Spring Fever

So this weather made us a little crazy to get outside today!  Kayden and I had a "gearl's" day beginning with the "Egg Place" (Eggspectation) for breakfast.  She enjoyed placing her napkin on her lap like a proper lady, and eating the green and orange melon fruits.  We ended the event with another successful potty trip.  Yahoo!  We are one whole week strong with NO accidents and no pull ups (not even for naps or nighttime). So maybe with the $$ I'm saving I really could get that new iPad that she's (I mean I've) been drooling over.  Just sayin'.

Next, off to Gymnastics at our old favorite activity place JW Tumbles.  Kayden is doing MUCH better this time around with the structured circle time and following directions.  Love seeing how excited she gets when she knows that it's Friday, and that means activity day!  

 

 

 

Did I mention that it was 75 degrees here today? Yep...we had to take advantage of it!

 

So, off we went to find some lunch (with Daddy, of course).....

Where did we end up playing some hide and seek?

 

at our stompin' ground,  Del Rio, of course!  We had Saul (our fav. waiter) and some Summery Spirits to celebrate the occasion: A Nice Day. Finally.

 

 

See ya later, Winter!

 

 

Charlotte Trip

Oh How we love Charlotte!

Nothing beats eating ice cream cones, in shorts, in February, OUTSIDE:)

 

 

And of course, we had to stop and get a cupcake :)

 

 

 

 

 

Our Beach Trip

While checking out the Myrtle Beach area, we slipped away for a bit to catch some sun and splash in the freezing cold water.

Kayden LOVED the sand

Spring is in the air!

A day at the park, after-dinner ice cream cones, booking outdoor activities...ahhh..SPRING is in the air!  We are anxiously awaiting our 70+ degree weather this weekend and are stocking up on the necessities (ie: Ribeyes for the grill, wine...of course, ice cream and anticipating some much needed family time.  It seems like we have been on overdrive overload these last few weeks since our mini-cation to the Carolinas. So much to do in the short days that lack extra hours. Well, at least it's staying lighter longer and my kids don't have to dance in the dark anymore:)

March is here!

Here we are, 2 full weeks into my Spring session at Tiny Toes and I finally have some time to sit down and write!  I have been busy with new kiddos, the Brambleton ribbon run (coming up this weekend), recital costumes and managing my big kids and teenagers and prepping them for competition.  Such is the life of a dance teacher:)
This session has been the biggest and best yet!  I have 85 students enrolled and more and more inquiries each day for our next session!  Love to see all the smiling faces each and every day - I really do have the best job in the world!  Kayden has been taking some of my classes and will be in our recital this year on June 19th!  Here's the costume for her class:

I have been running a lot for the Brambleton Ribbon Run 5k that is this weekend!  It's supposed to be Sunny and 69 degrees on race day!  Perfect for a nice run and to spend some time outdoors!  Tiny Toes and True Athlete Performance will be sponsoring a moonbounce for all the kiddos too!  Fun for the whole family! I have been running a lot more lately and hope to beat my last 5k time.  I am actually starting to enjoy running (with the help of my iPhone)!

Just finished ordering all recital costumes today.  What a job it is - I have SO MUCH respect for those that have an entire dance school to order for! Whew! I was pooped after organizing and ordering 45 costumes!  Picture Day is this Sunday too, for our TTDA Yearbook.  More smiling faces this weekend!

I signed Kayden up for Gymnastics classes again!  They start this Friday at JW Tumbles in Ashburn.  She really has enjoyed the last few times we went.  She's not really into the "structured" circle time just yet, but I think that will get better as she gets a little older.  She just wants to run around and play on the equipment as soon as she sees it!  Will post more pictures as we have them from class!

I have been getting some good business expansion vibes lately and will post more as soon as info is official!  On another note, I am happy to announce that my South Riding location will be transforming an entire dance room into a Princess Palace!  All of my ballerinas will be SO happy to be whisked away into a magical kingdom to twirl and tap until their hearts are content! This should hopefully be done by the summer time.

