Simplicity

Who needs expensive toys when you have....a cardboard box? I remember spending countless hours playing house with Auntie Yam inside a refrigerator box in our basement. We decorated the outside with flowers and cut holes for windows and doors. Loads of fun! Emily graduated to a big girl booster seat this month and she had great fun playing inside all of the boxes before they were shipped off to the recycling heap. T.C. enjoyed them, as well. She mentioned that one of the boxes could be his new litter box, which made me hurry to take it out of the living room and into the garage! No need to put those kinds of ideas into his furry little head. Hope you're enjoying the simple things in life this week!

Peekaboo!

Just a fun picture - Emily has discovered the fun of staring out the living room windows with the binoculars. She loves to spy on all the squirrels and birds out in the backyard. Fortunately for our neighbors, there are are trees between all of our houses!

Emily's Birthday (Finally!)

I know, I know...it's only been nearly two months since our little girl turned four! I'm finally grabbing a few minutes to catch up on a few posts. Sorry it has taken me so long! Emily had a wonderful birthday this year. We celebrated her fourth birthday along with another important milestone...her first children's party! We were a bit nervous to take on this task but felt like it was time. Emily asked for a purple butterfly party with her friends this year. They jumped in the inflatable jumper (fun for kids AND adults!), trooped in and out of the house eating strawberries and wheat thins, and had a fantastic time chowing down on purple cotton candy courtesy of Donald and Papa John. It was a wonderful day! I highly recommend the cotton candy machine - we even sent bags of it home with the kids because we had so much! We had a cookout the next day for adults and family. And then yet another celebration on the actual day of her birthday with cupcakes from me and Donald. A weekend of celebrating! Hope you enjoy the pictures! Two sweeties!

Cake time!

I am LOVING our new larger kitchen table!

Yum!

I'm a librarian - I love the puppets!

Like the jumper, the DS is fun for kids AND adults!

I'm pulling this picture out when Jace runs for senator!

My big girl

Well, Daddy's girl, too...

Cupcakes before bedtime - Yum!

Love this picture!

This one, too!

Who needs puppets when there's a REAL princess in the house?

Emily's 1st People Picture

Emily has become quite the artist lately. She's been cutting, gluing, and drawing on anything that will sit still long enough. She surprised us the other day when she came home with drawings of people. These are not the first but they do represent "her family". She asked that I draw a picture of her and of TC because she "kept messing up". I'll let you decide who has the talent in this family (Hint: It ain't me!). Here is a message from Emily too: 4fgfvghfvyfhjvtf4ygvyufuyfvfgvgv4bvfuyvfbyv gvhgffvbgihftryhgygfemly4tg455gt6frgffteerytgegdv4grg6rg7fdfvyrfhgfygyfrvfduert44urugg

emily

If you ever get a text message from us that looks like that it means one of 2 things: 1) Emily is playing with the phone or 2) Donald's hitting the sauce again!

Looking Cute

Abby had her first day of school at Trinity this week and Emily was very impressed by her special hairbow and the way her shirt was tucked in. She made Mimi dress her with a special hairbow of her own and made sure that her shirt stayed tucked in all day - just like Abby's. Such a cutie!

Georgia Girl

Donald had to attend a meeting in Athens and couldn't miss a chance to stop at the University Book Store and stock up on some Georgia gear for his favorite cheerleader. She was so excited to get a new pair of "G" pompoms and was especially excited about her new stuffed bulldog. We tried to explain that his name is Uga, but she prefers to call him Bully. At any rate, he has been her new bedtime partner lately...along with the 17,000 other animals that call her bedroom home.

Breakfast in Bed

Abby spent the night with us a few weeks ago and I treated her and Emily to a fancy breakfast in bed the next morning. Who says that I'm no cook?? I made homemade chocolate chip waffles with chocolate syrup and whipped cream topping - yum! They enjoyed watching cartoons in our bed and chowing down on breakfast from a tray. Made me remember being on the cruise at Christmas and sitting on the balcony for a delicious breakfast each morning. It really makes the day go well to start off with a good breakfast!

Emily and T.C.

Emily and T.C. have become pretty close buddies lately. Donald and I taken several cute pictures of them together while they're up to their tricks - sharing breakfast, lounging in the floor, holding hands, etc. Emily loves him so much that I even caught her trying to drink her milk from a bowl like a cat. I don't know why she wants to be a polar bear for Halloween - I think a cat would be much more appropriate! And seriously...why a polar bear? Do they even sell those costumes? Enjoy these last few days of summer vacation! And happy Monday off to all the furloughed teachers out there!

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!