Party Post!

Last year, Abby had a "Barbie" cake and since she shares a birthday with her uncle, my sister bought "Ken" to stand next to the cake.

This year's party theme was determined in June during a bonfire at a friend's house. Abby and her uncle discussed different themes and came up with "Woody and Jessie" from Toy Story as the winner.

The very next day, our friends who had been at the bonfire, were out at garage sales and found a "Jessie" outfit complete with hat for $1. ONE DOLLAR!!! It was definitely a divine appointment!

Fast forward five months to the actual birthday party. We sent out invitations to her friends with a request to dress up as a character from the movie "Toy Story."

Here are the guests of honor.
The little kids played "Pin the tail on the donkey."
Even little Sarah got to play.
Playing another game.
Pinata time!
Gifts! Don't let the boots and the hat fool you: she is still very much a Princess!
Birthday cake made by "Grandmother."
46 candles for Uncle "Woody" and 6 candle for Abby.
Sarah likes the cake.
Niece and nephew came as "Slinky" the dog. Very clever!
Our family of characters: Stinky Pete the Prospector, One of Little Bo Peep's sheep, Jessie and Andy's mom. (some might say I cheated, but I say, I was smart!)
Abby's friends.
All the guests at the party who dressed as characters: Rex, Woody, Mrs. Potato Head, Sheep, Prospector, Al, Etch, Wheezy, Tour Guide Barbie, Sarge, Little Bo Peep, Slinky, Jessie, Hamm, Buzz, and Toy Soldier.
At the party, people were already asking what next year's theme should be. I can't think about that til at least JUNE!

I Guess We've Started A New Tradition

My baby is SIX!!! Where has the time gone?

Abigail is a beautiful girl, inside and out. Billy and I are so proud to be her parents. She is so kind to her sister and helpful to me. She is a deep thinker and asks good questions. She loves God and I love to listen to her prayers at bedtime. I usually learn what been going on for her during the day. And she is doing well at school. Her teacher has been impressed with her handwriting, especially.

OK. All the sappy stuff is over.

On the day before her birthday, as we were all snuggling in bed together, she asked if she could have breakfast in bed for her birthday. I shrugged if off by mumbling something about it being for older people.

The next morning, I got up early (on a Saturday! I know!) and made her favorite breakfast: cereal to start, egg and toast. We were out of bread, so I toasted a hamburger bun I had in the freezer. I also gave her a little pitcher of milk (for the cereal) and a glass of orange juice.

She was so happy to be honored!
Daddy helped Sarah with her cereal in the chair across the room.
After Abby was mostly done, she let Sarah come sit by her in the bed. (Believe me, if she had been there earlier the cereal and egg would have reached the far corners of her room with that wiggle queen!)
I love this picture!! Abby's shirt says it all.
Next up, Party Pictures!

Sarah's First Thanksgiving!

We had a happy Thanksgiving! How about you?

My sister and her family headed out of town for the holiday so we headed over to my Mom's for the day. The girls got to help Nana baste the turkey before she put it in the roaster.
Nana's helpers.
Later, she read them some books.
Love that cheesy grin.
Abby and I before eating turkey.
What it will look like after we eat the turkey.
We made a little craft project inspired by the Salsa Twins.
Abby said she wanted to eat one of the drumsticks.
We made hats for both the girls.
Side view of the drumsticks.
Abby took this picture of the family ready for dinner.
Sarah is ready for her first Thanksgiving dinner!
That turkey leg was delish! She made a pretty good dent in it, but couldn't quite finish it.
Sarah fed Papa some of her food. He was more than happy to eat it!
Since Abby was gnawing on her drumstick, Sarah wanted to try it too.
Papa and Nana modeling the drumstick hats.
It was a nice relaxing day. Great food, a couple of kid-friendly games, and good company. Just how we like it.

Road Trip!

At the end of October, my sister and I took a little trip to see her daughter at college. The original intent was to watch her last home soccer match. Billy was a great sport by keeping the girls all weekend! Thanks, Honey.

On our way down, we picked up our SIL at the airport and a friend of my niece at her college and then made the last leg of the trip to Marietta. We got there in time to watch "Belle" sit on the sidelines and then carry all the soccer balls back to the girls locker room at the end of the game. Oh well, the real fun was about to begin.

We went out for Mexican food (YUM!) and then drove to a friend's house to spend the night. The next day dawned with rain in the forecast but our spirits were still bright and sunny.

Belle gave us a tour of the campus and then the downtown shopping area.

Trying on hats. Let's not think about all the other people that have tried on these exact hats.
Cool walking bridge... we didn't go all the way across.
She really wanted to climb that tree.
We ate at the local brewery. The food was OK. Not nearly as good as the brewery by Union Station.
The look-out point where you can see the whole city... and all the people who are taking pictures!
All of us together.
Next, we all played some racquetball at her school rec center. My sister beamed me with a ball at point-blank range. Man! That hurt! But I think I got her back later. We played for two hours and I think all of us got hit at least once by the ball. Thankfully no one was hit with a racket!
After all that exercise, we went back to the friend's house and ate lots of ice cream and popcorn.

It was great fun to spend time with the big girls, but I was glad to get home to my little girls!

We've Come A Long Way, Baby

It's time for the annual trampoline video shoot and subsequent blog post.

You can see the past entries of Abby here:
2005 and 2006 These are still my all-time favorites.
2007
2008

This year, of course we're adding Sarah in. She does love to jump on the trampoline but she gives her mother a bigger scare as she is not as careful to stay away from the edges as her older sister. No surprise there.

Abby likes to run around the edges singing "Ring Around The Rosy."

And this is what happens when "they all fall down."
Some action shots.
I don't usually let them both jump at the same time, but for the sake of pictures...
Good thing she's flying towards the middle.
Some sort of disco move?
Lots of sisterly affection.
And now for Sarah's trampoline video debut. You can really see her personality shine through when she stops jumping for a second to get rid of the leaf on the trampoline.

Abby sure has grown since the first video. It seems she's all legs now. When did that happen?

Random Fall Pictures

The girls at the apple orchard.
Picking apples. These were Melrose apples and they were wonderful. They made a couple of good apple crisps!
This was as close as Sarah was willing to get to the pumpkin. She was not thrilled.
Borrowing a neighbor's fall display. Sarah loves her cousins!
I love the way the leaves from this maple look on our yard: like rose petals.
The dogs do not like to sit for a portrait.
Pretty girl. Pretty leaves.
Silly faces.
We love playing a pile of leaves!
The dog loves the pile too, thankyouverymuch!
"Why are you always taking pictures, Mama?"
Ready to go outside. Yes, I really let them go like this! :)