We literally practiced for hours before the big performance. Her two songs were extremely simple, though. She started attending classes in January and had only one class a week.

She was practicing on her little Schoenhut piano.

Some kids played really well. After the recital I got the idea that we need to buy a real piano. After all, I could use it myself. It has been years since I played a piano.

Now I need to figure out how to buy a piano. I looked on Craigslist. I looked at the prices in the store. My jaw dropped. I had no ideas pianos could be that expensive. Masha’s teacher suggested getting a Piano book which should help in the process.

Overall, Masha was happy with her performance. She did say that she was hoping for a better present. She noted that a cup (which was in fact, a trophy) and a piece of paper (aka “achievement certificate”) are not that fun to play with.

Are you busy with graduations and recitals this month? Do you have any tips for buying a piano?

Like a bathroom door:

I know you are wondering if I washed her hands and the dress after the crawl. I did.

She also crawled between cruise balconies when we went on a Disney cruise.

I don’t know what the next obstacle will be. Hopefully, some sort of gymnastics bars.

The girls are excited too. They love fairies and any other sweet magical creatures. The other day they told me they are fairies themselves. For that reason, they will fly around the neighborhood at night looking in the windows checking if the kids are behaving. Sometimes the meaning of a “fairy” gets mixed up with “a scary witch”, which is what you can see here: A fairy outfit with some scary witch spells.

A Tooth Fairy has not visited us yet, although I have a tooth pillow and some cash ready to go.

A visit from Santa is still fresh in their minds. To this day they believe he was real. They just keep questioning why he did not arrive through the chimney.

They believe Baba Yaga at the New Year performance was real too. “She was the kind type, not evil”, – the girls noted. “She wanted to be friends with us”.

We have been reading Snow Queen lately by Hans Christian Andersen. “Is the Queen kind?”, they ask. “How about Hans Christian Andersen, is he kind”? “What about the reindeer?” Their ultimate dream is that every single character in fairy tales as well as in the real world is nice and kind.

Now they are waiting for a Snow Queen to arrive. “When is it going to snow?” they want to know.

“Could you invite princesses to out birthday?” they ask, “the real, magical ones, not pretend”.

Do you have any tips how to pull that off?

If you leave a comment on this post, you could also get a visit from a Fairy Hobmother!

What would you wish for if the Fairy Hobmother paid you a visit?

Show Your Barbie Style:

The Barbie site allows you and your daughters to submit a design to help Barbie pick a new style that could be featured on the next Barbie sold at Walmart! The exclusive game code is FASHION. After uploading a design, a $5 coupon will be sent via email for your next Barbie purchase.

Hot Wheels – Decide Your Ride: 

The Hot Wheels site allows fans to vote for their favorite 5 Hot Wheels to see them featured in their very own custom pack sold at Walmart! The code to vote is VOTE.  You can also save $5 on the your next Hot Wheels purchase.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Lunchbox. 

The “500 Sneaker March Giveaway,” hosted on the Del Monte Fresh Produce Facebook page, will randomly award 500 sneakers to Del Monte Facebook fans who enter the contest and ten (10) Wii packages to people who get two (2) of their friends to sign up.

To Win Sneakers:

Step 1: “Like” Del Monte Fresh Produce by visiting www.facebook/delmontefreshproduce

Step 2:  Enter sweepstakes and sign the pledge to make at least half your plate fruits and vegetables and exercise more frequently.  You will automatically be entered to win one of 500 pairs of sneakers.

To Win the Nintendo Wii New Super Mario Bros. Pack Game Console and Wii Zumba Fitness:

Step 3: Click on the “Sneaker Giveaway” tab then the “Invite Friends” to share news about the giveaway with your friends.

Step 4:  Get just two (2) friends to enter the sweepstakes and you will be automatically entered to win the Nintendo Wii New Super Mario Bros. Pack game console and Wii Zumba Fitness

All entrants will be encouraged to sign a pledge to exercise at least three times a week for thirty minutes and, as the USDA recommends, make half their plate fruits and vegetables.

Del Monte Fresh Produce is committed to providing consumers with quality fresh fruits and vegetables, which are key components in leading a healthy lifestyle. The “500 Sneaker March Giveaway” was created as a way to encourage Del Monte Fresh Produce fans to exercise as well.

For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/delmontefreshproduce

Review/giveaway disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this review/giveaway. I received Del Monte Fresh Produce gift certificates to thank you for participation.

With family finances under stress the last thing you want to do is deny your kids the fun and education they deserve. That’s why Mill Creek Entertainment provides a way through TVFlashbacks.com for you to give your kids hours of pleasure and brain-stimulating mysteries to solve—from brands you know and love without impacting your pocketbook.

SAVE 25% AT TVFLASHBACKS.COM ON MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT’S QUALITY FAMILY DVDs.
Visit this page and use discount code TVFBKIDS25 to save 25% off some already incredibly affordable DVD prices!

From Archie’s Weird Mysteries (first time available in its entirety on home video) and Heathcliff to Carmen Sandiego (first-time availability of all 40 edutainment episodes) and Sherlock Holmes to Gadget Boy (first-time available on DVD), Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors and more, each of these DVDs is jam-packed with multiple entertaining episodes (plus bonus episodes) at bargain prices starting at just $7.99 (before the discount!)

Mill Creek Entertainment’s quality DVDs provide hours of fun and edutainment for kids at impressively affordable prices. They introduce and engage your kids in a retro-resurgence of nostalgia and discovery from icons of the ’80s and ’90s.

The Giveaway:

One lucky readers will win 10 Children’s DVDs:

iKnow – Animals, Letters & Sounds – Vol 1

iKnow – Animals, Letters & Sounds – Vol 2

Heathcliff – Season 1, Volume 1 – 32 Eps

The Best of Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego – 10 Episode Set

The Best of Archie’s Weird Mysteries – 10 Episode Set

Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century – On the Case – 10 Episode Set

Gadget Boy’s Adventures in History – Stopping Evil Across Time – 10 Episode Set

The Best of C.O.P.S. Volume 2 – 10 Episode Set

The Best of Jayce & The Wheeled Warriors – 10 Episode Set

Jayce & The Wheeled Warriors – Volume 1 – 32 Episode Set

 Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only. No P.O. Boxes.

Please use Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway ends on April 22, 11:59pm EST, 2012. The winners will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter. I will email the winner, who will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway disclaimer: I received no product or monetary compensation for posting this giveaway. This giveaway is not associated with or related to Facebook.