Thursday, March 31, 2011

Dancing Queens

Our two girls went to a baton camp this weekend. It was all day. All day as in 9:00 to 4:00. It was a very long day for them without a rest, but all the energy kept them going.

Above is a picture of them with their favorite teachers, SW & J. They were very sweet and patient with our two and all the other girls in the youngest class.

At 3:30 the classes put on a performance. There were three classes and the three classes took turns performing three routines. Then they also all danced to one song together.
I hated any kind of performing when I was a child. I hate it even more now. The only performances I really enjoyed were when I was in orchestra--as in one of many. Lucia has always loved attention. I knew she'd do fantastic. I really thought Mazie would be more tentative, more shy. She wasn't. She was just as comfortable as Lucia. The girls had a great time.
And I have to say I Loved watching them. H, her mom, her grandmother, Elliott, and I went to cheer them on. Both Lucia and Mazie were very engaging and really enjoyed what they were doing.
I will never forget watching my girls perform for the first time. I know there will be lots more practices and games and performances in our future, but this first time will be one I'll never forget. I was surprised how much joy it brought me to see my girls out there having a great time.




A few nights after baton camp, I heard Mazie singing the words to A Chorus Line: "Me! You! Give me your attention."

Lucia dances just about everyday. It doesn't matter what she does, usually some sort of twisting and kicking, she always says she is doing a plie'.



We are so proud of our girls and how great they did at baton camp. Thank you to Miss Caty and all her girls for going such a great job.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

And More...

After I posted the previous California pictures, I realized I had not included some pictures that are important to me. The one above is of my sweet sister with her sweet son. I love it. I snapped it right before we headed to the airport. I assigned it to her contact on my phone and now get to look at it every time she calls me. It always makes me smile.
We did a few fun activities with Mazie and Avery while they were together. We made watercolors. We played color & number games with M&Ms. We watched a princess movie that Mazie still talks about. One day after we got back home she told Lucia, "You can go with me to Avery's and we can watch the princess movie."
Avery has fantastic hair. One morning, after putting Avery's hair in a ponytail, I decided to try Mazie's. She looked so cute and so grown-up.

One of our favorite things we did while we were together was attend Avery's art class. Her teachers were great. They set up several different stations. The students get to move around as they like. The week's theme was pom-pom art.
I learned lots of neat tricks, sources, and ideas from Avery's teachers. One was to put a little drop of paint in the glue to give it color. How simple is that?

We also got a recipe for the play dough they use. If I am successful making it, I will post it. The picture below is of Mazie cutting her hot dog.
I also had a few more aquarium pictures I wanted to share.

Below is a picture of the eel that Mazie fell in love with. She thought it was an amazing creature.



I love seeing all the flowers when we go to California. Geraniums that grow huge in the ground. Jacaranda trees, purple and splendid (though not this trip). Birds of Paradise (below) and Lilies of the Nile, which I have promised myself I will grow one day. And Jasmine. A house we passed on our twice daily walks had jasmine growing all along their fence on two sides of their house. It was so fragrant and had the sweetest pale pink flowers. And those are Camellias growing up the side of the house. I had never noticed camellias in California before, but they are definitely prevalent.

Mazie loved getting to know Baby Landon. Below she is putting the pacifier in his mouth. He is such a good, good baby. So good, at times I forgot he was there. He is in a good routine, feeds like a champ, and has such a happy disposition. Mazie and I loved our time with him. The other three are still jealous that they have not met him yet.

Two other fun things we did were Shrinky-dinks and cake pops from Starbucks. One of my sister's best friends, Deirdre, whom I happen to adore too, came over one day with two of her children. She bought the Shrinky-dinks. I had forgotten all about them. Isn't it wonderful how simple things can bring so much magic to children?
Jon and Karen were mighty good to Mazie and me while we were there. Adios from California.

Monday, March 28, 2011

California

We did a crazy thing this month. Something we'd yet to do. We split up the family. Mazie* and I took a plane across the country to see my sister and her growing family. It was hard on some accounts but good in many ways also.
H did a great job holding down the fort at home. Mazie and I missed them terribly but had a fantastic time. We were glad to go and glad to get home.
On a rainy, rainy Sunday, we went to the Long Beach Aquarium. They had thee great stations all around the aquarium that were manned by volunteens. So, Avery and Mazie got to feel a large turtle shell, pick up shark teeth and feel sea urchins.


Another fun thing we did was go for yogurt a few times. Mazie enjoyed picking her flavors and toppings.


In case you are wondering, all the gummies were left to wallow in melted yogurt. Even the three-year-old quickly realized gummy bears and worms don't taste as good in cold yogurt.
Here is Baby Landon, enjoying his yogurt. I mean nap.
We went to the beach a few times. One time Uncle Jon ran with Avery and Mazie in the stroller down to the beach and Karen, Landon, and I met them there for a walk along the Strand.

The area Karen and Jon moved to has lots of little parks in the neighborhood. We went everyday to the various parks. Swings, slides, monkey bars, even a rock wall.

We loved our time with Avery, Landon, Uncle Jon, and Tia Karen. Thank you for being so good to Mazie and me. We look forward to our next time together.


Tia Karen sent us home with fun gifts for Lucia and Elliott. A headband and a bucket full of sharks.
*Mazie was chosen for the California trip because Elliott and Lucia got to go away for football weekends last fall.