Fieldtrip - MN Zoo

I was able to chaperone Ella's kindergarten field trip to the MN Zoo in May.  We had a small group, so we were able to move throughout the zoo pretty easily and got to see almost everything!  We started the morning with an all-kindergarten viewing of a film in the IMAX about the Galapagos Islands....umm...I wouldn't recommend it, especially for that age group.  I thought it was kind of boring, and Ella started crying in the middle because it was scary when they were showing birds eating crabs.  Lovely.

But after that, it was a great day!  The weather was perfect and the girls in our group got along well and had a good time too!  The highlight was the farm, which is ironic considering we all live in Farmington and can drive around to see farm animals pretty easily!  But, other favorites were the penguins and the Gibbons!!  (those are the creatures that we all think are monkeys in the Tropics Trail that like to make LOUD calls and entertain us all!)

Whoo hoo!  A fun day at the zoo!

A lot of catching up to do

It's been a long while since I have updated this blog.  Lots of things have been going on, and that is partly the reason I haven't really had a chance to sit down and pull together a post.  The month of May has been a whirlwind.  We lost a family member on Mother's Day, which has been a shock to all of us and getting used to a new normal.  It is a reminder of how precious life is and to spend good quality time with those you love.  

Let's switch gears and talk about some lighter things shall we?  

We got together at Ella's elementary school late April to attend Ella's Kindergarten Program!  She practiced her songs for weeks and loved every minute!  They did great and it was fun to see all their hard work pay off!  Trying to get a good picture was a disaster, so this is what I got!

After the program, we all headed to Ella's classroom for a snack and to visit!  

Grandma Deb and Grandma Jolyn came along with us!

And then it was May 1st!  May Day!  Ella got a little "basket" with a sweet new water cup and some fun outdoor toys to enjoy this spring/summer!

She is growing up!

 

We had a neighborhood garage sale somewhere in the beginning of May and Ella had to head out to search for some treasures!

She went to a princess birthday party at our dance studio for her good friend Julia.  They had a great time and it was fun to get dressed up at Elsa and have an "Elsa" braid!

Our tree in the back was in full bloom and was gorgeous in person!  

The wind picked up a day after I took this photo and then most of the blooms were gone!

For Mother's Day, it was a really low-key kind of day as we were all a bit down and tired.  We headed out to lunch at a local spot because I wasn't up for heading anywhere fancy.  Lunch left much to be desired, but oh well!  I didn't have to make anything, so that's a bonus....

 SELFIE!  :)

Weekending...

A little late on a weekend update, but so it goes!  Friday night was Spring Fling at school.   The theme was Wild West, so there were lots of western-style outfits and I didn't even think to get us all dressed up!  It was LOUD and CRAZY but I think Ella had a good time and it seemed to have a successful turnout.  Ella got her face painted, which was short lived after all that painter's work because we had to wash it off that night to get ready for dance pictures!

Ella went up and down one bouncy house-type contraption and totally freaked out and that was enough of that!  We did family "old time" picture, but that turned out absolutely hilarious.  Ella also did a spin art project and she was very determined on her paint color choices!

She should get the final art project in her backpack sometime this week - it stayed at school to dry!

Saturday morning was dance pictures.  Ella's class is doing a tap and a ballet routine again this year, but I didn't take a picture of her in her tap costume because....well, it's just not that cute and I also forgot!  But I did get one in her ballet costume.  She looks SO GROWN UP.  Unreal

 

Easter 2015

Catching up on some posting.  We stayed in town for Easter this year.  Ella wasn't feeling the greatest (stuffy nose, cough, etc.) so her and I skipped Easter Sunday church but were able to celebrate the day at Jay's parents for lunch.  We had an egg hunt at home and also at Jay's parents, so Ella had a good time doing those!

 Peeking to see what eggs she can find before hunting outside

 Can you tell she's really into posing for pictures now?!

 Trying to get a picture of Ella and Harrison was interesting!

 I found it hilarious that Ella insisted that I take her picture next to this fake pheasant! What in the world?!?

It was a fun Easter day!

Spring Break 2015

Well, time got away from me and I am going to play catch up on some posts.  Life has been a bit hectic!

