More Dancing (Rainbows and Butterflies)

First, a quick "shout out" to our friends Chris and Heather Landis for the birth of their recent daughter Anna (see new pictures on the friends link). We're glad that she is happy and healthy.



Secondly, you've guessed it... the theme for Week 4 of the dance Class is Rainbows and Butterflies. Last night was great, except for the following things: both kids were hungry, we forgot Kennedy's diapers, Ansley's bottle of water leaked badly in Molly's purse, and we forgot anything resembling a diaper cloth. Besides that, the class was great.



The video I get from this class is truly special. You will often see Molly dancing with Kennedy in the videos on the blog. She has accused me of taking video of her, but I vow that she just happens to be in the video. So, I decree: Molly, I am not trying to embarass you. I think that you are a very good dancer, and you definitely represent the Applegate dance moves better than I do myself. So with that said, please enjoy the following videos:

Kennedy follows Miss Kellie's dance moves (the "kick" is priceless).

Kennedy displays her ribbon-waving skills by waving two ribbons at once.

The best part of class.... running to the drinking fountain and back.

More Michigan City

In a surprising turn, we found pictures of other people besides Kennedy and Lucy from our Michigan City trip. Yes, I'm slacking a little on my 3 - 4 blogs / week output. Please enjoy more pictures from this weekend. And the wierd thing? I couldn't find any pictures or video footage of Jenny from the weekend. She must have escaped my lens. :)
















Kennedy on the swing. We did some funky editing with this picture.




















Great picture of Cody, his son Finn, and daughter Lucy. He's a great dad.




















My girls pose for a picture.














Yours truly and little Ansley. She is blocking my SpongeBob shirt.

The Kennedy / Lucy Post

First, I would like to register an apology for not having a blog post in 8 days. I blame this on 3 factors (I refuse to take personal responsibility): 1) I threw my back out again (yeah, I'm old); 2) Molly uses the computer too much; and 3) we were in Michigan City with our good friends, the Shultz's, this past weekend.

Secondly, the Michigan City trip was a blast. We are blessed to have such great friends like Cody, Jenny, Lucy, and now Finn. Thanks for your friendship and hospitality. It's always fun....

Third, one of Kennedy's best friends happens to be Lucy Shultz, a very sweet girl who sadly lives a couple hundred miles from us. Anyway, I devote this blog to them. They were sooooooooo stinkin' cute this weekend. I'll be sure to post pictures to prove that our other daughter was with us over the weekend (or anybody else for that matter). Highlights from the weekend included: running fast, jumping on the bed, playing with the babies, bath time in the jacuzzi (don't ask), running naked (don't ask), going down the slide, and searching for guacamole treasure (I'm leaving this explanation for Cody... maybe I'll expand on this in the future).

Enjoy the pictures and videos. It was good times by all... with only a few meltdowns (not bad).















Kennedy and Lucy love babies.















Kennedy and Lucy will be thankful I cropped this picture. Let's just say they weren't encumbered with heavy layers of clothing.





















The girls pose at the beach outside of the house we stayed in.





















The path to the "big" beach (Lake Michigan)

Which daddy is tougher? (there was no prompting here)

Week 2: Dancing Bears

In our week 2 analysis of Ms. Kellie's dance class, we find very little dancing (at least in my pictures). Although the weekly theme was different, it was another entertaining night. I have not yet built up the confidence to dance with Kennedy around the room, but I am sure my male pride will be further eroded in the next couple of weeks. Watch for future videos of me embarassing myself.

Molly shows her dance moves. Anybody else impressed?

Kennedy shows her Dancing Bear moves.

Week 1: Beautiful Ballerinas

Tonight concluded week two of the social experiment known as "Ms. Kellies Dancing Dolls" class. Okay, it's not really a social experiment... it is a "dance" class for 2 - 4 year olds. I use the word "dance class" very liberally because it is a 45-minute block of time filled with girly songs, follow the leader games, coloring, story time, dancing with pink ballerina bears and dolls the size of 2-year olds, and learing a few dance positions. Even better, this class has given Molly the chance to break out dance moves I have not seen for years (see video in "Week 2" blog). Although Kennedy is mostly stone-faced and quiet during the class, she doesn't stop talking about the class throughout the week.

