Princess dance camp

Ella had her first dance camp this week. It is a HUGE understatement to say it was a hit...she LOVED it. The week was princess themed (which, let's face it is right up her ally.) They danced to princess songs, made an apron, crown and wand which they used at their end-of-week performance that was today. She is really going to miss it, and is so excited to start in the fall...I am too!!


Day 1: She could hardly sleep the night before and had been counting down the days for weeks!




Day 2: This came to be known at "the best day ever!!"

Day 3: This day was "the betterest day ever!" Now that dance is over with maybe we'll work on some grammar;)

My tiny dancer:)

Day 4: The last day and the one she was most excited about since it was finally time for "the show!"

Cinder"Ella"

After the transformation into a beautiful princess!!

Ella and her teachers...it was a wonderful week and precious performance! I wish I could've done it with her!

Memorial Day 2011

We had a wonderful Memorial weekend...we enjoyed beautiful weather, time with great friends, fishing, swimming, sleeping and most of all just loved having our daddy home for an extra day!Yesterday, we spent the day at the pool...Cale is a fish, he has NO. FEAR. and it's rather stressful. He refuses to wear floaties and is way to active for a float.He's going to have to learn to swim...IMMEDIATELY!! He literally walks off the side of the pool if you are standing there or not as if the dude can walk on water. Well, he can't and you better have both eyes open! HE. LOVED. IT!! Ella, is a little less "dare-devilish". She loves the water, but doesn't test limits.

Needless to say, this pretty much wraps up our weekend and day at the pool...it's safe to say he wore himself out!!

Recognition program and Luau party

Tuesday was Ella's Recognition program at school. They sang some precious songs with some priceless dance moves. I have to say there is something so incredibly special about hearing your child sing about Jesus...I cried...when do I not??? Anyway, here are some pics from the program.

"Hey, mom and dad!"


"The B-I-B-L-E!"



"Be careful little eyes what you see..."

They had a Luau party on the last day of school...here she is before we left.

My little "hula girl!"

Cale got to attend the festivities...basically, he just goes around and eats everyone else's food. We call him "the finisher" for a reason. After his is gone, he finishes yours:)

Having lunch! Notice how close Ella's chair is to Jackson's...she moved it there on her own, she likes him a "little".

Ella and her teacher, Miss Coline. She really loved her a lot!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Last week (eventually, I'll catch up and stop using phrases like "last week", but for now it's the best I can do!) was teacher appreciation week at Ella's school. So, we did a little crafting to show our appreciation.She was concentrating hard and did a wonderful job...she definitely gets her artistic ability from her father!

The finished product...she was really proud!

The finished product, only with Cale this time...he didn't help (thankfully) but, we couldn't leave him out.

This is the card she wrote all. by. herself!! I helped with spelling and that was it, she has really learned a lot this year and enjoyed it!

I told her to do a "big I." So she did! Guess I should've been more specific and said capital...kids are extremely literal!

"Doughnuts with Dads"

Last Tuesday Ella's school did "Doughnuts with dads." So, Matt took Ella to school, they had breakfast together and then he took her to her class. I think they both enjoyed it equally (in different ways!)



I'm told that the last time Matt took Ella to school a couple of the boys in her class met her at the door. In true "daddy" fashion, Matt "shewed" them away like puppies. While they were in the car on the way to school Ella told him, "Now, daddy, don't shew away the boys like dogs this time or you won't be able to take me to school anymore."She picked out her own clothes...she wanted to look fancy and "grown-up" for her date with daddy. This is a battle, however, I have almost completely lost. Basically, I get to dress her for church, holidays and major occasions...otherwise my opinion matters not!! I think she does all right on her own, but I guess I would dress her like a baby forever if I could!

Belated Mother's Day

The reasons this day is so special!!This year Ella made me a very special bird feeder at school. She even wrapped it herself and kept it a surprise until I opened it with my gifts on Sunday!!

Sadly, this is the best and ONLY picture we were able to get with my two kids...I hate to point fingers, but Cale was not cooperating;)

"A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships." ~Victoria Secunda

Things we do...

...when MeMe and PaPa come visit.

PaPa brings us yummy breakfast in the morning!!

We swing and play outside ALL day!

We make sure MeMe sleeps really well at night by making her pull us both in this wagon up many, many hills and all around.

We slide,

and slide again,


and some more.

We see who can go the highest.

We stop for hugs and love.

Sometimes, they bring fun company with them like Uncle Wayne and Aunt Larue! Which means more people to push us on the swing!!

We get to wear whatever we want, do our own hair and grill out!

And, sometimes Uncle Josh even gets to come and we love that too! Thanks Josh for taking these pictures so we could account for all the fun we had:) (Obviously, he didn't take this one!)