Little Chick

Ella performed in her first ballet production this last weekend....and yes, I said production! This was no little end of the year recital, but a full on show with different acts, intermission, costume changes...you name it!  She was adorable and didn't seem the least bit nervous on the big stage in front of a sold out audience.  In fact, at the end she just kept smiling and waving at the audience....soaking all the applause right up....a star was born! I was completely exhausted from the daily practices the last week, the 5 hour dress rehearsal I chaperoned, and the 2 back to back 2 hour performances on Saturday....Ella was ready for a playdate afterwards!  Oh, to have that kind of energy! Here are some pics of our cute little chick!

Preschool Graduate!

Ella is preschool graduate and officially done with preschool! WhoHoo! She has loved every minute of the last 3 years at Magic Years Preschool and grown-up so much since she first started there at 3 years old.  We are so blessed that she was able to attend such an amazing preschool! She has made many wonderful friendships and been loved on and taught so much by her incredible teachers, especially Teacher Marylynn....oh, how we love her and will miss her next year! :(  

We are so very proud of Ella and all she has done in her short little life.  Her teacher's words were beyond thoughtful and caring, "Ella is sweeter than sweet! She makes me laugh, she tells great stories, she is funny, and such a wonderful little girl.  I have loved every moment I've spent with Ella from the moment she steps out of the car into our classroom until the end of the day I will forever cherish my school days I've had with her.  My teaching days will not be the same without Ella!"  Just typing that brings tears to my eyes again....and for the record, I was doing great holding it together at the graduation until Teacher Marylynn starting talking about Ella and got choked up herself! ;-)  

It is one of those moments I'll never forget as a parent, the day Ella graduated from preschool and nor will it be the last of many great memories for our family!  God has a plan for this sweet little girl and I'm so excited to watch it unfold....for now I will savor every moment and sweet memory with my darling  girl who is now bound for kindergarten!  And in her own words, "Watch out Tualatin Elementary because next year here I come!" :)

When I grow up....

Ella had career day at her preschool and her first choice as her future career was flower girl, but not the kind you are thinking of.  The job of flower girl that she was referring to would, "Dress in fancy dresses everyday and sing and dance in beautiful gardens while picking flowers."  The teacher emailed me to see if I wanted to discuss this career choice with my darling 5 year old or just let it be.  We discussed.  After explaining what jobs are, etc. she came to the conclusion that she had 3 jobs in mind for her grown-up self....rock star, paleontologist, and interior designer.  Okay, this is soooo Ella and I had to laugh before insisting she pick her favorite of the 3 so we could get a costume together.  After much thought she picked paleontologist and told the class she wants to dig for bones and put them together for museums.  She makes a pretty darn cute paleontologist if I do say so myself! ;-)

She has now informed me that she would also like to be a dentist like her Mimi and a teacher like her Mommy in addition to the other 3 choices.  I gues she'll be the first paleontologist who also designs museums while cleaning dinosaur's teeth and teaching kids all the interesting dino facts by singing songs about them.  

In the end, no matter what she decides she knows we'll always be her biggest fans and so proud of all she does!  God has great plans for this little sweetheart, of that I'm sure!  

We love you Ella the paleontologist/rock star/interior designer/dentist/teacher! :)  

5x7 Folded Card

Just finished making Father's Day cards on Shutterfly.  Shhh, don't 

tell Andy! ;-)  

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Happy Dad's Day Father's Day 5x7 folded card

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Championship Game

Andy played in a basketball league at church this Spring and their team of "old guys" (his words) made it all the way to the championship game.  So fun!  The games were usually right around bed time so we never went, but I thought it would be special for the girls to go and cheer their daddy on for the BIG game!  During the day of the big game we had fun making signs to take with us and surprise Daddy.  Ella was the perfect cheerleader the whole time shouting, "Go, Daddy, Go!  Shoot the ball!  You can do it!"  What is even cuter is that I didn't tell her to do this or even what to say, she just started cheering as soon as we got there and kept cheering the whole time....even if Andy was on the bench.  Haha!   

Cake Pops

 Andy brought these cute and tasty treats home from a school function he went to and the girls went crazy for them.  They are just the perfect size for them and not too much sugar intake vs. a piece of cake, right? :) I found this blog with directions on how to make them (http://www.lovefromtheoven.com/2011/02/09/cake-pops/) but I have yet to try them on my own.....that's another project for another day. Ahhhhh!  

Here's are cuties and their cake pops!