More fun times with the Applegates...

Week 1 - Beautiful Ballerinas














Anybody want to name this dance move?















Ansley can't WAIT to dance.





















Kennedy shows Noni a new dance move.

Tutu extravaganza

Me and My Buddy

With Molly working part time, Kennedy and Ansley typically spend three days per week at the babysitter's house, which is located 3 houses away (convenient eh?). Not only is it a great location, but the other kids and our daycare provider (Dondee) are awesome. In the pictures below, Kennedy is pictured with her buddy Ryan (who is another neighbor on our street).

It is the perfect friendship (and in a strange way it reminds me of my own marriage). Ryan is a friendly, well mannered, and easy going kid who doesn't mind being bossed around by an opinionated, well-intentioned, and motherly peer.

Anyway, we're thankful that our street is full of many young families. After moving a few times in our 7 years of marriage, it is my goal to live here for at least another 20 years (although who knows what plans God will have for us in that timespan). Enjoy the pictures below. Of course Kennedy was holding Ryan's hand to ensure that it was a safe situation.

Next blog: Dance Lessons

Trouble

If you read the headline to this blog entry, you might wonder: "Why is this good fellow in trouble? Is it because of the several hundred thousand daughters he will need to save to pay for their food, dance lessons, shopping sprees, education, and other miscellaneous expenses? Do these two girls present discipline problems?" Good guess... but no.

In fact, there is really no major trouble at all. The trouble is that I am already a "sucker." That's right, I said it. Being the macho American male that I am (no laughing), my daughters (and wife) make me melt. I'm guilty... I'm a softy and I love being a dad. As much I look forward to having a son at some point in my life, my own dad has described the relationship of a dad and his daugher(s): "There is something special about a daugher." Simple, sincere, true.

In earlier years, I imagined myself attending my son's first football practice and listening to the crunch of pads on a crisp fall day, along with engaging in wrestling matches and boy-ish activities. So in a sneak peak of my next blog entry, I recently found myself at a "dance" class for 2 - 5 year old girls in a room of pink, glitter, princess wear, and satiny outfits. And you know what? I was missing the start of Monday Night Football but was having a really good time. Who would have known? More info to come...














These pictures were taken as I was getting out of my car after a workday. What a nice way to end a workday.














She would have never kissed me if I hadn't washed my face today.

Stickers

When Kennedy is quiet for 10 minutes in a room by herself, it is a safe assumption that she is "up to something." With that as the premise, the following conversation happened between Kennedy and her mother:

Mom: "What were you doing in there? (playroom)"

Kennedy: "I put some stickers on my belly"

Mom: "Really? Can I see?"

Kennedy proceeds to lift her shirt to show the stickers she has placed on her belly (see below). Why does she like placing stickers on her belly? That is a great question to which there is no answer. While we often find random princess, pony, sesame street, or glittery pictures on her stomach at bath time, this episode took the cake.

Picnik

Has anybody heard of Picnik? Like many other photo-editing websites, this site offers many good (and fun) tools for enhancing your pictures. See below for a few examples... hopefully this will not be an obsession, because you can spend LOTS of time on this web site.





















Getting inside Kennedy's head...














Shell necklaces are awesome.














Ansley and Evelyn like to "keep it real."














This might be a little "over the top," but I just can't help myself.

Professional Picture Time

Although we have rarely taken the girls in for professional photography, Molly took them to Portrait Innovations last week for pictures (see below). Exciting eh?

My brain is sapped of creative insight after staying up late for several nights this week and watching RNC speeches. Wow, is Sarah Palin a firecracker or what? It should be a pretty fascinating presidential race...

Besides that, I have no other creative stories, side notes, or smirky comments. Adios virtual friends. Come back soon!