Thursday, October 29, 2009

Activities

The girls started their activities in August. Emily has chosen to take ballet and jazz/hip-hop. She has class every Monday. I worry about her getting home so late and then having to be at dance until 8:00 ~ makes for a long, long day! I don't have any pictures because the studio hasn't had parent night just yet. I will post some when I get them.

Anna Kate decided she wanted to play baseball. We signed her up for t-ball and she has just loved it. She is such a competitive little girl. She got number 22...It's pretty special at our house. My brother that passed away, Chuck, was number 22!
Enjoy the pictures.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

First Day of School ~ 2009

I'm a couple of months behind in my blogging (again) and I'm trying to catch up!
Em started middle school this year and AK started Kindergarten. I did not want the girls to start school. I just really enjoyed being with them over the summer and didn't want the early rises to interfere with our time. Both are extremely excited about starting school.
Their backpacks were ready to go...
So excited to go to big girl school...I hope she is always this excited to go to school! :)
AK could hardly wait for me to take a couple of pictures before she was off to the bus ~ I'm not sure what she is most excited about...school, recess, lunch or the B-U-S!Em was very excited yet nervous for her first day of middle school. She has such a long day but seems to love being in middle school.They were welcomed home with a special treat...their favorite cookie cake!

The BIG 4-0

Well, I reached another milestone in my life. I made it to 40 in one piece! I was surprised by Dan and good friends with a birthday get together at my most fav place to eat...P.F. Changs. I knew that I was going out to eat with Dan and Jason & Ami but I had no idea that when I got there neighbors, SunTrust friends and my nursing buddies would join us. It was such a fun, fun time! If turning 40 is this much fun then I can't wait til 41. Thanks to everyone that spent their Saturday evening with me. AND keeping it a secret...you all did good!

I actually turned 40 when we were in Chicago....When we got home, this was my view when we drove up...Thanks Ami for decorating my house! My neighbors and tennis pals...didn't leak a word! Thanks y'all for helping plan such a wonderful time :) Dan could not have pulled it off w/out your help!
My favorite SunTrust buddies...I really don't know what I am going to do without them after I leave ST! And these stinks couldn't answer my calls for almost a whole week because they were afraid they would spill the beans....
My nursing pals...See why they have the reputation that they have?!?!?!?
Tara, Andi & Holly ~ thanks for being such great classmates & making every class so much
F-U-N!
Everybody was told to dress in black (why not pink?)...Even Matt and Jason dressed in black! Dumb me...I didn't get it until I was looking at the pictures after the fact. I think I was in such a state of shock and excitement that I failed to notice what anyone was wearing (shocker, huh?).
Thanks Dan (and everyone that helped) for throwing a party that I didn't think I wanted. It was a total blast! Since it was a couple of weeks after my actual birthday, you made sure I got to celebrate my birthday for just about an entire month...something I seem to love to do! But hey - I only turn 40 once, right!?!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Chicago ~ July trip

We had the opportunity to go back to Chicago in July. We spent quality time with the Chicago peeps, Grandmother & Poppa and celebrated my 40th birthday.

Mother, Nichole and I were downtown Chicago on my actual birthday. When we returned to Nichole's house, my girls, the Chicago peeps, Poppa/Daddy & Dan decorated the house with streamers, balloons and signs. Louie was in charge of the directional signs telling me where I was to walk, etc. Emily and Gracie were in charge of the sign that told me how to ring the doorbell and how to enter. Anna Kate and Charlie were the supervisors and told Dan/Daddy/Uncle Danny and Poppa/Daddy what to do. :)

These two waiting anxiously for my arrival....
And these two could have cared less when I arrived - I mean there was something really good on TV...plus making signs and giving out orders are tough jobs. :)

I can't find the pictures of the decorations....more to come later!

We did a lot of swimming ~ Nic's next door neighbor has a pool and let the kiddos use it. During this trip, we took the GA/Chicago peeps (minus Charlie) to Navy Pier.

