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In 5 Years

     I first saw this topic on PinkyPersistence's blog and then again on DispositiveMotion's blog and thought it looked like fun so I'm going to do it too. :)

In five years:

• I will be almost 35 years old. I turn 30 in September (the horror).
• Ariel will have just turned 9. My heart can't take this. 
• My sweet nephew Cole will be about to turn 7!! Gahhh. He won't be a baby anymore :,(
• I am hoping to still be performing every chance that I get (dance concerts and musicals).
• Hopefully Ariel will have 2-3 siblings. I'm really hoping this happens.
• I will (crossing fingers) own my own dance studio/performing arts company and be teaching dance still as well.
• I will be married to my sweetheart. I'm sure this part will happen. We have been together for over a year and a half now and are each other's forevers already. 
• I will be a homeowner. I have done more than my fair share of rentals (rooms, apartments, and houses) and I would love to own a home.
• I will have car payments. haha This sounds funny/odd, I'm sure but I have only bought used. I want a new car.
• I will have graduated from a University. I have only taken a zillion classes at a junior college. I actually have mostly just been dancing (classes and performance) at our local JC for several years now. I'm close to graduating...I just need to do it, even if I still do dance shows at the JC. I am a performer at heart. I need it like air.
• I will maybe be homeschooling. I'm torn with this. I want to but I don't think Johnny wants Ariel homeschooled. I get that, but I also fear all of the school shootings and love teaching.
• Johnny will be an English teacher. I believe this 100%. He is about to graduate from the JC in the next year and has inspiring motivation and dedication.

So there it is. I encourage you to do this as well! This is your "tag." Now hop to it!

4th Birthday Party

     So this past Saturday was Ariel's fourth birthday party. It was mostly family with the exception of one of her dance friends and the girl's family. Ariel (naturally) close Frozen for her theme and had a (non-Frozen but still awesome) bounce house. The kids all had a blast. Actually, the adults did too. Johnny got the day off, which was great. The kids had a bounce house and a pool to spend their day in so what could go wrong?

Oh. 

So...it rained...in a place that rains maybe 2-5 times a year TOPS. Of course.

"Oh, bother."

Now, we are in the desert of southern California and there's this big, nasty drought going on, so I am beyond thankful for a dumping of rain. Rainy, cloudy, thundering days are actually my favorite kinds of days EVER. But of all days to have it happen...REALLY?!

It actually ended up being not so bad. It made the little ramp that goes up the the bounce house like a little slip-n-slide. The inside of the bouncer got all bubbly (coming up from the seams), which of course the kids loved. I might have been bouncing around in there too, totally soaked and slipping. 

Tried as I could, I just could not fit this thing into one picture. It was so adorable.

Thunder was happening but the kids all got in the pool anyways. I did the same when I was a kid. Kids just don't have that huge sense of worry. I miss being so carefree. It's lovely to witness as an adult. They're so free. I may be slightly jealous ;) lol.

Ariel loved her gifts but she's at that stage where she tears open one present, looks at it, tosses it aside, and wants the next. It's equal parts hilarious and frustrating. Ha.

She had a blast and was sooo tired at the end of the day. She got a life-size Elsa doll, which she would not take her eyes off of, especially knowing her little cousin was nearby. (Kids break stuff sometimes.)

That giant creepy thing really is her height. lol.

I'm really happy she had such a wonderful day and can't wait to see what her fourth year has in store for her. Johnny is always saying how he wishes he could see life through her eyes and how everything is so amazing and wonderful to them. He's so right. Ah, to be young again.

Happy Birthday, baby girl. 

Summertiiiiiime

     So we're lucky enough here at my boyfrend's parents' house (transitional stage) to have a big, beautiful, in-ground pool. Man, I love that thing. I have been known to completely hate summer but now, as a stepmom (basically), I have grown more fond of the hottest season. 

We live in the desert in southern California and it gets so so SO freakin hot here. But being cooped up all winter and this chilly spring that I was really looking forward to days where we could play in the sun, or just go outside!

Well, that cute little spring season is just that here...little. It lasts for like a week, I swear! It went from cold to like 90'+ practically overnight. It's a good thing that pool is here. I'll admit, last year, I lived in that thing and this summer, I haven't been in there nearly enough. I'm about to fix that. If for nothing else, to fix my pasty white self! But the kids love it too.

When I was a kid, I LIVED in my grandparents' pool. Every other weekend, you'd find me in there. No exception in the summertime. None at all. Ariel is the same way with her grandparents' pool. 

Today, her cousins came over. Ezra is seven and Eli is three (about six months younger than Ariel). We played a bit inside. Ariel and Eli would tackle me and tell me I was dead (no idea how kids that age even know what that means) so I would lie on the carpet with my eyes closed and tongue hanging to the side. Then me and Ezra were playing Monkey in the Middle with the little ones (his idea) with a beach ball. Then Ariel and Eli were running back and forth chasing Ezra. I tell you...I'm a musician, classically trained vocally...but that little girl's laugh is my favorite sound in the whole world. It's at that stage where it's just that deep, belly laugh. It's incredible. I love her.

