Prima Ballerinas

The girls started their first ballet lessons yesterday. Since their birth, as all 'good' moms of the 21st century in our goal to overachieve and fill our babies days with lessons upon lessons..we have done it all - music, art, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, skiing, skating, and so on...but I have never signed them up for dance.

Last week, I caved and decided..what the heck - let's do dance this year..but if we are going to do it - we are not going to do community ed or some version of pseudo-dancing..we are going to go to an actual ballet studio and sign-up for the whole-meal deal...so we did. Yesterday we started.

Can I just say I have never seen so much excitement about an activity in either of my girls before. They both ran into their classes without barely a good-bye mom..they danced, they laughed, they smiled, they ran out of class afterwards never wanting to change out of their leotards(lelatards in Esther-speak)..and asked if they could do it every day.

I am so proud of them and how they are growing up and hope they can find many activities that they can enjoy as they grow. I am such a proud mom today.

Picture share of Esther only - as Eloise was having nothing to do with her embarrassment of a mom taking pictures of her with her 'friends'..blah, blah, blah..so next week I need a plan B for Eloise pictures so she doesn't take notice of me.

Saturday Night Live...

I will not use my blog this season to discuss my political views - or those of others who are wrong(hahahahehehehe)...but I am happy to have a good laugh about it all. If you missed SNL's season-opener..you must watch it now...Tina Fey was just sweet perfection..


http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281

Laugh sequence....

My little Esther-boo has an amazing sense of humor..and her laughter is contagious..better yet..her laughter makes me laugh. The other day I was going to attempt to take pictures of her in her Matilda Jane combo..but she was in no mood. Instead I got something better...her laughter brought on by an Eloise joke.

Listening to Eloise's story...

Trying not to laugh at Eloise's story...

Really trying not to laugh at Eloise's Story...

Pure and lovely laughter...

..throw your head back belly laughter...

..just realized I was taking her picture...

..so she strikes a "pose"

Not Breaking News...

..but on Friday morning when I put out Eloise's school uniform for her to wear(..and no, it was not ironed, it will never be ironed, I do not iron..but it looked okay), she said to me..

"Really, this is really what I am wearing EVERY DAY for the rest of my life..seriously..you have got to be joking."

Gerbil Stories

(I am telling this sweet story of our conversation yesterday in the strictest confidence..do NOT let Eloise know I passed this on..as she would be sooo mad at me.)

Me: "Hey sweetie - did you have a good day at school?"
Eloise: "Oh mom - look, look - there is my 8th grade buddy Natalie! I am so lucky, I got the tallest and the prettiest..and she wears braids." (I am thinking that I really like her because she is 14 and wears braids!)
Me: "Why do you have an 8th grade buddy?"
Eloise: "Because we will go to church for the 1st time tomorrow - so they paired us up with a buddy to take us to church the whole year - she will sit by me and tell me why I am there and what they are doing"
Me: "What a great idea - she looks like a nice girl..how fun!"
Eloise: "Yes, but today wasn't very much fun as all we did the whole day was get ready for church - how we would walk there, what they would do, how long it would last, and then Sister Sara just told us Gerbil Stories all day..ugh"
Me: "Gerbil Stories - what are those..is that a new book you are reading?"
Eloise: "Yes, the Gerbil Stories is a book all about God and Jesus and going to church."
Me: "Huh, never heard of it - is is a big book or a bunch of little books?"
Eloise: "It is just one big Gerbil Book with lots of different stories in it...some kids at school said they had a Gerbil Book at home too."
Me: (trying really really really hard not to laugh) "OH, you mean BIBLE STORIES - was the big book called the Bible?"
Eloise: "Gerbil, Bible..it is just a book about God."
Amen.

First Day!

Esther started preschool yesterday. The day wouldn't be complete without wearing Matilda Jane from head to toe.

..right before leaving home..

...after we dropped Eloise off at school, I took her for a carrot muffin at a favorite bakery - note the last minute hair style change on the way to school...

..all smiles after school..she loved her first day and played with lots of her friends that she already knew...


What did I do? Laundry, vacuum, make MJ phone calls and ate a piece of toast..maybe I will take that run today.


xoxo,t