Jana's Birthday Party

After playing with water guns and having a snack it was time to head to Jana's 7th Birthday Party. She had it at A Play Place in Trussville and it was so much fun! The girls had a blast and played the entire time. It was fun to visit with our cousins and aunt too!

Water Gun Fight

Last weekend when we were at Meme and Chief's, it didn't take long before the girls spotted water guns in Chief's garage. They decided that they needed to have a water gun fight! Chief had 3 small ones and a big one for them.

We don't stop!

This summer is flying by and we're having so much fun! Last week we went to Point Mallard every day for swimming plus Mallary has summer preschool and Gracie had a Dance Camp and started night time swim lessons! Our friends Jones and Crawford came up to play (and sadly I didn't take pictures) and we made a trip to Birmingham for Birthday parties and visiting (next post).

Gracie learned 3 dances in 3 days last week. She did Ballet, Tap and Jazz and had so much fun!

All decked out ready to dance.
G and M tatoos on her hands!

I caught her in several cute poses during her dances

A final bow and kiss to her adoring fan (mom)

With Miss Erin and Miss Alicia - she loves them!

Gracie Van Gogh

This past week, Gracie attended art camp! It was based on Dr. Seuss books and it was absolutely precious!!!! She loved every minute of it and came home telling me everything she did and even the famous artist and the types of art they did...such as Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol (who she liked to call Warthog!) She created watercolor paintings, pastel drawing, collages, clay sculpture, drawings, paper mache, and even a painting with a knife to create texture. I loved all her projects and that she enjoyed it so much too. On the last day, they had an art show, got certificates and had a little party with snacks for all their special guests. What a great camp!

I swear...

we have 2 children and we love them equally. It just so happens that the older one can be involved in more outside activities that require lots of pictures and I really just don't snap many pictures any more just for the heck of it. But I do have a couple of Mallary recently that don't involve Dr, ER or being in her sister's shadow at her events...

At Art Buddies at Carnegie Visual Arts Center
We love going on Thursday mornings.

Playing Dress up.
She is in heaven now that Gracie's dance
costumes are dress up clothes.




At Abby's Birthday Party
She chose the baby pool over the big pool and
had a blast splashing around!


Can you tell I've been feeling a little guilty????

Dance Recital Weekend

Another busy weekend has come and gone and this time it was Gracie's big recital. -The theme this year was "Dancing with the Mouse" so everything was Disney related. Pretty Cute. Gracie did tap to "m-i-c-k-e-y m-o-u-s-e" and Acro was to "I wanna be like you". This year we added acrobatics to our ballet and tap class so she had 2 dances plus the finale. She did really well and of course, we were so proud of her.

Some pics are from Friday's rehearsal and other from Saturday.

Meme came up for the show and spent the night with us!

Nana was also here

with her sister, Pat

Mommy and Daddy with the Superstar!

Mommy and her best dancer! (for now - Mallary starts in August)

Have I mentioned that Gracie loves to Pose....

I mean really loves to pose. It's hard to take a regular pic of her.

And more posing...(If I wanted pic of the marquee - it had to come with a pose!)

Waiting to dance

a few friends from Class.

Acro - doing her Partner Stunt

and a Back Bend

Tap Number

After the recital with her teacher Miss Erin.
Miss Erin is leaving to go to Grad school for her degree in Marine Biology.
We'll Miss her!

With all her Roses and special trophy.
She also got a ballerina necklace from Meme.

Closing Ceremonies

After staring at treats and fun stuff for 6 hours....Gracie had waited long enough. She was ready for playing and treats and fun activities...and boy did they have it!

Actually we let her do this after the 1st game.
All the girls sprayed their hair green for the game

Afternoon snack - cotton candy and sno cones!

I love this pic! The cotton candy is bigger than her head!
The green faded at 2 hot games, so both insisted on getting it sprayed
again...This time Hot Pink and Orange. Gracie totally thought she was a rock star!
(And for those thinking I can't believe she actually let her child spray their hair - it washed out even before shampoo...must be different from when I was a kid)

Mallary had no problems getting back on big slides after her stitches!

After all the fun stuff and the last game was played it was time for closing ceremonies. The teams and members of each division were announced. Gracie's team got a special trophy for winning their division and a medal for winning the city tournament. My child loves some trophies! (But also knows you get them for working hard, never quitting, and doing your best!)

Getting her trophy from Coach Rocky

It looks like this!

all the girls with their trophies
and getting her medal from Coach Larry

Showing off her treasures!Celebrating with Coach Rob and Maddie

Celebrating with Kacey