Piano Recital and a Private Meeting

Last week was really great. We slowed down. A LOT! We went swimming at Gramma & Grampa's house and had dinner on the patio and the only thing going on was that Gavin had a ceramics class every afternoon from 1:30 until 3:00. He had a great time and made some really cool sculptures. They are being fired and will be picked up next week. I can't wait to have "art" to decorate with!

Gavin also had his Book 3 Piano Recital! He did a great job playing 2 pieces and he has now graduated to book 4! This will be his last book for the Jr. Music Course! It was a 2 year program and he is almost finished already! Gavin plays really well and impreses his teacher and our friends with his natural ease on the keyboard! (he is a bit of a goof ball however, as the photo shows!)

Friday was a fun family adventure! We headed out to the House of Mouse (Disneyland) early so that we could beat the heat (but not the crowds). Our first stop was the Princess area (can't remember it's "real" name) to try to see the "Coronation". We have tried on our last 3 visits to get there, but something had prevented it. We were there with plenty of time to get a seat only to discover that there would be no Coronation's that day! "Awwahh.. Bummuw!", declared Ella! It was a bummer, but we sat down to decorate some crowns and do some color pages and wait for the Princess storytelling that was coming up shortly. After a while a "page" came by, a handsome young man (wearing tights and a funny hat with a feather in it) to chat with the kids. He asked them all sorts of things and wanted to know who Ella's favorite Princess was. Ella piped up "Cinderella! Cinderella is my favorite!". The page then produced a special decree which entitled us to a private meeting with ... none other than ... CINDERELLA! We were to meet the page at a special area in just a few minutes! I think that I was the most excited of our clan, followed by Gavin and Ella tentatively agreeing that she "might" say hi to Cinderella. We arrived at our meeting place and the young gentleman came and led us into a private sitting room at the palace where we had 15 minutes or so with the Princess herself. The only people there were us, Cindy, a photograper and the page! She knew the children's names and asked them questions about themselves. She and Gavin had a lively conversation about the Buzz Lightyear ride and how Prince Charming loved that ride as well! Ella is very hesitant with people in costume or with fancy dress so she really held back and was not very interested in getting too close, but Cinderella commented to Ella that they had the same name and the ice was broken. We got some great photos and some wonderful memories! It was very magical! Later, Ella shopped a bit, and of course it was the blue dress that she went straight to!

The rest of the day was fun, but nothing could compare to the way it started out! We rode Small World and Alice and the Tea Cups. We went over to Ca. Adventure so that we could go to the Playhouse Disney show. Ella hadn't seen that before and was delighted with Bear and Tutter (her newly found friends!). We headed out around 3:00 p.m. before anyone (including Mom) could have a major meltdown!

Our weekend was busy but with time to relax too. My brother, Allen has just opened up his own gym in So. Pasadena and I went out to "help" with his Grand Opening on Saturday. I mostly chatted (big surprise?) and got "worked out" by a very sexy Brazilian trainer! He worked me HARD and I paid the price the next day and was barely able to walk! Sunday was a true day of rest...we did NOTHING! AHHHHHH!