After I stopped screaming {and realized I had my camera beside me}, I called Mallory and Anna Claire over to look at it. It took them both a while to find it because I wasn't getting too close to point it out. When Mallory saw it, she did the same thing I did ~ jumped a mile high then went the opposite direction. Anna Claire TOUCHED IT! again, and again, and again until I made her leave it alone.
She does love frogs ~ or toads. What is the difference?
I survived on these sugar-free fruit popsicles when I had gestational diabetes and the weather started getting hot, so it's no surprise Anna Claire and Mallory love them, too!
The river...
One day we'll take a family picture when the wind isn't blowing, the sun isn't in our eyes, and everyone is looking at the camera...one day...
That’s when I found the dresses. Oh, my. Things were starting to come together ~ suddenly we had a theme and a color scheme! There is no more orange checked ribbon in Charleston, all the orange and green balloons are gone, too, and don’t even think about buying a lime green barrel of monkeys. {I bought out two Wal-marts and a Target!}
The girls were so excited when I showed them their monkey dresses. I saw these dresses at Gingersnaps before we made a final decision on our monkey theme {when I was still searching for invitations} and couldn’t believe they still had two dresses in the girls’ size when I went back almost two weeks later! 
Anna Claire and Mallory got all kinds of wonderful birthday gifts. Thank you, everyone! You were all way too generous. Anna Claire hung with me as we opened every last present. Mallory was outta there after the first few…she was ready to play!
They each got a new “scooter” as they call them, but the only picture I have so far is of Connor riding it. 
Lots of great puzzles and books… 
Silly new monkeys, Lollie and Clementine, for both girls…
Their first fishing rods… 
A big barrel of monkeys… 
And so much more!
After a wrestling match with a huge inflatable monkey from Connor and Dylan, it was time for the “Happy Birth-Cake” {as Mallory likes to call it}. My mom made each of the girls their own monkey cakes ~ so cute. We sang Happy Birthday and the girls blew out their candles with the help of their cousins. Then we all ate cake and ice cream. YUM!
I was determined there would not be a trace of Curious George at the party, but what do you do when that’s the only piñata in town? You hand-draw eyelashes on his eyes and glue a bow to his head! Meet Georgia… 
All the children left with their own barrel of monkeys as a “thank you” from Anna Claire and Mallory for celebrating their birthday with them.
Two years old…can you believe it??
A special thank you to our official party photographers: videographer Aunt Michelle and photographer Cousin Brandon. The girls watched the video three times yesterday and were fascinated, and Brandon took more than 100 photos, some of which are right here. I wish I had the patience to upload more. Thank you!!
Today is Anna Claire and Mallory's 2nd birthday. Happy birthday, baby girls. We had marvelous day at the Children's Museum. I took about 16938 pictures while we were there. These are {not} some of the best...
They would have played all day at "Publix."
Markers. Paint. Glue. The art room terrified me.
Having lunch at the "deli on the corner"... 
And celebrating with cupcakes at Cupcake...
No candles on the cupcakes, so Anna Claire and Mallory made birthday wishes by tossing coins in the fountain...
OK, so not a lot of wish-making....just throwing money into the water.
