Mom Life with Adrienne

Last weekend my sister and I took our girls to go see the Cinderella ballet, put on by North Pointe Ballet at Hope Community Church. It was a first for all of us. It will be a new tradition, the girls are already talking about going to see the Nutcracker. 

Before the ballet we went out to dinner. Our original planned location had a longer wait than we had scheduled for. Instead we went with out backup, McAlister's Deli. 

It was our first time dining in there. The service was amazing, they were great with the kids, and the nicest people we have dealt with in a long time. 

With the change of plans for dinner, we had more of a quick service, but fresh meal instead of a full out sit down restaurant we had time to spare before the ballet. I decided the girls deserved to walk around the Disney store for a little bit to waste some time. They had been good at dinner and were told they weren't buying anything. 

The girls were so excited when we arrived at the ballet. 

Sitting on the table when we walked in was a pair of real ballet slippers. Both girls were so excited to see real ones for the first time. 

On another table was the option to buy candy, drinks, apparel, and these cute silver painted chocolate carriage suckers. I just had to have a sucker, even though I won't eat it, but it went to a great cause. All the proceeds went to the North Pointe Ballet

When you walk in they were hanging out the booklets with all the details. Ella loved having one of her own and wanted me to read most of it to her. 

Before going in they had these beautiful flower arrangements hanging out the wall. Means we needed some photos. Ella picked her dress herself and said I had to match. This pink and orange shirt was the closest thing I had. We had originally planned on wearing our blue matching dresses. However it ended up being cold and rainy so we changed our minds. 

Here is my niece Claudia, and sister Sarah. 

We had second row center seats. The couple in front of the girls were also short so the girls had no problem seeing. (Ella wanted Whoopers) Both girls did amazingly well for it being there first time to a ballet, where you had to be quiet and the seats flipped up so they had to sit still. 

After the show we talked with the girls, what they thought, if they would want to go again, there favorite parts. The conceses is they had a blast. They also both now want to talk ballet lessons. 

I have got lost from the blogging world for a little while. I am working on getting more organized again and getting back into it. This is a little bit late, but better late than never.

The weekend Beauty and the Beast came out in the theater, Aubriella and I planned our Mother Daughter date to go see it. I took off the Saturday, found a sitter for Austin and planned a fun filled day. Now I have to admit her father did take her to see the movie the day before, but she was still excited to see the movie with me. 

Our first stop on the way to the movies was to the Dollar Tree. Ella wanted candy. This momma is not rich and can't see spending $5 on a small box of candy that I can get somewhere else for $1. SHHHH keep it our little secret. We did end up buying a medium drink at the theater that cost us over $6. Ella got to pick what she wanted and decided on Orange Fanta. That was after telling her today treat day and she was allowed to drink pop. In our house you will never find pop unless someone is sick or we just had a party and have left overs. Ella didn't want any popcorn, and I didn't want to eat it all by myself so we didn't get any. 

We are lucky to have both a couple of Regal Theaters and an AMC close by. We really like taking Ella to the AMC theaters since they have the reclining sofas and lots of room for her to move around. At our AMC theater you also have to pre-purchase the tickets and pick your seats. I went on Thursday afternoon to get our seats. I had originally wanted the 1:15pm showing, but they were already sold out so we went with the 10:15am showing. 

Someone was a little impatient for the movie to start, so we played on my phone while we waited. Out of all the previews for movies she didn't see any that interest her. 

There bathroom had an awesome selfie mirror, Couldn't walk by without taking a shot and showing you my Disney Princess Purse I got while in Disney World. I took Ella to the bathroom before the movie started, then she had to go again right in the beginning, then she had to go when we left. The joys of having a little girl 

I love that the AMC theaters make it easy to find your way back to your seat. They have the row letter written in the carpet huge so you can't miss it. 

Its getting read to start.

I just love the Rose.

Time for my little review. We both loved the movie. Even 3 weeks later Ella is still talking about it and asking when it will be out so we can watch it at home. I will admit I got teary eyed towards the end. I think they did a great job casting Belle and the Beast. However I was not a fan of who they casted for Gaston. I thought he was to old looking and didn't have enough real muscle. As a huge Disney fan I know the extensive casting they do for Disney World for Gaston and I think they feel a little short in the movie.

Overall we loved the movie and can't wait for it to come out on DVD. 

After the movie I talked Ella into going out to lunch. She just wanted to go to MeMaw's and play. I told her no, it was mother daughter day we would go over there in a little bit. We ended up stopping at a local restaurant Stonehouse Grill in Westlake. We go out to eat here pretty often. They are known for having amazing pizza. My go to however is there Tomato Bisque and Grilled Cheese. I make two meals out of it. I use to never like Tomato Soup of any kind, until I had theirs. I have been in love ever since. It has so much flavor and a little kick. 

Ella decided to go with Mac and Cheese and oranges, Not surprising. I love that they have food my kids will eat. 

After lunch Ella was very persistant that she didn't want to go anywhere else. I have originally planned on going to the mall, taking her to the Disney Store. No she wanted nothing to do with it. I did convince her to want to look at fish at the Pet Store on the way to MeMaw's. This girl and her fish. 

