Be Yourself - Everyone Else is Taken!

Quirky, funny, kind, compassionate, sweet, tomboy, talented, stubborn, smart, dry, independent, clumsy, fiesty, God fearing, fun loving, and precious.

These adjectives describe my little sister. Anyone who reads my blog knows the love that I have for this child. I love her as if she were my own. When she smiles, I smile. When she cries, I cry.

Paige had an experience last week that made her question the adjectives that I used ot describe her and it made me sad. Things did work out in the end, with valuable lessons to be learned along the way.

Since the fourth grade, a little boy in Paige's class has been pulling the edges of his eyes to Paige. Her fourth grade teacher took care of it for us then. In fifth grade it happened again. We chalked it up to "boys will be boys" and he is just immature. Well, wouldn't you know, Paige was walking to the gym on Friday and said kid stood in front of her and wouldn't let her by. He started pulling at his eyes again. This time, Paige's little guy friend (yes she still has the SAME boyfriend...ack), came up to the boy and shoved him out of the way so that Paige could pass.

I picked up Paige and two friends from school Friday afternoon to take them to a sleepover. As soon as they got into the car, Paige said, "He did it again". I knew exactly what she was talking about. I listened to her. I heard the sadness and doubt in her voice. It broke my heart. Paige is extremely well liked by her peers and sometimes they make her head too big. She is so full of positive self esteem, but she was like a wilted flower speaking about the incident.

For the life of me, I couldn't let this go on any longer. In fact, I probably let it linger for longer than it should have. I took P and friends to the party and came home and looked in the school directory and got this child's phone number. I dialed it up without really planning how I would handle the situation. His mother answered and listened and listened. She didn't sugar coat the situation or make excuses for her son. She apologized and said that she would talk to him.

The phone rang an hour later and she asked if she could bring "him" over to speak to Paige. I told her Paige would be home after the sleepover and they could come the next day. Bright and early on Saturday, the mom brought her son over. She stood back at the bottom of our steps and this young man rang the doorbell. Paige opened the door and received an apology from a teary eyed little boy. He didn't look so big and bad standing there with all of the adults around.

I was so proud of Paige. When he apologized she didn't say "It's ok", because she told me it's not. She told him that it really hurt her and that he needs to be more careful with his actions. WOW! I was stunned. He agreed and gave her a hug. She smiled and told him "let's still be friends, k?" He smirked and agreed.

Do I think they will ever be the best of friends? No. Do I think he learned something? Maybe. Did I learn something? Yep! My girl is a sweetheart and is forgiving and stands up for what is right. I love her so much!

Her dance competition was this weekend. At these competitions, the vendors sell tshirts with the companies name on the front and dancers on the back. This time, there was one more option. The shirt she chose said, "Be Yourself. Everyone Else is Taken". I couldn't agree more!!!









Check out other black and whites at my friend, Lisa's blog!

More Dance!

I will be sharing LOTS and LOTS of dance pics in the weeks to come, because, well, that's all we do. I say "we", because it IS a team effort. My mom takes Paige to her 10 hours of dance a week, Paige dances, and I am on take home duty. Paige loves it to the core, but I think we are going to re-evaluate our priorities for her 7th grade year. She wants to run cross country and study more (YAY!). I don't like her to be pigeon holed into one extra curricular activity. ANYWAY, I digress... this week was "dance picture week" or as I so lovingly refer it, "The week from HELL!" Sorry about the explitives, just stating my feelings :)

Paige takes: ballet, jazz, intermediate modern, advanced modern, intermediate hip hop, competition junior hip hop, competition senior hip hop... and she is practicing for the opener and finale of the recital. This child does it all at the studio...except for tap. She detests tap dancing...she says the noise hurts her ears. I think she might be like her sissy and have some sensory issues.

So, not only did the child have to go to the studio in FULL make up and hair for ALL of these class pictures, but her teachers called dress rehearsals since they were fixed up. I felt so bad for the kids...they were TIRED!

