Happy Fall Yall 2009

The fall season started off with a hunt for Halloween attire. After much debate over the P-E-R-F-E-C-T Halloween costumes, Emily decided to be a pajama mama and Anna Kate was a cupcake. Em was smart to pick a pair of Aero pjs that could be worn after Halloween. The cupcake was a perfect fit for a little girl who proudly shares her name with every stranger..."Anna Cake".

And the season just wouldn't be complete without picking out the P-E-R-F-E-C-T pumpkin. Our church has a pumpkin patch every year. The girls love to go look at all the different shapes, sizes and colors of the pumpkins.

We love our little pumpkins! They are such fun and the memories are priceless! :)

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.

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!

Dance Recital 2009

The girls danced with Praise Him With Dance this year and had their dance recital on Saturday, May 30th. They performed at the Woodlands Performing Arts Center @ Woodlands High School. Emily performed a hip-hop/jazz routine and Anna Kate performed a ballet routine to Jesus Loves the Little Children. They both did a great job.

(excuse my pictures....I have dropped my camera two different times and in need of a new one...plus we couldn't use flash to take pics)

Anna Kate was most excited about getting flowers.....had I only known before the monthly dance fees, costume fee, recital fee, tickets, multiple pairs of tights....I could have purchased her a well established rose garden! :)

Emily really liked her flowers too. We are proud of both girls but Emily is just not as "showy" as Anna Kate....Emily did a great job on her routine! She really did enjoy dance this year.

The girls were happy to have their Grandmother & Poppa (my parents) and Mimi & Grandpa (Dan's parents) come watch them perform.

They are already planning for next year....Emily has decided she wants to take tap plus jazz/hip hop. Anna Kate says she wants to take ballet, tap & hip hop! Oh my.....what's wrong with just clogging?

Last Day of School ~ 2009

The end of this school year was bittersweet....Emily finished 5th and will be going into Middle school in the Fall. Anna Kate finished preschool and will be going to Elementary school in the fall.

Anna Kate's last day consisted of watching movies and playing with her friends in her PJs. She thought she was really something to leave our house in her pajamas.

Emily's last day of 5th ended with the "5th Grade" walk. All the 5th graders walked up and down the hallways of the school. They walked thru the hallways with pomp and circumstance playing. Em is so ready for Middle School...I just hope and pray that it is everything she thinks and hopes it will be!

Emily wanted to ride the school bus home. Most of the neighborhood kids got off at the pool. They were welcomed with silly string and water balloons. Most headed straight to the frigid waters of the pool to open it for the season.

School's out for Summer......YEAH!

Awards Day ~ 2009

Emily received an Outstanding Academic Excellence Award for the school year. You had to receive no more than 5 B's during the school year (w/ the rest being A's). She did it and was so proud of herself. This is extra-special this year especially after having such a rough year, in general. Anna Kate received two awards: Best Dressed and Most Dependable.

This is Anna Kate's translation:

"Best Dressed means that my mommy makes me match and put my clothes together so my Daddy can make me match too."

"Most Dependable means that I'm the best friend."

We are so very proud of both Emily and Anna Kate.

Big Sis ~ Lil Sis

I found these iron-ons and just couldn't resist. I know I need to stop dressing the girls alike BUT I'll try to get away with it as long as possible....I might have a chance as long as I can find things with rhinestones (Emily's fav).

Oh and for the first time, I straightened Anna Kate's hair. She just loved it but there is NO way that I can do this daily....and weekly is probably out of the question too. Needless to say, it took a lot of product and elbow grease to straighten!

A trip Downtown

We took a trip downtown Atlanta in early April. My department was moving from one office suite to another. I needed to go down to box up personal belongings and such. We decided to make it a family affair.

We walked around downtown, had lunch at HardRock and the girls played in the elevators at the Marriott.

It's amazing how just plain, ordinary things create the most fun!

Walt Disney World

We decided to take a trip to Disney during my spring break...the girls were not on spring break but we took them out of school for two days to have a little fun! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to go to Disney. This was the best trip that we have ever had. The girls are both tall enough to ride every ride. We were a little afraid that Anna Kate might not want to go on a couple of rides but that wasn't the case....she begged to go on Splash Mountain over and over...she described Space Mountain as "wicked"....Soarin' was tons of fun too! Emily's favorite rides are Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.

We stayed offsite this time and well, we just like to stay onsite ~

Nothing compares to walking down Main Street @ Magic Kingdom and seeing the girls' faces light up with pure excitement and joy...It really is such a magical place!

The girls got autographs galore....

We had lunch at the Crystal Palace where Pooh and Friends were happy to entertain us ~

Anna Kate received the "Best Hopscotcher in Disney" award while shopping in the Briar Patch.

Here are a couple of more pictures from out trip....there are some many pictures! It's really hard to just pick a few!

Anna Kate did not meet a stranger during the trip....Here is Emily begging us to stop her from talking to everyone she saw...Emily was telling me she was "completely embarrassed".

Anna Kate was a real trooper. She stayed up late and got up early...on the last night, she fell asleep telling us about her day!

We all had such a great time....we can't wait to go back! Disney really is one of the most happiest places on earth, don't ya think?

St. Patrick's Day

The typical symbols and traditions of St. Patrick's Day (listening to Irish Music, banishing snakes from Ireland and eating corn beef) aren't part of our St. Patty's Day rituals....however, dressing up in green and sporting shamrocks are a must!

Snow Day in Georgia

When it snows here, the girls and I get excited. We got MAYBE one whole inch on March 3rd.

Our snow angels....

It took me longer to get them dressed in warm clothes than they stayed out to play! It is probably a good thing that we only get snow once in a blue moon.....These GRITS would be unlikely to survive!