Picnic at Deer Creek

Diana and her awesome kids came to Vegas for two weeks while we were there.  It was so great to see all of them.  We all went for a picnic up to Mt. Charleston's Deer Creek to escape the heat for a day.

 

It was a great way to spend the day with our cousins!

Spring Baseball and Softball

 

The Shupe's LOVE baseball and softball season.  There is something refreshing about the smell of fresh cut grass, grass stains on the pants from sliding, and the hours of outdoor exercise my kids get from being part of it.

 

Ryan was on the "Thunder" this year.  He has had the same coach, Mike Kenney for 2 seasons now.  It has been great having Ryan on his team.  He is full of patience and dedication to these players.

Paul had the privilege of being one of the assistant coaches.

 

 Ryan was awarded with being the "Player of the Year".

He was a little proud, while we were VERY proud.

Of course, even now as I blog he is walking around the house with his glove on, and bouncing a ball against the wall....he is dedicated (and I have a headache).

 

Chloe was on the "Pink Flames".  Her coaches were Megan Lucas (a good friend of ours), and Chris McElvoy who grew up on the same street as Cal Ripken's family and played ball with his sons throughout his childhood.  He would call extra practices just for fun, and was a such a good sport with these 9-11 yr old girls.  He could squeal and scream just like the best of them.

 

 

 

 

YEP!!!!!  That's my girl, right there pitching.  This is a new skill she just picked up this season and was awesome at it. 

 

Here is Coach Chris on the mound giving her a pep talk.  One of her struggles with learning to pitch was not to bend her knees too much....her Coaches would call them her "Pli-a Pitch" because of her dance training.  They would tease her a lot about it, but she eventually caught on.

 

 I am always so sad when baseball/softball season is over!  Great job to both of you!  We are hoping Callista will join in the fun next year!

 

 



Spring Dance Recital

The girls did a beautiful job in their dance recital this year.  Chloe takes 3 dance classes.  Here she is a white swan from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake".

 

 

This was Chloe's tap number "Letting Go"......she did not inherit her flexibility from me.





 

The end of her jazz solo for "Please Don't Stop the Music".

 

 

Callista took tap and jazz this Spring as well.  Her dances were "Rio" and "Afro Circus".

 

The funny thing about Callista is that she and her little friend Amanda stared at each other the entire time on stage.  They knew the dances perfectly and were both placed in the center, but never took their eyes off of each other.  I have ten more pictures just like this one. 

 

 I LOVE seeing the final performance after weeks and weeks of learning new steps and perfecting routines.  We will miss Miss Gabrielle!!!