Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cassidy's Dance Recital

This past weekend Cassidy had her 4th dance recital. She danced in 3 dances; ballet, tap and jazz. She had really cute costumes for all of them. We've lucked out every year and never really had an ugly costume. Although, last year she did have a clown wig she had to wear for Annie. I think we burned it the day after the recital was done.

This year's recital was called "Gimme' A Prop". Just about every dance had some type of prop that the girls had to dance with or use somehow. They ranged from glittery musical notes to yoga balls to ladders. Cassidy had to pop out from a flower pot (Spring Fling); had a puzzle piece (We Go Together) and a set of maracas (Jump In The Line).

Cassidy's little lady sitter (Cassidy doesn't want to be referred to as a baby) did her senior solo since she graduated this year. I think I cried through the whole dance. I've know her since she was Cassidy's age, if not younger. I can't image how I'll be when Cassidy does her senior solo years from now.

It gets to be a long weekend with full dress rehearsal one night and two nights of the recital but it's so much fun. Hairspray, make up and glitter = TONS OF FUN!! (and a little rum helped too)

All the girls did an amazing job! I'll be posting a slide show from the weekend in a day or so.

The Great Iced Mocha Challenge

Hello, my name is Lori and I'm an iced mocha addict. Or I guess I should say any mocha drink in general falls under my addiction. Iced, hot or frozen it doesn't matter just give me one. I usually get my mochas at Sheetz but recently learned that I really like the iced mochas at McDonalds because they put whipped cream on theirs. I think the whipped cream gives it a little extra sweetness. It's pretty much like adding extra creamer in your coffee.

Adding whipped cream to your iced mocha at Sheetz is not an option. So I sent a message asking Sheetz to please make it an option on their menu screens so I could get whipped cream on mine. This was their reply... "Dear Ms. Burke,

Thank you for your request concerning our Sheetz Bros. Coffeez beverages. Unfortunately, since we use real whipped cream, when you put it on a liquid drink like an iced beverage it turns into something that looks like cottage cheese and it not appealing to look at. This is why we do not offer it on our iced drinks. Other companies use a different kind a whipped cream that does not melt. If you still desire to have it on your drink I am sure that if you request it from the person making your drink they will be happy to put it on. We do appreciate your request. Please let us know if there is anything else that we can do for you."

So today I go to McDonalds and get an iced mocha. My friend, Matt, is working and I told him what Sheetz had told me about the real whipped cream. He said that their can says real whipped cream on it too. I know that my mochas from McD don't look like cottage cheese when I mix my whipped cream in. So this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to get one from McDonalds and one from Sheetz and mix in the whipped cream and see what happens.

It may not be this week but some day soon I will do it and post pictures on how they look. But in the meantime, I think I need something cold to drink.

Cassidy's 2009 Olympics

Last week Cassidy participated in the school's annual Olympics. Her class was Team Italy. All year long they learn about their country. She loved it when we went to EPCOT and visited the Italy pavilion. She even brought back candy for her class and an Italian Mickey icon antenna topper for her teacher.

Cassidy competed in the long jump, softball toss and the ski team relay. I'm not sure how she placed in the long jump or the softball toss but her team came in 3rd in the ski team relay. The whole class does the tug-a-war competition. This was the year that she decided her class was going to win tug-a-war. In the past, her class has come in 2nd place but she was itching for first place since that is the only place that gets medals. She stood in front of the class last week and told them how they were going to win. Well, they must've listened because they won. She was so happy and excited. I was very proud of her for being so determined. Let's see what happens next year.

Good Boy, Scout!

About a month ago Cassidy adopted a dog from the Humane Society. He is what everyone would call a designer dog nowadays but what we call a mutt. He's a beagle/golden retriever mix or for the fancy people we say he's a golden beagle. Scout was 9 months old when we got him and was never abused but also never had the attention that a puppy should truly have. He was given up by his previous owners because they had to move into an apartment and couldn't keep him.

Adopting a dog from the Humane Society felt like adopting a child. We had to fill out paper work and even take our other dogs out to meet him to make sure they would get along. After a few minutes of smelling each other they ran around together and played nicely. Max was acting like a pup again which is good considering he's 13 years old and Harley pretty much ignored him after awhile. But then again, she's about 10 lbs. over weight and couldn't keep up to the other two.

Once Scout was home we decided to get a wireless fence for him so he could be loose in the yard. While Erin and I knew this would be wonderful, Cassidy didn't seem to think so after hearing him yelp the first time he got zapped. She ran into the house crying. We could hear her outside crying for about 10 minutes. I thought it was funny, but she didn't think so. But, it only took a few times before he knew where he wasn't allowed to go. And he loves to have his toys outside with him.


Now he stays in the yard and doesn't even bark when someone walks by. But then again, he's not much of a barker. I think he was home for 10 days before he barked for the first time. Now if I can just get him to stop digging in the yard and in the flower bed. Last night he dug a hole that I think he could almost fit in. I should've taken a picture of it to post on here. Oh well, I bet he'll dig another hole for me to take a picture of.

I think he's good for Cassidy. He's HER dog and she loves him very much. They sleep together every night and she's been taking him to puppy class to train him. Now if I could only get the trainer to teach Cassidy to be good.

Happy Mother's Day

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a Mother's love

Can understand our tears,

Can soothe our disappoints

And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a Mother's love

Can share the joy we feel

When something we've dreamed about

Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother's faith

Can help us on life's way

And inspire in us the confidence

We need from day to day.

For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith

And a Mother's steadfast love

Were fashioned by the Angels

And sent from God above.