Adding to the Pot...

We love to "Stir Frequently"! We turned up "Da Heat" and added two puppies to our Butter Bean Soup mix!

This little Pumpkin is the oldest puppy; born September 4

And this Little Peanut is just a tiny thing; born October 2

She sings, she dances and she's learning to play the piano...

Tuesday was a day to note as Butter Bean started piano lessons. She spent the first half hour working on low notes and high notes with Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse. They talked about LOUD notes and soft notes and zoomed up and down the keyboard striking "honk-honk!" along with the rhythm of the lesson CD. Toting her three new music books; a lesson book, a workbook and a journal at the conclusion of her first session Butter said she thought her piano lesson was "super-duper exciting"!

Fishing Bean

Butter Bean loves to fish with her Daddy! We have been saving the little fish we catch at this pond to stock the pond just west of our neighborhood. This time we only caught a few catfish. Typically we use worms that Butter and Daddy dig up from the garden. The fish love those fine fresh worms!

Twinkle Butter Toes

Butter Bean has been a Dancing Bean this week! She knew just one of the little girls in her class, but was on a first name basis with everyone by the end of the first day. I am so proud...Butter is amazingly attentive, takes direction well, has natural rhythm, obviously loves to dance and even flashes an amazing amount of gracefulness for a bean so young!

The girls enjoyed two hours of activity each day. First they had ballet and then tumbling. Tap dancing was taught by another teacher before they moved into the craft and snack room. The girls decorated their own tiaras and magic wands for the performance. They also decorated a frame that complimented their class picture as a surprise gift for the moms and dads. Their favorite time...snack time was next. One day they even had Oreo cookies! The final day was popcorn, Butter's favorite! There was just enough time to end each day with more dancing...creative movement was great fun and kept the girls attentive and interested as they danced with ribbons, stars and wands.

These young girls are part of Footlight's history as today was the last of the dances performed at the current location. The fall classes that start in August will be at the new location.

Gardening Bean

This Butter is a Gardening Bean too! In April we planted our little tomato plant from our favorite garden center, Lantana Gardens. Daddy staked it up for us so it had plenty of support to grow big ripe, juice tomatoes. Well, we do have a big plant and some tomatoes, but the only thing big and juicy is the grasshopper we found feeding on them!

Artistic Bean

Butter is an Artistic Bean that loves to be creative. The end of July she will be participating in an art camp at the Art House. They will focus on a variety of art mediums while learning about art, artists, design and creativity. The theme is Adventures at Sea. Projects will include a seascape on a t-shirt, a parrot from paper mache', jewels to fill a treasure chest and a costume designed print.

Baseball Bean

Butter was the only girl on her Blastball team this Spring, but that didn't stop her from being a top hitter and runner! Go Gators!

Builder Bean

Give her a some wood, a hammer and a nail and she's a Builder Bean! Zoom! Zoom! Look at her go!

Dancing Bean

This Bean is not just a jumping bean, she is a Dancing Bean! Butter has taken lessons weekly for a year. Her grand recital in May was complete with costume. She will start a dance camp in two weeks with her new troupe, Footlights. http://www.footlightsdancestudio.com/

Swimmer Bean

Butter has been swimming since January 2007. She can now swim the length of the pool. This Tuesday they are starting to side breath. She says one of her goals is to be on the swim team, like her Daddy!