Hit It Up - Odds and Ends

The girls really love dance and the recital is one of their favorite days of the year.  I love watching them have such a great time.  It is also great to watch the older girls and Elite Company dancers, who are simply spectacular.   Below are some shots of the girls and their (older) friends, as well as of some of the other dancers from TDI.

Emily and Elizabeth with their beloved Emily, who is such an extraordinary dancer (and their new babysitter!). 

Emily and Elizabeth 

Ready for the finale! 

Elizabeth and her beloved Miss Sami - she wept and wept at the end of the show because Sami is going to college next year and Elizabeth loves her so much.  Sami is such a terrific girl and we were lucky to get to know her over the last few years.  She has been a great role model for Elizabeth.

Aren't I pretty?

The Dance 

Hero of War (Miss Sami) 

Summer (Emily) 

Dynomite (Emily)

Hit It Up - Finale

Last year was the first year that we ever saw the finale, a number in which all dancers over the age of 6 are invited to participate, and it totally blew us away.  This year was the first year that Elizabeth was eligible to participate and she really, really loved it.  The finale was really great and the costumes were perfect!

Hit It Up - Emily

Emily is completely at home on the stage and had a ball at both the dress rehearsal and the afternoon show (next year, she will be in two shows as well).  She really hams it up, there is no doubt about it!

Jazz - getting a little air! 

Ballet 

Tap

Hit It Up - Elizabeth

The girls' dance recital was last weekend and it was so great.  This was Elizabeth's first year dancing in two shows and I was really proud of how well she did.  In less than 24 hours, she danced 12 times (4 numbers each in the dress rehearsal, afternoon show and evening show).  Every time we saw her on stage, she did better and better and by the evening show, she really seemed to enjoy herself and danced her little heart out.

Ballet 

Jazz (doing the shimmy) 

Having a great time! 

Tap 

Tavio is Three!!

On May 2nd, Jen and Sal's oldest son Tavio turned three and they celebrated by throwing a huge birthday party for him over Memorial Day weekend.  As usual, there was tons of great food, good company and lots of fun for the kids and adults.  The weather was gorgeous and everyone had a wonderful time.  Thank you Jen, Sal, Tavio and Mateo for letting us share in Tavio's special day!

Jen and Cathy on the slide. 

Birthday Boy 

Lee and Sal - grill men

Sami and Devin 

Tavio's cake, made by Jen's amazingly talented mother. 

Singing happy birthday. 

mmmmmmm..... 

Emily on the slide - love the facial expression. 

Elizabeth and Victoria 

Jen - the ultimate multi-tasker! 

Apryl and Woody 

Peaceful Mateo 

Preschool Graduation

On Wednesday, Emily graduated from GLP, her preschool for the last two years.  She did a great job singing and praying during the graduation ceremony and was so happy to have Lee and I to herself for a few hours.  On to kindergarten!!

Singing and clapping 

Praying (with her eyes open)

Receiving her certificate from Mrs. D. 

Happy Girl! 

Emily and Sammi (her BFF)

The PJ cake that one of the amazingly talented moms made.

Singing "God the Spirit"

Singing "If I Were a Butterfly"

Receiving her completion certificate.

Lily

Although Lee and I thought that we did a good job with birthday presents this year, Peter, Lisa, Taylor and Noelle definitely won for best birthday present, hands down.  For the last two years, Emily has strongly hinted (and by hint, I mean that she asks Lisa outright) to them that she would like a fish for her birthday; this year, Lisa mentioned that with Ollie departed, maybe she would get Emily a fish.  Apparently, I didn't protest vehemently enough, because much to my surprise, a fish is exactly what Emily got!  She was so, so excited (and Elizabeth was so, so upset)!!  She loves checking on her, feeding her (with heavy parental interference, of course) and gets very disappointed when Lily hides at the back of the tank.  Which, by the way, is exactly what I would do if I saw Elizabeth and Emily screaming through the house!  Over the last couple of days, she is interacting with us more and more and I have to say, it's pretty cute to watch the girls with her.

Lisa taking Lily from Emily's gift bag.

Emily holding Lily while Lisa prepares the "tank." 

Watching Lily. 

Lily (although she's a little more blue than this picture shows).