Fashion Show 2

New Day, Different Dress........

Alison's starting to take a cue from Big Sis and is learning to pose for the camera.....

For some reason, the "ballerina bun" hair-do makes Grace even skinnier.........we DO feed her....
Happy and ready to attack the day......

The Fashion Show

Aunt Vicki found a sale on some dresses last weekend and sent a care package to the girls.....here are some pictures of the new dresses......

Grace had to wear the polka dot dress yesterday.....

And today it was time for pink and green.......

Alison shows off her new blue dress......
So happy together.......
And also, Ashley put together some shadow boxes (that Vicki found at Pottery Barn) for the girls' outfits that they each came home from the hospital in.....here's Alison's Christmas-themed ensemble......
.....and Grace's ballerina bear......it was a lot warmer in early September.....

The Birthday Party!

Grace asked for a princess birthday party this year for her fifth birthday.....we decided to have her birthday party a couple weeks before she actual turned the big 5.....she invited a few girlfriends over for crafts, pizza, and cake.....and I think all the girls had a really good time! Here are a few pictures -

The cake, the crowns, the plates, and the napkins......
A close up of the cake.....a strawberry cake that Ashley decorated herself.....complete with Disney Princess figurines....
The entrance to the party zone......

Grace went with the ballerina princess theme for her costume......
Grace flashing the new digits......
Alison chipped into the dress up by being our Tinkerbell.....
Grace was happy to have Little Sis at the party........
It was time to decorate flip flops.......I remember doing these at my birthday parties when I was a little boy.....

Ashley helps Grace decorate the flops.....
Miss Nichole stayed to help supervise....she took charge of Alison for a while.....Alison was a little freaked out by having all these new people in the house......
Time to make necklaces and bracelets.....check out all those beads!
The third and final craft was to decorate some bags to take their treats home in.......
The girls singing happy birthday to Grace.......

Grace blows out her cake.....(Vicki & Ted - does this count as a picture of the new fence?)
Time to open presents.....the girls helped open the presents that each one brought for Grace....
Grace opens a new Barbie!!
The girls check out a runaway balloon that was dancing with the ceiling fan.....

Grace checks out some new princess lip glosses.....

Grace opens her present from Emma.....
Group Hug!
The party people (l. to r. Shae, Amber, Grace, Tecola, and Emma)
"Did those crazy girls leave yet? Can I have my house back? Really."

Outdoor Shots......

The girls' babysitter, Nichole, has a very good talent for photography......recently, Ashley and Nichole took the girls to what was at one time a soldiers' and sailors' home to take some outdoor photos......we liked them so much that we are using Grace's photos as her 5-year photos.....here are a few of Ashley's favorites......enjoy!

Weekend at Bernie's......

I was studying for an insurance exam tomorrow so the girls went down to visit Grami and Pop Pop, and to give me a little peace and quiet......they went to this new fun place called Monkey Joe's....it's an indoor play area with a lot of large inflatables for the kids to run around and jump in...here are some pictures of the weekend.


Alison doesn't seem to notice the giant alligator lurking behind her.....
Lost in a sea of turtles and whale tails.....
Gotta boogie!
Grace had a good time.....there were reports of high-pitched squealing.....
Climbing up the walls.......
Clyde from Every Which Way But Loose made an appearance......

Look before you leap!
She's always got time to pose for a picture.....
Grami and Pop Pop took them to Steak n Shake afterwards for dinner......
Grami and Grace with big smiles!
President of the Future Burger Flippers of America.....

Then it was sprinkler time in the back yard.......
I don't think they have the 10-meter sprinkler dash in Beijing......
Alison wasn't so much for the sprinkler....she hung up on the deck in her swit....."It'll ruin my hair!"
After a long day, it's nice to soak in a tub with a friend.......