Navy Pier has a really cool ferris wheel. We all really enjoyed it ~ it was so neat to overlook downtown Chicago.
Anna Kate is just not real sure about the ride. Emily and Gracie really liked it.
And of course, the boys liked it...Here are best buddies sitting away from all the girls!They had to ride the swings...Anna Kate wasn't tall enough to ride (which broke her heart).
But the heart break wasn't for long ~ she got to ride the Lighthouse ride on Navy Pier and her facial expressions says it all. We had such a good time! We can't wait to see the Peeps again soon! Thank y'all for making my 40th birthday such fun, fun, fun!!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Birthday Day Party ~ American Girl Style

Anna Kate celebrated her 5th birthday at the American Girl Store in Chicago. Just as she wanted, she invited two people...Grace and Emily! Dan and I were invited ONLY because the curly headed princess needed someone to foot the bill..

She had such a wonderful time. She got to pick out another American Girl doll, an outfit and have one of her doll's ears pierced. The AG Cafe was very similar to the AG Bistro here in Atlanta. The actual store does not even compare to our store here. The Chicago store has a larger hair salon (where hair is done and ears are pierced), a hospital, photo salon, bakery, craft area...just to name a few things. They had tons more clothes and accessories than the Atlanta store. It was a treat to go and the girls had tons of fun!
Anna Kate, Gracie and Emily walking to Water Tower Place ~ Home of The American Girl Store.
This was Gracie's first visit..she was thrilled!

The girls in front of the store. Gracie had just gotten Chrissa.

The store was very overwhelming. It took Anna Kate forever to decide on a doll.

Anna Kate in the Cafe...They had this neat conversation starters on every table...so cute!

AK, Gracie and Em all selected the American Girl Picnic lunch as their meal.

She got a cute cake served with peppermint ice cream...it was very yummy!

Happy Birthday, Anna Kate.
We hope you will always remember your 5th birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Happy Birthday, Mom/Kathy/Mimi. We have A LOT of summer birthdays...once we get past the summer birthday expenditures, Christmas sneaks up on us. :)

Hope you had a great birthday!


A special visitor

Dan's grandmother, Nana, came to visit. She lives in California and traveled all by herself at the tender age of 87. Fortunately, the weather was cooler (than normal for July) so she was able to do exactly what she loves...read on the front porch and go down to the dock/lake!

The girls were so happy to see her as well as Dan and I ~ She lived here when Emily was born and moved back to California when Emily was 2 1/2 years. Emily was her first great-granddaughter and they have a special bond.



Anna Kate, Nana and Emily sitting on the boat!

Anna Kate and Nana drawing & coloring....one of BOTH of their favorite things to do!

We ordered Nana a yummy cake from Very Vera....it was so very, very good! If you have never had a Very Vera cake then you just don't know what you are missing (www.veryvera.com)!


Happy Birthday, Nana! We love and miss you!



When we visited Nana, the girls and Dan took the opportunity to enjoy the jetski and lake. I like the lake ok (not really) ~ the older I get the more I think water is just toooo dirty for me. I prefer to see the bottom of the place that I'm dipping my toes. :)



4th of July

Happy 4th of July. We had a low-key 4th this year. The city of Kennesaw had fireworks on the 3rd. We started the 4th off with tennis, followed by a day at the pool and ended with fireworks in the neighborhood.

Sass-a-frass was decked out in her flag dress and INSISTED on wearing the large, hot pink glasses. The girl has her own sense of style - I assure you all that she had matching sunglasses!
Downtown Kennesaw has a variety of activities to do to celebrate the 4th....the First Baptist Church always has a parking lot full of jumpy things, cotton candy, snow cones, etc. We packed a picnic lunch and found a good spot close to the church activities.
Anna Kate and Emily enjoying snow cones...
Emily came flying down the jumpy thing...
Anna Kate could have stayed on the jumpy things for days...
The girls in front of an old car...they were shocked to see a car without air and automatic windows...
I keep telling them they have it made!
Going for a dip in the pool on a hot, hot 4th of July day.
The girls patiently awaiting the fireworks display ~
They love Sparklers (just as Em's shirt says)...

Hope y'all had a great 4th of July!