Off With The Training Wheels

 Shortly after buying Esperanza a new big bike with training wheels, it occurred to me (and her) that there was no way she would be comfortable learning how to ride a bike without training wheels on that big of a bike. I don't know what we were thinking when we bought it! So, we brought out a very small bike of Rafa's that Eva had recently given to us for Ezra, which has training wheels, took the training wheels off and she was more than ready to learn how to ride. Armando worked with her for just a short time on the road. She fell once, but then was off and going! No training wheels!!

Turquoise

It's in season apparently for Esperanza. Her shoes, her warm Spring fleece jacket as well as her rain/wind jacket, leggings, tights, Keen sandals, dresses, summer outfits, her swimsuit, her dance recital costume and even her bike and helmet are ALL turquoise. Most of these things were handy-downs or thrift store finds that just happened to be right size and price, but I just began realizing it's all turquoise too. I am most positive it isn't only coincidence though, as she really does love the color. 

 This dress has little turquoise flowers all over it.

Story Teller

Ezra comes up with stories. Sometimes it starts off with him telling me something about his day, or an event he remembers from the past. Then out of no where, a dinosaur or unicorn becomes part of the story and it quickly turns into an especially wondrous fantasy story. It's clear on his face that he is conceptualizing a mental image of his story as he makes it up along the way.

Last night I wanted to video tape some of his story telling. Before I got this video, he had a really great one about a unicorn that came up out of the water that he cut up and ate. This one is good too.

Dance Recital Day

Today was Esperanza's dance recital. She and 3 other little girls tap danced on stage to Madonna's Material Girl at The Washougal High School Auditorium (same place as the holiday performance). I only got a few bad quality pictures because we couldn't use flash photography. Over the past several weeks the girls have been practicing their dance at the dance studio once, sometimes twice a week. At this age, I don't really feel like taking the whole thing too serious, because it seems to take the fun out of it. If she wants to keep dancing, and make it more serious later, that is great. For now, she mostly takes dance class because of the glitzy recital costumes and make-up that goes along with it. 

Here are a few pictures from the dress rehearsal and from the day they did professional photographs.

And a video I took at the studio during dress rehearsal.

Yurt Camping With Cousin Kiko

Our first 'camping' trip of the season just happened. Yurt camping that is. I figured we would ease our way into tent camping with the kids when the weather warms up a little more. We packed up the kids, our stuff, our nephew Kiko and ventured just under an hour north to a yurt campground close to home. 

The yurt was nice, the weather was beautiful...but the noise was maddening! The campground was placed right off of the major freeway and the sand and water play space was directly under the bridges of the major highway. Very loud and constant noise. But, the weather was great and the kids didn't seem to mind the noise. So fun was had!

Other than sand and water play, we went on an adventurous hike and explored the area. Esperanza fell off of the bunk bed in the middle of the night, which was kind of scary, but turned out okay in the end. No more bunk bed sleeping for her. On the way home the next day, we stopped by a little fair and the kids got to ride some rides and play some games.

The Butterfly Pinata

We recently completed a craft project with our super crafty friend Jonna. Over a period of several weeks, lots of planning, cutting, gluing and a whole lot of fun, we built a butterfly pinata! It was so much fun and it turned out amazing! This beautiful butterfly pinata will be filled with toys and treats then busted open for Esperanza's birthday later this summer. Can't wait!