Ellorie's Ballet Recital

This post if a few weeks behind but very worth sharing.

Ellie has been taking ballet lessons for about a year and 2 weeks ago her lessons ended with her recital. She and her fellow classmates were to perform 2 songs throughout the night.

It was a busy/warm weekend before the Monday night performance.
Nancy & Maurie were coming to stay with us for a few night's and my folk's would be coming down Monday afternoon and spending the night with all of us.

We couldn't be more pleased at how well they all get long. Conversation seems to just flow and they have loads in common. We're fortunate that we can all get-together and have a good time.

Both sets of grandparents were excited to see Ellie perform. They each received little pictures of Ellie in her costumes from J & I.

Before the show on Monday The Grandparents and I went to dinner while J and Ellorie got ready and headed off to URI. After dinner we headed straight over to URI. URI isn't far for us. We settled into our seats and anxiously awaited her performance.

Sitting their I realized my stomach was churning a bit. I knew she would do great but it was their was just that nervousness for her. Once she came out on stage my nerves were gone and warm feeling of joy as I saw her smile beaming. She and her classmates were enjoying it as much as we were. They did their routine very well. Ellie took a minute midway through to look around and check out the seen behind her which earned some laughs from the large college auditorium.

Johanna spent most of her time backstage helping with the other Mom's and keeping an eye on the kids in between performances. She would come out a song or 2 before Elle hit the stage.

We were all so proud of her! She did great. No meltdowns (on stage) and they were all just so darn cute!

This was one of those great parenting moments that you'll never forget.

Here's a few photos of her in her costume. I'll have to post some video from her dress rehearsal since no camera's were allowed during the performance.

KinderCare Graduation

Last night Johanna and I attended Ellories graduation.
In September she'll be moving to the Four year old classroom.
This night is really for the kids that will be moving onto to 1st grade.

We started the night with a picnic from Panera on the schools rolling hills.
Many of the other families joined with their own picnic dinners.
The kids ran around and got ready for the ceremony while the parents mingled.

The first to graduate was the Kindergarten class. They wore cap & gowns, sang songs and shared with the enormous crowd what they had learned. A very special night for these kids and parents. One young man claims to be Ellie's boyfriend... and we got to witness the kissing of Ellies cheek prior to the graduation... I had to tell him to calm down. HE'S FIVE! I'm not ready for that yet.

Next up was the Pre-kindergarten. They too sang songs and recieved their "diploma's".

As each class finished they were encouraged to go inside and part take in the Make your own Ice Cream Sunday's. So as each group left the crowd thinned out.

The last group to go was the Three year olds who would move onto the 4 year old classroom. Not a huge jump but a jump nevertheless. This is Ellie's class. They sang 3 songs and received a gift along with their diploma's.

The kids did a great job. All very well behaved and worked hard on their singing. I've included probably the funniest thing I've seen in awhile. The kids are singing a song about Butterflies. You'll see a very animated little girl in red who improvised some 70's dance moves in her performance. And a friendly hand hold with a new boyfriend?????? Is she already moving on?

We had a wonderful time at the ceremony. The Kindercare that we go to is amazing. We find ourselves lucky that Ellie has so many friends and teachers with her daily that truly love and care for her. In turn got to find out from other families what Ellie means to them and how she's helped them and their children.

My chest seems to find room for my heart to grow bigger than I thought possible.



We love you Elle. Your a special little girl who makes Mommy & Daddy humble with your grace, charm and compassion.

Sprinkler

It's been hot here lately. Fortunately it has started to cool off.

This is how Elle beat the heat!

The Rescuers!

Sunday morning I ran out to get us a lite breakfast at Tim Horton's. If your not familiar with them... their food is excellent. Better than DD's in my opinion.

Well on my way there on Rte. 44 I drove over a large lump. I wondered.... was that a turtle?
I couldn't quite make it out and kept going. On my way back from getting our breakfast I wanted to see what the lump was. Sure enough the lump was gone and now was walking along the curb. It was a turtle. A decent size one too. I went home told the girls what I saw and was heading back out after him to get him off the busy Rte 44.

When I returned back with "Speed" (We named him) Ellie and J got a big kick out of him.
We decided to set him free down the street at the pond down the street.

Our rescue mission begins.

As we approached the pond I saw yet another lump in the grass. Thinking it was a jacket or a bag I was shocked to realize it was a huge turtle. The biggest one other than a sea turtle I have ever seen. Incredible! We had no idea we'd be seeing so many turtles.

Was it this little guys Mommy? Nah.

We set Speed down on the grass and he headed towards the pond. He launched into the water and swam happily away.

See ya Speed!