Organization....finally!

This is just one of the many projects that have been going on in our house. After Bill tore up all the flooring in the living, kitchen, front room, office and bathroom he worked hard at laying beautiful hard wood floors and new carpet in the living room and installing a new back door.

I forgot to mention the step before the hard woods...Beazer came to fix the window that had been leaking and cleaned up the mold and drywall that had rotted due to water damage caused by bad windows. :(

Our wonderful and talented neighbor built this amazing mud room unit for us. I have been dreaming about this for a long time. It is finally here! A place for everyone's shoes, coats, and school bags. No excuses for not putting your stuff away! There is enough room for everyone, even the baby has his own hook and cubby. (this pic does not show this off very well)

The last step...hard woods floors for the office. I can't wait!!!!

I had to add a few photos from our Holiday photo shoot. The kids did great and there was so many to choose from but I limited myself to only a few.

No candy canes in the pictures this year!!!

I was not planning on being in any of the pictures but got talked into it. I am so glad that I did. It actually turned out better than I thought it would.

The best pictures are on the Christmas card so I do not want to post these until I send them out to everyone. Anticipation is the best feeling!

Family Fun Time!

Thought everyone would enjoy a few pictures from Halloween. Bill and I took the kids to the Zoo Boo along with Uncle Matt and Auntie Jodi and Addison. It was warm and the animals were out and active. It was great!


The girls had a Halloween Parade at school and received a bag full of candy. I thought after that they would be worn out for the actual Trick or Treat night but they were so ready for more candy. It was great this year because Laney was tall enough to reach each doorbell so our job was much easier this year.

Below is a clip of Elli's dance class performing a short ballet routine for the parents. So sweet!

Soccer Season- The Killer Weeds!

Soccer season has come and gone. Mack really enjoyed playing soccer. He was a great defensive player as you can see from these pictures.

It was so fun to watch him work hard and have a good time with a team sport. He got tons of action as a defensive player.




We loved that all his practices and games were right down the road at the Zionsville Soccer Fields. Mack has already expressed many times that he is sad his season is over.


Even though his team never won a game his spirits were high and they fought till the end. The last game was 0-0 so they had improved.



He is already looking forward to next session!







I have to include this picture of Laney and her gymnastic team -mates.
She had in her first "practice" meet. She is on the far right. I am a proud Mommy!

Gymnastics Time!

Had to share a shot of Laney and her team mates. She has her first "mock" meet this Saturday. Excited and nervous for her. She has been excited to practice her routines every day. She is on the far left of this photo.

Grandsparents are officially here, for good!

Well, my parents are finally in their new house. It is the perfect size for them with a small yard. They are taking their time unpacking, because they can! They are already helping my with the kids and baking cookies!

Here is a picture of all the grand kids in front of their new house.

The baby is my brothers' little girl, Addison. She is 4 months old and the girls now argue who is going to hold her first. That is a good sign!

Next month we get to find out if the kids will be having a brother or sister. The girls have already convinced everyone that it is a "sister" baby. Of coarse Mack and Bill are hoping for a boy. Me? It would be fun to add a boy to the mix.


School is going great great for everyone. Mack is busy with soccer, Elli is taking ballet and tap class, and Laney has officially joined the gymnastics pre-team at my gym. Bill is busy tearing up all the floors and putting down hardwoods. So excited!!!
Warning: Do Not come over for a visit as our entire downstairs is a complete mess!

Stay tuned for soccer and gymnastics pics of the kids. Maybe I will throw a pic of the baby too!

Elli's birthday!

Birthday Party for Elli!

Sorry it has taken a few weeks to get Elli's birthday pictures posted. But, as you can see she had a great time. Birthdays are her "favorite holiday" she repeats to me every time a birthday cake is presented.
We had a small party for Elli at our house. A few work buddies and neighborhood friends, and family members. It was a good time. Lots of cake and candy!
Elli received many puzzles. She just loves putting puzzles together. I am amazed at how she will complete a puzzle and then do the same puzzle again and again. She insists she does it "all by herself" even if it takes her a long time.

Of coarse we had a Dora cake and goody bags. Both of which were Elli's ideas.

Surprise!!!

Well, after all the hustle of the dance recital, vacation to Hilton Head and the start of the summer for the kids and my work I look back and realized why I was so tired. Not to mention so moody! After a few weeks I finally looked at all facts and accepted that baby #4 was on the way for me! Needless to say this was an unexpected surprise. Not sure weather to feel excited or worried about what this means I decided to go about my life and hope that God would give me a sign so I could be at peace with this news. Don't get me wrong, in my heart I wanted to have another child but I was just out of the baby stage with my girls and enjoying my bother's new baby.
Then the sign came....my parents finally sold their house and bought a new house in Brownsburg all in one week! This was definitely the sign I need to let give me the reassurance that God knew what he was doing and to trust him and be thankful for my wonderful family. My parents will be moved in by September! Yippeee!
Bill and I are happy to announce that the arrival of this surprise baby will be February 16th.
All the kids are excited and they all have their opinion of what it should be and names. The girls ask me every morning "how big is the baby today?" They love their baby cousin so I know they will love having their own baby in the house. However this means that Elli and Laney will be sharing a room. This could be interesting! I am saying more prayers these days and taking time to enjoy the small moments with my family in preparation for a change in the household.

Elli is turning 3 years old!!!

It is so hard to believe that my little Elli is going to be 3 years old! She is still my baby and I still treasure rocking her before bed time, when she allows me that is. She is truly becoming a bright and funny little person.
I wanted to share her birthday pictures. Thankfully she has reached the point where she now enjoys getting her picture taken....




