Because its FROZEN!

Oh my word people!  Last night after a LONG trip home from Chaska to Farmington, we decided to stop to grab dinner.  We ended up at SmashBurger, which is located across the lot from Chick-Fil-A, where I noticed a LARGE crowd on the patio with balloons and the whole thing.  So, I did a little Google snooping to figure out what the deal was over there.  Well, good thing I did!!  It was Frozen night at Chick-Fil-A (who knew?!) and it was a popular event!  We headed over after dinner and Ms. Ella was thrilled to get to meet Princess Anna and Princess Elsa.  If the line hadn't been so long, I MAY have wanted to jump in for a photo too! :) 

Ella - Harrison's 1st Birthday Bash

This past Saturday we celebrated with family and friends for Harrison's first birthday (Annie & Andrew's little guy).  The theme was bookworms!  They had a sweet story time and the cupcakes had gummy worms on top!  They also had cute plastic glasses around for anyone to wear.  Ms. Ella tried on all kinds throughout the party.  So fun!

 Do we like the pink?

 Hmm...maybe blue?

Or even yellow?!

Additional Pictures from 2014 Dance Recital!

I received a few additional dance pictures from the recital from a fellow dance mom so I wanted to include those here in the event I ever print this blog into a book!  I can't stop looking at these - Ella blew my socks off when I watched it in person, but seeing her little smile the entire time in these pictures just makes me so proud!!

Swim Lessons 2014

Since I'm getting all caught up on the blog, I thought I would add a few pictures from Ella's first week of swimming lessons for the summer!  We were lucky to get all the lessons in UNTIL today.  Today's has been rained out.  Boo.  But, she'll have a make-up lesson tomorrow (if it's done raining) and then next week is the final week for the first session.  I'm told she has improved tremendously from last summer and is swimming like a fish!

Here's hoping we pass Level 1 this time around!

Tuesday she went down the big slide into the pool all by herself! 
WOWSERS!

Summer things I am stoked for:
swimming at a waterpark (I'm jealous Ella has gotten some pool time before me!)
sitting on the deck of my new house that I have not yet even stepped foot on other than to clean the patio door window!
walking the new trail system by the new house
having a summertime cocktail or three!

Happy Summer People!

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!