Author: pazmeyer

president’s day

B’s school was open, but school was closed for both our girls today so it was just a girl’s day around our house. I have still not regained my voice and I’m fighting a sinus infection so I had my work cut out for me. Luckily the Johnson girls were able to come over for a playdate and they all entertained each other. This is a super easy group and they play so well together. I wish I could have done more fun stuff with them, but this is cold is keeping me down.

aspen

We joined Amy, Tom, and Bella for a weekend up in Aspen. Amy’s parent’s live in Basalt and were so amazingly hospitable to us. We had originally planned to ski, but I’m struggling with a sinus infection so we opted for a nice, relaxing, low key mountain weekend. 
The girls were thrilled to find the largest selection of American Girl doll clothes I have ever seen. They played  with their dolls, put on a dance show for us, and even managed to find Grammy’s makeup in a drawer (big ooooops! I can’t take these girls anywhere). 
We took the girls ice skating and I couldn’t believe how quickly Bella and Gwyneth jumped on the ice and just took off. Annabelle was really apprehensive and then once she got over her fear she was a natural. She was literally skipping around the ice. I can’t wait to cut her hair like Dorothy Hamill’s and move to Colorado Springs so she can begin intense training….oh wait, that may be a bit overzealous.
Amy’s parents offered to watch all the girls that evening so we could go out in Aspen. We went to an Irish Pub for dinner which was absolutely not kid-friendly which is my absolute favorite thing to do when the girls are not with us. It feels like we’re getting away with something. We hit a club after dinner and within seconds realized that we are far too old for such things so we settled for a drink and some chips and salsa at a low key Mexican restaurant. That’s more like it. 
We had an absolutely fabulous weekend and we are so thankful for such wonderful friends. We couldn’t have asked for more – such kindness, hospitality and fun. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Grammy Lori and Amy
The guys
A little place I like to call Aspen
Miss Bella on ice skates

Love!

back off paparazzi

dancing gwyneth

Gwyneth’s dance class hosted a party and performance for Valentine’s day. They did a precious little routine to “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You”. It was a remake of the original and it was upbeat and rockin’ and the kids danced their little booties off!
 
 I can’t say enough how much I love this dancing school. The girls improve at each performance and they have so much fun. I couldn’t ask for more.
 

happy valentine’s

We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a big helping of sinus congestion. Woot Woot! I woke up feeling very, very sick but took lots of Sudafed so I wouldn’t miss out on too much of the fun.
 
B and I were both able to attend Annabelle’s school party – and no, I don’t feel bad going with a sinus infection because I’m 99% certain I picked up all these germs while I was volunteering there anyway. It was wonderful to see all Annabelle’s little friends doing Valentine’s crafts and exchanging cards. There are some crafty kids (or moms, more likely) in that class, but she came home with a bag full of adorable little cards.
 
We spent our quiet evening at home making Valentine cookies and chowing down on heart shaped pizza. Despite the several boxes of tissues and the loss of my voice, it was as Happy Valentine’s Day at our casa.  
 
Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
Annabelle, Sofia and Morgan
 
Reagan, Sofia, Kenzie and Annabelle.
Miss Annabelle has a great group of little girls in their class and they are all such sweet friends.

mmmm…cookies

mmmm….pizza


jackson 5 dance

Such a long day for my little ladies. We got in from Chicago late last night and they were up early. Annabelle had school all day, study cub, and then went right to her Valentine’s dance performance. She was such a trooper. She did her dance wonderfully and handed out her valentine’s to her dancing school friends. The girls were asked to perform the routine a second time and I caught her yawning. She’s a trooper!

kohl

We joined the McClaney’s for a pancake breakfast at their church. As you can see, the girls are much more interested in Lily than any old pancakes.

After breakfast we headed to the Kohl Children’s Museum which was featuring a Wizard of Oz exhibit. This is one of the best children’s museums I have ever been to. It was clean and creative and not very crowded….and those are basically my three requirements for a museum.

Following the Yellow Brick Road
Munchkins
Powerful Wizard of Oz
“there’s no place like home. there’s no place like home. there’s no place like home”
sweet little Lily
the girls loved the water works area

how do you think this is going to end???
Yep, that’s right!

My new favorite quote from the wall of the museum…
Uncle Darnell and Auntie Becky ordering at the play Potbelly’s
ballet bar perfect size for Miss Lily Lou
We had to head home and the girls were not happy with me. Gwyneth, through tears, informed me the trip was not long enough. Luckily we already planning our next trip!

happy birthday, yaya

The girls and I flew out to Chicago for a super quick weekend to celebrate YaYa’s birthday. We were very excited to see her and to spend time with Auntie Becky, Uncle Darnell, Madison, and Lily too. 
We had brunch at the American Girl store and then went to watch Madison’s singing competition. We had a quiet evening at Becky’s. It was a wonderful day and I hope my mom enjoyed her birthday celebration.
YaYa and the girls
Brunch with her baby Gabby (which is short for Gabriela)….which she calls “Grabby”
Pretty Madison
Annabelle and her baby doll, Ellie (which is short for Eliana)
Love Auntie Becky

Brunch time

I had for the first time EVER, eggs benedict. Can you believe that? Anyway, I didn’t really like it. I have to get B to make it for me so I can determine if I really don’t like it or I just don’t like it at the American Girl Cafe.

Heart shaped pancakes. Very sweet
Happy Birthday, YaYa!

Gorgeous girls

super bowl sunday

We had a super low key Super bowl Sunday with friends. We started by sorting tons of girl scout cookies. Annabelle is very proud and determined and selling her little daisy-booty off. Thank you to everyone who has supported her this cookie season. 

Gwyneth has decided, much to my dismay, to grow out her bangs. It’s a painful process of trying to pull those little bangs back, so expect to see lots of hair in her eyes for the next few months. It also makes her look way too old for my liking…

My friend, Jenn made some absolutely delicious football cupcakes for us to enjoy. I may or may not have eaten all the brownie footballs off the leftover cupcakes. I’ll never telll.

Annabelle is torn between marrying Andy or Tyson, but she had a test run for the ceremony with Andy today.

It’s not Super Bowl without a tiara!
Hanna can rock a Brave wig!

phineas and ferb

We spent a cold morning exploring the zoo. The place was empty which was great, but I think we only saw a handful of animals. We headed downtown to meet the Carlson’s for lunch at Marlowe’s and then explored 16th street for a while. B headed home and I took the girls to see Phineas and Ferb Live. Oh boy! It was an entertaining little show and the girls absolutely loved it. Aunt Jen, Ryan, and Reagan met us for the show and we grabbed dinner downtown afterwards to avoid traffic. It was a long, busy, fun day. 
visiting the elephants
so much sass in two little girls

16 street pavilions

Phineas and Ferb…in case you didn’t know…

fairy much

We are ready for Valentine’s day around here. We’ve never really made a big deal about Valentine’s day but  with the girls everything seems to get a little more crafty, a little more decorative, a little more shall we say…overdone. The girls and I have decorated the house with lots of Valentine decorations and crafts. There are hearts everywhere.

I’m a big fan of the subway art

I borrowed an idea for the countdown calendar from here. Thanks to the Target dollar bins and the seriously-discounted-after-Christmas sale at the Disney store the girls will have lots of fun counting down to the holiday.

Fairies are very popular at our house right now so the first day brought much needed new water bottles.