Abby's Night Out

Abby went to her best friend's birthday party tonight and celebrated in a BIG way. Her friend's family rented a Hummer limo and escorted a group of giggling nine year old girls to the Spaghetti Factory for a dress-up dinner party. Amy and I had a great time shopping for hair clips, purses, and other accessories before rushing home to get Abby ready for the big event. Emily was equally intrigued by the idea of a "limbo party" and wanted fancy hair and a new purse, as well. Butterfly hair clips for everyone! It was just as much fun for me to do Abby's hair as it probably was for her to go to the party. Can't wait until she's ready for the prom!

Yep...those are Hot Sticks circa 1985 in her hair. Mim even has the blisters on her fingertips to prove it. We really do save everything! I tried to convince Abby to wear a banana clip in her hair. They don't make them anymore but we still have a few stashed away for a rainy day somewhere.

Butterfly hair clips, butterfly necklace...
Pucker up!

Which do you love more...the expression on her face or the rhinestone stud in my nose?

Abby and Emily say, "No more pop-rocksy photos!"

Finished and fabulous! Check out her bling bling arm tattoo. Everyone got some bling at Claire's today!

Auntie Yam sports a little nosering bling, as well.

Posing with the birthday girl

Limbo time!

Tellus Science Museum

Donald and I took the girls to Cartersville to visit the Tellus Science Museum this week. He recently visited there for a meeting and was impressed, so we planned a day trip and took Abby and Emily on a scientific adventure. After a stop at Krystal for a huge sackful of hamburgers (of which Emily ate precisely none), we headed on to Tellus. They had a great time digging for fossils, panning for gemstones, and checking out the antique car and space suit collection. They both loved panning for stones best but also really enjoyed the planetarium show. Donald and I are so proud - when the Earth appeared on the planetarium's dome, Emily shouted, "Hey! I know what that is. It's the Earth!" My little Bill Nye! On the way home, we stopped off at a gas station for another antique novelty...drinks in glass bottles. Abby's learning to go green and wants to reuse her Dr. Pepper bottle for drinking water. Hooray for little girls with an environmental conscience! Both of them sacked out in the backseat on the way home after an exhausting day of scientific discovery. If you have a free day, head to Cartersville. Tellus is definitely worth it!

Looking cute

Emily and I got dressed up to head out to lunch with Donald this week. She looked so cute in her new dress (with accessories that she chose herself just for the occasion) that I had to take a picture and post it for all of you. So cute!

Windblown!

Donald's truck was recently the victim of a terrible accident - a cup of milk spilled underneath the seat and was not discovered until the next afternoon. What a stink! Emily has been with us for four years and this is the first time we've managed to do this. We are working on cleaning the smell out of the carpet; however, it's much more comfortable to ride with the windows down so that you don't suffocate from the smell. Emily and Abby love this. They think it's very exciting to cruise down the road with their hair flying in the breeze. Emily has often mentioned that, when she gets old enough, she wants a "purple Ford car with no top on it." Riding around with the windows down is probably only making her wish for a convertible even stronger!

The Fabulous Fox

Donald and I took the girls to The Fabulous Fox Theatre to see Up. It was their first trip to the Fox and we had such a great time watching the expressions on their faces. They loved seeing the Mighty Mo organ and watching the stars twinkle in the sky. The movie was great, too. We stopped by the Varsity for lunch after the show and then headed home for naps. The summer movies at the Fox are an excellent way to see one of the greatest sites in Atlanta at a really great price!

Florida State High Flying Circus

We took our second trip to see the Florida State High Flying Circus perform at Callaway this summer. This year's show was even better than last year's performance. They are an impressve group of students - one of only two student-run performing circuses in the world and the only one where each person is responsible for choreography, stage set-up, costume making, etc. They all do everything to keep the show up and running. Abby and Emily both enjoyed the show...perhaps too much! Emily is very excited about doing different "ticks" (tricks) and showing off her gymnastic skills to anyone who will watch. She is an excellent dangler, as the cashiers at Publix will tell you. She likes to dangle from the aisle dividers when we check out. Donald and I figure that by taking her to the circus each summer, we've probably encouraged her to run away and join the big top when she's a teenager. Oh well, it was a fun summer evening anyway! We even got to squeeze in a walk on the beach before we drove back home.