Tiny Dancer Through The Eyes of Danita

MORE PICTURES ADDED!!!

Jesstine has really been enjoying dance! A while back our friend and photographer, Danita Loney, approached us and wanted to know if she could come and see Jesstine dance and take some pictures! Today was the day! So she joined us! Here are just a couple. I hope to post more soon! She did a GREAT job considering what she had to work with (long story).

We are at a potential crossroads as far as dance is concerned. We are currently taking them at the YMCA. It is about $25 a month in the class she is in now. It is really just about fun but they learn a few of the classic ballet/tap moves. Then there is the Academy (still at the Y). It is either the same or less per month AND you buy a costume. It is once a week from September to May. Probably more strict and more progressive. Part of me thinks it would be nice to have her in that, but part of me thinks we are just doing this for fun right now anyway and she is having fun where she is at! I have also run into a few problems with the current class (although I have heard that this is very common with ANY class at the Y). She was supposed to have a class last week and the teacher had to cancel. We were told to go to a different session. So we did (and I had an extra kid with me as my niece stayed with us last week). There was NO ONE THERE!!! The teacher was very nice about it though. As a result we are going to make it up tomorrow and then the next month's classes (there are only two because they spend two weeks of August refinishing the floors) start on Thursday. We were going on Tuesday mornings, but I start back to work next week and Jesstine starts Kindergarten the week after. So we had to sign up for an evening class. I just hope that we get the same instructor! She really was good with the girls and more patient than her sub was! Jesstine has really enjoyed it and cried when there wasn't a class last week!

Updated with more photos!!!

And of course Emmitt came along for the ride!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Itsy Bitsy Singer

I always thought Babe B. was going to be a musician. I have often noticed similarities between her and Emmitt. This week he has surprised us all with his singing. He did it again tonight.

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Emmitt Sings To Mozart

Emmitt is growing up so fast! He is so smart just like his big sister! At Sunday school this week, his teacher informed me that he could count to ten. She was shocked when I told her he could actually count to thirteen! Daddy was surprised tonight when he heard Emmitt singing, "Twinkle, Twinkle" on the changing table. Don't believe me? Here is proof:

And just for kicks and grins, the Alphabet song.

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Friday, my sister and her kids came up to spend some time with us before going out to church camp. We are keeping Charis, the youngest, with us for the week while Grace and the older two go out to camp for the first time! This is the church camp my mom, siblings and I grew up attending every summer since we were 8-9!! But, I digress! On Saturday, we all met for breakfast and then headed out to Tanganyika Wildlife Park, a local zoo. (We received pre-paid tickets for Christmas!! They came in handy!) It isn't your typical zoo! It is more hands on and with animals you don't see as often! The pictures tell most of it and I will fill in where needed.

Rafikki! (Lion King)

We didn't get to feed this guy. We got to do something else instead!

One of many tortoises. Later we found out later that the other one in this area was named Emmitt! Who would have guessed?

Conrad petting the Kangaroo.

The whole experience was a bit traumatic for Charis who is just a month and a half younger than Jesstine. So Lexi and Jesstine were pretty much inseparable!

Emmitt has a bit of a vicious pet with animals.

This joey is a bit big for his mamma's pouch!

Jesstine was NOT so enthusiastic with the tortoises! I did manage to get her to feed this one!

Emmitt fed one like a CHAMP!

One of the favorite parts of the whole experience for everyone was the camel ride! A friend and former colleague of mine was running the camel rides (she was taking the tokens, not leading the camels). It was great catching up with her while standing in line. She gushed about my beautiful children!

We spent a LOT of time at the playground!

Silly girls!

Emmitt was Grandma's buddy a majority of the time!

Albino Alligator.

The little girls HATED feeding the lemurs! The big kids LOVED it! E really enjoyed it too! We were told not to pet them and he did anyway, so I had to hold his hands back. Here is a picture of Conrad feeding them.

This was taken RIGHT as the girls freaked out! Oh, and this is Gabbi from church!

Mom bought this picture for us at the photo kiosk!

Other than the lemurs, this was the other most enjoyable experience!

(Jesstine still needed a lot of coaxing but begged to do it again and cried when we told her no!)

Emmitt was pretty much game for anything, but he was getting tired and hot at this point. You can tell he enjoyed it though!

We promptly went home, ate lunch and took naps! Jesstine had a birthday party (her best friend, Kylie's) to attend later! It was a great time!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Remembering

My facebook status on Thursday read, "Six years ago today, I became a mommy! I also went home with empty arms because we brought our firstborn into the world sleeping. I am grateful for the opportunity to be the person who knew her best, but still grieve the things I never knew about her; her eye color, her personality, her voice, her likes/dislikes, and the smell of her baby breath. The pain comes in waves and nothing like the first day or the day we laid her to rest. Today I rejoice and celebrate that she was our daughter and because of Christ sacrificing his life, she has a home in glory and I will see her again one day! I love you to the moon and back Babe B. Hutchins!"
And Thursday, we remembered our firstborn!

A traditional pink heart balloon to stay next to her flower urn.

Six pink balloons for her sixth birthday!

Released into the sky! Can you find them all?

Here is some help!

Not quite the party pictures I had hoped for! But it is what it is!

Happy birthday to our sweet firstborn, Babe B.!!!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family

Chip Off The Old Block

Seth and Jenni's boys set the precedent and both of my children have followed. When we returned from our trip to Branson, it was back to life as we knew it. Stephen had to mow the grass and Emmitt wanted to join him.

Today to celebrate Independance Day, we invited Jesstine's best friend's family over for some smoked turkey! Afterward we shot off some fireworks. The kids and adults all had a blast! I had been working on something neat all afternoon! Proud to be and American!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family