Princess Party

The last two weeks have been incredibly stressful for me. I got wrapped up in planning Ella's 5th birthday party. My perfectionist tendencies (which only seem to emerge during party planning) were in full swing. One of the biggest stress inducers for me was the ever growing RSVP list. Although I listed an RSVP deadline on the invite, there were plenty of people who RSVPed after the deadline already passed. There were 10 girls at Ella's party. That's no problem for me, I am able to smoothly handle a class full of 3 year olds on a daily basis. What really stressed me out was the parent factor. When 4 and 5-year-olds go to a party, their parents come too. There is no "dropping off" at this young of an age. So, it really is like having a double party - 10 kids and their 10 parents.

Of course the 10 kids and their parents need to be fed and entertained. Rapunzel could handle the girls. Whit did a great job mingling with the parents (maybe he likes to entertain ladies- a talent that I didn't know about!). The party came and went. I will never do another birthday here again. It doesn't save you money and I was more stressed out than on my wedding day!

Ella and I are dressed and ready for the party to start.



The girls all made glitter crowns and candy necklaces when they arrived. We set up a big, long table in the family room.


Craft table again.



Whit kept wanting to take my picture. Maybe he was shocked to see me in a dress.



This picture is very dark (need new camera!), but this is Rapunzel's arrival.



Rapunzel begins the face painting. Ella went first and wanted a rainbow.



The girls loved making their glitter crowns.




Ella and friends are playing hide-and-seek while waiting for Rapunzel to finish all of the girls' faces.




Taking a break for flower sandwiches (made using a cookie cutter) and fruit.



Rapunzel led the girls in some outside games.







Ella blows out her candles.



Posing with Rapunzel.




Yum, yum. Cake!



All of the girls wanted Ella to open her present first. The gift opening was a madhouse! I almost yelled at everyone.






Ella received three different Rapunzel dolls from her friends. This one was her favorite. It's Rapunzel as a little girl.



In Ella's room before they had to leave.


Phew! I'm still not recovered.

Tennis Star

I never learned to play tennis, but I have high aspirations that one day Ella will be able to hold her own with a racket. She is signed up to take a few tennis lessons this summer. She has had two lessons and isn't too impressed with it yet. I'm pretty sure that she's not the next Sharapova, but at least she knows where the service line is at her young age ( I just learned that at her lesson!). So far she's been disappointed that she's not playing "real tennis." At this point her instructors are just trying to get the kids used to the court and their rackets.


Ella's instructor is working with the kids' hand-eye coordination. She throws the ball to them and they have to catch it in the container that they're holding. For some reason Ella really struggles with this. By the way, Ella is in blue.



After trying to throw the ball into Ella's container for several minutes, Ms. Sarah finally basically puts the ball in Ella's container!



Ms. Sarah is teaching the kids how to play "Tennis Simon Says."



"Simon Says go to the service line." This is the exact moment when I learned about the service line!



Now they have the chance to use their rackets. This is what Ms. Sarah calls "hockey tennis." "Toe like a pro, high to the sky!" That's basically the only rule to this one.

Quick video of the recital

Here is a link to Ella's recital video. She's the one who's mostly in the middle. It's hard to tell them apart at a far distance and they all look the same with their buns. Recital video

Ballet Recital

One of the best things that Ella has been involved in since we've moved here is ballet. I've posted a few pics of her class in previous posts. Yesterday was the grand finale...her recital. Although I was happy with her ballet studio in the beginning of the year, she will surely not be returning there next year. It began around November when we received an e-mail from the director stating that they were going to lose their lease on their studio space because of a foreclosure situation. Long story short - the director "resigned," the new studio space was horrendous, and the rest of the year was an unorganized mess! Especially the recital. No one was in charge. The girls didn't get their costumes until the day before or day of the rehearsal and some girls didn't even get a costume. It was the worst performance that I have ever been involved with.

Although I am not happy with the studio, I have met some great people through the many hours that we've waited outside the studio while our little girls were in class. Her class was small (only 5 total) and I like all of the girls and their moms. So, we've all decided to enroll in a new ballet studio in the fall. Curiously enough, we've been getting postcards in the mail from a new studio that is opening up in our neighborhood. I took it as a sign from God that this is the next step for Ella.

Check out some of the pics from the dress rehearsal and recital.

Ella brought a notepad to draw in while they were waiting for their turn. Everyone was checking it out.


The girls after their turn.


Getting ready for their group shot by the photographer.


The next two shots are taken with my camera, but while Ella was in her photo shoot. That's why she's not looking at me.



The day of the recital. The girls are waiting in the dressing room.


Outside of the theater with her friend, Kate.