lottie sue's recital, the lake for memorial day & the akins that run

all together now...awwwwwwww!

our prima ballerina

here is her class photo, she has an awkward face...which is fine because i love funny photos.

lottie sue's weird smile, but still super cute

(she loves her ballet buddies)

lottie sue had her ballet recital on saturday, she was so cute and did so well! she did all of the moves and made us proud. and when i say "us" i am speaking for granbunny, granray, irene, bb, gramma, papaw, grandmother, matt and myself. she has quite a following.

this is lottie sue while we were waiting in line to get check in...too cool.

what wears blue and loves to dance? this girl. 

a cuter version 

lottie sue goes back with ava and sydney
(thank you, robin for the photo)

here is lottie's sue class, she is front and center in this shot
(robin, thanks again!)

we get her back after the show was over 

we, of course, had flowers for her 

it was a long day, lottie sue was sleepy and tired 

but not too sleepy and tired to take a photo with daddy 

after sleeping in the next morning we headed up to the lake for some fun in the sun. we WORE the kids OUT. they swam in the pool for hours and hours, it was so much fun. rowdy loves the water, he will dive in (we catch him, of course).

we spent the night up there and here are the kids eating breakfast monday.

it was 8AM and lottie sue already had her suit on 

this is the view in the morning, misty - but it all clears up

(and i forgot to take of photo of that, next time) 

bb reads a story to the kiddos 

rowdy plays with his truck

matt plays with dominos

grandaddy and bb are building an addition to the lake house. they have had several additions to the family over the past years (harlan then lottie sue then rowdy then knoxie - phew!) so they want to make sure everyone is comfortable.

it is almost finished, but it's not quite there. so here are a few shots of what it looks like now and i'll post a few photos of the finished product.

it is going to have two sets of bunk beds and then two day beds (that will double as couches). i told them it's like they will never know we are there...and then thought that maybe that is their plan...hmm.

and i meant to post these photos MONTHS ago...matt's aunt, uncle and cousin ran a half marathon in march. they totally ROCKED it. i have mentioned that jan battled (and won) a fight with breast cancer last year and this was her just livin life. her hubby jim ran it as well, along with julie (her daughter/our cousin). they are rock stars.

13.1 miles is a LONG WAY, people

speaking of running...i ran today for the first time in a few weeks (shame shame youknowmyname), it was the start of my half marathon training.

feets don't fail me now

you better get used to these posts on my blog, i am embarking on a running summer to get ready for my TWO half marathons.

and now, a few items of interest for you...

• the delayed hobbit films get release dates and titles
• right now i am reading this book
• not sure if you watching the casey anthony trial, but i am - the trial is online and ov tv
• paypal will pay 24 college-aged students $100,000 to NOT attend college for two years
• why health food is less satisfying
• here's a story from the times, it includes a moving personal story about overcoming opioid addiction
• the food pyramid is about to go away and will be replaced by a plate (it will be revealed on thursday)
• major booty found: blackbeard's anchor recovered from ocean

ok, short post for me today. i am still writing the easter/mother's day post. i will finish it soon! bye, lovelies.