Katie's Dance Recital

Katie has been working hard all year in dance class. This is the first year she attended the 2 hour Saturday morning class, rather than just the 40 minute Friday after school class. Which meant that this year she had a ton more stage time than last year.

The "frame" of the show was that of a Birthday Slumber Party...which is why the costumes look like pajamas. Katie was the first "guest" to arrive at the party. Even though you can't hear it that well, she did a great job on her speaking parts.

Katie was in the oldest group of girls in the Junior Show.

Tap Dance was a new skill practiced this year.

Flashy costumes for "I Want to Be a Rock Star."

Flowers from Mom & Dad for a terrific job!

Prague

The last weekend in May was a long weekend so we took the opportunity to visit Prague. It's only a 5 hour trip from Budapest...which just cracks me up. In 5 hours we went through 3 countries: Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In Houston I could maybe get to Dallas in 5 hours.

On Saturday it was a bit rainy but we still managed to take a nice log walk around town.

Here's the whole family in the Old Town Square.

The kids and I pose for a picture on the Charles Bridge, an important Prague landmark. Lots of walking this day...the Charles Bridge was located about halfway between our hotel and the Prague Castle (seen way in the background) where we ended our walking tour...but we still had to walk all the way back!

Outside the Prague Castle.

On Sunday we went to the Prague Zoo and met our friends, the Gardners.

We got to see the penguins (Grandpa's favorite) really up close. No zoom needed!

The Zoo had several play areas where we stopped to have some fun.

Vito liked the tiger exhibit.

And of course we needed some ice cream to cap off the day.

We had a great time in Prague!

Happy 8th Birthday, Katie

Katie has been counting down to her Birthday for quite some time and we ALL were glad when it finally arrived.

We had her party the week before her birthday at the Arena Plaza Movie theater.

Katie and her friends had a private movie theater with all the popcorn they could spill...err...eat.

The kids almost had as much fun fooling with the reclining chairs as watching the movie "Hotel For Dogs." We were lucky that the theater was able to get it in English AND that only 2 kids had already seen it!

Special thanks goes to my friend, Saksia, for baking the delicious cakes. The strawberry cake was especially good!

Everyone gathered to sing "Happy Birthday."

Katie and her best friend Shiraz.

Mom and Dad's present of a Nintendo DS (pink, of course) went over extremely well.

On Friday the whole lower elementary school sang Happy Birthday to those kids (& teachers) with birthdays this week.

We happened to be in Prague for her actual birthday. On Saturday we had dinner with our friends the Lowes at the Hard Rock Cafe where the wait staff came and sang Happy Birthday.

The kids enjoyed that so much that they asked to go back the next night (Katie's actual Birthday) and so she got another free sundae and another round of singing!

Happy Birthday Katie!