Catch up, catch up - even though...

Even though today is Helaina's last day of 2nd grade, she's gotten a MAJOR haircut, made her First Communion, won 3rd place in a talent show, and now has 2 new baby girl twin cousins (!), I have to play catch up with pictures just a little before I get to the recent stuff.  So.....

In December, Helaina continued pursuit of her acting and singing career (!) by playing one of the orphans in Annie.  She was Florence, a tough little gal.  Helaina LOVED being in Annie.  There were lots of great songs and dance routines.  She's been singing Tomorrow and Hard Knock Life too many times to even count - since she started classes last September through the play in December, and even still now.  Actually, she sang Tomorrow in the talent show last weekend where she took 3rd place in her age group - more on that later.

Helaina's "orphan" outfit, courtesy of the local thrift store.

Brushing her locks while preparing for the Christmas finale. Needless to say, she loved this huge lighted mirror.

On stage during the spectacular end of the play - singing Tomorrow, of course.

Posing in the lobby after her performance with the "congratulations, great job" bouquet of flowers.

We took Helaina tubing for the first time this winter.  She loved it, of course, because our gal feels the need for speed with everything she does.  Helaina has no off switch or slow mode in anything she does.

There was enough snow this winter for Helaina to participate in her 2nd snowmobile event courtesy of our town.  Again, the need for speed.  "She likes to go fast" were our last words to her drivers before they sped off.

Little daredevil - she's not afraid of anything, just like her brother.  That worries me.

Happy, red-cheeked, frozen little gal.

Minions of Jesus.  That was the theme for Helaina's religious education and First Communion class.  The teachers and Father  based the classes and lessons around the Despicable Me movies with Gru, Agnes, Edith, Margo and the minions.  The kids loved it, could relate to it all, and had fun while at religion - definately a different spin on things at church than when I was little.

The busy month of February brought the annual Father Daughter Dance benefitting Golisano Children's Hospital - a place that Helaina knows all too well.  She looks forward to this every year.

They had a fun night, as usual.  Just wish I could be a fly on the wall and watch.  Helaina's wrist corsages have been pink carnations in the past, but this time I picked out red roses to go with her golden dress - and it was a hit.

At WonderWorks with one of her buddies.

Can't go to WonderWorks without going on this spinning, swirling, upside-down crazy orb ride.  Makes me sick just watching her in it.  Again, not afraid of anything.

Critz Farms in March for their annual maple festival.  Yummy pancake buffet breakfast, playground, and animals.

This horse loved being fed the pine needle branches off of the evergreen tree.

One of Helaina's artwork pieces from school was selected to be displayed in the high school art show.  It was her recreation of VanGogh's Starry Starry Night.  She was so excited to have been selected.

It wouldn't be Easter without breakfast with the bunny.  Wonder when she's going to outgrow this kind of stuff?

Helaina and Greta after an exhausting day.  Too funny.  Precious Greta deserves a post of her own, and she'll get it - one of these days.

 Easter - the Easter bunny even left a plastic egg floating in Peaches and Elly's aquarium!

 Finally found her basket hiding under the dining room tables.

The Easter bunny brought bathing suits for both of Helaina's American Girl dolls.  Pretty smart, that Easter bunny.

 You can't see it too well in this picture, but Greta was sporting a Martha Stewart doggie dress.  She hated it, but it looked adorable.  My sister walked in the door that morning, saw Greta in a dress and said to Helaina "Your Mother is crazy."

 Bunny cupcakes, how fun.  I enjoyed decorating them at first, but by the end of the first dozen I was ready to call it quits. 

Reptile Max at the library during spring break.  Helaina couldn't wait to get her picture taken with the snake wrapped around her neck.

 The rope course at WonderWorks.  We now let her go by herself because she's totally capable, and because Jim won't ever do it again.  Our drama queen.

She just loves it.  Flys through the 3-level course for about 45 minutes until her hands start getting blistered from hanging onto the harnes and ropes.