Eventually, the boys' mom arrived and the kids headed into the pool. It was super windy so I stayed out but it was so nice sitting there listening to their laughing and splashing. It was such a good day. Then Ariel was cold because wind and got out, so I wrapped her little self in a towel and sat her on my lap for awhile. I was cuddling her, trying to warm her up, and that's one of the best feelings in the world...having a little person in your lap, warming them, and hearing them say "I love you, Reeka." My heart swells as I think about it. After awhile, I got her her own chair because she wanted to play on grandma's tablet for a little while. I don't even know how to turn one on but these kids are pros. Don't worry...they play and play and learn and run and sing and dance and everything else, but they also use the tablets now and then to play an educational game or show. (It's not mine or really my place to step in about it anyways, so what can you do, you know?) Then we were reading stories and it was bedtime for the little girl. 

I am really liking summer lately. Not LIKE like, but like. 

That's our bedroom behind the pool. We have the poolhouse. :) It's huge.

Last year (top), this year (bottom)

Last year (top), this year (bottom)

What a difference a year makes!

Building and Singing

     I love it when she is just doing her thing and I get a cute little video of Ariel just being Ariel. I love this kid. 

FOUR

     My little girl is four! My little future stepdaughter had her birthday yesterday. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her as she is with her mom and some of her mom's family. I know she must have had a blast though. They went to San Diego Zoo. I've never actually been to a zoo so she's seeing things I've never seen at just four (I can't believe I'm typing that) years old. Ariel loves animals so I'm sure she had the time of her life.


     I can't believe it. I met her when she was two so I have known her almost half of her life now. Wow.

   

     This is just about a month before I met my little ball of sunshine:

She was 2 1/2 and sooo adorable! Who would have known what our relationship would grow to be? I had never been in a relationship with someone who had kids so this has been an amazing experience and she is the sweetest, sassiest little girl.

Here are just some of the things she has done in her third year:

1. Met her future stepmommy. Sadly I don't have a picture from that night. How I wish I did!

2. Started taking dance classes. I have been a dancer for 11 years and her daddy got bit by the dancing bug. He wanted to be into the things I'm into and it's a huge part of my life. And now we all three share that.

Trying on her first pair of ballet shoes. 7/2014

She got her first pair of "tappy tap shoes." 7/2014

Singing "Let It Go" in said "tappy tap shoes."

3. Been to a fair. She has now been to two as of this spring.

She was having fun, I promise. :) That's her cousin next to her. He was six at the time.

4. Played at the "biggest park with the see-saw" a million times. That's her name for the biggest park in our town. It has like 7 slides but the see-saw is what sticks out in her head. hahaha.

5. Totally CONQUERED any rock-climbing wall in her path.

6. Found a favorite lullaby. One day, I was trying to get her down for a nap. She asked me to sing to her and the first song that popped into my head was "All The Little Horses." I love that song. Before the song was done, she was OUT.

I was also holding her hand, but I snapped the picture after letting go.

7. Totally got that potty-training thing down. It took awhile, but I assume it always does. [Not pictured.]


8. Went to her first musical. We (her daddy and I) took her to go see a childrens musical called "Senor Coconut and the Flying Papaya"...I think. She didn't really have the attention span for it yet but has now also been to a local showing of Shrek The Musical and that was her first outdoor musical. I love musical theatre too and now we're also all into that. Well, she's getting there. ;)


9. Gotten her first pair of glasses. She looks so cute in them! (Her mommy and daddy both wear glasses, plus one eye looks slightly inward sometimes.)

10. Become completely obsessed with frozen yogurt. No idea whose idea that was... >_>

She picked her flavors and toppings herself. Can you tell?

Yummy!!

11. Gotten completely spoiled for Easter. >_>

She still never takes that hat off.

12. Had her second season of dance classes.

She didn't know I was there at her class. She came out, her mommy told her to turn around, and this happened. I love her so much.

Ballet

Tap

13. Gotten her first sleeve! hahaha

Following in our footsteps with the tattoos. hahaha. 

14. Given me a Mother's Day card :,) I was not expecting it at all!

She has been calling me Reeka since the beginning...when Erika was too hard to pronounce for a two year old.

15. Gone to the beach with me and her daddy.

My favorite picture. Her favorite hat. <3

*happy dance*

We were packing up the car and she decided "Actually, I don't want to leave..."

Like...REALLY didn't want to leave.

16. Watched her daddy and me dance on stage for her second time. Apparently, in our waltz, after I danced with him, and then partners switched out, she was upset that he was dancing with someone else. But all was right when we switched back and I was dancing with her daddy again.

Her daddy (Johnny) and I during the show.

17. Baked and baked and baked with Reeka (me). 

We even got her a little Frozen apron.

Tasting it to make sure it's not poisoned ;)

Better check this too ;)

My silly girl.

18. Been in her second dance recital. They did dances to the music from Princess and the Frog. The show had a Disney theme.

Picture Day before the show.

Look at that cute little dress! She didn't want to take it off. Ever.

Reeka and Ariel

I wasn't able to take pictures during her show but I was tearing up too much anyways and laughing. Have you watched three year olds dance?! It's cute and hilarious.

19. Been asleep in my arms (at the grocery store). I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but it made me feel like a real mama.

Drool clean up in aisle 4!

She is the absolute light of my life. 

What a difference a year makes.

Happy Birthday, Ariel! Reeka loves you!!