Ballet Day

A few weeks ago we had Parent Observation Day for Josie's class with the Cincinnati Ballet Academy.  She has a great teacher this year who makes it really fun for them (like sprinkling them with fairy dust so they can leap higher) but also sticks to great technique and ballet fundamentals.  Here are some photos of our tiny dancer. Enjoy!

We're jammin'

Did you see that? Yea, that picture up there. That's our Josie looking her happiest, proudest and blissed-out joyful!  Of course Josie is happy very often. People often remark about her "sunny" personality and she is just a radiant, glowing little soul. But, the Easter jam session in DD's basement, and the real drumsticks, and real drumkit and leading her own band - well that was glowing like I've never seen before.  

Here she is rocking out!  (She loves her some Fresh Beat Band - Drummer Marina is her favorite - and oh heck, I never did post the pictures and videos from their concert last month, did I?!)  Anyway, she amazed us with the way she took to the kit - even counting off the beginning of each song and ending each solo with a cymbal crash. Hysterical. 

DD - you may need to change that "Danger MEN Playing" sign to accommodate the new rockstar in town. 

 Bea was also very impressed! 

Here are a couple of videos from the big jam session.  She dubbed her band "Josie and the LaLaLows" and everyone (except me who was manning the ipad) joined in on the signing, dancing and playing of dozens of instruments that DD has lying around. 

ENJOY!

Easter in Xtown

We headed up on Sunday to spend Easter with Grandma & DD. It was a beautiful day jam-packed with one bit of fun after the other: egg-dyeing, candy-munching, bubble-blowing, ham-eating, drum-playing, jeep-riding, dog-cuddling, car-swinging goodness.

Here are some of the highlights.  (The whole jam session silliness will get a post all its own soon.)

Bea loves Bella (and her hand-me-down dress from Lylabird):

Josie takes Bea on her first ride in the Barbie Jeep that DD found last year at a garage sale (Score!)

A butterfly lands on Grandma (which for us means good luck, which was just what I felt we needed with Bea in that Jeep and Josie at the wheel);

Sweet, Sweet Josie wraps her arm around her little sister (and sometimes forgets to watch the road):

Off the go:

What a gorgeous day:

A little jump rope break in the parking lot:

Bea looks longingly at the empty Jeep:

And thinks she should take it for a spin. She can't reach the pedals, but thinks she's driving.

And then thanks to DD, really thinks she's driving.

Gooo Bea!

Then Josie gets the bright idea to be the "gas-pusher" while Bea steers. And they're off!

There are lots of other fun activities throughout the day. Bea swings in the carswing that they bought Josie 4 years ago.

Grandma & Josie dyed eggs:

Which Josie took as very serious work:

DD took Bea on a tour of the yard. This girl is always, always on the move:

More dipping:

And walking:

Bea loves Bella:

Josie loves Bella. And Bella loves them both - especially Josie who filled Easter Eggs with dog treats so Bella could have some Easter fun of her own.

Grandma's turn to tour with Bea:

Mama's dogwood tree brings back memories of dozens of springs on the back deck:

And new springtime memories under the dogwood:

Let the great Easter Egg hunt of 2012 begin!

After some blue candy (can you see her lips?):

And some more swinging:

Josie stops & starts her and earns one of Bea's famous looks:

"Don't worry Bea; I won't push you too high..."

And we are back to wind-through-the-hair, swing-induced bliss:

And now for the eggs:

(Perfumed by the smell of Grandma's lilacs floating through the yard)

Bea finds her first egg:

And knows just what to do with it:

More eggs:

More catapulting them into the basket with the velocity of Major-League pitcher:

All told, quite the Easter at Grandma & DD's - even if we didn't make it home til 10pm. Hey Grandma & DD - please be sure to pass on our big big thanks to the Easter Bunny! xo