A festive weekend

So, as mentioned in a previous blog, the girls' birthdays are December 3rd and the festivities involved continue for about 2 weeks because of family trips at Thanksgiving and Mark's baseball camp (see earlier blog). But... the actual day of their birthday, I decided to take a half day and meet them for lunch at school and bring cupcakes to the class. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few:

Emma and her friend Cameron being quiet as they line up for lunch (maybe I should try the finger over the lips in my 5th hour):



A few more of her classmates. Who is this strange boy hanging on my child? Wait until your father sees this!




This is the only actual picture of Emma I got at lunch - pretty, huh? After I took this one, everyone around me had to have their picture taken with food in their mouths (you should see these!):

The girls and I with one group pix as Emma was leaving lunch, and Katie was coming in:

Katie and her BFF, Jessica:

Now why don't they do the birthday hats in 4th grade?

After school, Katie had 2 friends and Emma had one friend join us at the movies to see Tangled (very cute). Afterwards, Katie's two friends, Ali and Jessica spent the night. Here we are opening gifts:

This is the only other picture I got. I was tired and fell asleep quickly. No telling what time they actually went to bed:

The next day, after Nutcracker practice, Katie had a "cookies with Clara" thing. All they really did was hand them cookies and a jingle bell necklace with nutcracker ribbon. Katie was too embarassed to stand with one of the Clara's and take a picture, so I had to get an "action shot".

Lastly, we picked out the tree Saturday night and Emma helped me decorate it, which she really loved b/c Katie spend the night out next door with my neighobor's granddaughter and so we were all by ourselves (oddly, Mark didn't want to help - but he did help me put the lights on).

Look, Mrs. Julie, the ornaments are not geometrically aligned and measured to be placed at right angles! (tee-hee). I love my little tree with our homemade ornaments and momentos from trips and such. My favorite ornament is the ceramic one I made in 1978 (3rd grade for me, junior year for Mark - tee-hee). I'll have to remember to take a picture of it and post it later - it has a lovely school picture of me!

Here's my little Disney Village display of the houses I collect on our WDW trips. I wonder if they sell a Christmas cruise ship!

... and evidently Lilo also enjoys Mickey!