She has grown up so much this past year. Here are just a few of her accomplishments:

*Potty trained a month after she turned 2!
*Started going to school
*Lost her first tooth! (on accident!)
*Can ride a bike
*Knows her birthday and where she lives
*Knows all her letters and their sounds
*Sings many songs!

Happy Birthday my sweet Elli!

Vacation Time- Hilton Head!

A few days after the recital Bill, the kids, and I traveled to SC to spend the week at Hilton Head. We rented a house from one of Bill's best friend. We got to spend time on the beach, bike riding, and visiting with Andy, his wife and son!

I love this pic of Laney and Eljah! They make a cute couple!

It was a great get-away for us. It was out first vacation without my parents so I was a bit nervous without the extra hands but we did it. Of course it was very tiring but I loved it! My parents did end up stopping by for a few days to surprise Mack for his 11th birthday. Mack celebrated his birthday with a cookie cake and crabs legs for almost every dinner!

The kids loved the beach! They got to see a live sea star, many crabs, and even a jelly fish.

They loved to jump into the waves and got the hang of riding on a boogie board. I have to admit that I was a bit stressed out the first day at the beach. Bill and Mack would venture out far in the ocean leaving me to watch both girls. They both wanted to jump the waves alone and the tide was strong so I had to be on high alert the whole time. But, it was worth hearing their giggles as the waves would hit them.

We ventured to different parts of Hilton Head and visited a horse farm and parks. This is a picture of Mack and Elli in a tree and a fun park in Sea Pines. Or coarse I did some shopping and we even made a trip the doctors to get medicine for Elli's ear infection. It would not be a true family vacation if one of the kids did not get sick!

It was truly a wonderful family vacation and we hope to make this a traditional vacation spot!

Spring Dance Recital!

Recital Time! On May 29th both girls were in the Spring Recital that my gym, InteractiveAcademy hosted at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center. This is a beautifully huge stage and they did a fabulous job!

This is a action shot of Laney's tap routine to "Yankee Doodle".

Laney also performed a ballet routine to "Castle on a Cloud" (She is the middle girl with the serious look on her face)

Elli's class, The Tapping Baby Dolls, was the youngest to perform being only 2 years old!!! (Elli is on the right)I taught her group a routine to "Baby Face". I was so happy that all the 2 year olds danced and no one cried!

This is a picture of Laney's class. She is the 3rd from the right. She looks so mature in this picture. Maybe it is her beautiful posture!

It was a wonderful night and all 81 dancers did a great job! Now, I am able to de-stress and enjoy the summer! O yeah, and start planning for next years recital!

Spring is here!

As the end of school quickly approaches the Michalak house hold remains very busy with gymnastics and dance classes for girls, baseball practices and games for Mack (not to mention PT for his slightly torn ACL!)
Here are a few favorite memories for you to enjoy....

So proud of Elli. She is only 2 years old and knows almost all her letters and sounds! She loves school and is almost as big as Laney. Both girls have been attending dance classes (taught by me!) and will be performing in the Spring Recital on May 29th at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center on the "big stage".

Mack is excited to complete forth grade. He will be going to Camp this week with the 4th graders and his teachers. This is an overnight camp that he has been talking about since 1st grade. He is working hard to rehab his knee and get back on the baseball field. In the mean time it gives him and I some bonding time with physical therapy.

On May 30th my brother, Matt and his wife, Jody had their first baby. Addison Ann Davis arrived! The girls are so happy to finally have a cousin. Elli enjoyed holding and watching her every move. It is hard to believe that my brother is a Daddy!





This is Laney at the Pacers Game. I took my Dance Program to perform at a Pacers Game in March. It was a great experience.


As I write this blog I can hear the girls in the other room talking to each other.
Laney said,"Let's hide and jump out to say Happy Mother's Day!" Elli replies, "Good idea Laney!"

I love the way they talk to each other. They are becoming smart, lovely girls and I still can't believe that God chose me to be their Mom!

We are all looking forward to the warmer weather and spending time cheering on Mack at his games and traveling in June!

Well I have better go since the girls are still hiding somewhere in the house!

Happy Mother's Day!

That's what happens when you run in the bathroom...

Well the end of January was a bit traumatic for us. Okay, so I am being over dramatic but witnessing your 2 year old fall face first on the bathroom floor and seeing her tooth on the ground set me over the top. I wish I could say I kept my cool but I did not! Bill came to the rescue as well as the many people I called for advice. When all was done Elli was fine and even had her first x-ray at the pediatric dentist. No other damage was done to the rest of the teeth or gums. So, Elli will have a toothless smile for a long time. She is still super cute and now she has a perfect place for her thumb!


February started out with a bang. Mack had his first meet and did a great job. Here are a few clips of his routines.

Laney turns 4!

Well January has already come and gone and I still have not posted any Christmas pictures so I decided to just move on and continue with the recent events of our lives.

Laney celebrated her 4th birthday with her classmates at the gym. It was a great time and it was so cute to see her friends so excited for her and sing to her. Laney was more concerned about sharing her sister with her friends. Laney was very protective of Elli and wanted to be sure that Elli was always by her side.






Kids also had fun in our first big snow!

This is a picture of one of Laney's favorite birthday presents. It is a wooden cupcake set that came with markers so she can decorate the cupcakes. Great gift!

yuletide

Family time downtown before Christmas! My parents, my brother and sis-in-law, all the kids, Bill and I all went downtown for a great family dinner at Buca's (my favorite) and to see he Yuletide Christmas show.


The kids loved walking around the circle looking at the lights and in the windows. Everyone enjoyed the amazing show with the help of cookies to snack on. After the tap dancing Santa's Laney leaned over to me and whispered, "that was wonderful!" in my ear. I love watching my kids enjoy the same experiences that I enjoy too.
This was a great way to start the Christmas week! I hope this can be a tradition for us.