Felger Park

Blue skies & 80 degrees was a perfect day for a picnic in the park & lots & lots of splashing in the water fountain with their cousin Zoey. They sure love getting soaked :) Yay for summer!!!

Ballet Camp

Gracie & her cousin Zoey are going to ballet camp this week. Today was their first day & they were both very excited to dance...if you can't tell by those big smiles!!! The theme this week is The Royal Princess & they get to dress up like a princess & dance to the palace. How fitting since the Royal Wedding was this year :) They also made glittery wands to bring home. I can't wait to see them dance again & see what they bring home next. Josie wasn't old enough to join them :( but as soon as she can I promised her she can go too :)

San Diego

Kris & I enjoyed a long weekend in sunny San Diego. Kris had a work conference & I was able to tag-along for some fun :) Thanks to my hubby for flying me out for a very fun weekend & to my my mom for coming to Chicago to watch the girls. It was nice to get-away, relax, soak up some sun & eat some very yummy, yummy food!!!
I love vacations :)

Daddy Day At The Beach

Today we took Daddy to the beach for Father's Day. Another fun family tradition of ours :) Every Father's Day we meet several other families for a day of fun in the sun. We've been going since Gracie was a baby & look forward to the outing every year. Thanks Anita for organizing a fun day for all. And check out that Chicago Skyline too...love it!!! What a great way to have fun with the best daddy :)

Daddy's Girls

And of course, a few photos with mommy for daddy too!!!

Happy Father's Day

We surprised daddy with a little photo shoot...thanks Mandy!!! Love their little faces peaking through the letters :) Happy Father's Day to the best daddy in the world!!! Love Gracie & Josie XOXO

Summer Camp

Today was Gracie's first day of summer camp. She was VERY excited & talked about it the entire time she ate her breakfast. She was especially excited to wear her red summer camp t-shirt & swim in the pool. Josie kept telling her "You can't go to summer camp, I'll miss you!!!" Oh so sweet & her little sister did miss her & asked about her often. But Josie did have a fun day with mommy :) Maybe Josie can go with her next year!!! What great summer memories.

Starbucks Strawberry Creme

As many of you know...I love Starbucks!!! So much so, that the girls & I like to frequent the Starbucks in our neighborhood. Our favorite Starbucks in the one that is 2 blocks from our house. The girls get lots of attention as soon as we walk in the door. They like to sit at the end of the counter, watch the barista make the drinks & talk to anyone that will listen :) Today the girls got a special treat. Not only did the barista make my usual...a non-fat vanilla latte but he also surprised them with a Strawberry Creme...oh so yummy!!! Look at the delight on their faces :) He was very pleased too!!!

Flowers & French Fries

Today we went to one of our favorite street festivals & our first one of the summer too...The Old Town Art Fair. We met some friends & had a great time. When I asked the girls on the way home what their favorite part was Gracie responded "Making flowers in the kids corner & eating french fries :)" Of course, Josie agreed with her Big Sister :) Sounds like our first summer festival outing was a success.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Brownie Birthday Sundaes

Tonight we celebrated Daddy's birthday with brownie ice cream sundaes. Last year we made daddy a birthday cake so the girls wanted to do something different this year. While shopping the other day we found ice cream cone bowls...oh so perfect...so we decided to make chocolate brownie sundaes. Gracie picked out the brownies with rainbow sprinkles (of course) & then we bought ice cream, whip cream & LOTS & LOTS of sprinkles. It was a very fun birthday celebration :) Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

The Big Finale

Peforming her favorite song of the week :)

Princess & The Knight Camp

Gracie went to theater camp every day this week or as she likes to call it "drama camp". Each day they learned something new in preparation for the big finale at today's performance. She was so excited to go every day & talked about it non-stop until I dropped her off. Each day she came home singing a new song & acting out as a different character. Oh what a performance today. And of course photos afterwards with her teacher Ms. Alice & her friend Taylor.

Gracie's Sashay

Gracie & the ballerina's sashay'd to the palace to meet their prince. They sure looked adorable on the way to the palace :)

CindeRELLA Part 2

Today my other little CindeRELLA performed in her ballet recital. I love how much she loves to dance...her smile says it all :) Next year she'll add tap dance into the dance mix...oh how I can't wait too see her little feet tapping to the beat. We are so proud of you Gracie!!!

Summer Splashing

This week it was close to 100 degrees in Chicago...HOT HOT HOT!!! So we cooled off by going to the splash park with our friends. It was our first pool outing of the summer with many more to come. Oh what a fun way to quick off the summer!!!!

Bourree Turn

Josie's solo was the bourree turn...aka a wonderful twirl...which is one of Josie's favorite moves. She sure nailed it, didn't she :) Way to go Josie!!!

CindeRELLA

Josie's favorite princess is Cinderella & she likes to call her CindeRELLA by putting a wonderful emphasis on the end of her name :) So it was absolutely perfect that she was the princess in her ballet recital today. She loved dancing in her beautiful blue gown & twirled from one end of the room to the other. She is such a joy to watch & is becoming quite the little dancer too :)

Last Day Of School

Gracie & her teacher Ms. Joan

Two of her best buddies...Matthew & Reese

Gracie & Eva

Gracie's last day of school ended today with her school picnic. And it was a family picnic so mommy got to go too :) She had lots of fun playing with her friends & insisted on me taking lots of pictures of her teachers & her friends :) It was a very bittersweet day for mommy. She's graduating from the world of preschool & next fall will be starting Kindergarten. Wow...does time fly by!!! I still remember dropping her off for preschool on her first day & shedding more tears then she did!!! My little girl is growing up. I still want to stop the clock sometimes :)