Further Dallas Doings

While I was in Dallas, I was able to participate with the grand kids in some other wonderful activities, including:

Eating Lunch with Jeff and Amy's Kids at their School.

It's really nice that all three of the kids go to the same elementary school, so Amy and I just ate with each child as their class came in.  Here I am with Lola . . .

and Garrett . . .

and Isaac.  The visitors get to sit with their student on the stage, so I think it's kind of a status symbol if you get to sit on the stage.  Amy says the kids love it!  I loved it, too!

Attending Tai Kwon Do Lessons with Riley

It has been years since I've attended a Tai Kwon Do lesson--not since Kyle was a young boy.  But, I love the discipline it teaches and respect for the teachers.  Having been a school teacher myself, I wish more students had taken this activity to learn those two traits!

Riley loves to go, and as you can see, he has earned his first tape--the yellow one.

His teacher is kind, but expects respect and for the students to listen.  I was very impressed!  Way to go, Riley!

Going to the Perot Museum with Riley and Kennedy

Where do I begin to talk about this fantastic hands-on museum?  It was five-stories high, and had so many things to see and do, you could never do it all in a day.

We spent lots of time in the young kids area which was really their favorite at this age.

This was learning how to do a weather forecast.

Riley put all the recyclable items in the right bins, then pledged to recycle.  A great learning tool!

A great learning as well as lots of fun day!

Attending Garrett's Band Concert 

I believe that most of the schools in Dallas require all fifth graders to take band.  What a fantastic idea!  Consequently, their band is huge!  They had their Fall Concert that I was able to attend. 

Garrett decided to play the trumpet and is considered "First Chair."  He has really enjoyed it!

I couldn't believe how well these students did!  And they have only had this for one semester!  Wow!

The whole family came to support Garrett at his concert.

Great job, Garrett!  I actually took Riley with me to the concert, and when he went home he told his mother that Garrett had a "golden trumpet and gets to see gold every day!"  This was Riley's remark when he was disappointed that his mother hadn't brought him any cookies home from a church activity.  What the one had to do with the other, we weren't sure.  But, he was surely impressed that Garrett got to see gold every day!  We really laughed about that!

Going to the Thanksgiving Program at Gavin and Riley's Pre-School.

It is great that Gavin and Riley are both in the same class at Pre-School, so I was able to watch both perform.  It was darling!  Gavin is third from left, and Riley is sixth from left.
Gavin fifth from left. 

 Riley second from left.

After the program, the children got to eat their Thanksgiving feast.  It looked like an ant pile with all the children eating on the floor and all the parents crowded around!

Riley

Gavin

Two darling little Indians.

Kennedy came to watch the performance, too--in her Frozen dress, of course!  The program was so fun and because of having two performing in it, it made it double the fun!  I loved it, Gavin and Riley!

Next up:  I fly from Dallas to Ontario, California, to join George for a week with John and Alison's family in Palm Desert. 

Our Beautiful and Talented "Belle"

When our grand daughter, Sydney, got the lead part as Belle in her school's production of "Beauty and the Beast," George and I knew it was something we definitely wanted to be a part of.  I left a few days early for Dallas and saw both nights of the production, and George was able to fly in for the second night.  We were thrilled that we attended.  It was one of the sweetest things we've ever experienced.  We absolutely cried through the whole thing as we were so proud of Sydney and the wonderful job she did!

 Sydney's friend helping her get her make-up on for the play.

 Sydney was absolutely radiant in her beautiful Belle dress, but even more so with her beautiful smile!

Proud parents:  Cameron and Anne; proud Grandma Laura; proud Aunt Cassie with Sydney, her brother Gavin, her cousin Ava, her brother Mason, and her cousin Riley.

Sydney taking her bow.

Sydney's Aunt Amy congratulating her and the beautiful job she did.

So many young girls lined up to get Belle's autograph . . .

including her Cousin Lola who wanted her book signed and a picture taken for her book, too.

I told you that Sydney's performance brought us to tears!

Sydney with her play director who did such a marvelous job with so many students involved.

Cousin Garrett, Sydney, Brother Jaxon, Cousin Isaac

Sydney and her brother Jaxon

Jeff and Amy's family congratulating Sydney

All four grandparents flew in for the production:  Here is Sydney with her Grandpa Richard and Grandma Debbie who came from Utah.

Anne's sister, Amy, also came, along with her two children.  Her husband is attending medical school in Austin, Texas

Grandpa Richard, Grandma Debbie, Sydney, Grandma Laura, Grandpa George

Sydney with her proud parents:  Cameron and Anne

It is so wonderful to watch your grandchildren grow and develop their talents.  Sydney sang like an angel and was the perfect Belle for this production.  It was an evening George and I will never forget!  Congratulations, Sydney, for all your hard work and to your parents for helping make it all possible with all they did to get you to practices and helping with so many items which made the production so great!