Spring Fever

Sunny & sporting our fleeces & shades...55 degrees today in Chicago. Bring on spring...we are ooohhh soooo ready :)

The Hat Trick...Voila

Abracadabra

Today we celebrated Ryan's 1st Birthday & he had a special guest....a magician!!! All the kids were very excited for the performance & Gracie was called to the stage to be the magician's assistant :) He turned her into several different characters by making a variety of hats out of a paper triangle...wow was she impressed by his magic!!! And she giggled through the whole performance too.

Blooming Ballerina

Chasse, Releve & Saute...some of Josie's favorite dance moves. And she flaunted them all today for us during her ballet recital. During her solo, she spun & spun into a beautiful pirouette...what a finale!!! As you can see, she was very proud of her performance :) We are very proud of our little blooming ballerina.

Ash Wednesday

Gracie has been learning about Ash Wednesday at school so she was VERY EXCITED to go to the "All School Mass" today & get her ashes. After her first experience of getting ashes during mass, she came home with lots of information to share. According to Gracie, the ashes that are used are made on Palm Sunday. They look like black dirt but they don't hurt when they put them on your forehead. They put them on your forehead in the shape of a cross. She said "You know, a cross looks like a lower case "t". She said that it's okay if the ashes rub off as they will still be there & she'll get a new one when she's in first grade :) She was very proud to wear her ashes & didn't want to take them off at bedtime. This all sounds great to me. And oh the memories of growing up in a Catholic School :)

Ulla's Skating Birthday Party

Today Gracie's friend Ulla celebrated her birthday with an ice skating party at Wrigley Field. It was not only a great birthday party but a fun way to spend the day off from school :) They had a few ice skating instructors on hand too so Gracie received some helpful ice skating tips. By the end of the party she was skating on her own...yay Gracie!!! And then we enjoyed pizza & cake inside Wrigley Field in a private party room What a fun winter birthday party!!!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

I heard a beautiful voice coming from the playroom this afternoon & this is what found :) I loved the song & accompanying dance moves!!!

Alice In Wonderland

Josie danced with the Queen of Hearts today at ballet. And our little Alice In Wonderland was the loudest trumpet player too...listen closely & you'll hear her :) Such a fun way to dance to this story.

Happy Half Birthday Gracie & Josie

Enjoying a birthday cupcake for their half birthday at one of our favorite places...Molly's Cupcakes. And yes Gracie is still wearing her birthday crown from school so Josie had to wear a fancy crown too :)

Celebrating At School

Today Gracie celebrated her half birthday with her friends at school. Since her birthday is in the summer what better day to celebrate then on her half birthday which is today :) She said she wanted a summer theme & treats that everyone could enjoy even those who have allergies because sometimes they don't get to eat the treats. So we went with her thoughtful request & made rice crispy treats which we served in beach buckets & included a pair of sunglasses for all her friends. When I picked her up from school many of her friends were wearing their sunglasses & she was wearing a birthday crown. She loved the crown so much that she wore it all day!!! She didn't come home with sunglasses because her friend Caroline broke hers so she gave her hers. And she was perfectly fine with just having the birthday crown & a special day at school :)

100th Day Of School

Today Gracie celebrated the 100th day of school....Yay Gracie!?!?! She's made it half way through Kindergarten & she is still LOVING school. She said that today her teachers planned lots of fun activities to celebrate. Her favorites were making a fruit loop necklace with 100 fruit loops & the fancy glasses that were in the shape of the number "100". She wore them on the way home, to the grocery store & of course when we got home too. The fruit loop necklace is not pictured as she ate it on the way home :)

Sweet & Sassy

What better day to get "glamorized" then Valentine's Day :) So the girls did just that with their friend Taylor. We met at Sweet & Sassy for the Valentine's Day "Glittery Glam" Special. The girls were treated to a mini up-do, mini make-up application & a mini manicure. And when their afternoon of beauty was over they got to walk the runway. Oh did they enjoy the runway & each of them showed off their individual style :) Lots of glitter made these "glam girls" Valentine's Day. A great ending to a fun holiday!!!

Silly Sweethearts

Silly sweethearts sporting shades...We LOVE Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentines Day

From our little sweethearts :) Gracie & Josie XOXO

Disney On Ice...Dare To Dream

For weeks now, every time the commercial comes on for Disney On Ice the girls will ask if you can go to the show. So today we surprised them with tickets...ohhh were they excited :) This show was made for them as it told the story of of 3 of their favorite princess & movies....Tianna, Cinderella & Rapunzel. Of course, Tianna kisses the frog, Cinderella loses her glass slipper & Rapunzel with the help of Flynn leaves the tower. The girls were absolutely mesmerized by each of the stories. Their favorite was Rapunzel...her & Flynn stole the show by not along skating but flying through the air!!! Gracie enjoyed some chair dancing & Josie entertained us & a few others singing "Now I see The Light" during the finale. These princess lovers both want to go see it again :) So fun!!!

Daddy-Daughter Dance

Tonight was the Daddy-Daughter Sweetheart Dance at Gracie's School. She was very excited to dance with daddy & show him off to her friends. Daddy's favorite Gracie quote of the night was "There are only 2 things to do...eat snacks & dance!!!". Fortunately they did plenty of both :) A fun-filled daddy-daughter date night.

Superstar Gracie

Gracie was the "Superstar" in her class this week. Every week someone is the "Superstar" & Gracie has been so excited for her turn. And finally after much anticipation this was her week. We spent last weekend decorating her poster & answering questions about her...from what she wants to be when she grows up, to her favorite things, to fun facts about her. Every day of the week the "Superstar" has certain privileges like leading the class in prayer, being in charge of the weather chart & calendar & being first for many activities. And Thursday is the most special day of the week. They get to wear a Superstar crown all day & present their poster to the class. Parents are invited for the presentation & it's a big deal to stand up in front of the class & answer their questions too. Wow...Gracie took after daddy & presented like a "Superstar". She was cool as a cucumber answering a wide range of questions from "what's your favorite animal at the zoo"' to "what's your favorite tv commercial" to my favorite "what's your favorite letter" which she proudly answered "G" :) Her teachers were most intrigued by her fun fact of sharing a birthday with her little sister. Superstar Gracie's day ended by getting to leave school early with mommy & daddy. We are so proud of our little Superstar!!!

Superbowl Sunday

Even though our team isn't playing in the Superbowl...we are still partying at our house....Go Giants!!!

Our Superheros

Celebrating Sloane's Superhero birthday party...look at wonder woman's muscles!!!! Such a fun party....yay!!!

Ground Hog Day

Gracie learned a new song at school today....sums it up nicely :)

Tacky Dress Day

Today was Tacky Dress Day at school. Gracie was VERY EXCITED to go to school mismatched & with crazy hair!!! And a volunteering perk for mommy...I got to dress tacky too :) We sure had a fun day!!!