Our week

Ok - get ready for a long one. This will probably take me several days to write up because we have been SO INCREDIBLY BUSY lately. I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off now!!

I'll start with last week's preschool zoo fieldtrip. This was our last hurrah after our year with the theme, "We are Zoo-Per!"
(First a cute pic of Ella on the last day of preschool.)
It turned out to be a nice fieldtrip on a nice day. Most of the moms were able to come, so I didn't have to stress about watching all the kids.
However, this fieldtrip rope mom made me came in very handy!
Ella on the new carousel.
Cute Mason and Emily on the train. I love their matching, but opposite silver teeth! (You have to enlarge it to see it.)
Ella got on the very front of the zoo train.
Ella by the big rotating ball thingy.
Emily on the spider's web in the play area.
My cute little girls love to dress up and make-believe!!
Then the very next day was preschool graduation. I spent ALL DAY preparing for it - as well as countless hours previously. It turned out great. We had to have it in a new location this year and it was kind of cramped, but it all turned out. Here's the kids after marching in to a zoo song wearing their "I am Zoo-per" zoo visors and their animal noses.
Ella ready to graduate!
Ella and Miss Kim.
Here's what I hope is more of a comment about the economy rather than a complaint. I put my heart, soul, countless hours and lots of money into these preschool kids all year. I know the families appreciated it, but I was still kind of shocked by the end of the year teacher gifts. I know I'm not supposed to expect them, but the economy must have really gotten people down. I got two cans of root beer and a box of jello. Really. Sure, they both had little sayings to go with them, but really, two cans of rootbeer and a box of jello! I got two other "normal" gifts - a gift card and a necklace/earring set. Ok, so maybe that is kind of a complaint. No, actually let's say it's a social awareness comment. Just a reminder to all of those of you with kids that go to school or daycare - these people are caring for your CHILDREN! Much more important of a job than a pizza delivery guy, or a hair stylist, or a waitress. And yet, we never feel bad about tipping them. So make sure you do something special for teachers and caretakers at the end of this school year! It's a hard job and usually not compensated well enough. Show them your appreciation. Ok, stepping off soap box. (And hopefully none of my preschool families will ever see this post! Well, except for Jill - and she already helps me out a lot!)

The next day we went to Kangaroo Zoo to celebrate Ella's birthday. Here's Eden sleeping through it all!
Sunday was Ella's actual birthday. We hadn't gotten home from Kangaroo Zoo until 9:00. (Shocking since we are VERY DILIGENT about starting bedtime at 8:00.) The second we got the girls down for bed, I ran straight to the store to buy some things for Ella's party on Monday. The second I got home, Steve ran out to see the Star Trek movie. He was so excited to see it and hadn't had any other time, so he actually went to a 10:00 showing by himself. (Again, shocking because Steve and I are VERY DILIGENT about going to bed at 10:00.) He was able to hang the birthday streamers while I was out. (Again, shocking because I hadn't asked him to do it!) Then when he was gone I had to wrap all the presents and completly gut the horribly messy living room so Ella could wake up to a nice display of presents in a clean room.
She's so cute opening her presents. She would stack them in a pile on the couch and stack the bows in another pile. (Does that remind you of anyone?)
And, most shocking of all, Emily gathered up all the wrapping paper and put it in the trash as we went along!!!!
Showing off her new bunny towel!
Emily helping me make another complicated cake!
Our girls were seriously the cutest kids at church in their matching dresses from Grandma.
Monday morning was party day!! Since I hadn't been able to find what I needed Saturday night, Steve had to run out first thing to look for the rest. Jill even had to stop at the Family Dollar to get us some more balloon animal balloons. I just did not have enough time to plan this party. However, since Ella chose a Cinderella theme, it wasn't too bad because I have all the supplies for yearly princess summer camps. Here's darling Cinder-Ella waiting for her guests to arrive!
Ella DID NOT want her picture taken again, but I forced her. Now we have black mail pictures. I guess it was her birthday, so she could cry if she wanted to... Emily and Eden were the stepsisters.
Here's this year's creation. A pink Cinderella castle - per Ella's instructions.Coloring at the party.
Making a princess crown.
Playing midnight dance freeze with their magic wand they made.
Blowing out the candles.
Opening presents with the real Cinderella who came from Disneyland just for Ella's special day!Cinder Ella and her Prince Charming.
Cinder Ella and the Fairy Godmother.
The kids all hopscotched their way into the castle on our princess hopscotch mat. Then they decorated their own crown and got to color pictures until everyone got there. We ended up with 4 boys and 9 girls - a lot of little kids! Then Prince Charming took all their shoes and hid them in the front yard. The girls got a small glass slipper in theirs and the boys got pieces of gold. First we played pop the pumpkin. We had filled a ton of orange water balloons (with air) and tied them with green curling ribbon (the vines). The kids had fun popping all the pumpkins. We also played find the key with one of Paige's antique looking keys. Then Prince Charming took the boys out to teach them the ins and outs of sword play. They got to use their balloon swords to pop the dragon's eggs - bubbles. The boys also painted frogs. The girls stayed with Fairy Godmother and made their own wands. We also played midnight dance freeze and Princess cake walk. After cake, Cinderella made her appearance and talked to all the kids. Ella sat on her lap and they opened presents together. It was a really fun party. Ella's said about 20 times today, "I loved my Cinderella party. I want to have another one!"

Then we took Ella to Chuck E. Cheese and Toys R Us to redeem her free tokens and gift certificate.

Eden's pretty as a princess!
So Ella had a great birthday weekend. I'm just not sure I can handle graduation and birthdays the same weekend every year!!! I'm still putting my house back in order. That and taking down preschool will take me awhile. Ella, we love you and hope you had a day as special as you are!