Our Trip to Baton Rouge

We took a little trip to Baton Rouge recently and a busy, fun-filled weekend. We started off the weekend with LSU Gymnastics and ended with a cousin's birthday party. Here are a few photos capturing all the fun...

Ella (in blue skirt) and Katie with Dora The Explorer -- she made a special guest appearance at the Gymnastics meet, which was a great surprise!

The girls also had a photo op with "Mike the Tiger"

Sat morning before heading to the party, we stopped by to see the REAL Mike The Tiger (you'll notice him in the background). Katie is in brown.

Us girls with yet another Mike the Tiger, this one in bronze.

Time for Chase's birthday party at the greatest bouncy house EVER -- WHAT FUN!! Here, the girls are with their most favorite cousin so far, Starr. She's about 10 and loves playing "big sis" to the little girls. It's so sweet the way she looks after them (and such a nice break for mom & dad)!

More CRAZY cousins!

Happy Birthday, Chase!!!! We had a blast!

Riding Bikes

One thing we have here at GiGi's house is a great bike-riding sidewalk... I snapped this picture after the second go around the block. They were having so much fun -- pretending to be on the ferry going across the river, stopping and saying hello to the troll and finding him a coat (a leaf) to keep him warm, sneaking by the dragon's cave (the dog barking furiously behind the fence), and riding as fast as their legs would allow racing momma home. I'm looking forward to many more days like this!

Ella's in lead with the pink dress and sweater and Katie has on the new dress that Grandma made her... girls have to look pretty to ride bikes!

Make-Up

The girls love putting on make-up. Below is a picture of Ella after she had made herself up one morning. This pose was all her idea...

Levee Sliding

Bill couldn't wait to take the girls to slide down the Mississippi River levee. First we had to find a good sliding box and then we needed little girls... After picking the girls up from school we drove the few blocks to the levee and went sliding... what fun! It takes a bit to get the grass nice and smushed down so you can slide fast and next time we'll definitely have to remember to bring some baby powder so we can go really fast, but what fun, cheap, easy entertainment for the kids! Fun, fun, F-U-N! Note to self: Bring play clothes. Grass stains are a bear to get out!

Ella's turn...

Now, it's Katie's turn...

And, of course, DaDa has to give it a try...

Self Portrait

Ella loves to take photos. She often borrows my camera and takes off with it and I never know what's on it until I download them later. This is a self-portrait she took... I just love the expression on her face and thought I'd share.

Our Little "Archers'" First Day of School

With mixed emotions, Katie set aside her pink clothes and Ella her blues and purples to don the red and white uniforms of their new school, Saint Andrew the Apostle. They are now the third generation of Bill's family to attend SAS...his mom and uncle, he and his sister, and now Katie and Ella. These red and white checked dresses are the pre-K uniform. To see all the little pre-schoolers in their uniforms marching into class or out to the playground or cafeteria is really cute. Ella has said that is one of her favorite parts of the day, when the whole school is lined up all in their red sweatshirts or jackets.

This photo was taken prior to getting the required white tennis shoes. We didn't have time before the first day of school to get shoes. And, good thing because had I tried to get them to buy plain white tennis shoes I'm certain the answer would have been a resounding, NO! But, after seeing all the other kids in white tennies, Katie and Ella were anxious to get a pair of their own. We went straight to the uniform shop after pick-up to get each girl a pair.

The girls seem to be enjoying their new school . It's quite a change for them -- 8-3 five days a week (vs 12 hours a week in NoVA)! They even eat lunch at the school cafeteria. They are focused on learning to write their ABCs (lower and uppercase) and 1-20 and recognizing the sounds of the alphabet. They are in separate classes and both have great primary and secondary teachers -- all are very sweet ladies and seem to really care about our girls. Nap time has been a little difficult for Katie in particular, but now she brings puppy and gwagy (her blanket) to school in her backpack and she is allowed to him them a hug prior to and just after naptime, which has seemed to help a lot. All-in-all, they are adjusting very well their new school.

Daddy Arrives!

YEEAAAHHHH -- DADDY'S HERE!!!!!

Daddy stayed in DC to get our belongings packed up and either stowed away in long-term storage or tightly packed in a moving van to come to NOLA with him... he had to endure freezing cold temperatures (it was 27 degrees the day he packed out!), the remnants of pneumonia, as well as a long, partially snowy 3-day drive in a big ol' moving van with only an AM/FM radio to keep him company. But, he made it and the girls were EXCITED to see their DaDa!

City Park

When we arrived in New Orleans our first outing was to City Park to see the Christmas lights. As our luck would have it, a children's program was beginning just as we arrived. To my surprise, when Mrs. Clause asked for volunteers, Ella quickly raised her hand and ran to the stage. Katie bravely, although a bit reluctantly, followed her.

Ella (in purple) and Katie on stage with Mrs. Clause and the music box girl, singing a Christmas song.

Ella and Katie meeting the Mardi Gras Jester, who as you can tell by the smiles on their faces, was making them giggle, giggle, giggle!

There is a LOT to do at City Park -- there was a very long train, an old-fashioned carousel, a roller coaster, as well as Storyland, a children's playground full of characters the girls know from their story books. The girls were disappointed that Daddy couldn't join them; he was still in DC packing out our stuff. The girls decided they would take him as a surprise when he arrives. So, expect more photos from City Park in future posts!

Trip to the Aquarium or The Ferry Mis-Adventure

We're in New Orleans! As our first outing, we decided to take the ferry across the river and go to the Aquarium.

Katie is a little scared, as you can see by the expression on her face, but Ella is having fun.

Ella taking a photo op with the Frog Prince from the "Tiana movie". In the background of the picture you'll see the girls' newest favorite person, Starr. Thankfully, the adoration appears mutual!

Katie's turn with the prince.

Time for the ferry ride home...

Wait a minute! Why is the ferry going UNDER the Mississippi River Bridge?

WE'RE ON THE WRONG FERRY!!!!

And, as things go, someone had to go potty. No potties on the ferry. So as soon as we get off we start heading down the street looking for something that is open. It's the day of the Sugar Bowl and everything is closed early. I finally find one place open... it's a beer joint! So, here I come... me with three little girls following like little ducklings. The place was full of middle-aged men looking at us like we were crazy! But, when a little girl has to go potty, a parent must do what she has to do. Meanwhile Mimi has called Uncle Bill, who comes to the rescue -- he picked us up at the beer joint and brought us back to GiGi's house. Yeah for happy endings!