Ella's Dance Recital 2014

Ella's first year of studio dance came to a close last weekend with the 2014 Synergy Dance Recital!  This year's theme was called "The Year of the Ears" and was a Disney themed recital.  Each song was from a Disney movie/show, etc.  It was fun to see all the various costumes and the interpretations of the songs.  I was a bit disappointed in some of the dance routines in that the older classes were not as "together" as I was expecting them to be.  I hope this is not a sign of the studio's success itself, but maybe just those classes struggled or something?!?  Who knows, we'll see what happens next year and then decide if this is a place we want to continue dancing.  BUT, Ella and her dance mate Madeline totally rocked their dance routines.  I was a proud momma watching her from the live feed in the lobby on Friday night and Saturday night in the audience!  

Ella in her tap outfit.  

The song:  Let's Get Together from The Parent Trap

Ella in her ballet outfit.

The song:  Everything is Ducky with Donald (unsure which exact show this song is from)

Pretty cute!

A few "action shots" from the performances!

We weren't allowed to take any video (boo!) but Ms. Ella was really great!  She wasn't looking off to the side to watch her teacher, she knew the routine and smiled a lot too!  So proud!

Of course we had to get pictures of Ella with everyone after the performances!

FRIDAY NIGHT 

(it was a late night - after 9 which is why Ella is wearing her PJs!)

SATURDAY NIGHT

Our little dancer is growing up!

Ella's 5th Birthday Party - Doc McStuffins!

We celebrated Ella's 5th birthday this past weekend (a few weeks late to line it up with recital weekend).  This year's theme:  Doc McStuffins from Disney Junior.  She will make a great doctor someday.  :)

A few pictures from the day!

The Invitation (from Etsy - LOVE!)

This year was a bit hectic in trying to party plan due to the recent move, but I think it was still a lot of fun even if I didn't have all of the things I was hoping to have for her party. 

As each party guest arrived, they were checked in as a patient with a boo-boo.  HA!  I filled out a patient wristband for each person to wear.  Later in the party, Doc Ella handled the patient check-ups.  She had a good time with that, and it was a fun way to engage everyone in the theme of the party!

 Doc Ella handling Chase's check-up.  Boo-boo:  Hurt leg itis

 Papa Paul's check-up for sore knee otosis

Checking his temperature too!

I also made Ella her very own Big Book of Boo-Boos, which is a very important aspect of the show Doc McStuffins!  I had each party guest include a special note to Ella in the Big Book of Boo-Boos, including a drawing of their boo-boo.  Everyone had fun with that project!

An example of one of the notes in her book of boo-boos!

Party food:  We served a BBQ lunch and then using some fun ideas I found on Pinterest, 

the dessert table included a few fun doctor-themed signs.

Ella picked out the BIG Doc McStuffins balloon as part of the decorations for the party.  

It's big, but perfect!

Happy Birthday to you....(notice:  we couldn't find a candle - boo!)

I don't think she even noticed though, so that's good!

I wasn't sure how to incorporate something (a piece of clothing, hat, prop, etc.) for the annual birthday pictures with all the guests, so we just took the pictures without any props this year!...Except Ella scored a new Doc McStuffins ball as a gift, so she insisted that it be included in the pictures....

We partied hard! 

We had dance parties (including a tiara and princess wand for the birthday girl!)

Busy day with no nap meant that when Ella and I left to head to the dance recital (while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the car), it didn't take long before Doc Ella was OUT!  HA! 

It was a fun day!

Making a lawn mower like Daddy's (Home Depot Saturday)

Saturday, we made a family trip to The Home Depot (again) but this time, it was Home Depot Saturday project day for the kids!  Ella and Jay built a riding lawnmower "just like Daddy's"  :)

Painting is complete, just need to add those wheels and the sticker decals!

Whoo hoo!

Ella's 5th Birthday!

To top off the emotional ride of the past few weeks, Ella turned 5 on June 2, which happened to be her final day of Kinder Kollege preschool.  I thought I had it together.  We bought a giant cookie "cake" from Sam's Club to share with the kids (and I forgot to get a picture - boo).  We walked into class and all of the kids were so excited for Ella and wishing her happy birthday!  I, well, was crying.  How in the world is she 5 already?!  How is she already graduated from preschool??  Ms. Taylor was so sweet in the midst of my complete breakdown.  HA!  I purchased a special book for these graduating moments:  Yay, You!:  Moving Up and Moving On by Sandra Boynton (link here), and Ms. Taylor and Mr. Numen (Ella's other teacher) each wrote a little note to her.  I hope to continue this "tradition" each year.  A few pictures from the big day!

First and last day of Kinder Kollege 2013/2014

 

Ella with Ms. Taylor

After Kinder Kollege, we headed out for birthday lunch at Suzie's Kitchen in Rosemount (delicious!)  We may have ran out of time in purchasing proper birthday gifts for Ms. Ella this year, so I wrapped up what I had so far (a pink Frozen t-shirt featuring Anna and Elsa) and Ella can pick out what she wants for the remaining portion of her gift...

 

 Had to snap a picture of her with the t-shirt.  She was so excited!

To make it a bit more "festive" in our mess of a house, we picked up some balloons for Ella 

and took the annual birthday balloon picture!! 

 Happy 5th Birthday Peanut!  We love you so much!

A Doc McStuffins birthday bash is this weekend, and it's also Dance Recital weekend!

We Moved!

We moved.  We did it.  Moving is no joke.  I think I've said that a million times since this process all started.  It is a LOT of work.  We are not done.  We are moved in, but things are not in its place and not everything has been cleaned yet.  Believe it or not, we are having everyone over this weekend! (aaahhh!)  We will celebrate Ella's 5th Birthday on Saturday and it's also dance recital weekend with performances on Friday and Saturday night.  It will be INSANE! 

So, at some point I will take pictures of this new house to share.  For now, a few painting pictures.  Thanks to my Dad and Dianne, we can check 2 rooms off the "to be painted" list - they handled that for us last weekend.  HUGE relief!  See this room in its BEFORE state:

Someone spent a LOT of time and energy hand-painting this mural garden-like scene, but it is SO not us, so it had to go.  It has been repainted a muted shade of yellow.  In fact, it is the same shade of yellow that we used in Ella's room at the townhome.  So, we brought a little bit of the townhome with us. :)

 AFTER:

  MUCH BETTER!

Now we just need to get this ceiling fan replaced...

Officially, for now, this is the "toy room"

Here's Ella posing in her newly painted pink bedroom!  She was super excited!

Now if I can just get the rest of the house organized....

One day at a time...I keep repeating this to myself!!

Graduation Pictures!

 The graduation ceremony started with a processional of all of the graduates.  

Song:  Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  

Cue: Sara's tears.  I cried the whole time.  Even for kids that I don't know.  :)

 Ella rocked her Hawaiian outfit for the performance and I love her ukelele!!

 

 All 96 graduates performed a routine called "Sticks", which was really cool!  

Ella was ALL smiles all night

 Officially a Kindergartener!

With Grandma Deb and Randy

With Grandma Jolyn and Grandpa Paul

Kinder Kollege Graduation Performance

This my friends, it a bit long.  BUT, the kids practiced so hard and did awesome at their graduation performance to Hawaiian Roller coaster Ride (from Lilo and Stitch).  :)  My favorite parts:  at about 2:32, Ella starts waving to us in the crowd HA! and then the booty shakin' at 2:45 (hilarious!!!)  And please disregard my sound effects during the video.  :)  I've watched this a few times now, and I still get teary eyed.  It has been an EMOTIONAL roller coaster ride for me these past few weeks!  

And now we have a kindergartener!