Butterflies!!!

The Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati is an annual favorite. This year Carissa and I took the girls and the butterflies cooperated.  Even though I forgot my portrait lens, I still got some pretty fun photos. If you are local and haven't been yet -  put on some brightly colored clothes, grab your camera, and get your buns over there! (I highly suggest late afternoon on a weekday if you can pull it off. Weekends are packed and afternoons beat the school field trip crowd.)

Eight weeks

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Big Ballet Show

The Cincinnati Ballet Academy Children's Division Spring Production was Sunday night at the Aronoff Center downtown. How cool that the little ones get the chance to dance on the same stage as the Broadway shows and top concerts that come through Cincinnati.

Little Ballerina Josephine twirled her little heart out on the big stage! 

We were all a little nervous, but she did great! And she had a HUGE glowing smile (that has earned her the nickname "Sunshine" among her teachers at school) across her sparkling pink cheeks the whole time. There was no doubt at all that she was having a great time and was really having fun up there!

Now for the bad news, we don't have any photos or videos of the actual performance. Both were strictly prohibited and our seats were right by the ushers. The girls were dressed and undressed backstage in their costumes so the only time we saw her in it was when she was on the stage. All this said, she did have a photo taken a couple of weeks ago in her costume and we do get a DVD of the performance so the big show will make it to the blog...eventually.

In the meantime, here are the photos from home before and after the big event!

Josie was really excited that she got to wear "stage make-up". I had so much fun doing her hair and makeup (although it was a very surreal moment for sure) but my heart broke a little when I looked at her in the mirror and realized how big "Sweet Baby Josie" has gotten.

Her lip gloss lasted about 2.2 seconds because she just couldn't stop touching it to make sure it was still there.

 DD and his girls (Isn't Bea's expression hilarious?)

 What is a ballet show without adoring Grandparents?

 All the ladies

After the show, Josie was WHOOPED but not too tired for a few photos with her flowers (thanks to Carissa for telling us that flowers for the ballerina were a necessary part of the event and to Grandma & DD for stopping by Whole Foods to pick them up).

 In fact, speaking of Carissa - did I forget to mention that she spent the WHOLE WEEK with us last week?! It was Josie's spring break and Carissa drove down from NY to spend it with us. I can't believe how quickly it went by and it was so fantastic to have her here! Josie will always love her Sisis! And so will we!

 One last twirl from the ballerina before bed -

 And she's officially done. Bedtime.

One last thing - is this not the most beautiful ballerina bun you have ever seen? I'm so proud of myself. :)

Ballet show day!

We are all super excited for the big ballet show tonight downtown. Here is Josie eagerly awaiting the time when she gets to leave for the dress rehearsal!

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Eggs & Such

Oh boy am I behind on all-things blogging.
And holy cow: Tomorrow.Is.May!  (Cue mini-reality-check-breakdown.)

Easter was fantastic - even with ridiculous amounts of rain. And Josie's wacko-virus that spread like wild fire through the youngest Schneiders & Austins.

There were eggs. And baskets. And matching outfits. And cuddles. And huge smiles at our hilarious crew of four little ones.  And here are the photos to prove it.

 Thanks to everyone for making the trip to Cincy!

 And yes...we are still finding Lyla's eggs...everywhere!