Making a Splash!

A weekend visit during the summer wouldn't be complete with out making a splash in Aunt Allie's pool! Lexie showed off her skills while Olivia showed some other 'talents'. Let's just say Aunt Allie had to shock the pool because if it. The girls love the water and loved splashing with Nini and Aunt Allie!

The water babies with Aunt Allie and Nini.
I don't know who was having more fun!
Loving Aunt Allie
Hmmm...one of these arms looks verrrrrrry different!!! Can you guess which one???

Tea for 2...or 4...or 5!

Lexie and Olivia have come to love (an expect) a tea party when we go to GG's and Gpa's house. GG usually has some sort of sweet treat, along with some milk--and the girls 'dress up' while they enjoy their goodies on the patio. Well, this visit they were in for a surprise! GG managed to find a tea house that caters to all tea lovers. The girls had their very own tea party---with real tea pots, tiaras, in a tea room! They were over the moon! Thanks GG--we all had a blast!


Getting ready for the tea party, with a little help from Gpa

Posing for a picture before our big outing

We made it to the Tea Room
Decisions, decisions....
GG and Olivia looking over the menu
Lexie all dressed up and ready for her "tea"
Olivia getting into the fun
Having a great time
GG certainly got into character too

Lexie enjoyed coloring to pass the time before her tea party began

Nini helping Lexie with her masterpiece


Finally the moment she had been waiting for...her tea arrivedBoth of the girls got to decorate their very own cookie--this is Lexie's careful creation

Olivia on the other hand preferred the 'dump them out' method
Each of the girls got their very own tea pot to use---they were adorable
Olivia was very intrigued with the whole thing---she even got her little pinky in the air

Thanks again GG for our first 'official' tea party! We had a great time and the girls and I can't wait to do it again soon!

A Basket Full of FUN

It was and Egg-citing fun filled Easter for the girls, Russ and I! Nini and Aunt Allie came up for a few days, followed by Marcus, Lucy and Levi--the Easter Bunny, and finally GG and Gpa!!! We took full advantage having company---we went to the mall to find the Easter Bunny, played Candy Land about 1000 times, put puzzles together, read books, had brunch with the Easter Bunny, and even had an egg hunt! Thanks to all of you for sending the girls cards and or calling to wish us all a Happy Easter!


The girls were just as excited to see Nini as she was to see them! Lexie and Olivia cleaned up with their Easter goodies! Thanks Nini!!!
Olivia showing off one of her new outfits.

Showing off all of her goodies from Nini! Thanks a bunch!!!
Showing off the puzzle she got from Aunt Allie!!!
Decorating some...eggs--err, um...faces with Daddy



Excited to see the Easter Bunny!

Ready to go!

There's the Bunny!

Waiting in line is so much more fun with Aunt Allie!

Back at the house, it was time for another round of Easter goodies. Grandma Barb sent a care package for the kids...Lexie couldn't wait to see what was inside!
Don't let the face fool you...she loved her outfit and talking bear!!!

Olivia proudly showing her new outfit--though, she was a bit terrified of the laughing duck--Lexie got a kick out of it though!

All dressed up on Easter Sunday and ready to go to the club for brunch (and to see the Easter Bunny again!)
Olivia and her buddy Aunt Allie, patiently waiting for everyone to be ready! (Poor Aunt Allie couldn't get a moment to herself all weekend!)

Lexie was anxious to see what was inside
Group shot at the table.
Olivia loving her Egg from the Easter Bunny.

Allison, Lucy, Levi and Marcus pose for a quick picture.
Family photo-this was about as good as it got--5 tries and all!
Back at the house, we came home to see that the Easter Bunny had visited while we were out to brunch. Lexie was excited to see she had a basket...and there were eggs hidden throughout the basement since it was too wet for the bunny to leave them outside.
Olivia scored big too!
"Here's and egg...and look, I found another one!!"
Looking so sweet and innocent while searching for eggs!
Shortly after their egg hunt, the kids took a nap only to wake up to find the Easter Bunny left them another suprise...GG and Gpa were back from Florida! We are so happy to have them closer to home!

Thanks again Nini and Aunt Allie...and of course, the Easter Bunny for making this holiday egg-stra special!

Home Imporvements---At Nini's House!

A while back, I told my mom I would help her remodel two of the bedrooms in her house. She decided to get the carpet ripped out, new hardwood floors installed, and new trim, as well as repaint and remove wallpaper. I can't tell you how amazing it looked once it was all done! She had the color choices narrowed down in each of the bedrooms based on the bed spreads she picked out so all we had to do was patch a few places on the walls, paint the ceilings and walls, then pick out all the fun accessories. I volunteered to make custom window treatments too---just to make it look that much cozier since she wasn't able to find exactly what she wanted.

The pictures really don't do the rooms justice--but you can take a peek anyways! Too bad I don't have before and afters!


The Beach Room
The wall color wasn't exactly what she had hoped for, but turned out to be a perfect compliment to the bed spread! It has a very calming feeling! I just LOVE this room and want to do something similar to the master bedroom in our place in Florida!
The fun accessories we picked out! LOVE those birds!
Adorable lamp and picture frames my mom found. I especially like the 'models' in the photos!


"Lexie's Room". My mom loves primitive, simple decor. The bedspread was a perfect match to an existing picture my mom had. The lamp shade, sheets and curtains all match. The headboard was the perfect compliment to the room--nice job mom!
I love the muted mustard like color on the walls! Simple and stylish!!!
Now, I just need to get cracking on the window treatments for her master bedroom!!!!

Long Time No See

It is hard to believe that we hadn't seen Nini since Christmas Day---sad but true! Between our schedules, and her 3 week trip to Florida we never found time to visit. Lexie was OVER THE MOON when I told her we were going to Nini's house for the weekend after she was done with school on Thursday! That was all she could talk about! What a great time we had! The weather was a bit harry---one day it was in the 50s and raining the next there was 5 inches of snow, followed by a beautiful sunny day in the 50s again! That didn't stop us from enjoying every single second!

Lexie concentrating on her new puzzle--a map of the United States. There were pieces for every state...but there was just an outline and not an actual place to put the state...the pieces had a tendency to move around a bunch, but after two or three times...she was able to do in "all by myself"!
Meanwhile, Olivia was providing entertainment for the rest of us! Hamming it up for Nini and Aunt Allie...as per usual!
Lexie proudly showing off her new puppy purse she got during our shopping trip...and a puppy dressed up as an Easter Bunny she found in the basement at Nini's.
So sweet and innocent---well, at least in the picture she is!
Lexie and Olivia enjoying story time on Nini's lap...
...oh, what a story it was!
Sisterly love?
Thanks again for a great weekend! We had loads of fun shopping! Lexie "loved getting all dressed up!" She literally tried on 25 outfits and never once complained! In fact, she asked if she could try on more! Olivia was a trooper through it all---thanks to her buddy Aunt Allie! I think the girls are both set for spring/summer now---just have to wait for the weather to follow suit!