Dance Competition Season....

Saturday was Jenna's first dance competition for this season. She has been so excited for competitions to start up again! This year she is only competing in tap and jazz. She also is dancing in contemporary, but it's a non- competition class. She decided to do less dance classes this year and give gymnastics team a try...but she is finding that she really misses the dance classes she took a break from this year!

Her dance makeup....

For jazz they perform to "Wake Me Up" and their costume is the cutest pj's! Her tap routine is really fun too, but they can't perform tap at this competition since they dance on a gym floor.

Warming up in the hall before competition time....

Waiting for their turn to dance....

Jenna is the first one to "wake up"....so cute!! Later she comes back to the bed and dances on it.

All finished performing and ready to go watch the other dancers. She did an awesome job. She has improved even more this year and is so fun to watch. Dancing is definitely her thing!!

Grandpa with the trains....

My dad has been a fan of trains since he was a little boy. I don't know the whole story of how it started, but I know he had a train set when he was little. For as long as I can remember there has been a train layout in my parents' basement. This isn't just any train layout....it's double decker with buildings, lights, tunnels, mountains, billboards, and little people. No one ever runs the trains except my dad....and it is the entertainment for family when they come over - especially the little kids.

When Jacob was little he was obsessed with Grandpa's trains. When my Mom was staying with us after Jacob was born, my Dad went and bought a new "It's a Boy!" train car to add to his train set (and for each grandchild that followed). I have pictures of my Dad showing Jacob the train set going around their Christmas tree when Jacob was only 6 months old. When I mentioned we were going to Grandma and Grandpa's house, Jacob would always say " Which Grandpa? Grandpa with the trains or the other Grandpa?" Jacob would stand at the basement door crying for the trains when it was time to leave after a visit to my parents. Grandpa (and Grandma) came with us when we took Jacob to ride Thomas the Train and the Polar Express. And Jacob got to ride along on a train engine with Grandpa when my sisters and I got him "engineer for an hour" lessons for his retirement gift. Of course Grandpa bought Jacob a train set of his own too!

I know my sisters and I didn't always appreciate the trains when we were growing up (that's what happens when you have 3 girls and no boys). I honestly didn't even know anyone else who had a huge train layout in their basement. But, I have such great memories of the trains ....and now so do my kids!

photos taken in October as my Dad was running the trains for my cousins' kids at my Grandma's birthday party

Beam my valentine....

On Saturday Jenna competed in the "Beam My Valentine" gymnastics meet in Huber Heights. This was her best meet yet. She really needed a good meet to help boost her confidence and get her excited about gymnastics again - she's been really struggling with it.

We rode with Jenna's BFF Savannah and her mom, Nikki. Nikki surprised the girls with Flip Tuck flip flops (say that 3x fast!) and matching hair ribbons. Too cute!!
Jenna and Savannah....

Jenna and some of the level 5 girls hanging out before the meet....

Getting instructions from Coach Monica....

The Flip Tuck Level 3 and 5 girls (Level 4 competed earlier that day)....

Jenna did really well on beam on Saturday. She got her first "9" - a 9.05 on beam! She was so excited!!

Warming up on beam....

Last minute advice from Coach Monica. ....

Showing off her ribbons and medals! She ended up getting 3rd on vault and floor, 4th on beam, 5th on bars and 4th all around for level 3 in her age group. She had some really good gymnasts in her group and did a great job!

When life gives you snow....take lots of pictures!

Last Saturday we got an unexpected day of snow. It literally snowed all day from 8am until about 4pm. It was so pretty - big, fluffy white flakes falling from the sky all day. I was a little disappointed that it caused me to cancel my trip to Ft Wayne, but I decided that when life gives you snow...you should just take lots of pictures!

Announcements...

I have a new website! My website has samples of my photography, information about me and my sessions, contact information , and pricing. Be sure to check it out.....and pass the link on to your family and friends!! www.amycoveyphotography.com

*Please note I will still be updating this blog with photo session sneak peeks and information!

THINK SPRING! It's time to look at your calendars and book your spring photo session. Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner and my calendar will be filling up quickly!

Class of 2012..... It is not too early to be thinking about your senior photos!! Contact me for more information or to book your session!

Beauty in the snow....

Just a couple snow pictures taken after last week's snowstorm.
I love how the sun setting on the snow covered, wind blown fields looked like the sun setting over the ocean. Ahhhh....wishful thinking!!

We got 6 more inches of snow yesterday....which means more snow pictures to share in another post!!