dancing queens

We had a little birthday party for Audrey on Saturday. she's really, REALLY into anything to do with ballet right now so we had a ballerina party. her friends came over in ballet attire and they had pizza, cake and ice cream and then we had two suprise guests. One of my fabulous Mia Maids and her sister came over, they have been dancing forever so my Mia Maid brought over her pointe shoes and the girls taught the party girls a few stretches and dance steps and then taught them a little routine so that when the parents came to pick up their girls the did a little show. SO.CUTE! 

here's a few highlight pictures

 I do have to apologize....Trent had the camera most of the time and on accident he switched the camera setting. So the lighting is all off. ohwell!

Before the party Audrey opened a family present..a new ballet outfit!

 decorating 'dancing wands'

 I had Audrey pose with her friends as they were opening gifts

 warm up time

 taking turns leaping

 they had a little hide and seek break :)

 McKayla was showing the girls what a pointe shoe looked like and all the stuff you had to do before you put it on..she even had my full attention :)

 group photo

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Canada eh?!

Last Friday we took the kids to Gardner Caves in the very tip of Washington.  We had a GREAT time and really enjoyed the cave, and recommend it to anyone in need of a good day trip.  We all learned a ton and it was all in all very fasinating to be in a place (underground at that) that has been around for such a long, long time.  After going through the cave we decided to find a hotel in  Canada with a pool...after going through the Border and talking with the border patrol we drove an hour into Canada and after stopping at hotel and hotel and hotel again finding out they were all booked we stopped in an A&W of all places and then headed home. We did stop in Ione at a local park to play for awhile and had a fun time. We had a great time and have to admit that the kids always do super well in the car. We really look forward to these kinds of fun family times :)  (yes there are 39 pictures:) )

about to go into the caves

 getting her jacket, (it was pretty cold...like 39ish degrees)

 Audrey is our rock hoarder :)

 waiting to go into the cave

 stairs to the cave

 she found a big rock

 "hiiiiyaaaah!"

 Here we go!!

 this is called "Christmas Tree"

 pictures just don't do justice. you are looking at limestone pools, some are three feet deep, 
                                     

 this is called a column, the oldest one in the U.S.

Right about here is where the guide turned off all the lights. craziest dark feeling ever! you couldn't see ANYTHING!