Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Will crossed a big hurdle this week! He took the plunge and now he can swim under water like a big kid.

We are so proud of him and he is very proud of himself. See for yourself!

PS- I LOVE that you can hear Eliza Grace in the
background cheering her brother on!

After the Hop

Here are a few pics of Eliza Grace before, during and after her recital.

Waiting to begin the "Kiss the Girl" production number.

Oh, my, those beautiful blue eyes!

After nearly 3 hours of recital performances, Scott, Grandmommy & I were all ready to go home. Eliza Grace, however, was still revved up and apparently channeling her inner "Karate Kid," a movie I know she has never even seen!

Let's Go To The Hop!

Well, another year of tap dancing has come to a close. As usual, around March, Eliza Grace (and I!) became fairly tired of the weekly classes and she was fine not doing dance next year. We had pretty much decided that she would do a year-round swim/stroke school on a weekly basis instead.

But oh, the lure of those dang costumes! Once she tried on her costume, the visions of being on the stage, under the lights, with a full house applauding her - well, she was a goner. I am currently looking up the schedule for next year's classes.

Her tap class this year only had six girls so they had a lot more one on one attention than they normally would. Good thing for Eliza Grace :)

Their routine was adorable. The show theme was the Little Mermaid. They were "frogs" and did their dance to the song "Let's Go To The Hop."

Below are two little video snippets. The whole thing would take way too long to upload so I broke it out into my two most favorite parts. I wish I had been dead center of the stage because her finishing pose and smile is just so incredibly adorable!!

In case you cannot tell, Eliza Grace is the second from the left. I recorded this during the dress rehearsal because video recordings are "strictly forbidden" during the live performance (which means you are forced to purchase the DVD they record for a mere $40 a pop!)

So here she is, my little frog, tapping her way to the hop!

Family of Wolves...

I forgot to post these pics from our trip to the Great Wolf Lodge three weeks ago. Those giant wolf statues were just begging to be climbed. 

The Daniel Family (plus somehow my kiddos wiggled their way into their family photo)

Us (duh!)

Will, pretending to be a wolf pup

Eliza Grace, apparently not concerned about being eaten.

Nana and my puddin's

Real Men....

Scene:
Hughes kitchen, dinner time. Will, squealing with delight, scrambles into his chair.

I had to stop him after 2 and a half slices because
I was a little nervous about potential gastric issues.
Last time we had quiche I did not monitor his intake,
and there was some serious gaseous backlash!

Spidey saves the day...well at least he tries!

Let's face it, Eliza Grace is a performer. Lately she is into creating "shows" that I am both required to attend and record.

There are costumes involved. There are rehearsals.
She is serious about her craft.

Themes often revolve around her many stuffed  animals.

Will is typically cast in a supporting role. But, alas, he does not take direction well. Did I mention that Eliza Grace is the writer and director, too? A triple threat!

Neighborhood friends sometimes guest star. One time the entire thing was done as an opera. That one was a wee bit painful.

Lately she is branching out into serious drama. We have villians, victims and heros.

In the video below, Will actually has the staring role.
You will note that he plays the lead with understated
grace and raw emotion.

I have included the dialogue below because I did not
want you to miss a word!

[Scene: Spider Man running around in circles - literally - to help damsel in distress (and lets just skip the fact that she is apparently tied to a bed post, with a jump rope and a silk scarf - okthanksbyebyenow) ]

Damsel in distress: Help! Help! Help! Help!

(Spider Man checks the rope and the damsel)

Damsel in distress: Are you actually Spider Man?

Spider Man: Yeah

Damsel in distress: Great. Can you help me? The Joker accidentally got me instead of Batman because it was Halloween and I dressed up as Batman. (ok, so apparently this chick knows more than one super hero).

Spider Man: (trying hard to untie the rope) Grrr-ugh! Hey, maybe I can do it with my hand! (Spider Man takes off his gloves)

Damsel in distress: Great

Spider Man: Now my hand is not disappeared any more (Sidebar: Will thought his hands had disappeared when he put on the gloves)

Damsel in distress: (said at the same time as the dialogue above) Now will you untie it already?

Spider Man: It's hard to do this.

[End Scene]

Yes, that's right, Will, it is hard being a super hero.
But you can be mine any day!b

The Lodge

Last week, while Nana (Scott's mom) was in town for a visit, we headed up to Williamsburg, VA to catch up with Scott's sister and family who were in the area on vacation.

Of course we spent a couple of days at the Great Wolf Lodge and had a blast.

And now for the pile of videos!

Heading down to the water park:

Will climbing up the cargo net to access a water slide:

Will coming down all by himself:

Eliza Grace solo on the yellow Alberta Falls slide:

Eliza Grace & cousin Eric coming down Alberta Falls:

And this is how Will chills out (yes, one of his nicknames is "tag lova"):

Ok, I have tortured you enough with video
for one post.

But coming soon...Spider Man saves Eliza Grace...

Flippin' Out

So my company just bought another company...
for like the 110th time.

But this time I personally benefit! And so I immediately ordered my Hot Pink Flip video camera (with my 30% quarterly discount!)

I am sure you all are thrilled to know that I will be uploading all kinds of video on my blog going forward because the Flip just makes it so darn easy!

Eliza Grace decided she should be in my first video post - a shocking surprise, I know :)

Expect many more videos to come. I might even start video blogging.
vblogging?
vlogging?
Whatever...you get the point!

Now really...

...is she not just the cutest thing you have ever seen??

Eliza Grace Hughes, May 2009, age 7 (and a half...almost!)