Monday, May 28, 2012

ballet recital ~

I thought there couldn't be anything cuter than 3-year old ballerinas when Zoe and Ella were three -- then they turned four.  That year I thought there couldn't be anything cuter than 4-year old ballerinas -- until they turned five.  The year they were five they were adorable Russian Dancers in their first 'official' recital, on a real stage with real lights, in front of a real (and large) audience.  And again, I thought they were the cutest ballerinas ever.

This year (Mother's Day weekend) they were Bluebirds, they danced to music from Cinderella, and they STILL were the cutest ballerinas!  All of the girls in their group did a super job -- they made their mama's (and lots of other family members) proud!!  
*This is the only photo I took at the end of their tech rehearsal -- I didn't get any pictures during their dress-rehearsal or their actual performances, it was just too busy.  Zoe far right and Ella in the back row two over from Zoe.  My niece video-taped their dances though -- so cute, but I can't figure out how to download them onto my blog.  It's on my list of things to get at.*


After the final performance Tom picked our Bluebirds up from the front stage (he was just a little happy and proud) ....
and headed outside .....

.... for LOTS of photos (probably picture overload but each one makes me happy).
Ella and Zoe with their student leader, Tasha .....























They loved the beautiful flowers they received -- and the special roses from their auntie Jen ....











.... and posing with their Dad ....


.... and me, too .....


of course we got photos with Grama ....






.... and with Elise .....


.... and friends they've been friends with since they were all 18 months old .....

Their friend from Kindergarten was in the recital too .....

.... and another pal from our ECFE days (I love the sequence of these photos) ....






Tom took the girls exploring around the theatre ....

.... where they found dirt to dig in .....

.... and pill bugs too ....


Before dinner Tom ran back to our house to pick up Jack -- this is what happens when you skip the recital,  fall into a deep sleep on the sofa, and Tom has the camera ....


Dinner was at Ole' Mexico, a favorite and lots of fun ....











We also celebrated Mother's Day with Grama Dianne -- the girls made her a card that tied in with the gift ....

.....  that she loved SO much (a flying pig for her garden).


Once home the girls still had energy to burn, and would have slept in their ballet outfits if we would have let them .....

I love my silly and sweet, fun and funny ballerina girls so much.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

April 28th 2012 ~ The Birthday Party

birthday cake --- check.

birthday girls with their birthday cake --- check.

gift bags ready --- check.

zoe having a complete and total BLAST  --- check.

ella having a complete and total BLAST  --- check.

mom's enjoying the party (but wishing there had been cocktails) --- check.

cute kids in one of the few photos taken during the 'jumping, sliding, running around' part of the party (my action shots didn't turn out) --- check.

fuzzy close-up of the birthday girls --- check.

 getting ready to sing 'happy birthday' to the birthday girls --- check.















ella with her orange-flowered cupcake --- check.

zoe with her purple-flowered cupcake --- check.

kids enjoying the rainbow-colored cake (and LOTS of food coloring) --- check.

another photo of the cake (6 layers total for the 6-year olds) --- check.

auntie jen and uncle luke --- check.

grama dianne and godsarah --- check.

the birthday girls getting ready to open gifts --- check.

gift highlight -- super big undies from grama dianne --- check.


back home, taking in all of the amazingly generous gifts, including super cute home-sewn bags that were used as hats --- check.


one more silly shot before bed --- check.

super fun birthday, super fun birthday party --- check.
hello year SIX, you are off to a great start!!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

April 19th 2012 ~ The Birthday Day

Turning SIX started with lots of little gifts ....

..... and smiles of excitement!!

Turning SIX started with breakfast muffins, SIX candles and BIG smiles from both Ella ....


.... and Zoe!!


Turning SIX was about celebrating at school with Mrs. Olson and Kindergarten friends ....

..... and giving their class a gift of a new book for their classroom!!

Turning SIX was making sure Grama Dianne saw the April Birthday bulletin board at the school entry-way (Zoe and Ella middle row) ....

.... and passing out pink and purple cake pops that had lime green sprinkles on them, to their classmates for snack!!

Turning SIX was all about ice-cream treats after school with Grama .....

.... and opening Grama's gift -- pink and purple SCOOTERS!!!

Turning SIX was a day full of family time -- breakfast and school drop-off with me (a rarity with my work hours), lunch and recess with Daddy, and time after school AND dinner (at Snuffy's of course) with Grama Dianne.

Turning SIX was a day full of lots of smiles and lots of extra love and hugs.

Turning SIX was the first time Zoe felt a little bad that Ella was born two minutes before she was, but felt better when I told her Ella was born first but that she and I got to spend a little extra special time together, just the two of us, before she was welcomed into the world and we saw her cute little face for the first time.

Turning SIX was the first time Ella felt a little bad that Zoe had that extra time with me because she was born first, but felt better when I reminded her how incredibly special it was to see her cute little face for the first time -- our first baby that we welcomed to the world.

Turning SIX was a day we missed Grampa a lot, but smiled a lot when we looked at pictures of him celebrating with us when the girls were born, at their one-year party, at their two-year party, at their three-year party, at their four-year party and at their five-year party -- and knowing how much he would have enjoyed celebrating birthday number six with us too, and that he probably was in some way ....

Turning SIX was a day full of sweet, fun and funny birthday messages on our answering machine, and a mailbox full of sweet, fun and funny birthday cards.

Turning SIX was a really, really good day!!