My Girl friend's back in town!

This weekend was so much fun because I got to spend it with one of my best friends, Erica, who came in town for graduation week. We met in College a long time ago, back before Aria was three and before her hair was blonde! We nearly instantly hit it off as we discovered our mutual love for singing, our desire to become nurses and that we share the same birthday! We were there for each other during some of the toughest times in our lives and supported each other during some of the most special ones as well- like our marriages and the birth of her children. I am so blessed to have her in my life! 

Twelfth Night- costume fun

Aria's 4th grade class is putting on a play over the next two days- Shakespear's Twelfth Night. While the kids have been memorizing their lines and practicing over the past 2 months, some of the parents have been creating these beautiful constumes for the kids to wear. 

Today I was at the dress rehersal helping do the girls' hair and I snapped a few pictures of kids in just a few of the amazing, intricately detailed costumes that have been created for this performance. I did not help out with these, however, I was put in charge of a few details (love is in the details!)  like some coin purses that are not shown here. I'll have to post them later!

Archway Classical's Inaugural Spring Ball

Yesterday, Aria and I got dressed up and attended her school's first Spring Ball. 

Aria and all of her friends looked so lovely in their spring dresses! Even the boys got dressed up in their shirts, slacks and ties- they looked so handsome!

Aria and Chloe

Fasika and Aria

Isaiah and Aria

The parents sat along the sidelines waiting to dance with their kids... and they did! Here are our good friends Anthony and Karen.

Chloe danced with her Daddy a couple of times. . .

. . .and her Mommy too! 

My dear friend Nery was there!

Isaiah taught her a couple of dances as well. 

But mostly they danced with each other. Each girl had to wait for a gentleman to ask her to dance. Aria had a few handsome dance partners.

It was amazing to me how brave some of these boys were- approaching these girls to dance. It was so fun to watch!!

It was neat to see some of our friends dancing together as well!

But my favorite dance of all was after Daddy showed up and had a lesson in the Box-step with Aria. She was so patient- he was trying so hard NOT to step on her toes. It was a precious moment!

Here are the three of us after the dance- all dressed up!

(How often does that happen??)

Then I had to get a few more pics of the girls looking so beautiful. 

This dance was so fun! I really enjoyed it and I think the kids did too. It was a great opportunity to showcase what they have learned all year. And they have learned a lot- more than I ever knew! The Box-step, the Fox-Trot, the Waltz, the Salsa and the Swing... all dances that will serve them well someday- maybe when they get married?? ( I know- I shouldn't even be going there in my mind!) 

Unfortunately, there is a chance this club will not be offered next year as the instructor who taught it will no longer be at Archway. I really hope there is someone else out there who will take her place so we can look forward to another year of Ballroom dancing at Archway Classical. It was a great experience that I'm sure none of them will forget.

Ready for the Ball

Today was a very exciting day... the last Ball for the Ballroom Dancing Club at Archway Classical Veritas. Aria, and some of her best friends, got to get dressed up in a pretty dress and meet at the school to demonstrate some of the dances they have learned this year. 
I was excited because I got to play dress up with Aria. This is not something that she allows much anymore. But today she let me create this beautiful hair-do for her. . . and it turned out very pretty! She was just gorgeous and ready to dance!

For fun's sake

We picked up some sparklers yesterday at the grocery store. I have always wanted them for birthday parties and I finally found them! But then I thought, why wait? So I let the kids have a little fun- just because. Both kids played with them before dinner for a while....

It's hard to not just stare at them. They are so mesmerizing!

. . . then I let Cole have some fun on his own after Aria went to bed. Aren't they pretty at night?

Girlz Night! Encore!

So Girlz Night game night came and went. It was so much fun! We had a decent turn out with 14 girls (some not pictured here). It was a great mix of friends- some old and many new. All of these  girls though, were ones I love dearly and am so glad I got to spend some quality FUN time with! I can't wait to do it again!

Mozzarella Caprese Skewers

I'm so excited because I'm having a girls night at my house tonight! I can't wait! I get to make some beautiful foods for my guests to enjoy, like these Mozzarella Caprese skewers. They are so simple and delicious and take little skill to create. All you need is some fresh ingredients to make these little gems look and taste amazing. (Plus, they are a great appetizer to make in advance for hostesses like myself who need less things to worry about as party time approaches.)

Here's what I did.

  

Mozzarella Caprese Skewers


Skewer grape or cherry tomatoes, a basil leaf, and some fresh mozzarella balls onto a stick, brush on or drizzle with some EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) and some Basalmic vinegar, sprinkle with salt and cracked pepper and you're done!