Kathryn - 1st Grade Dance Team

Kathryn has been enjoying another year of dance. This year she is on the First Grade Competition Team.

They have two competitions coming up this year. They have been working on perfecting their dance since camp last summer. They recently had a dress rehearsal with full costume. Here is a video of their dance.

Another Sassy Day...

The before shot.
Back in the summer I took Kathryn & Maya to Sweet & Sassy to celebrate Kathryn's birthday. Since the Woods' were here for the Christmas holidays, before they headed back to Africa, Lisa, Nana Paula, & I took Maya & Kathryn there again for Maya's birthday. The girls loved it!
The pedicure.

The manicure.

Hair an "make-up".

The after shot. Two girly divas.

Kathryn's toes.


Unlike when we were there for Kathryn's birthday, there was no one there at Sweet & Sassy's that day. We had the place to ourselves, so we let the girls walk on the "runway" that they use for birthday parties. They had so much fun walking through the beaded curtain, struttin' their stuff and striking poses. It was too funny. Although, I am thinking I may be in trouble in a few years. Kathryn was way to good at the model strut. Yikes!

The girls had so much fun that day. I think this may become a birthday tradition.

Taekwando Graduation...almost there!

Friday, December 17, Rebecca had a taekwando graduation. She earned her red/black belt. She is just two months away from getting her black belt. We are so proud of all she has accomplished in taekwando.


Miss Molly Harras, 2nd degree black belt, ties on Rebecca's new belt.


Meghann, Miss Harras, & Rebecca


Rebecca & Senior Master

Buckalew Choir at Market Street

On December 7, Rebecca and her school choir got to perform at Market Street. They sang some of the songs they had been learning for the fall concert, as well as lead the crowd in some Christmas carols. Afterwards there was hot cocoa and cookies.



You can see how much Rebecca loves to sing in the choir. We are so proud of her.

I also got a chance to take a picture of the girls in front of the Market Street Christmas tree. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

On November 28 we surprised the girls and took them to see "How the Grinch Stole Chrismas: The Musical" in Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center in downtown Houston. The Grinch was played by Stefan Karl, the same guy who played Robbie Rotten on Nick Jr.'s "Lazy Town." He was very good, once I got past pictureing him as "Robbie Rotten" doing the Grinch. ;-) He had quite a vocal range, too.

It was a fun afternoon and a great way to start the Christmas Season.

Taekwando Update - Learning the Sword Form

The past few weeks they have been learning the Extreme Sword Form at taekwando. Rebecca has really enjoyed learning it. Here is a video of what she has learned so far. She is actually pretty good. At one point you can hear her friend Meghann cheering Rebecca on.

The Dragonfly

The other day when we were taking Rebecca to taekwando, this dragonfly landed on Kathryn as we were getting out of the van. Kathryn said, "Mama, a dragonfly just landed on me." I turned around expecting to see a small one and saw this. I was so proud of her for not freaking out like she normally does when she sees a mosquito or a gnat. This dragonfly was easily 4 inches long. It stayed on her shoulder as she got out of the van, and we walked across the parking lot to taekwando. I finally had to tap it to get it to fly off so we could go inside.

Thank you and praise to God for His gorgeous creation, and the dragonfly was beautiful, too. ;-)