Check It Out!!

We started a line of hair bows called Bows & Arrows. Check it out!! We still have to get the website up but we are chugging along!!

We went to see the CHIHULY blown glass extravaganza at the DeYoung Museum at the end of September.  We were blown(no pun intended) away by his amazing talent and all the different shapes he could make with glass.  We forgot to bring our camera so these were all taken with an iphone but it was truly out of this world:0)  My girls loved the room where the ceiling was covered with blown glass and in the midst of the all the pieces were sea shapes like star fish, sea anemones and an octopus.  Can you find a sea star in the second picture?

After the exhibit, we went to Chestnut St. and ate at our favorite Johnny Rockets and then of course had to get Kara's cupcakes for dessert.  Have you tried the lemon filled cupcake?  TO die for:)

Fortunately, Unfortunately

Fortunately, I've had another birthday

Unfortunately, it's my 40th:)

Fortunately, we were able to go to Betelnut in San Fran

Unfortunately, we were in a fender bender on the way there:(

Fortunately, I have the same birthday as my dad

Unfortunately, that's a lot of candles on a birthday cake:)

Fortunately, I have great friends who spoil me rotten

Unfortunately, most of them still are in their early 30's:)

Better late than never

Addi and Miss Carlson-this is her first year at Greenbrook
Avery and Mrs. DeMichiel-this is our 3rd straight year with this fabulous teacher
Don't you just love how the backpacks are bigger than my girls:)
                          Avery (my baby) is in first grade and full day:(
   Addi's eyes are closed but this is the only photo I have

                       of her.  She is in 3rd grade this year.
                                      Taylor heading off to Charlotte Wood for 6th grade

Addi in Wonderland

So it is always a little nervewracking when your child wants to try out for anything.  This week, Addi wanted to try out for the school play, Alice in Wonderland.  Part of me was so excited that she was brave enough to try out and the other part of me was like "oh no, what if she doesn't get the part she wants and has a meltdown."  Now, I know that I am biased but I think that Addi has a great singing voice and we all know she has a knack for the dramatic so I thought she had a great chance of getting a part-maybe not the lead, but definitely, the Cheshire Cat or a card, or a flower or some other object.  But of course, Addi wanted to go for the part of Alice:)  So Taylor, and Addi practiced the song Zippity Doo Dah all weekend and Addi learned a stanza to a poem from the play.  Try-outs were Tuesday afterschool and I think that I was more nervous than she was.  My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing and I felt like I wanted to throw up.  She was #53 and she got up there in front of the director, a teacher and her peers and gave her memorized poem flawlessly.  Then she belted out the song 'Zippity Doo Dah" and received a huge round of applause.  She was good, she was really good, she was better than good, she was GREAT.  We had call backs on Thursday and she practiced in a small group for the part of "small" Alice and then we had to wait until today to learn whether or not she got the part.  Once again, I felt like I was the one trying out-I couldn't focus all day and I was nervous to find out the results-3:00 couldn't come soon enough.  We went straight to the MPR and waited for the list to be posted....Small Alice here we come:)  She made it and I am not sure whether to be relieved or start to stress since it will be weeks of practice, costumes to sew, lines to memorize, not to mention all the parent participation that goes along with it:)  Addi, we are so excited for you and are so proud of you.  Mark your calendars for Nov. 19th and 20th:)

Biggest Loser!!

I am so excited to experience the new season of BIGGEST LOSERS: FAMILIES!! 

Our Family's Crazy faces-Part 2

Our Day at Pinkies

Our friends from Seattle were visiting so we decided to give the girls a special treat. We went down to Pinkies in the Livery and got our nails done. Here are some highlights from our outing!

Our Family's Crazy faces!

We all have those times when we need to switch gears and have some fun once in awhile, well my family has more then expected. Here are some of our most wackiest moments!!

And I wonder who they get it from!!!

Showbiz Show

This is Taylor performing with her Showbiz group.  They did a medley of dance routines for songs such as; U Can't Touch This, Ice Ice Baby, Mr. Roboto, Cotton-eye Joe and she had a solo for N'SYNC's Bye-Bye-Bye:)  She was in Showbiz last year and liked it but she LOVED it this year and it showed by how much stage presence she had this year.  She even did a solo which she would not have done last year.  Everyday after Showbiz practice, she would come home and do the dance for us and then teach her sisters the routine.  It was a great show and many thanks to the Bromleys and group leaders for all their time and effort:)

Taylor's last day of 5th grade

Taylor receiving her diploma from the principal, Mr. Lad.
Taylor and her teacher, Mrs. Vamvouris
Taylor and her BFF's Nina & Katherine
The girls and Mrs. Williams who retired this year

Taylor graduates to middle school

Hard to believe that my oldest is leaving the "eagle's nest" and going off to middle school.  She's is so ready to go but I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I have a child old enough to be out of elementary school.

More last day of school photos

Addi was lucky enough to loop with her 1st grade teacher last year and have her again for a combo 1/2 grade class.  Mrs. DeMichiel or (M. De Michelle) as Addi likes to call her, has been a wonderful influence in Addi's life.  Our family has loved having her as a teacher for two years and are hoping that Avery will get her for first grade in the fall.  Mrs. DeMichiel is having a baby boy in November and I have offered to watch the little bundle for her when she returns to teaching in January:)  I'm a sucker for little ones and this way I finally get my boy without going through 9 months of sciatica, varicose veins, cravings, muscle cramps, mood swings, etc.

Last day of school

Avery is hugging her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Erickson.  They had a little graduation ceremony on the last day of school.  Mrs. Erickson always commented on how cute Avery was and how she was small but mighty:)  On to first grade, it is hard to believe that my baby is getting so big:(

"I'm A Lamp"

These were the words Taylor said as she put a swim suit cover-up over her head. Suprisingly she did look like a lamp, but i didn't want to encourage her. After many repeated times of yelling to take her picture, I took out the old camera and started snapping away. Notice her poses. Don't know where she gets it from, Robi or me?!? I finally had to tell her enough is enough. I got a little frustrated because she needed to eat her lunch. She quickly took it off, sped to her room, and sped back. She knows where I stand and leave my mark. No wonder she never wears that swim suit cover-up!

Here are some more clips from our wonderful trip to LA! This is the cast from Wicked!

1. Elfie- Caissie Levy

2. Madame Morrible- ???

I tried to put more pictures but it wouldn't let me so here you go!! Enjoy!!