Xavier Doesn't Feel Much Like Singing

Here is Xavier from his class' spring performance. Stunned and on the brink of terror. He never cried and he didn't run away. He froze. After a song or two he decided maybe a few hand movements to the songs might not be that bad.

EWP Drawings

Eliza is enjoying drawing more and more. She loves to draw ladybugs and this is her first family portrait. I am not taking an offense at all that we look like the Family Swine. Can you spot little Xavier in the top left?


A sun and a ladybug pooping


A ghost sitting on a bed

Eliza Sings!

Friday, while being Addie's last day at school, was also the spring recital for Eliza and Xavier's classes and their class picnic. Exhausting!

Eliza was great - no tears, all smiles (and a busted chin from falling down earlier in the week on the sidewalk at school).






Eliza's BFF, Sophie

Reminder

In case you forgot how old Addie is now . . .(and thanks Aunt Karen for the tattoo pens!)

So Long First Grade!

Friday was Addie's last day in 1st grade. Her reading really took off, she started multiplication and cursive writing and made a best friend - Zoe. Their faces are both covered in push-up pop, a last day of school treat. The girls together are completely silly and so loving. Both are obsessed with Harry Potter and spend their lunch hour making potions out of dirt, water and twigs. The girls will be at different camps all summer so it's up to me and Zoe's mom to schedule plenty of play dates on the weekends. Our houses are in walking distance of each other which is awesome!

So long first grade! Hello summer!

Star Night Live

It's been a series of performances for Addie. This is from her after school program's spring musical, Star Night Live. Of course she loved it.

That was a hectic day for the rest of us. Xavier went home sick with a the flu so i was with him. That meant Mit would have to stay with X during the performance so both Cap and I could attend. So far so good. At 6 I went to Addie's school and was helping them put on glitter and lipgloss. Cap was holding our place in line. Only neither of us had Eliza. Poor Eliza. We both thought the other one of us had picked her up. Nope. School called us at 6:15, um... are you coming to get Eliza?! I rushed off to get her, arriving 40 minutes after school closed and $40 dollars lighter. She was happy as a clam thankfully. We raced to Addie's school arriving for the performance 25 minutes late. I thought I would miss Addie's rock band as the opening act but there was some snaffu and they didn't even perform at all. Bummer but at least I didn't miss anything. I got there just in time for the main show to start. Phew!








BFFs

Chicken Dance

This is from the Spring Recital at Addie's school. Her first grade class performed the Chicken Dance (is that what the song is called?) I'm supposed to know this from attending weddings but I am not sure I've been to a wedding where they played this. I think many brides have specifically banned it.

Rock Star: The Video

Rock Star: House of Blues

Addie rocked out Saturday at the House of Blues. She is the lead singer of her band Angels performing "Can You Feel It" by Ross Lynch (can't say I had heard of the song or the artist before). Rock Star is an after school program run through the LAUSD Star Education. Almost 200 bands from across LA performed over 2 day at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. Addie got a little nervous when she saw how big the stage was but she rocked it when it was time for her band to go on. And her friend Danika's halloween cheerleading costume from last year really came in handy!

Super proud of Addie!

The Birthday Party

Friday, Addie's actual birthday, we celebrated at home with Chinese take-out and ice cream sundaes - all her choice. The littles' school was closed for parent teacher conferences so Cap and I took half days anyway. I picked Addie up at school at 12:39 when it got out for early dismal, raced over to meet with Eliza and Xavier's teachers. Addie had her final Rock Star class so before I took her back to school we stopped at Taco Bell (I know, I know) for a very late lunch. We were all home at 4 when Addie rode her new scooter (thanks Auntie Jen) and I took the girls to get manicures before dinner, more presents and ice cream.

Saturday was Addie's official birthday party. She wanted one guest - her best friend Zoe. We took Addie, Eliza and Zoe (and Zoe's mom) to see the new movie Epic 3D (loved it) at the theater complete with popcorn, candy and soda (Addie's own mix of sprite and fruit punch). Then Cap headed home to watch Xavier while I took the girls to the American Girl Doll cafe for dinner and cake. We are all very exhausted but Addie had a great time. Happy 7th birthday, my love!

Lucky 7!

Happy Birthday to my magical Addie! We love you so much!


Lumos!

Two Wheels Good

I'm super proud of my girls. We rarely ride bikes - maybe just a few times a year - as the sidewalk in our neighborhood isn't that great (or safe) and most parks don't allow bikes oddly. But we had been talking to Addie about trying to ride without her training wheels and she decided to try it out.

We drove over to a huge multi-recreational park as a friend mentioned that the baseball diamond was a great place to learn - smoother than grass but less harsh than asphalt. We dressed Addie in long sleeves and pants thinking that might help a tiny bit with small scraps and scratches. Eliza took along her balance bike too. Well, not surprisingly, all the fields are being used on weekends but there is a really wide walkway.

Cap ran alongside Addie a few times letting go a little more each time. After maybe 15 minutes she was riding on her own - a little wobbly and not sure how to brake yet but she was doing it. We went back again on Sunday after 2 weeks and she was riding up and down and braking on her own. What makes me proud is her attitude through the learning process. She didn't whine, complain or pout while she was learning. She wanted to try a two wheeler and she went out and did it. It's this confidence I want her to have forever. Go girl!

While Addie was learning, Eliza, Xavier and I headed over to a grassy hill to see if Eliza might try gliding. Check her out. Fearless! I'm sure she could probably ride a real bike now too after seeing her here but Addie's is a little too big right now even with the seat lowered all the way. I wish we had had the balance bike while Addie was learning. Now we need to get Xavier a helmet and he can ride on the seat with Cap and we could actually go on a family ride. Now just to find a place free of cars . . .

H2O Break-through

Since Xavier was born he has screamed and screamed in the bath and the swimming pool. So much so that we rarely bathed him other than sponge baths (dirty little grubby baby) because it was so traumatic - for him and us. We experimented with warm vs cool, bath vs sink, sisters vs solo, with toys, with a ball. Nothing except hysteria. Then last night we popped him into the bath same as we normally do. For the first time, he didn't scream and try to scramble out. He stood there and asked for some rubber ducks. A few minutes later he was happily dumping buckets of water on his head. It was like a brand new baby! Maybe he will want to swim this summer too. Just maybe.

And happy birthday GranJanne!

Treats

We don't have much (of interest) in walking distance but we can get frozen yogurt with toppings.

#5 and #6

Addie lost tooth #5 while at school a few weeks ago. In typical Addie fashion, she forgot it and we didn't get it back home to put under the pillow for a few more days. Then at sleepover camp she lost #6 and that is lost, lost. In an apple. So she wrote a teeny, tiny note for the Tooth Fairy. We are waiting for #7 which has been loose longer than #5 or #6.

Santa Monica Airport

We celebrated Kieran's 4th bday at the Santa Monica Airport Park last weekend. Super fun to get up close and see the private plans take-off and land. All the kids loved it.

First Haircut

I swore when I had a boy that I wouldn't become overly nostalagic about his baby hair and when it was time, to give him a boy-cut. Good-bye mullet! He still has such baby wisps of hair so I only needed to trim the back which I did myself. Cap wasn't so sure but I promised if he ended up looking Pete Rose I would take him to a professional. I think Xavier looks all grown up. Only 3 more months until he's two!


Before. Party in the back.


After. California boy cut

E and X School Pictures

Happy smile Eliza



Xavier. Handsome but looking like he is trying to escape.