One Talented Girl!

Every year Rock Bridge Elementary holds a school talent show.  Ella and her friends Addison and Saige decided they wanted to try out with a dance routine.  I was very proud of the girls for all of their hard work.  They chose a song, made up a dance, and decided on costumes.  Sometimes the logistics of practicing and getting cd's made were a bit of a headache for us parents but it was all worth it in the end.  The excitement on their faces when I told them they made the show was priceless!  
We were a little worried when Ella got sick on dress rehearsal day and was not able to attend school and the practice.  She was a little better though by the day of the show and went to school. The girls gave a great performance.   I was proud of them for sharing their talents in front of the whole school.

The performance line up, Ella was a little upset her last name was spelled incorrectly.

The girls after their first performance. 

Getting ready to do their cartwheels. 

Pirouettes and Shuffles

It was dance recital weekend for Columbia Performing Arts Center.  Since Ella took two dance classes this year that meant two recitals.  On Saturday night, she had her ballet recital.  Grandma, Sam and I were able to come and watch her dance.  She did a great job and looked so beautiful in her costume.  We found out at the recital that she won a ballet scholarship for next year because of all her work this year.  I think she has decided against taking ballet next year but it was still an honor.  After the recital Grandma took everyone to Orange Leaf to celebrate.  
Sunday was Ella's tap recital.  Sam and I enjoyed getting to watch her dance again.  Their tap routine was really cute.  They danced to Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.  The kids were able to choose their own outfits for this dance that matched the theme of the song. It was definitely one of my favorite routines of the afternoon and Ella really did a great job with it.  It is fun seeing how much her dancing has grown this past year.  

On Your Marks...

Ella took part in running club this spring.  It is on Wednesdays after school.  The kids all meet and run around the school track then celebrate with popsicles.  The culmination of running club for the semester was a 5k run.  This also coincided with the dedication of our new school track.  The track was named after our old principal, and my mentor teacher, Mrs. Korth-Lloyd.  It was so great to see her there and see a plaque by the track with her name.  
Ella did an excellent job running her 5k.  She wasn't able to run the whole way but never gave up and finished in the middle of the pack.  I love that girls determination!  She was a little red and tired when she got done but was also very proud of herself.  We were so proud of her too.  

Gone Fishin'

A few weeks ago was a great time to fish at our pond here in The Cascades.  The fish were not far from the bank and pretty easy to catch.  We spent two nights together down at the pond.  One night Ella caught eleven fish.  She was catching them on almost every cast for a while.  All four of us were successful at catching multiple fish.  Poor John barely had any time to fish himself because he was so busy taking all the fish that we caught off their hooks.  It was a nice way to spend some family time.  

Ella reeling one in 

John trying to get his pole ready

Showing off one of Ella's fish.

John holding up one of my fish, that was the biggest of the night. 

The boys enjoying fishing. 

Sam's tiny fish! 

It's All About the Toppings

We celebrated the end of another successful year of chat and chew with an ice-cream party.  I guess I didn't realize how many more kids had participated this year and we ran out of ice-cream and toppings.  Luckily, I had Christi there to make another run to the store.  Next year I will definitely be more prepared. I also had help from my mom and Adonica, who added the cute ice cream cut out to our other decor this year.  We couldn't have had the party without them.  
 I think the kids still had a good time despite the wait for a few on ice cream and they enjoyed getting out of class for a little treat.  All the feedback on the chat and chew groups was great.  I am so excited that the kids are enjoying reading and talking about books! 

The End of an Era

One of Columbia's iconic restaurants will soon be closing its' doors temporarily and the place will never be the same.  The owners of the building where Shakespeare's Pizza sits downtown will be tearing it down to rebuild a taller building with student housing on the top floors.  Shakespeare's has assured everyone that they are keeping all the decor and that the new building will look much like the first.  There is no way though they can keep all the charm.  We love how the building has been added onto and the floor slopes between each room.  The charm of the old walls and the look will not be able to be replicated.  
Shakespeares is a place we have frequented since our college days.  We couldn't go too often in college because the budget didn't allow but we went we wanted some delicious pizza or to take visitors from out of town.  When Sam was born it was a great place to take him as a baby and toddler.  The restaurant is always loud and a baby could cry, a toddler could yell or run around and no one around you cared.  We have enjoyed introducing both our children to watching the guys and girls make the pizza and throw them dough balls to keep them busy while we waited for our meal.  There are other Shakespeares and the pizza is still delicious but there is something about the original downtown that we hate to lose.  John and I visited it one last time for a lunch time slice before we can visit it no more.  Good bye! 

Strike up the Band

Sam had his last band concert of the year.  I am impressed with how much he has learned and improved in just one year.  He really takes his concerts seriously and you can see his head move as he is carefully counting to keep the beat and come in on the right count.  He really likes it and is planning on taking lessons a few weeks this summer and playing again next year.