I've Got Talent!!!!

Ella has LOVED music and dancing since FOREVER. Seriously, the girl sings and moves to any type of music (even the awesome silly songs that she makes up, she also chorographs dances to go along with them).

She has been taking a dance class since September called "Pre-Dance." It is an introductory type class, learning how to listen to music while incorporating movement.  Well, Ella just had her first official dance recital (You know the one with costumes, a stage in an auditorium, flowers given to the performer afterward...not just the performance she gives David and I nightly!)

Ella and Vanah posing before we leave for the recital! 

Ella had "dress rehersal" the week before the recital.

I helped backstage at her recital. I was a "Backstage Mom!" That is quite a different role than my previous recital experiences. The fifteen years of ballet performances and teaching could not prepare me nor my heart for the amount of love and joy I saw on Ella's face as she was dancing on stage.

When she came running off (after being skadoodled off the stage by several helpers) I asked her what she thought and if she had fun (because that is really what it is all about). Ella looked up at me with the biggest of her sweet Ella smiles and said "Dat was so much fun Mommy...I want to do that again...wite now!!! Pweeeese!!!!"

I see many classess of dance in our future. Her latest obession is Hawaiian/Tahtian dancing. She keeps walking around the house and shaking her little hips saying "Mommy, when I gow up, I want to be a "ula" dancer!"

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hawaiian, Bollywood, Modern, Lyrical, Pop & Lock (ha, ha)...you name it and I am sure we are going to try it!
~old ballerina Mommy dee, doting Daddy David, and our most talented little dancer Ella

This makes so much sense!!!!

Ella's logic never seems to fail for a good chuckle.

She is trying to explain to David why he can't toss the ball in her room.

You have to love how serious she is about what she is explaining. This is what it is like 24/7 and it is AWESOME (well...most of the time).
~Mommy dee, Daddy David (who isn't small so therefore cannot toss the ball), and our little Plato in the making Ella

Conversations with a 4 year old!!!

Ella cracks us up multiple times a day!!!

The conversations and logic of a 4 year old are amazing.

It is all about baseball and logic!!!

~Mommy dee, Daddy David, and our smart little negotiator Ella

Happy Easter!!!!

This morning Ella woke up ready to see if the E.B. had visited last nigh. (As with Ho Ho (Santa) she wanted David and I to make sure he (the E.B.) to know that he wasn't to hop into her room at all and disturb her sleeping!)

Happy Easter from our little bunny family to yours!!!

~Mommy dee, Daddy David, and our sweet little "Ella-bunny!"

Princess Ella!!!

(Sorry, for the delay in updating the Blog...we were having some techinical issues.)

Our little princess turned 4 years old about two weeks ago! She is 4 years old!!! How in the world did that happen? Honestly, it seems like just yesterday that we were in China meeting each other for the first time....where does the time go...because I want it back!!!!

Since our trip to Disney World this past January, Ella is in full princess mode. Everything revolves around those heroines. Now, don't get me wrong we are still into Angelina Ballerina and Kai Lan...but, there is just something about those Princesses.

Ella decided that for her birthday she wanted a Pincess Party...and a Princess Party is what she had (I will add another post after this one about her party).

A week before Ella's birthday party, Aunt Staci sent Ella, myself, and NeNe (grandma) to the Princess Tea Party Castle.

It was the most amazing experience! Ella was able to dress up like the princess we know she is...she dressed in a yellow dress (her favoirte color...and c'mon people it is Belle's dress color too), her hair was done in an updo, she wore a small tiara, and jewelry!!! She looked every bit the princess that she is in our lives.

"Oh the life of a Princess"...sigh....

"Oh I don't know about this...you want me to sit here and have my hair done?"

"O.K. this is getting better...I know have on my pwetty dwess!"

"Alright, I can smile now...I have my pwetty dwess and I will have my hair done."



 "Princess Ella" is announced onto the stage where she gives her Royal Subjects her Princess wave.

Princess Ella and Princess Amanda

A Princess must always have tasty treats to nibble upon!

"Mmmmmm...this ice cream is fit for Royalty!"

Princess Ella and her Ladies

Ella had the best time. She still talks about (and it has been about a month since we went)...she keeps saying..."when we go back to the pwincess house...I gonna wear a ....."

Thank you Aunt Staci for helping make Ella's Princess Birthday special!!!
~Mommy to a Princess...Mommy dee, Ella's "Pwince Chardin" Daddy David, and our Sweet, Sweet Princess Ella

Mr. D in the house!!!

Ella was able to bring the big, blue teddy bear "Mr. D" home with her from pre-school. It was her responsiblity to take care of Mr. D while he stayed with us (2 whole days).

She needed to take Mr. D with her wherever she went and he also needed to eat healthy meals too!!!

Mr. D had a bit of a gender identity issue...but, he was a good sport.

Getting ready to go to Ballerina School! 

Mr. D. needed to be buckeled in to stay safe in the car (yes, that is a purple leotard/skirt that he is wearing to go Ballerina School under his pink jacket!). 

Getting ready to go into class!

Whew....dancing makes you hungry.

Ella feeding Mr. D some yummy "Nac & Cheez" with some peaches and bananas thrown in for good measure too.

Time to go "nite, nite." We must ready Mr. D a Clippord (Clifford) story before he goes to sleep.

Ella had so much fun with this activity and she was so responsible for Mr. D and his well being (David and I must be doing something right....right????). We needed to record all the things that she did with Mr. D in a journal with some photos too and then she returned Mr. D to school for the next friend to take him home.

However, this just cemented the idea that the three of us are a happy family with just the three of us...my hat is off to those families that have more than one child...keeping track of Ella and Mr. D was enough for all of us.
~Mommny dee, Daddy David, and our Little Mommy/Friend to Mr. D Ella bean!

Park Fun in February!!!

Like most areas this winter we have experienced a very strange weather pattern.

We were able to go to the park in February without snow and we live in Michigan!!!

Crazy...but, we will take it!!!

Smiling for the camera!!!

"Look at me...I a BIG gurl!!!" 

Getting ready to go across the monkey bars! 

Look at her go!!! 

 Even though the weather is unusual, it certainly was fun to go to the park in February!
~Mommy dee, Daddy David, and our little ray of winter sunshine Ella