Third time's a charm.

...or the stars just aligned.  Who knows.  But for whatever reason, week three and without any fanfare or production, Kata just put on her tights and walked into ballet class.  And loved it, of course.  Patrick is the super-stealthy cameraman who caught Ballerina prancing around full of herself after class.

Ballet Bust

 Norah and I were both so excited last week for Kata's first ballet class!  Kata, it turns out, was not.  She let us know that loud and clear in the lobby of the Atlanta Ballet.  Before that, though, here is a quick school update:

After the first day of school:  Norah is in heaven, telling us all about her fabulous day.  Kata didn't survive the elementary school pick-up line.

Kata and I have enjoyed walking to pick Norah up in the afternoons.

This is the only picture Kata knowingly let me take of her in her leotard.  You can just see that little glint in her eye...she already has a plan.

Miss Twinkle Toes and her little sister, Miss No-Rump.  Kata's mood is quickly deteriorating, up until the moment the lovely dance teacher comes to call the girls to class, and Kata throws one of the most epic tantrums the Atlanta Ballet has ever seen.  Who let THAT family in here?

Kata says she will try again next week.  "Just not today, right mom?"  I'm not convinced.

Growing still, adjusting again

It is ten in the morning, and here I am in a totally quiet house in Atlanta. We somehow managed to survive moving back to the US, moving to a new house in Atlanta, The-Summer-That-Was-Without-Patrick. And then today-- Norah started Kindergarten today, and Kata started at her new Preschool. The house is sooo quiet, which I know I will grow to appreciate, but Mr. Potato Head and I are feeling pretty lonely for now. So, while I COULD be using my alone time to pick up Mr. Potato Head's pieces that have been scattered all across the living room floor since Friday, I think I'll just indulge myself instead. I have always loved keeping this blog, and it hasn't felt quite right to let it drop since we left Guyana. So, while we are no longer Guyana girls, we are still Liming, and having plenty of adventures worth documenting for posterity.

Here are some highlights from the past four months:

We rode a camel

We learned about Spring

We moved into a big girl bed (and had some tantrums, camera-related and otherwise)

We moved into a new house in a new city

We partied

We had one great beach vacation...

...and another

We had a lot of fun at summer camps

...and then it was here.  The big day!

Here they go.

She couldn't be more ready!

And, I'd like to add that while I was waiting for these pictures to upload, I picked up the pieces of Mr. Potato Head.  A little blog therapy does wonders, and everyone is exactly where they should be.

Birthday! (Parts II and III)

On Norah's big day this year, we were making the trek (and official move!) back to the US. She was so excited to have an airport birthday, so, well, we delivered:



Serious about airport cupcakes.



Presents after cake at 7am in the airport lounge at Cheddi Jagan. How many five year-olds can say they have celebrated their birthdays in a Guyanese airport lounge?



Back home again in the USA! (and reunited with hard-partying Stella-dog)



Little Sister, not at all opposed to a third opportunity to eat cake.



And, that's a wrap. Three birthday cakes and lots of love for this big girl!

Tea Party!

The packers have left and I have my first quiet moment of the day. Kata is making "the number J" with Play-Doh on the kitchen counter next to me while Norah naps (typical). The downstairs is full of boxes...so I am taking this time to write about Norah's great Fifth Birthday Tea Party!

My big girl dwarfed by a mountain of sugar.



So excited!



We made tea party hats.



All the ladies hard at work



Sweet Mya



Lovely Zada



Cheeky Katherine Eva



Plotting



Norah and Thandi chow down



Tea for the ladies



So happy!



Cheers to the birthday girl!



FIVE!

So Long, Dear Playgroup!

Our wonderful dear Friday afternoon "Georgetown Mini-Club" hosted a playgroup-style going away party for the us last week. So many memories from such a fabulous community over the past three years. I did not cry. That's a lie.

Norah with Kanae and Mia



Kata subtly calling her friends



Old friends



Old (young) friends



Norah and Kata felt compelled to make sand angels. No one else did.



Gifts!



Opening presents



A sweet card from the children for my Guyana Girls. We are really going to miss this group!

Going Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Guyana!