Kris and I had a date night last week with some friends and tried out Caliente Mex-Sea Restaurant.....delicious food!  We all agree that it will be our summer hangout spot.....indoor/outdoor bar and seating, great selection of food and drinks, and close (even walkable) location!  a Winner!!

We are trying to plan our summer vacation this year.  So far, I think we've narrowed it down to the last week in June and I think the Outer Banks. Checking out some houses this week. We have a trip to Boston planned at the end of the summer with some friends too.  Looking forward to getting back up there and visiting with Kris' buddies!

So, that's our life in a nutshell.  Emphasis on the nut.  I feel like we're both going a million miles an hour but in the bestest way possible! 

That's it for now:)

~The Johnsons

Getting back to normal

The snow is finally melting, and life is getting back to normal (whatever that is!).  I am gearing up for my Spring #1 Session at Tiny Toes which begins next Monday.  This week I am finishing up my makeup classes from the snow storm and working on a marketing plan for next session.   In March, we have costumes to order for the June recital, shirts to order for the Brambleton Ribbon Run that we're sponsoring, and a Picture day for all of my adorable little dancers! All while choreographing and cleaning dances for my big girls and getting them ready for competition.  March will prove to be a busy month indeed.
I volunteered for my first Saturday evening church service last week and I was blessed to be in the 3-4 year old room....we had 8 little ones that wanted me to feed their baby dolls and teach them a ballet class Tiny Toes style!  Even the boys enjoyed it:)
Kris began his bootcamps at the studio last week....we have about 35 signed up right now between my dancers and our Biggest Loser contestants!  I am still sore but really looking forward to Friday's workout again.
This week, I put together our Birthday Party guide since I've had a lot of ballerina mommies requesting parties! Yay! I hope that these will grow as the months go on.
Last week, I officially became "published" with an article on the IAMModern Kids' blog!  Looking forward to writing more for them and some of the other avenues that are interested in my perspective!
My exciting news of the week:  I had my first interview with the Leesburg Today about Tiny Toes!  Hope to see a writeup in a week or so about the company, its role in the community and the unbelievable growth that we've seen!
Did I say growth?  I meant explosion!  We have 85 little ballerina princesses scheduled to join us at Tiny Toes this session! I couldn't be more excited!!!
Since this is a ballerina kind of post this week, here are some pics of my favorite Trina in Training:)

Love,

The Johnsons

Snow My Goodness!

The official reading today in Leesburg was 34.5" for our February 5-6 Blizzard! Kris spent a good part of Friday shoveling to get ahead of the mounds of snow that came Friday night into Saturday....then spent Saturday morning digging out what Mother Nature so kindly left for us.  Loudoun County Schools are already cancelled for Monday and Tuesday and we're supposed to get another 10-12" Tuesday night.....I hope all of this settles down before next weekend when I head to NYC:)

Kayden currently measures 33.5" tall....this snow storm had  her beat! But not in spirit!  Friday night, we went on a family walk around the block (around 11:00 PM) and Saturday she kept pointing outside and saying "walk!" "walk!".....she loves the snow! Sliding around in it, digging with her shovel, eating it! I can't wait till next year when we can take her skiing!!

Our nighttime walk Friday night!

The Biggest Snowballs Ever!

Kayden loves to catch snowflakes on her tongue!

Helping us dig out!

34.5" !!

Besides all this snow business.... Kris and I had a really fun and productive weekend!  Saturday Kris and I (mainly Kris) worked in the basement - he hung the drywall where the fireplace used to be and fixed the ceiling.  Same with the Bathroom where we had the leak. Today he threw the mud up and tomorrow he'll sand....should be ready to paint by the middle of the week....just in time for the next whopper of a storm!

Our neighbors Terry, Regina and Maia came over last night for dinner and a baby date!
Kayden and Maia both wanted to dress up as Cinderella and I was HAPPY to assist:)

Looking forward to another exciting week in Princess land:)

~The Johnsons