A little late on this post. On Presidents year ever the Cleveland Metro Parks Zoo has a Fairytales and Frogs party held in the Rainforest. This is the second time that I have taken Ella. This year the weather was gorgeous outside, I believe it was in the 60's, so it was more packed then last year. We still ended up having a blast.

In front of the rainforest is a statue of a monkey. It is tradition to get a picture with him. We got there a little before they opened and waited in a crazy line to get in. They had two "frogs" greeting the little kids while they waited. Ella wanted nothing to do with the frogs. 

Kids are also encouraged to dress as there favorite princess. Ella decided she wanted to be Minnie Mouse. 

Once inside the first princess we came across was Merida. She wasn't very talky. 

Next was Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty. She was talky, but very much so out of character. 

Rapunzel was so much fun. She loved Ella's Minnie Mouse Ears.

Rapunzel and Flynn were great. They were in character and played off each other.

Cinderella is great as always. She is the same lady every event at the zoo.

Ella playing with turtle through the class.

This year outside was a photo opp with Tiana and Prince Naveen. The camera they had wasn't working so we just used my phone.

Ella was so excited to see Pocahontas, even though I don't think she has ever watched the movie with me. When I ask her if she wants to watch it she won't. 

Ella loved the monkey's that were sitting on the other side of the glass. He would occasionally look at her. There was also a baby monkey that was so cute. 

This year they also had a story time with Belle. We arrived late, but Ella squeezed her way in and watched and listened.

Color time

Ella made a frog crown and a star wand. She got so made when we got home and Austin ripped the ribbon off her wand.

On the way to school on Monday Ella told me she wanted to do something "fun" tomorrow. I asked her what she wanted to do. She came up with a list (luckily I always have paper and pens in the car). When we go to her preschool, we always have at least 5-10 minutes before the doors open. We usually just talk and play on Snapchat. Instead we wrote her fun to do list. 

Here she is with her list. (Before someone says it. We are parked at her school. I get out, undo her car-seat seat-belt and she crawls in the front seat) Here is her list

- Guess Who

- Paint Nails

- Make homemade Spaghetti sauce

- workout

- Go Fish

- Craft

- Surprise

As soon as Brian left for work on Tuesday she was ready to go with her fun to do list. First we painted out nails. She did her own, and I did my own. Ella choose the colors, silver and sparkly purple.

Next we played 4 rounds of the new Guess Who. If you haven't played the new kids one, your missing out. I have to admit it is easier but also lots of fun. There are 4 game boards- food, people, pets, and ocean animals. Ella wins quote often, without me letting her win.

Austin also likes to play and steal my game. I have learned to play without the actually door closing thingy and just with the card. 

After Austin went to sleep we played Go Fish. She cheats, so she wins. I forgot how hard it is to get the finishing pole in the fishes mouth.

While I started to make dinner. Ella comes out of her room with Minnie Mouse ears. She keeps talking about wanting to go back to Disney World and taking her brother with us this time. (One day when he is a little older) We had to do a little photo shoot with our ears on. 

One of the last things we did was make dinner, after we went to the store. We bought the ingredients that I thought I had but didn't to make homemade spaghetti sauce and home made turkey meatballs. The original plan was to also have spaghetti squash, but after looking at 3 stores and I couldnt find any so we just had pasta. Turned out delicious and Ella had fun making the sauce. 

Ella didn't end up working out with me, she told me she was to tired to work out and just wanted to rest. She did a craft of painting a school bus. After letting it dry she hid it and told me it is a surprise for me for later. Her surprise was going to the store and I let her get strawberries, and a My Little Pony little thingy. 

We ended our Fun Day by having popcorn and watching Frozen. Ella said thank you mom for the fun day we have to do it again. It touched my heart so much that the little things she appreciates. 

Ella woke up today in her mood. She wanted to have special time with me. She didn't want to include Austin. Sometimes this is hard with Brian's work schedule. We were able to make some time after dinner yesterday for some Mother/Daughter time. 

I gave Ella a list of 5 things to do/ places to go. One of them was to the library. I hate to admit. I have never taken her to the library before. When I brought up the library. She was excited. Lets go there, I have never been to the library. 

We get there and go to the kids area. There was a farm "house" with a horse that she had to ride. There was also a bull pulling a wagon and some other fun stuff for the kids to play on.

In the corner they had a felt wall. I imagine they change the craft with each season/holiday. Ella had fun making a snowman. She was so impressed that you didn't have to use glue or tape to stick it to the wall. Her only disappointment was someone had stolen the snowman's eyes. She improvised and used snowflakes. 

After playing for a little bit, we walked around and looked at the kids books. She picked out 4 she wanted to read. We found a couch to sit on and started reading. We read "Froggy's First Kiss" first. She had to tell me not to worry she was never going to kiss a boy. It was cute and innocent. (I never want her to grow up). We also started to read a My Little Pony reading level 1 book. She got distracted and wanted to go to stop #2 on our Mother/Daughter Date

Stop #2 Ella insisted on going to see fish. She was so content with looking at all the fish at the local fish store. She knew we weren't getting any new ones (our stupid sharks keep killing anything new we get) but enjoyed looking. We also looked at the snakes and lizards. She was good until one of the little snakes got to the front of the tank. She was then done. 

Ella also wanted to look at the birds, hamsters, and cats for sale. She asked if we could have a hamster. I told her maybe in a few years. (mental note I have to find out if Brian is allergic to them too)