These ballerinas can't get enough of themselves in the dressing rooms. Walls lined with mirrors lined with lights just like a movie set. The energy and excitement is alway palpable. Here they are waiting their big moment... and I was able to catch a few images of Ella waiting to perform in the wings...
The Girl Scouts took a trip to the local fire hall and the guys could not have been nicer! They taught the girls all about 911 and helpful safety tips for the house. Ella had a lot of fun and is eager to ask questions, answer questions and get in the mix. She was the only one who asked to wear their uniform and the captain was more than happy to indulge her. She was also the only one to ask a question about the hoses and so he also let her spray water. So proud to see her respect the men in uniform and so proud that she's not intimidated or shy and raises her hand in confidence to ask for what she wants. And of course, there's not much sexier than a room full of firemen :)
This spring, like every other, I did Ella's ballet portraits. I love her costume and the meadow was a perfect place to photograph my little ballerina...
A quiet Sunday with the family, all I wanted for Mother's Day were some photos with my little girl. As a photographer, I'm always behind the camera.... Ron indulged me and we drove out to a near by field at sunset so he could take some photos of us.
The Girl Scouts celebrated 100 years this year and there were many activities and special events to commemorate the occasion. Build-A-Bear made a special Girl Scout bear with the 100th anniversary emblem sewn into the foot. As a reward for some of their fundraising, Ella's troop got to have a party and build their own Girl Scout bear.
We did another session of soccer this spring at the YMCA. We had the same awesome coach and a handful of the same girls from last fall. Ella scored her first goal this season too! We love the Pink Ladies team!
We took Ella's training wheels off two weeks ago in the hope that she would be ready to ride her bike at her school's bike rodeo. Thank goodness Ron is a runner so it made it easy for her to learn. He ran behind her and beside her for two evenings in a row and never let her fall. It didn't take long at all and she's a riding machine! We now go on bike rides every night (when we don't have dance or soccer)and we're building up our endurance so we'll be able to ride to the park and back (3 miles). So far she's up to about 1.5 miles.
Yesterday, we her bike rodeo at the school. The kinders without training wheels went first, then those with training wheels, though kids with training wheels weren't scored on the obstacles. The first one was to measure stability and balance. They had to go as slow as possible without putting their feet down and stay between 2 lines about 2 feet apart. She aced it! The second was accuracy an they had to stay between two lines 8 inches apart. She didn't get a good head start, so the first half she was outside the lines, but steadied out and finished the last half perfectly. Then onto 8 cones, 6 inches apart to weave between them, and she managed to do every second one. Finally, they had to complete a circle while staying within the lines and she did perfectly! They did the announcements over the PA at the end of the school day, and when I picked Ella up she had won herself a trophy! 3rd place for Kinder girls. She was so excited she got called over the PA and to the office to get her picture taken and her trophy. We are so proud of her! And apparently, she moves up to compete again but not sure if it's a city-wide or school district-wide event. YAY! Ella!!!
We had a bunch of cascarones (confetti-filled eggs) left over from Easter and fiesta so we went out and had a little fun....
San Antonio is in the middle of Fiesta, an annual spring festival that began as a single event to honor the memory of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto. This Friday is Battle of the Flowers, a day off school and a big parade downtown. The city is decked out in bright colors and flowers are everywhere. The kids decorated shoeboxes at home and prepared for their own parade. Ella's is a ballerina fairy garden theme. When the magic ballerina dances, the flowers grow. Gosh, I love having a girl! :)
On to day of the parade and party, Ella wanted flowers in her hair so we put all her flower hair clips in to 'fiesta' up her look ....