Let's start way back before Easter with Spring Break shall we?

Jay took off most of the week to spend some father/daughter time with Ella doing all kinds of activities!  A run down of our week (mainly for us to remember).  :)

Monday, they headed to a park and spent time hanging out at home (no pictures)

Tuesday, they went to the Children's Museum with Grandma Jolyn and cousin Dylan!  Sid the Science Kid was there so Ella got to meet him :)

Wednesday, Ella had a dentist appointment in the morning and she did awesome!  They celebrated with a treat from Caribou afterwards and then spent a little time outside but it was SUPER windy!  She has one wiggly tooth on the bottom, so Ella is anxious to have it come out (I think it will be awhile).

Thursday, Ella and Jay went bowling - boo-yah!  Ella had a good time as you'll see in the pictures!

Friday, I was off so we did some Easter menu planning, grocery shopped, headed to the library to restock our books and then went to see the new Cinderella movie!  Loved it!! All Ella talks about is the Frozen Short Film that aired ahead of Cinderella - it was about Elsa planning a birthday party for Anna.  :)

St. Patricks Day!

Well folks, we will have to up our game for St. Patrick's Day 2016.  Ella's kindergarten teacher has shared all kinds of shenanigans with the kids this year and Ella was pretty disappointed to come home on Tuesday and not find little leprechaun footprints, candy or even any leprechaun messes left behind.  What in the world?!!? I didn't realize that was even a thing!  We reasoned that next year the leprechauns need to plan better and come to our house FIRST and then go to school.  :)  We did enjoy some festive cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day dessert though!

We also got to enjoy some time at the park!

We were surprised this morning with just about 10 inches of snow overnight!  What in the world?!  

I hope it is gone by the time I get home tonight.  :)  And, I'm hoping for some sunshine to melt it all away.  

I am ready for warm weather!

Some Updates into March

Well, the Valentines Day decorations are down and put away along with any remnants of winter-related snowflake decor and based on the weather forecast, Spring is starting to arrive!  Hurray!  A few things to note about our recent events:

1 - I went to the Urgency Room last Monday morning (similar to ER, but not at a hospital a.k.a. not as "emergency").  I woke up last Monday morning really dizzy and nauseous.  They told me I have Vertigo.  Strangest and yuckiest feeling in the world to be experiencing Vertigo.  So, last week was a lot of down time and trying to keep the Vertigo in check without having to take any meds (because they make me drowsy).  Anyway, then I followed up with my regular doctor on Wednesday last week because I was feeling concerned that I was still experiencing the dizziness and nausea.  She agrees with the Vertigo diagnosis.  So, I am hoping to start feeling more like myself soon!

2 - Ella got strep throat the last week of February (2/25 to be exact).  She finished her 10 days of antibiotics over the weekend and the VERY NEXT DAY started complaining of her throat hurting.  Then she was nauseous Sunday night, Monday morning and Monday night.  So, we went back to the doctor today and she still has strep throat.  Lovely.  We are doing another round of antibiotics for 10 days and fingers crossed it will work this time!

3 - Dance recital is fast approaching and we picked up Ella costume's a few weekends ago.  She is dancing to "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton for the tap routine and some random slow song for the ballet routine.  It is a small group this year so I hope it turns out great for both routines.  She is excited to perform on stage again!

4 - The kindergarteners celebrated Dr. Seuss Day last Monday.  Ella came home with all sorts of Seuss-related crafts and activity sheets.  She was super proud of her Cat and the Hat "hat" and her Elephant Hat (to be like Horton).  :)

5 - Ella has been practicing her writing skills, even keeping a little journal of sorts, which is super cute.  (She writes notes to her friends in there or things that she did that day, like "I ate chicken for lunch today")  HA!  Anyway, a few weeks ago she wanted to play Sheriff.  She asked me how to spell Sheriff for the badge she was making (because we have to be authentic!) Clearly I could use a spelling lesson on Sheriff.  :)

whoops!

6 - Last Friday the kindergarteners had a science day.  Ella brought home her science project and I have no idea what it is!  I asked her about it and thought it was hilarious that her answer was "It's Science"  Video!