Spa Sisters

Bath time can go either way in our house depending on how tired the girls are and whether or not we're washing hair. So, sometimes we play "spa." Of course Anna Claire and Mallory have never been to a spa, but I talk it up big time...they love it. TJ Maxx was practically giving away these shower caps today...a perfect solution to keeping their hair dry if we're not washing it while adding to their spa experience at the same time!

Meet Mat Man

This past weekend Mat Man came home from school with Anna Claire. "Who is Mat Man?" you ask. Well, he's the little fella that's helping the girls learn to write {handwriting without tears}.

We first met him last year in 3~year~old playschool when the girls began learning to write their letters, and he's back again. This year, each child in the class gets to bring Mat Man home, take some pictures doing fun things with him, write a little story {with help from Mommy and Daddy}, then return everything to school to publish and present to the class. Yay!!

Anna Claire's teacher actually called to tell me how excited she {Anna Claire} became when her name was pulled out of the basket tobring Mat Man home!

Here are a few shots of our weekend with Mat Man:

 

Weekend Project

No horsing around for me this weekend. I'll be getting an early start on the girls' Halloween costumes.

On Being a Lady

Mommy: Mallory, what was the best part of school today?
Mallory: Mommy, I'm concentrating right now. {setting up dinosaurs} I'll have to talk to you later.
Anna Claire: Mommy, when a lady says later she really means never.
Mommy: {incredulous}
Anna Claire: Well, that's what Charlotte says in The Princess and the Frog.

Oh, the things they are learning from Disney movies!

Budding Artists

Anna Claire and Mallory have always loved to paint and draw. We've got the mini~masterpieces... and marker all over the rug...to prove it. For the past several weeks, however, coloring and drawing is all they want to do all the time. I haven;t even been making them clean up the crayons, markers, and coloring books. We've just been leaving it all piled up in the center of the coffee table.

Mallory particularly likes to color in coloring books...and she is sooo good at coloring in the lines. Of course, she is determined to color every page in this Melissa and Doug coloring book. Do you know how detailed those pages are? It takes her forever to finish one...I mean days. She often calls either Walter or me over to help her finish those itty-bitty details {usually hearts or flowers...I dream about coloring hearts and flowers}.

Anna Claire's confidence in her drawing has grown tremendously. She used to always have me draw things for  her, but now she is so happy drawing her own princesses and ponies!

A work in progress...

Her finished masterpiece...Can you tell it's a horse?

This picture of Anna Claire's has a lot of scribble on it because she was also writing the story {!!}, but I was just amazed by all the little details she included.

 

I love, love, love their beautiful creative minds.

 

{Can you also tell from these pictures they do a lot of their best work in their pj's with very messy hair?}

Ready for the Runway?

This is how Anna Claire keeps busy in the mornings when I'm getting ready for work. She goes into my closet, puts on everything purple {cardigan, two scarves, shoes, and a necklace ~ she knows the importance of accessorizing} and gives us a little fashion show.

If you guessed purple is her favorite color, you're right!

Hole in One

{I love this picture, but yes, Anna Claire's dress is falling off.}

Monday afternoon the girls and I headed out to Kiawah for the post~golf tournament festivities. After the long ride, all Anna Claire and Mallory wanted to do was run around on the putting green {shh!}. It was hard for them to sit still during the awards and door prizes, but they did pretty well considering.

 A hole in one? They took turns trying to roll the balls into the hole.

Do you see what I see? I was not zooming in when I took this photo. He was a little guy, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw him staring back at me!

See You Soon, Mickey!

...in exactly nine excruciatingly long months. That's not at all soon. Two little words will likely make the wait impossible: Fantasyland Expansion!!

I'm so excited...I mean Anna Claire and Mallory are so excited!! ;-)

Tiny Dancers

Friday was Anna Claire and Mallory's first dance class at a new studio. We tried out a summer~session class a few weeks ago and the girl's loved it! They were so excited for class...new leotards, shoes, tights, and their hair in buns with bobby pins! I don't know what it was about the bobby pins, but they were so excited to wear them in their hair!

This year class is at 4:15 on Fridays...not the best time, but our only other option was 5:45 on Wednesday nights. We're all tired by Friday, but that's the only day of the week the girls don't have playschool, so paired with the earlier class time I thought it was the best option. Granny has to get the girls dressed and meet me at the studio since I can't leave work in time to pick them up and get them to class.

This Friday it was pouring down rain when we got to class ~ and I had forgotten my camera ~ so this is the only pic I was able to get with my phone. Once class started, the teacher's music wasn't working. Dance class with no music?? That got old pretty fast. Thankfully Anna Claire and Mallory weren't the only little girls hanging on the barre and yawning. Then as the girls were changing into tap shoes Anna Claire got her finger stepped on. Ouch! She never recovered, and I had to take her outside she got so upset.

Needless to say, the girls were grouchy by the time class was over, and I am seriously  hoping things go better this week!

We're Still Here

I am so terribly far behind sharing updates and pictures of Anna Claire and Mallory. Things haven't even been terribly busy; I just haven't found my blogging rhythm since school has started. School is going great for the girls; they love their teachers. Dance class starts Friday, and the girls can't wait. Other than that, things are rather uneventful around here.

A few weeks ago we celebrated Granny's birthday at Wasabi. Anna Claire and Mallory love that place ~ especially the koi pond and eating with chopsticks! I love the white sauce...and the rice...but especially the rice smothered in the white sauce!

Japanese Steak House White Sauce

1-1/4 cup	Hellmann's mayonnaise
1/4 cup	water
1 teaspoon	tomato paste
1 tablespoon	melted butter
1/2 teaspoon	garlic powder
1 teaspoon	sugar
1/4 teaspoon	paprika
dash	cayenne pepper

Using a fork or a whisk, blend all ingredients together thoroughly until well mixed and the sauce is smooth. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to blend. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Trust me...the sauce must sit overnight like the recipe states. Don't try to make it and eat it the same day. It won't taste anything like it's supposed to {speaking from experience}.

Weekend dinner plans anyone?