Here are a few cute shots from the week. I have a ton, but I am going to surprise Paige with them in her memory book at recital. Hi Paigee Waigee :) xoxo Proud of you and all of your hard work!



I was standing to the side of the photographer and this is blurry, but you get the gist of it. This is her advanced modern. It is an AMAZING dance!


She is the Ringmaster in the dance. Doesn't she look scary?!? :)


Paige and bestie, Ava Jo. They have been dancing together since the first grade. SWEET ANGELS.


Here are Paige and Ava when they were in the second grade!!! PRICELESS!!!


Run this town dance... middle school besties!


In my most southern voice, I bug her and tell her she is so, "Gangster!". She laughs hysterically and tells me I am such a nerd! :)

Stay tuned for many more and some videos as well!

Alice in Twisted Land

The entire cast of Alice in Twisted Land :) I have been so behind in blogging, simply because our lives are crazy busy with dance (and school, work, etc...). Paige has really stepped it up in the dance department. She was offered an opportunity to perform with the studio's Senior dance company in their production of Alice in Twisted Land. The performance is A M A Z I N G!!!

They competed with this dance a couple of weekends ago and did such an incredible job. I never thought I would enjoy being a dance spectator, because quite honestly, I prefer sports, BUT, I am enjoying it more and more.

Paige likes to say that she dances, but don't refer to her as a "dancer". I think it's too girly in her mind. However, lately she has been changing her tune and thinks being a dancer is pretty cool.

Here are some cute pics of the kiddos, teens, and teachers from the competition.

The Baptism

On Sunday May 1, 2011, Paige was baptized. I have never been more proud and my heart has never been as full. Throughout the confirmation, Paige asked so many questions, some simple and many profound. I had an idea that she was toying with the idea, but didn't push it. About a month before the Confirmation, she told my mom and I about her wishes to be baptized. We, of course, were over the moon. We made sure she was ready to make that decision and she was adament that it was the right thing to do.

We attend a Methodist church and she chose to be sprinkled. The water came from the Jordan River (how cool?) and she was given a wooden cup that was made from Jerusalem. She was one of three little girls to be baptized...all three girls have gone to school together since Kindergarten. It was a special day.

We had family and friends who are like our family attend. They helped to make our girl and us feel so loved! We sure do appreciate those in our life who support us. Here are some pics of her special day...


Our sweet family, minus my brother who HAD to work :( He is the only other person who can run his store and the other fellow was on his honeymoon.


Mark, Laura, Annslee, Coby, and Paige! Our other family :)


Paige and Mark. He is such a blessing to Paige. It makes me want to cry!


Loren, Ava who were fellow Confirmands with Paige


Her "girls" :)


Paige and Mrs. Betty. Mrs. Betty has been a staple, actually a backbone to our church for many, many years. She is one of most endearing, kindhearted, women you will ever meet. She puts the Lord in front of everything that she does. Mrs. Betty is in the fight for her life. She has brain cancer. She had been to most of the confirmation classes until she became quite ill. She did, however, attend the Confirmation and Baptism. She is who orders the water and the cups. She held each Confirmands hand, looked them deep into their eyes and told them, "Jesus loves you and don't you ever forget it". It was powerful. Please pray for Mrs. Betty. She is a precious soul.


This little beautiful girl is known on the blog circuit and just happens to be like a little sister to Paige. She chose to skip out on Sunday School and sit by Paige until after she was baptized. Miss Annslee is sooo darling. She is growing up right before our eyes. We couldn't love her more than we do. She and her family brought Paige the cross that the girls are holding, a bracelet, a necklace and a bookmark. Paige keeps the cross in her pocket everyday, even to school! Sooo special!


I LOVE this picture!!!

After church, we went and had a special brunch with many of our friends whose children were Confirmed at the country club. They had reserved the big, glass room (as it is referred) and we had such a lovely brunch. Here are some favorite pics...


