Pinkalicious

Today we took the girls to the Pinkalicious Musical...oh my goodness what a good time!!! They were both mesmerized by all the PINK & danced along in their seats to the songs too. The musical followed right along with the book & included all their favorite parts...most importantly Pinkalicious ate one too many cupcakes & she turned PINK!!! After the show the girls got to pose for a picture on the stage ...of course, right in the kitchen where she ate all those cupcakes. And they wore their new Pinkalicious shirts too...so fun!!!

Winter Thaw

It's time to break out our rain coats & rain boots as it's 50 degree's in the Windy City!!! The snow is quickly melting away too but it sure is fun splashing in all the big puddles :) Back to reality on Saturday when it's back in the 20's...ugh!!!

Honey I Shrunk The Girls

Just kidding!?!?! But it was the BIGGEST chair we've ever seen at The Children's Musuem. And so colorful too...totally my style :)

Cinderella Ballet Camp

The girls went to ballet camp today & the theme was Cinderalla!!! They were very excited since she is one of their favorite princesses :) After reading a book about how Cindrella spends the holidays...they enjoyed dressing up in Cindrella's beautiful blue dress & sparkley tiara. They danced to jingle bells & rudolph the red nose reindeer & after dancing was over, they made a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree...oh so fun!!!

And To All A Good Night

Family santa hat photo...our little family tradition :)

See Last Year's Photo!

Thank You Santa

Dress-up doll fun with Gabriella & Alexa

Gracie & her American Girl Doll Lanie...who looks just like her :)

Josie & Baby Stella...sporting a new rainy day outfit

A princess castle for the 2 princesses :)

Watching their new movie...Angelina Ballerina in their castle

Merrry Christmas

Love, Gracie & Josie XOXO

Ho Ho Ho

We are ready for Santa at our house :)

Walking Old Joe...Whoa!!!

The girls love to sing this song :)

Letters From Santa

Last week the girls wrote Santa Claus letters with what they wanted for Christmas this year. Gracie thought we should ask him for the same things that we asked him for when we visited him at Bloomingdales...this way we wouldn't confuse Santa :) We then mailed them in a special express mailbox directly to the North Pole. What a wonderful surprise in the mail today when they both received letters back from Santa!!! Santa told them that they had been very good girls this year & that he had special gifts for both of them. He also reminded them to go to bed early on Christmas Eve because Chicago was one of his first stops :) We've been reading the letters over & over & over all afternoon. And Gracie keeps saying "It was very nice of Santa Claus to write us a letter too." Christmas through a child's eyes...precious!!!

Holiday Photo Shoot

7th Annual Rothleutner Holiday Party

Another great holiday party...I can't believe it was our 7th!!!

Our Visit To Santa Claus

Today we went to visit Santa Claus at Bloomingdales. We went with our friends The Peterson's & The Brough's...what a fun group outing!!! And such an adorable group photo too :) It was so fun to watch Gracie this year as she told Santa exactly what she wanted for Christmas...an american girl doll (that looks like her :) princess shoes & a princess castle. Oh and a lemon timer as hers broke!!! Santa told her he loved amercian girl dolls & that he'd try to make her a new lemon timer :) I wasn't sure what to expect with Josie this year as last year she cried & cried while sitting on Santa's lap & wanted nothing to do with him!!! So my expectation was pretty low. However, while we waited in line, she pleasantly waved at him & kept saying "Hi Santa" over & over. Then it was our turn & she got right up on his lap with a big smile & another "Hi Santa". She told him she wants some toys for her baby. Which is very fitting since her baby goes EVERYWHERE with her. Hopefully Santa was listening & the girls will be happy on Christmas Morning :)

Lincoln Park Zoo Lights

One of our favorite holiday traditions is the Lincoln Park Zoo lights. This year they were just as spectacular as last year. And the dancing trees were back again too...the girls favorite!!! So they enjoyed dancing & singing to our favorite holiday songs. Papa Will & Nana Marci joined us again this year & captured us in front of Frosty The Snowman :) A fun family night for all!!!

American Girl Place

Today Gracie, Mommy & Nana Marci made our first trip to American Girl Place. First priority was to find her itty bitt baby a new outfit. We chose a purple sweater dress, matching hat & purple ugg boots...oh so stylish!!! After browsing the American Girl dolls & picking one for Santa Claus, we went to the cafe for a special lunch. I think we may have a new family tradition for the holidays. Maybe Josie can join us next year :)

Rothleuter Christmas Tree

Today we made our annual trip to Home Depot to pick out our Christmas Tree. Gracie wanted to get the "biggest christmas tree ever" this year...so of course, Josie did too :) And we did not disappoint them as we came home with an 11ft tree!!! And it was not only TALL but very WIDE too so it was a little bit challenging walking the 2 blocks home from Home Depot with it!!! But we made it home & we are just hoping that we have enough lights for it :) Regardless, the girls love it & they picked out a little tree for their room too...hmm...we'll have to think about that one :)

Happy Thanksgiving

The girls brought their cousin Zoey a "fancy apron" too :) And the little chefs assisted Aunt Katina & Nana Marci in the kitchen with all the fancy Thanksgiving fixings. Watch out Martha Stewart!!!

Fancy Thanksgiving

In preparation for celebrating a "Fancy Thanksgiving" in Pittsburgh, the girls & I tried on our fancy aprons :) According to Gracie a "Fancy Thanksgiving" includes dressing up in fancy clothes & shoes while eating banana bread, pumpkin pie, chocolate chip cookies & macaroni & cheese. And maybe just a little bit of turkey too :) I think "Fancy Nancy" would be very impressed with us. What a fun & fancy Thanksgiving for us this year!!!

Bonus Fall Family Photos :)

Fall Family Photos

Fall Fashionista's

It barely made 40 degrees in Chicago today...brr!!! But the coldest day of the year was all about fashion :) Finally the girls were able to wear their winter coats & new hats too. They had so much fun that Gracie wants to get another hat to go with her coat...a girls needs options!!! And they both wanted lots of pictures in their new hats too.

Olivia

Today's book in ballet was one of our favorite books...Olivia!!! Josie dressed up in Olivia's signature color RED. She wore an adorable red dress with a curly pink piggy tail & piggy ears too. It was a very good day at ballet :) And she danced good too!!!

Enjoying The Fall Leaves!!!

Today we enjoyed a fun-filled family day at North Pond playing in the leaves. The girls had a good time running, jumping & of course throwing leaves at each other :) Then we found a HUGE pile of leaves which made running in them a little more difficult but laying in them much more fun. Fall is such a fun time of year!!!