A Day at the Zoo

Last Monday Rachel was out of school for President's Day, so we took the girls to the zoo.

We saw lots of pretty birds.

Rachel tried the rock climbing wall and we also rode the merry-go-round.

Rebecca loved brushing the goats in the petting zoo.

Rachel and Raphael on the train.

                                                        Fun day with the girls!

39 and Holding

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday. I turned 39 and still can't quite believe this is my last year of being in my thirties.  I can remember being eighteen and just wanting to be twenty one-- the time does go by really fast!

Raphael brought home two of the cutest little cakes ever. We had chocolate and carrot cake, which is one of my favorites. Rebecca put the candles on the cake and "helped" me blow them out too.  She kept telling me it was her birthday.

I decided for my birthday that I wanted to go out for dinner, so tonight we went to a fun Italian restaurant called Bucas.  I went to one in Minnesota last spring and have been wanting to take Raphael there ever since.  The food in really good and the restaurant decor is unique. All sorts of lights and pictures of Italy, anything Catholic, pasta, etc....very entertaining!

Going out to dinner with a two year old is a challenge and we don't go out very often with the girls. Rebecca started having a little melt down right when dinner arrived. I had the Kindle in my purse and we let her play with it while we ate. Thank goodness for technology!

I had a wonderful birthday. Lost of calls, emails and cards from friends and family and some wonderful gifts too.  My thirties have been good to me and I am looking forward to what my 39th year will bring for me and my family.  

Road Trip

Rachel was out of school on Friday, so I decided that I would take the girls and get out of town for awhile. We haven't been further than Atlanta since July and I am starting to have a case of cabin fever and needed to go somewhere.  We went to Macon, GA to visit the children's musuem for the afternoon.

I was hoping it wouldn't be too busy and we ended up being the only people there! It was a nice place and the girls had fun checking out everything.

                                     Rebecca loved playing with the cash register.

                                                                  Bubble station.

 There was an area to dig for dinosaur bones and a display about Leonardo DiVinci and his experiments.

         In the basement they had houses to show life in different countries around the world.

                                                               An outfit from Russia.

                                                                 Ghana, Africa

                          This sign was next to the restroom area- made me laugh.

After the museum we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream and I told the girls we were going to spend the night at a hotel. Rachel was so excited and couldn't wait to get to the hotel and go swimming.

                           

  We swam for about two hours and the girls had a great time.We went for dinner and then watched a little TV before bed.

 I was nervous about bedtime, because Rebecca still sleeps in a crib and I was going to have her sleep in a bed with me.  She did alright in the beginning and fell asleep quick.  Around midnight she rolled out of bed and it took till about three thirty or so for her to fall back asleep. She is a wiggle worm and was all over the bed.  This is how she was sleeping when Rachel and I woke up.

The girls wanted Ihop for breakfast and Mickey Mouse was there. Not sure why? Rebecca was scared of Mickey, but Rachel wanted her picture with Mickey.

It was a fun little trip and the girls did great. Hopefully we can take more trips around Georgia soon.

Number 23

                              Rachel with her teammate--the FireCrackers-- and coach.
A few months ago, Rachel decided that she wanted to play basketball, so I signed her up to play at a nearby church.  Rachel's only experience with basketball has been in P.E. class at school and I wasn't too sure how she would do.  She was the shortest and least experienced on her team. But she had fun and guess that is what matters.

When the coach handed out the uniforms and I saw that Rachel had number twenty three, I was hoping some of the "Michael Jordan magic" would rub off on her, but no such luck. Rachel didn't know who Michael was, so we looked at some videos on YouTube and hoped it would insprie her.

Rachel's favorite part of the game, talking with the other girls on the bench. She is a social butterfly!

      Last Saturday, they had their last official game and then a little party with trophies.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  I think we all had a nice day. Everyone woke up to chocolates and cards. Raphael got the girls the cutest little gumball machines and the girls loved them! 

          Checking out all her goodies.

I went to Rebecca's preschool to help with her Valentines party. She was really surprised and excited to see me.  I love getting to see her interact with her friends and teachers.

     Chloe and Rebecca- BFFs. They are always together at school and Rebecca talks about Chloe all the time.

                                                                          Our sweethearts!

Lovebugs

Today Rebecca and I had some of her friends over for playgroup and we had a little Valentine party. We made a craft first, cute little butterfly lovebugs.

                                                         Rebecca's butterfly.

We let the kids play, eat cookies and candy while the moms had a chance to talk.

                                             Sweet girls- Ronnie, Catie and Layla.

                                                         My Valentine's Day decor.

Tomorrow the girls have parties at school. I volunteered to help with Rebecca's party, should be fun!

February Fun

We have had a good  and busy weekend. Rachel had a basketball game on Saturday afternoon and then home to get ready for a date night with her Dad.   Each year before Valentine's Day , Chick-fil-A has a "Daughter and Daddy Dinner Date", and Rachel was excited to go for dinner with her Dad.  After dinner they went to see a movie-perfect night out for her!

Today we went to the early service at church because the girls were invited to a little ice cream social/valentine party at the cutest frozen yogurt place.

                                                             Gigi and Rachel

     Rebecca loved getting Valentines and all the candy! She sat in her chair and ate her way through her goody bag.

The weather has been beautiful and I thought we should take advantage of it, so after the party we went to the park to play.

Now we are eating lots of food and watching the Superbowl and cheering for the New York Giants!