My mom and sister-in-law


"The Guys" they are one silly bunch :)


The guys and girls






The girls being silly!...what they do best :)


Paige, Channing, Bethanny and Leah

Just a little funny...on the way to the brunch, Paige said "Arden got drenched when she was baptized. I guess she needed more baptizing than I did. Sometimes she can be a pistol" :) It wouldn't be a day unless Paige had something silly to say. We love her more than life itself and are so happy to know that she has God in her heart and we pray that she leads the best Christian life she possibly can!

Confirmation

For the past school year Paige has been in a Confirmation class at our church. There were 42 confirmands this year, which seems to be an awful lot of 6th graders to me. It also excites me to know end to realize that that many children are learning about God and living a Christian life.

I'm not going to lie and say that every Sunday morning was a breeze trying to wake Paige and get her out the door to church, but for the most part, she really enjoyed the experience.

Along the Confirmation journey she made a life changing decision and I will share that for my next post.

Here are some pics of the Confirmation practice...



Paige and her best friends. I am so happy that they went through this process together.

I heart faces...Viewer's Choice

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is Viewer's Choice. It is fun to participate in this theme, because everyone gets a vote. I love taking portraits of Paige and this one is my newest favorite. We were out and about shooting at different locations and while we were sitting and pondering where to go next, I called her name and she looked up at me and I snapped. This is what I got and I love it and love her! Moments with my girl, posed or not, are what memories are made of. I (heart) her to the core!

Girl with many faces

So, I generally post posed, edited, serious pics of Paige. While I love those, that is only one teeny tiny side to her personality. She is suuuch a trip! She talks nonstop and is a clown...clown, I tell you! Here are some favorite memories as of late:

• She still calls things "ImportNant". She doesn't realize that she is making a mistake and who am I to tell her? It's CUTE!


• Last night she told me that she only wants to adopt and wants boys. Girls are TOO much trouble. haha


• She has a boyfriend and talks about him nonstop. Tonight they are going in a big group to the movies. Remember my last post where I said "a simple hello in the hallway?" Yeah, not so much! Good news is that five of us adults are going to the movie, too, and are sitting ohhhh about two rows behind them :)


• She is a tomboy to the core. She dislikes all things pink, girly, fru fru, or prissy.


• Her friends all wear make up. Paige, no, she wears a little foundation on blemishes and chapstick... atta girl :)


• She loves modern and hip hop, but detests and I do mean DETESTS ballet. She is only sticking with ballet because that is a required class in order to take modern (her love) and jazz.


• Little sister can move like nothing I've ever seen. She has gained confidence this year and others are noticing. I am proud of her.


• She spends way too much time on her ipod touch. She loves the game, "Angry Birds".


• Her favorite food is ramon noodles...at least she'll be content in college, right?


• She'd prefer boyfriend cut jeans, an Abercr@mbie tshirt, and sperrys any day.


• Her ears are pierced, but she doesn't wear earrings.


• She pulls the skin off of her thumbs. They look like she was in a fire. She does it while she sleeps. It concerns me.


• Her voice is getting deeper and she is sounding and acting more and more like a teenager. Stays up late and wakes late as well :/


• She likes to get to school at 7 a.m., even though it doesn't begin until 7:30. She goes to talk to her friends.


• She is one of two sixth graders who are in the Cougars Don't Do Drugs club and doesn't care if it's not "cool". She went and competed with other schools last weekend and had a blast.


• She wants to be a basketball player sooooo badly! She walks, talks, swaggers, dresses, looks like and moves like a "baller", but the child can't make a basket to save her life. She is short and that bothers her.


• She is looking forward to running cross country for her school next year and continue on with dance.


• She asked me to buy her a purity ring for Easter! She said she didn't want to "kiss" until she gets married.....PRECIOUS~!

Here are some straight out of the camera pics of my girl! Love her!