4 Girls and their Prince 1st Anniversary Contest

Yesterday was the first anniversary of 4 Girls and Their Prince Blog. Thank you to all of my (few) faithful friends and family that have let me share our life with you. It has been a wonderful way for me to share what we are doing here in the Nugent family with many family members who live out of state or in state, but are just not close enough to see us often. I have had a lot of fun taking the pictures for the blog and consider myself a photo junkie at this point. I still feel like I don't have a lot to say and can never say it as creatively or as elegant as my other bloggy friends (you know who you are), but I have still been able to compose something almost weekly.

So with that said, and following the lead of some of the other blogs I follow, I think this celebration calls for a contest. Please send me an email with your answer. All of the right answers will be put into a "hat" and we'll pick a winner. The prize will be worth all of your effort, I promise HAHA!!! There is a prize for sure, a gift card, to where I am not sure yet. I'll have to decide soon and base my decision on multiple state players involved. So.... Here is your question-

Our newest and oldest blog post have a lot of things in common. But there is one thing different (ie person, place or thing). Send me the difference and we'll have some fun. This may take some of you to look back at our first post. The contest ends...... next Friday June, 5th.

Below is a picture of what I found in my garden this morning.

Memorial Day 2009

For the second year in a row now, we have attended the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade. We met grandma and papa Kelbert there along with Ken and Christina. The girls were talking about the memories from last year's parade even before Monday. It is amazing how much my kids, and I think kids in general, enjoy parades.

I thought this was one of the best parts of the parade. A huge flag carried by a bunch of kids who all had to cooperate to pull this off.


After the parade we went back to the memorial and took some pictures with the wreath.

I don't think she'll fit in the stroller next year.


This picture had to be edited. Nicole needed to be cropped from this photo. Not the best look for her.

Ken and Christina joined us this year. The girls always love to see them. We took Christina out after the parade for her birthday brunch.

Many pictures get taken at this fountain.
We had a nice morning out and an opportunity to remember those who make it possible for a family to enjoy a morning safely, watching a parade honoring a country, where we have so much freedom.

Very Proud

I just want to start this post right off by saying, thank you for letting me tell you how proud I am of Nicole and Morgan.

I posted in April about some short stories that were a "work in progress" here at the Nugent home. Well, those stories did get finished and were entered into a Young Authors competition at the girls schools. This past Wednesday night, we found out who made the top 6 stories for each grade. I was so proud of the girls for just entering, it was tough. There was to be no help from parents, not even spelling corrections and they had to write their stories in ink, so little room for error. The authors were also encouraged to illustrate their stories, which for my girls was one of the best parts of this assignment. Nicole's story was titled, "Stipe's Big Strike" and was about three friends bowling experience and friendship. Morgan's title was "Kaelyn's 1000 tickets", and this was about three friends, Jenna, Morgan and Kaelyn and takes place at Chuck E. Cheese. SOOOOO, drum role please......

Nicole was one of the top THREE stories in her grade, and.....

Morgan was one of the top SIX in her grade. They recieved these awards at a little ceremony on Wednesday night.

We forgot our camera, so here are a few pics of the girls getting their awards. All smiles from Nicole and Morgan.

Because Nicole was one of the top finishers, her story was published in a book that will be kept at the school library. She did get some editing help before the story was published, but the illustrations all her own. This is such a nice, cool book. All of the stories were really cute.



Nicole also recieved some kudos for her art work this year. Nicole was selected by her art teacher to have one of her pieces displayed in a district wide art show. This art show was for all of the elementary schools, middle schools and high schools of Utica Community schools. She was one of about 20 pieces from Beck Elementary School that was selected.

We were so excited to see what the teacher had chosen to include. Nicole didn't know which art project the teacher had chosen.




I was so excited to see her piece. I think it is beautiful. I loved the colors and detail that she put into her leaves. Ms. Weier, the art teacher told us that Nicole had taken so much extra time on this piece to make sure you really felt like you were looking at real leaves that had just fallen to the ground. I want to frame this one for sure.



So with all of that said. Mike and I had a really good night on Wednesday and I think the girls were very proud of their first and second grade accomplishments.

Morgan's Spring Recital

Below is the video from Morgan's Spring Recital. This is her second recital this year, but fourth performance. Morgan participated in 2 other competitions this year. Not bad for her first year in piano, I think. But of course I think she is great anyway. She did really well on her piece, dispite the photographers mishap(sideways viewing). I was just so excited I forgot to turn the camera. Just listen. Morgan got two trophies and a ribbon this year for an 100% on her solo piece, 99% on her duet piece and an Outstanding (94%) on her pop piece. She just amazes me on the piano and soon will surpass my abilities. Just yesterday she composed and wrote in her scale book an eight measure piece. Not bad for a six year old. Everyone did really well on all of the pieces and I told my mom after this recital that if Morgan keeps up her pace, I am going to need a better piano soon. I hope you enjoy the music. If you can not hear the video scroll over the bottom right hand corner and the volume may be off.

Spring, We Welcome You!

A few weeks ago, the girls and I went out to Howell to visit my grandparents. It was one of the first real sunny and warmer days we had this early spring. We had a great visit with my grandparents and even got a chance to visit the "Duck Pond" downtown Brighton. The "Duck Pond" also has a great park for the kids.

Rachel trying to gain momentum to propel herself on the swing.

Rachel trying to be like big sisters on the bars.

Nicole has mastered the monkey bars after countless hours on the playground at school.

Morgan can always manage a smile for me when I am taking pictures.

This picture reminds me of a Verizon commercial. Except we need one more bar!

We are so glad Spring has decided to stick around this time. We can't wait for summer!