Monday, July 13, 2015

Introducing Charley and Lucia!


Little Lu, Little Lu,
so many adventures did you do!
Sister Scout, Sister Scout, 
oh yes you sure partied about!

The girls and I visited my hometown of New Philadelphia, Ohio before and over the 4th of July...here's a little recap- so many special memories!

Hicks Reunion, rides and ducks at Tuscora Park with grammy, The Farm at Walnut Creek (Amish Country style Jurassic Park-so cool) , fishing with grampa for the first time on Marsh lake, taking the girls to my elementary school playground, backyard fireworks, catching fireflies, s'mores and sparklers with cousins, First Town Days festival full of fresh squeezed lemonade, french fries soaked in vinegar, frog jumping contests, and....the winner of the 2015 Fourth of July best moment award is....Charley Hicks and Lucia Dawkins dancing in the First Town Days Talent Show!!!!!   That's right!

Lu and cousin Charley ready for the show!

Charley can no doubt dance and she and Lucia took the stage together, adorned in two outfits from my childhood dance recital days.  We sprayed their hair pink, decorated Lu's stroller in red, white and blue, and the two of them stole the show (at least in our eyes)!!!!
Lu smiled SO much in this outfit! Is she a pageant girl?!!!

Charley practiced her dance about 100x in my parent's house, backyard-about everywhere, different every time, and she put on a spectacular show with her somewhat unchoreographed routine to the tween version of Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.  When it was showtime, Jason and my brother Joey lifted Lucia onto the stage and when she and Charley came out... the crowd went wild!!! #brunomarsbackupdancers

Truth be told I felt like a full fledged pageant show mom!  Sweaty palms, heart racing, cheeks hurting from smiling and tears of so much happiness and a heart bursting with joy!

Charley danced around Lucia and, as planned, she pushed Lucia around in a circle on stage and the crowd cheered like she was taking flight!  Actually she did almost take flight or a bite as her stroller almost rolled off the stage but...it all added to the excitement of their show!

They may not have placed but it was a moment that was full of fireworks and huge WINS in our eyes! SOO crazy proud of our Charley and Lu! Check out Lu's arm at the end of the performance :)

https://youtu.be/RxcobVhAwVA

Another highlight was getting the chance to meet an online friend, grandmother and caregiver to a little 23 year old girl named Ashley who has PKS- the amazing Linda Jones!  Linda lives about 40 minutes from my parents.  She is a remarkable woman, with so much on her plate,  who just recently has gotten connected w PKS Kids..before she and her family were in the dark about others affected by this rare and disabling syndrome.  We loved finally meeting you and Ashley, Linda! It was obvious how much love you two share. You are truly an inspiration to so many of us parents.  And Kristen Desantis-always so awesome to see you and Bells! Wish we all lived closer to each other.  
Isabella, Ashley and Lu- PKS sisters

Thanks mom and dad for a nice visit and watch out New Philadelphia, the Hicks granddaughters might just be back next year with more moves, twists and turns...it was too much fun!

First Fish with grampa!! Thanks Dad!!!
South School-swings for Lu too!

Brande and Brandi came back too!
the intense audience
Charley-born to dance!
visiting the Hootmans! 

Our angel

God bless the USA!