First Dance Recital!!!

Ava had her first dance recital this past Saturday - and let me just say she was in Heaven!! We have officially created on monster! I was anxious to see how she would do - if she would be really nervous, if she would just stand there on stage, or if she would go all out. Well, she loved every minute of it, and performed her dances so well. Her class was too funny to watch - all the little girls did such a great job. Us Mommies were proud. Seeing Ava's face after she came off stage from the first number was priceless. She was on a dancing high - so excited and wanted to go again, and again.
Her class performed two numbers - a hip hop dance and a jazz dance. Then the whole dance company did a huge finally to a medley of Broadway songs. Ava's class was on stage for Annie and Grease - so they had two costume changes for the finally. Oh my was she loving it! Here are several pictures from the event....

These are a few pictures of us getting ready. She was all about some make-up. I now have to hide my make-up from her! She was so funny because she was very cautious not to mess up her lipstick!

These next pictures are of her Hip Hop costume. You gotta love anything with a sparkly silver and neon pink visor! Only a 3 year old could pull this look off! Their dance was to "Raise the Roof, and the Hip Hop Harry!"

These are the pictures from her Jazz number - it was to "Candy Girl!" I loved these costumes - all the girls looked too cute!

Proud Daddy!!!

This is Ava's dance teacher Miss Kara. She was really wonderful with the young girls and they loved her to death. The dance studio was called Studio 54. It was a perfect experience for Ava's first dance recital.

3 months!!

Reece you are three months old today! My how time flies!! You are such a sweet baby and are making our job as parents pretty easy. We could not imagine our life without you now. We thank God everyday for you!

Dance Pictures!!

Okay so I have to confess - Ava and I are in dance heaven right now!!! This year Ava was in two different dance classes. One class was tap and ballet and the other was hip hop and jazz. Yes, I said Hip Hop-you haven't seen anything cuter than a three year old doing hip hop! She LOVES and I mean LOVES her dance classes, and loves them even more now that the costumes are in!
We had pictures last weekend for the tap/ballet class. Oh my, it was so much fun getting ready for them. I was a little nervous about putting make up on her, but she loved it. I am afraid I have created a monster, or maybe I should say a Diva. ha ha! Here are a few pictures of her all dolled up. Just wait until you see her hip/hop and jazz costumes. (They have pictures for that class next week!) So this post is to be continued.....

I am so jealous of her eyelashes!

These are a few of the girls in her class. They are all such sweet girls, and I have so enjoyed getting to know all of their moms. I am going to miss seeing all of them on Friday mornings. Sometimes I think we had more fun chatting than the girls did dancing! It was funny about half way through the year this other mom and I realized that we both went to Ouachita and were both E's!!! So fun!

Last Day of School

Today was Ava's last day of preschool. She had such a great year - good teachers, made some great friends, and learned a lot. Ava you can now - can count to 20, you know all your letters, and numbers, and can write your name, and much much more! Your school year was a success! Here are a few pictures I took this morning.

acting shy with your teachers - Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Poppell - they were the best!

Okay this makes me sooo sad. This is the picture that I took of Ava on the first day of school last August. Can you believe how much she has grown up this year. Ahhh - such a big girl now!

Eight Things

So my good friend Allyson Petty "tagged me" - so here goes nothing...

here are the instructions for "eight things":
. mention the person that tagged you
. complete the list of eight things
. tag eight of your wonderful blogger friends

8 Things I look forward too:
1. 7:30is in the morning when Ava wakes up, comes to the living room, crawls up in the chair with me and works on her "bible study." Or I work on my bible study, she just draws and watches Mickey Mouse Club House - but hey at least she is learning how to start her days.
2. Being able to communicate with Reece and watching her and Ava play together.
3. The day I can fit back into my skinny jeans! OR getting on the scale and weighing what I did when I got married!!
4. Going to Seaside this summer.
5. Every night when Steven calls and says he's on his way home.
6. The day when my girls become believers - or I guess I should say that is something I am hoping for.
7. 7:30 - 8:00 every night!! That's bed time for the Bertram girls!! I am just keeping it real - I am sure all of you moms out there understand. which is followed by....
8. My night ritual - a warm bubble bath.

