Field Trip

The girls' school loaded all the kids up and took them on a field trip to the New Orleans Aquarium. I was lucky enough to go as a chaperon (pretty much all the parents went along)...

Katie (in the pink jacket - she doesn't like to wear the school sweat shirt!) and her class arriving at the Aquarium.

Ella's class arrives!

Waiting and waiting and waiting! in line to go into the movie. It was the girls' first 3D movie (mine too, actually!). It was about the things that live in the ocean. It was fun watching the girls try to 'catch' the things that seemed to pop out of the movie screen and the glasses were too funny (sorry, not photos of the glasses!).

Ella and Katie (ducking down) with a school friend.

Spring Picture Day

Katie and Ella (blue) picked out complementary dresses for picture day at school this Spring. They were excited not to have to wear uniforms for the day.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

One fun thing about New Orleans is there always a reason for a parade. Every March the reason is the St. Patty's Day parade rolling under the beautiful old oak tree lined Uptown streets!

Ella with Daddy smiling and showing the collection of flowers she got from the marching krewes. She made them into a boquet for her hair.

Mommy and her girls enjoying the sunshine and the parade and comparing notes on what they had caught so far.

Anxiously waiting for the next float to come.

Ella happily playing with a giant stuffed teddy bear she caught from one of the floats.

And Katie with one of the prized catches of the St. Patrick's Day parade...a cabbage! Cabbages are a Saint Patrick's day tradition, not unlike Zulu coconuts during Mardi Gras. Everybody wants to catch one. You have to be on your toes because they come hummin' at you from up high on the floats. Potatoes on occasion too. We got three or four nice cabbages this year along with Blarney stones, green beads, and clover bracelets. Mommy sauteed the cabbages for dinner one night! Yummy!

The Olympics: Pre-K Style

This past week, Katie and Ella's pre-K classes held their Spring "Olympics". Katie's class was the first day. Divided into Red, White, and Blue teams, all the kids ran relay races and had a blast. You can see Katie as a proud "Blue", wearing a colorful Spring skirt. She's always fashion conscious even when hitting the athletic fields. :-)

Katie sprinting to the finish in the "hoola hoop relay"

Taking the hand-off from her friend Jenna in the egg-balance relay.

Bringing it home!

Proudly displaying her Blue Ribbon!

Daddy and Katie in the lunchroom. Parents got to have lunch with their Olympians after the events concluded.

Ella's class came in a short time later and she got to sit with us during lunch as well.

The next day was Ella's turn. Rain sent them into the gym for their events. Ella was on the Red team. Here you can see her making a speedy turn in the ball relay.

Making a wide turn in the next race to give Daddy a high-five!

Speed!!!

Here she is in the running backwards race

Ella's class after their feats of Olympic athleticism.

Ella's proud reaction to her blue ribbon!

Ella going through the lunch line. It was fun for Mommy and Daddy to get to see the girls doing their daily routine. They are so grown up!

Ella checking out and making the lunch lady laugh.

Katie's class joined us a little later and here she is going through the line.

Checking out, and a little embarrassed about mom and dad taking so many pictures.

Ella's victory meal!

Game Night!

We like to have family "game night". One of Katie and Ella's favorite games (mommy too, as a matter of fact!) is the Pretty Princess Game. The objective is to get all the jewelry AND the coveted princess crown. Here are a few snapshots of the winners....

First round went to Ella. Katie is helping her with her jewelry.

Daddy won round two! Katie was the 'servant' and was helping Daddy with his crown.

Hopefully, Katie and Mommy will win next time!

Ella's 'Do

We tried a new 'do' for Ella... we braided her hair before going to bed and then took the braids out the next morning. Here she is with her curls and a tiara, of course!

Cupcake Girls

My little pastry chefs decided it was time to make cupcakes. So we did. We decorated them with Spring colors in honor of the beautiful weather we've been having here and took a few to the neighbors. Great after school fun!

Ella

Katie

Ella and Katie -- CHEESE!