlin hugged and kissed Ms. Megan to thank her for a great class

Below are a few video clips from dance class today.  Mommy could watch the videos over and over!

Stay tuned to see how our little dancer grows throughout the Summer!