8 Things I did Yesterday: (yesterday was pretty uneventful)
1.Went to Bible Study Fellowship and then to lunch at one of my favs -Taco Bueno!
2. Cleaned the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher about 8 times - something I feel like I do about 8 times everyday!
3. Marinated chicken for dinner tonight
4. Praised the Lord when Reece took a nap (even though it was short) in her crib.
5. Cooked dinner while Ava threw a fit on the kitchen floor because, "she didn't want her juice in an Elmo cup, because that's not her favorite cartoon anymore, she likes princesses now."
6. Printed and got all of my coupons organized for my weekly couponing trips to Target and Wal-greens - my two favorites! (www.moneysavingmom.com)
7. Saved over $30 on food and toiletries at Target! I got $54 worth of stuff for $21!!!! Such a fun way to shop.
8. Packed Steven and Ava's lunches for today, got the coffee ready for the morning, and went to bed!

8 Things I wish I could do:
1. Be bolder about telling others about Christ.
2. Go to the gym whenever I wanted.
3. Be a waitress for a day and/or work at a grocery store for a day - two jobs I have always wanted to do.
4. Fit into all of my summer clothes!
5. Buy a new minivan
6. Go shopping with Tim Gunn from Project Runway
7. Chop food like a professional
8. Eat a huge breakfast every day - and the calories not count!

8 Shows I watch:
1. Today Show
2. Regis and Kelly
3. Court TV - I could watch it all day!
4. American Idol
5. Dancing with the Stars
6. Real Housewives of New York
7. Divine Design
8. Paula Deen and Barefoot Contessa

Now I tag: Julee Bell, Amy Welborn, Molly Westerman, Allison Baldwin, Leslie Silvey, Mary Claire York, Sarah Clark, Rachel Miller
(Sorry guys if you have already done this)

Birthday and Silly Ava

Last Tuesday was my birthday! It was a fun day, and Ava reminded me all day that we could share my birthday so it could be her birthday too! I was happy to "share" my birthday with my sweet girl. When I woke her up on Tuesday she said."mommy is today your birthday?" and I said yes, and she said "okay will now I can tell you that me, daddy, and sister got you a pink pair of shoes for your birthday!" I just started laughing - she totally told me my present, but to her it was okay because it was my birthday! I must brag on my husband - who many of you know is the best gift giver ever. Well he came through once again, and got me the cutest pair of magenta Michael Kors shoes. I should have taken a picture of them. Anyways - I got several wonderful things for my birthday from Steven and my family - but the best gift was from Ava. She was given five dollars to buy my a present just from her. When asked where she wanted to shop for me she picked Target! We spend lots (too much) time and money (much too much) there. Anyways, she picked out an adorable headband with a flower on it! She was too cute! This is a tradition I hope to keep going for birthdays - it's fun to see what your kids pick out for you. (I was told the other thing she was thinking about was a pair of pink feather earrings - I am glad she went with the headband!) The girl has got some taste!

Me wearing Ava's gift - the flower headband!

I thought these were too cute to share - here is Ava's new favorite way to watch TV. Sitting in Recce's Bumbo on the couch! All I have to say is it's a good thing she's skinny!

The Many Faces of Reece (2 Months)

Well another month has gone bye - I really can't believe it! These are a few recent pictures of Reece. She is getting so big!! She still looks a lot like Ava except for the hair color.
Here are a few thing you have been up to lately:
-Sleeping through the night! (I hope I didn't just jinx myself!)
-Love to swing
-always very content
-Still no real nap schedule yet - but you sleep a lot in the mornings
-Smiling and cooing at everybody
-Still pretty much hate your car seat!
-You get the hiccups all the time.
-Still love to be swaddled so tight when you sleep.

Sleeping on your daddy's legs

Bathing Beauty

Soon followed by sleeping beauty!

Sunday Golf Outing

Steven and Ava spent this afternoon at the golf course. Ava of course had a ball - she talked about the day until she went to bed. She finally got to use her clubs. You know - we have to start her out young because this is how Steven is planning on getting her college paid for!!! Also notice the outfit - She had to picked out a special outfit for her golf outing! Steven said she was so proud of herself whenever her ball went in the hole. I thought it was cute when she got home she said, "Mommy - did you know we have to be very quiet when the other people are golfing?" Quiet is hard for her these days!! I am sure there will be many more Sundays spent at the course for these two.