Ballet Saturday

Saturday morning is now "dancing class" day. Elizabeth just started a "Tap, Jazz and Ballet" class-much to her sheer joy.

The class is adorable with a mix of tap, jazz and ballet. A lot of the fun is in the equipment as well as the dancing. She is madly in love with her new "tap" shoes and if she had her way she would be tapping her way through the world all day.

When she woke up and I told her "today is dancing class day", she literally twirled around and screamed "hooray hooray, thank you mommy, thank you mommy!" It really was the cutest thing.

And after class the fun continued with lunch with her buddy Maria at her favorite "Ruby's" Diner--which happens to have a gorgeous view of the lake in Woodbridge. Who would think a cheap burger joint could have such a pretty view.

Maria and Elizabeth also managed to sneak in a visit to the toystore and the Sticky Fingers Candy shop.

Oh, just another day in Kiddie Nirvana.

Random Photos

I am just posting a few photos that I haven't posted yet. Actually I have hundreds of these...just haven't had a chance to post them. Yeah, time--where does it go?

A few photos from a month or so ago down after dinner at The Rusty Pelican. Elizabeth liked the boats, no surprise.





Here are Elizabeth Kaila and Sophia three girls all were in China together --we basically all met on the same day, November 5, 2007. We all traveled home on the same day some two weeks later. What an amazing time that was!







Just a few photos of Elizabeth showing her involved with one of her favorite foods.




She likes frozen yogurt but not as much as she loves sorbet.

A few photos from a couple of months ago, at Kaila's 4th birthday party. Kaila, Elizabeth and Emma.



Kaila and E sharing a meal together.

Trek to Disneland

Yes, we took our trip to Disneyland during Elizabeth's break from school last week. Did she like it? Yes and no. At first she was excited and then she saw Goofy, who was undoubtedly a lot taller than she had seen him on t.v. She freaked a bit and decided that she wanted to go home. "I no like Goofy," she cried. "I wanna go home." Luckily for us, Minnie showed up and saved the day. Minnie was smaller and "pretty" as Elizabeth would say. We had to wait on line numerous times to let Elizabeth hug Minnie.

Elizabeth was a little disappointed that Minnie "didn't talk". "Minnie is quiet", Elizabeth said--"she no talking".

The rest of the day was sort of hit and miss, but generally she had a pretty good time. Luckily her friend Mei Mei was with and that helped Elizabeth fear level.

The girls also flipped for the face painting as you can see below--who needs all the rides in Disneyland when you can get your face painted like a Princess?



Elizabeth was pretty darn sacked out when we got home. She plopped into bed that night and didn't move until the next morning.



Elizabeth loves her facepaint. But here is a hint--don't take a nap while wearing face paint unless you want pink and purple sheets









Mei Mei was really compliant when it came to face painting, she didn't move a muscle while she was being worked on by the makeup artist.




Mei Mei showing off her exotic princess look with mom,Patty.

Some photos from last week

These photos are from last week..which is why the date reads, July 1. We had about 10 days off from school so things have been a little busy around here. More on our antics later.

Here is E with her friends Luke and Nick who were visting CA from Virginia. Their dad was once Marty's student and now he is a fully grown professor himself with two kids. Go figure.



Here is Elizabeth on a trip to South Coast plaza where she found another Mickey Mouse statue and had to have her photo opp.




Here she is in my office, looking like the true executive that she is.



And last week it was hot enough for a jump in the "Water Table". I hate to mention it to my friends back east who are sweltering, but it is currently 63 degrees and cloudy here today, as it has been for the last 4 or so days. Oh if only the whole summer could be like this, I wouldn't have to dream about living in Ireland...or even San Franciso!

Hangin' at the Island

Elizabeth met up with her buddy Maria (aka Mei Mei) over at Fashion Island one afternoon. The girls enjoyed the day blowing bubble and climbing all over the new (albeit temporary) Mickey Mouse statue.

Speaking of Mickey--suddenly the obsession has reached a new peak. And I am wondering how it happened that Mickey was totally OFF the radar--and now he is everywhere. Interestingly we have run into more than a few people in the last couple of weeks who have been taking their kids to Disneyland since they were barely able to walk. I met a woman in the store today with an 18 month old who has been going since she was a year old. I said, "oh she must go to the little Toon Town part of the park." No, the woman explained that the little toddler did the entire park and even stayed for the fireworks at 9:00 P.M.

Oh Elizabeth, we can see the fireworks from our bedroom window--and we haven't even taken you there yet!!!

So close, and yet so far.

But, soon.

Language

I realize that I haven't written much about Elizabeth in the last few months. And there has been so much going on.

Her language is really starting to take off now. And it is really quite a blast to witness. I suppose we are seeing what most parents see and get excited about at about two years of ago when kids typically start expanding their vocabulary.

She is getting regular speech therapy, both privately and two days a week at the public school. And on alternate days she is going to Montessori where the kids range in age from 3-5 in her classroom. Interestingly she has hooked up with (or I should say, is madly in love with) two of the older girls in her class, Moka and Emerson. Elizabeth has been known to wake up in the middle of the night and scream, "I love you Moka, I love you Emerson." The other night she woke me up at 3 a.m. to tell me, "Moka is big." That's nice, Elizabeth. Go back to sleep.

She does seem to be talking a lot and the jury is out as to whether she will will be a chatter box. There are times when she talks non-stop and then not so much.

But it is so wonderful to hear her talking. Most of the time I am just so darn happy to hear her talking that I don't really care what she says...although I do prefer it not be at 3 a.m., if possible.

Sorbet

Here are a few photos of E the same day as the Mickey video. She was able to eat a little sorbet...and as you can see, she could use some calories as she lost a little weight while she was sick. As Marty would say, "we don't want no skinny baby!". Remember how chubby she was as a baby. I thought I would have to put her on Jenny Craig! Who knew!





Here she was at a year old...oh look at those cute little chubby legs!