North Carolina

We had a wonderful trip to North Carolina to visit my brother and his wife.  We spent a couple of days with them before the big group came in and we all went to a fun Science Museum.  My other brother flew in for the weekend to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday (along with my dad, Mimi, Aunt Katie, cousin Phillip, and Aunt Barbara). We had a great cookout then surprised my mom with a scrapbook we had all created for her.  We took a trip to Wilmington Beach for a few days.  It was an awesome trip!!

Tea Party and Princess Camp

Ella did some fun things by herself this summer.  She went to the preschool Tea Party at the library.  It is only for 3-5 year olds.  I took Emily every year when she was 3, 4, and 5. Now it was Ella's turn.  It was fun!  She went to a Princess camp with some of her friends one week this summer for 3 days (for a couple hrs).  She had tons of fun and learned a little dance too!

Swim Ranch (July 4th week)

The girls did a great job at Swim Ranch this year.  Emily did very well in Lane 2 and moved up to Lane 3 next summer.  Ella did her last Water Babies class this summer, bittersweet time for me.  I will most likely put her in Lane 1 next year.  The parents can decide when they are 4, but I think she needs to learn on her own now.  :)

June: Part 2 (Emily's 7th birthday!)

 Emily's guitar cupcake cake.  It turned out awesome!

 My mom gave her this pretend phone and she really acts like she uses it all the time.  Too bad we don't have a home telephone anymore.  Our kids will grow up with cellphones, not with these cords like we used.

 We had a rock star them this year and it turned out to be a great party!

 They all got makeup, hairdo/spray paint, etc. then posed for the camera.

 They sang and danced.

 Hit the pinata

 We had plans to go to our annual Silver Dollar City with my college friends + their kids, so we had her party a week before her birthday.  She got to celebrate a full week just how I like it. :)  Maria made her yummy cake.

We got home on her actual birthday (which was on a Saturday).  Cita and Poppy came up to see her big gifts from us (bike and American Girl travel bag + pj's).  Then, we went to eat at Shogun's, birthday girl's choice.  What a great 7th birthday!!!

June: Part 1 (dance recital)

May

 We enjoyed a great morning at the Farmer's Market.

 We went to a fun Cowgirl birthday party way out in the country near St. Paul where I used to work.

 Emily LOVED this little pig.

We stopped at Terra Studios on the way home.  I've always wanted to take the girls here.  I would go past it and think about taking them every time I would drive past it on my way to work.  It was almost closing time, but we will have to go back when it is cooler.